Page 106 of Jackson
30
Summer
Jackson drove me nuts, for that first month after the ‘great discovery,’ as he called it. I was wrapped in cotton wool and not allowed to do a thing for myself. He was the font of all knowledge; even telling the doctor exactly what was going on with my body when we went to have the pregnancy confirmed. It took me threatening to go home until the baby was born for him to calm down, alittle.
His excitement was a wonderful thing to see, I only wished I could muster up the level of energy required to join in. I couldn’t believe how tired I was all thetime.
I was scheduled for a full check-up. Jackson had insisted, and it was only after I had explained to the doctor how his irrational behaviour came about, they’d started to accommodate hisfears.
“You do know what happened to your mum was rare, don’t you?” I said as we drove to theclinic.
We were having a scan and after, we’d decided, we would let everyoneknow.
“No, it isn’t rare, Summer. It’s quite common, but if we can avoid it, wewill.”
“I can’t go six months, Jack, with you worrying about everything, and I mean,everything. I get you’re scared, I am too, but you’re becomingirrational.”
“My mum died, Summer, I was left to live a life of hell, there’s nothing irrational about that,” he said, and I winced at myerror.
“I didn’t mean it like that, I meant, you’re suffocating me, Jack. I want as normal a pregnancy as possible; I don’t want to be stuck with needles every five minutes because you’re panicking. I want us to enjoythis.”
I placed my hand on his thigh as we drove. As usual he had the windows wound down and his music playing, although not loud. He’d convinced himself that he didn’t want to upset the baby’s ears with loud rockmusic.
“I can’t lose you, Summer, or thebaby.”
We continued our journey insilence.
* * *
“Hey, my favourite people are here,”Dexter said as we walked into the drop-incentre.
I was pleased to see it busy. Two boys were arguing over a drawing one had done, a young girl was rubbing down a surfboard with D-J, and Dexter had his hand on the shoulder of Dylan, who gave Jackson a broadsmile.
“We have news,” Jack said, and then looked at me with a smile. I gave him anod.
He held out the scan photograph for Dexter tosee.
“You’re kidding me? Is that what I think it is?” Dexasked.
I nodded. “It is. We’re having ababy.”
“Dude, did I just hear that right?” D-J said as he wanderedover.
“We’re having a baby, just had the scan,” Jacksaid.
“Fuck me.” I laughed as Dexter scowled at D-J.
“You didn’t say,” Dextersaid.
“We wanted to make sure she had all her fingers and toes before we shared the news,” Jacksaid.
“She? We don’t know what we’re having yet,” Isaid.
“Oh, it’s a girl, I just knowit.”
“This calls for a celebration. Kids, sodas all round, Jackson and Summer are having a baby,” Dexter calledout.
We left the drop-in centre and headed for the bar. I wondered how appropriate it was to take the kids into the bar but since the drop-in centre was right next door; the kids had often nipped in to pick up a drink ortwo.
