Page 107 of Jackson
Dexter and D-J fussed around, making sure I had a stool to sit on, getting me a bottle of water as they toasted with soda, forgoing a beer because of the kids. Jackson revelled in the congratulations and I was happy to let him. Although he had his sister, those guys were the only family he had and I needed to remember that. I also had no doubt he was going to make an amazingfather.
I took a photograph of the scan and sent it by text to my mum; I wanted her to see it as soon as she woke. We did the same forPerri.
I didn’t need to wait until Mum woke, I smiled as I answered her call and heard her excited screams and cries. She was unable to talk and handed me immediately to mydad.
“Oh, baby, we’re so pleased for you. What do we need to do? Is there anything we can sendyou?”
“No, Dad, but thank you. I’m just over three months so there’s plenty of time to gather what we need. I’d love for you and Mum to come over for the birth, if youcan?”
“You bet we’ll be there. I’m going to put your mum back on and I’ll make plans. I’ll call you tomorrow. You get plenty of rest, you hearme?”
He sounded as much of a nag as Jackson was turning out to be. I had a lovely chat with my mum, who still couldn’t contain her excitement. I handed the phone to Jackson so Mum and Dad could talk tohim.
* * *
We stoppedat the supermarket on the way home, a weekly shop took twice the length of time it should have. Jackson insisted on reading every ingredient to make sure there was nothingharmfulto the baby or me. I laughed as he tutted and sighed, moaned about the level of chemicals in food, and as he grabbed a passing employee to help us decide which meats were free-range.
“We need tit pads,” he said as we browsed the toiletriesaisle.
“Titwhat?”
“Tit pads, you’re going to start leaking all over the place at somepoint.”
“How the fuck do you know allthis?”
“Told you, research. It can happen as early as fourteen weeks in,” he said, with a level of authority that surprisedme.
“What else should I know, Dr.Walker?”
“Your body is already changing shape, your tits have grown. They used to be a handful, now they’re about one and ahalf.”
He reached forwards with cupped hands. I slapped his armsaway.
“Thanks, I’m not sure I want mytitsmeasured inhandfuls.”
“I want to know everything, Summer. I want to see every change to your body, and we should discuss birthingoptions.”
“I think we have plenty of time to worry about that, now let’s get this shopping done before my tits leak all over the place, as you’ve informed me theymight.”
As much as Jackson wouldn’t allow me to carry a bag, to lift anything heavy, or take part in anything strenuous, he didn’t have the same concerns in the bedroom. And I was thankful for that. As the months wore on, it had come as yet another surprise to realise how horny pregnancy made me. I wanted sex all the time and more than once a night. Jackson was more than happy to oblige, and I thanked my lucky stars that he was more than capable of satisfying me as many times as Iwanted.
* * *
“Idon’t wantto hurt the baby,” he’d said one night, I was coming up to eight monthspregnant.
“You are not going to hurt the baby, didn’t you ask the consultant whether it wassafe?”
I thought back to our last appointment, where I’d cringed with embarrassment at theconversation.
“I know, but let’s take it slow fromnow.”
“My parents will be here tomorrow, so we can limit ourgymnasticsthen.” I was aware of how whiny Isounded.
“That’s another thing, I need to ask your dad for your hand in marriage. We’re going to do that as soon as she’sborn.”
“We don’t know the sex, and I’m not marrying you just because we have achild.”
I sulked a little but he wasn’t giving in. “We’re getting married, Summer. Noargument.”
Jackson had spent the past half hour rubbing oil into my stomach. He did that every night after my shower. He massaged my aching feet, my shoulders and back. He spent ages talking to the bump, telling ‘her’ all the things they were going to dotogether.
I’d had a fairly easy pregnancy, I was fit and healthy, and there had been no complications. Although I felt the size of a horse, Jackson constantly told me how beautiful I looked. He drew pictures of me; he spent weeks decorating the nursery, although it wouldn’t be used for a while. I’d watched with tears of laughter rolling down my cheeks as he struggled putting a cot together. Eventually calling on Dexter and D-J to help. They were shaping up to be the best uncles our child was ever going tohave.
D-J had been clean for months, although he struggled at times. His need to help at the drop-in centre, and then his need to be involved with my child, was all the motivation he needed. The baby was a godsend forall.
