The Perfect Stranger

Chapter 12: Jackson

This side of the hospital is much nicer than the other. It’s definitely more homier and the furniture is more comfortable. I’m guessing that’s because they’re actually expecting someone to stay. Can’t say I hate the idea right now. I’m grateful for this extendable couch contraption. The past few hours have been the most hectic hours of my life, to say the least. To think, all in the last let’s see, six hours; we have run into a not so friendly face, Kassie, then I receive a not so random text message, followed by a not so pleasant voicemail. Only to be followed and by Liz- zie’s water breaking and her going into labor in a matter of minutes. I don’t know if I was too scared to let go of her hand during this process or if she was too scared to let go of mine, but somehow I was present for the birth. I’m glad it was me here with Lizzie instead of that rotten bastard. That sorry piece of s**t doesn’t know what he missed out on, but I’m glad I was here. Right now, Lizzie and her beautiful baby girl are a true blessing in my life.

I glance over at Lizzie’s hospital bed where she’s sleeping peacefully for what I’m guessing the first time in months. Baby girl, who Lizzie has yet to name, is sleeping peacefully in her bassinet beside her mother’s bed. Getting up slowly and as quietly as possible, I walk over to where they are both sleeping. Lizzie’s face is turned in my direction and her dark curls cascade around her head falling in all different directions, with a few curls tickling her face. Her eyes and lips are a little swollen from crying, mostly after the baby was born. The beautiful baby girl is lay- ing on her back swaddled up nice and tight sleeping peacefully. To me, she’s a spit- ting image of her gorgeous mother. My heart swells looking at them. I want this. I want Lizzie and her beautiful daughter to be mine. I’ve known it since I let her come stay in my apartment. I wanted her then and nothing has changed now. I can’t keep pretending I don’t want Lizzie anymore because I do. I don’t want to lose her or the baby. I will do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen. I can’t bear the thought. They already have so much of my heart.

My thoughts are interrupted by my phone ringing. I quickly silence it and send it to voicemail. I see Lizzie and the baby’s face both do the same little annoyed scrunch of the nose at the sound of the loud phone in the otherwise quiet room. At the feel of the vibration, I look to see who’s call I missed it was. Eric.

I press listen on the voicemail that he just left:

“Jackson, it’s me, Eric. I know you know who this is so pick up the phone. I’ve been trying to get ahold of you all day and night. Kassie told me she saw you and Lizzie together today. She said Lizzie was pregnant with my child. Kassie wasn’t supposed to find out! That wasn’t in the agreement we set up! Now the agreement is off! I have a right to MY FAMILY! Both of them!”

The line goes dead. The agreement! I knew seeing Kassie today was a bad omen and that we should have went in another entrance. Now Eric, who I haven’t heard from in months is calling my phone about a baby he wasn’t supposed to know about or have anything to do with. Damn. I turn around to see if the voice- mail disturbed Lizzie. She seems sound asleep. Good. I don’t know what I’d do if she heard that voicemail, I think to myself as I lay back down on the couch contraption. I’ve had the most eventful day of my life, and its time for some much needed shut eye.

I’m awakened by the sound of a deep and boisterous laugh. It sounds like a man’s laugh. Jumping up quickly, I see a man I don’t recognize. He’s about my height, light skinned with locs down to his shoulders. He’s standing next to a woman with the same caramel complexion as Lizzie and the same dark curly hair.

They were both standing beside Lizzie’s bed admiring the beautiful baby girl she held, Nova.

“Down crouching tiger, it’s just my sister and her husband,” Lizzie says laugh- ing at my reaction. “Denise, this is Jackson. Jackson this is my sister, Denise, and my brother-in-law, James.”

“Nice to meet you both in person,” I say gathering myself. Denise just looks at me and James reaches a hand out in my direction.

“Nice to meet you too, man. It’s finally good to be able to put a face to the voice we’ve been talking to. You can call me Jimmy.” He says extending his hand.

“Likewise,” I say in reply. “Um, I’m glad to see that you got my voicemail.”

This time, Denise is the one to speak up. “Yes, and thank you for calling us when you did. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help you through all this.” Her eyes make contact with me first, but her attention turns back to her sister. “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been there for me when James Jr was born. Jack- son,” she says turning to me, “thank you for being there for my sister, now and then.” This time I receive a small smile. I knew from over the phone her sister wasn’t a very, how do you put it, openly, friendly person, but she was polite. Meet- ing her in person definitely solidified that for me. I must remind myself not to ever get on her bad side.