The Perfect Stranger

Chapter 13: Jackson

Denise and Jimmy stayed for an hour or two before heading home and things seemed to be going well. Jimmy and I were getting along well and he seemed cool, someone I could potentially become friends with. Denise was a little bit different. She was nice to me and polite just like she had been over the phone many times before, but it just seemed like she was studying me the entire time. I didn’t mind. After all I was a stranger taking care of her pregnant and injured little sister. Not to mention, I wanted her to like me.

By the time they had left, it was mid afternoon and the nurses had just come to check on the baby. They gave the baby her first bath, giving Lizzie and myself some alone time. I wanted to address a few things with her. The main thing being that Eric had called me, and that he knew about the baby. Plus, the reason he knows is because of Kassie. He wants his family. Well, both of his “families.” I really wanted to talk to her, but deep down I just knew she would go back to him, and I don’t want her to leave. At least not before I have my chance to show her what love could really be like. So, instead of telling her about Eric, I told her that she didn’t have to go anywhere for awhile and that I would help her raise the baby.

I expected her to refuse and put up quite the fight because that’s who Lizzie is. She’s a fighter. But she doesn’t. She agrees, without much of a fight at all. Must be the exhaustion.

“Thank you, Jackson. I promise once I’m able to find a nanny and to get back to work, baby Nova and me will be out of your hair,” Lizzie says to me. My heart automatically drops. She wants to leave? Duh, she had a life before you, she’ll have one after you. The thought of her leaving on her own makes me almost as queasy as the thought of her leaving with Eric.

“Yeah, well there is no rush either,” I say in almost immediate response. My quickness must have taken her by surprise because her face shows it. Quick Jack- son think of a fast distraction. “I’m happy to help with baby Nova. I like the name by the way. You think of a middle name yet?” Nice save. She smiles, making her eyes twinkle at the mention of her new baby girl and it makes my heart flutter.

“Yeah, Nova. I like that name, I’ve been playing with it over the past few weeks,” she replies. “I haven’t really thought of a middle name yet... Um, do you have any ideas?” She asks a little timidly, almost like she’s unsure how I will respond.

“Um, what about Marie? That was my grandmother’s name.” I say hoping she likes it. Secretly, I’ve always wanted to name my daughter after my grandmother if I ever had one. But, being that I’m thirty-three, never been married or had a serious enough relationship, it never really looked like something that would happen for me. Then Lizzie came along and she turned out to be such an amazing person

that I care about so much that I wouldn’t have wanted any other person to name their child after my precious grandmother.

“Nova Marie.” She says out loud for the first time. A smile bigger and brighter than a field filled with sunflowers stretches across her face. Man could she get any more beautiful, I think to myself. “I love it Jackson. That will be her name, Nova Marie Franklin.” Lizzie practically sings out her name still wearing that same smile.

Before I am able to reply, my phone starts to ring in my pocket. I reach down and grab the phone out staring at the number. It’s a familiar one and I excuse my- self to go take the call in the hall.

“Dillon, my man, what’s up?” I shout excitedly into my phone. Dillon is my long time friend and business partner. We have known each other since middle school when both of us decided to go from football camp one summer to coding camp the next. We’ve been tight ever since, all the way through high school, college, and opening up the law firm.

“Hey Jackson, where you been today? We’ve got a meeting in like an hour dude, where you at? Late night?” His voice asking a question his mouth didn’t. The thought of what he’s insinuating makes me laugh a little. Before Lizzie had come into my life, I was a single bachelor with a lot of money who wasn’t too bad on the ladies’ eyes. Women gravitated to me like a magnet, which is probably why I was never able to have a serious relationship. But, since Lizzie, I have slowed down on the dating scene. I mean, I still have my occasional rendezvous with a random woman here or there. I’m a man and I still have needs, and the amount of time I’m around Lizzie, doesn’t help the needs situation. No matter how bad I’ve wanted to just... I stop that thought before I embarrass myself in front of the nurses’ station.

“Uh, yeah, it was kinda a long day yesterday. You know that woman I’ve been letting stay in the business suite in our building? Well, I didn’t tell you, but she was pregnant and she went into labor yesterday. I’m at Lake County. I’m not going to make it to the meeting, so we are going to need to reschedule. Tell my assistant to handle that and say it was a family emergency,” I say in quick rush because I know what he is about to say.

“Excuse me, come again? She’s PREGNANT?” He yells, but in a whisper on the phone. “You’ve been boarding a pregnant lady this whole time and not told me about it? Who is this lady? Is the baby yours? You should get a DNA test. My ma says to always get a DNA test bro, you know that.”

“No need for all that, the baby isn’t mine. She’s just a friend that I’m helping out. Her ex is a piece of s**t and I’m just giving her somewhere to stay until she’s able to find a place of her own. Then Nova and her are gone.” I can hear the sadness in my voice at the last part. I’m sure Dillion heard it too. But, there’s nothing but silence on the other end of the phone. He heard it.

“Dillion, man look, I’m just helping a friend out.” I try to remind him before the accusations start. I’m not ready for anyone else or even him to know my feelings before I know hers.

“Yeah, okay Jack, whatever you say. Can I at least meet this lady, see what she’s about? You can never be too careful these days, especially with women who know what your bank account is worth.”

Is he trying to warn me? Warn me of what? Lizzie? She’s the sweetest, kindest, most beautiful woman in the world and she will be mine one day. Nova Marie and her will be my family. “She doesn’t know what my bank account is worth Dillon. She’s not like that. Once I get them settled in at the apartment, I’ll have you come over and meet them.”

“Alright, sounds fair. I’ll call you later Jack.” And the line goes silent. Dillion’s always been like that. A little on the pessimistic side, but he balances out friend- ship. After the call ends, I head back to the room to see Lizzie sleeping peacefully. I must have been standing there for a while because a nurse was tapping my shoulder trying to bring baby Nova back in the room. I quietly move over to the makeshift bed I’ve made out of the couch contraption and lay down quietly. Since Liz- zie is asleep, the nurse turns to me.

“She’s been fed, changed, and bathed. Her check-up went well. Another nurse will come in with an administrator, who will have you sign all the appropriate documents to name, claim the baby and get you ready and prepped for checkout,” she whispers to me and I nod in understanding before she leaves the room.

Sitting back on my makeshift bed I think about the conversation I just had with Dillion. Am I not being careful enough? Did Lizzie know who I was before we met? There’s no way she could have, I mean she was so puzzled and confused about everything when we met. But did her friend? We did live in the same build- ing for a period of time. Maybe they all plotted this from the beginning? The thought doesn’t sit well with me. Before I lose my nerve, I reach into my pocket retrieving my phone again. I shoot a quick text to Dillion before I close the phone and head to sleep. “Run the extensive background on all three. Lizzie Franklin, Kassie Estes, Eric Phillips.”

You ever get the feeling that something bad is about to happen. That tingle in your spine that sends shivers of nausea through your gut. I hate that feeling, because nine times out of ten, when I get it, something bad actually does happen. The last time it did, I got the most annoying client tag along and witnessed a woman get hit by a car all in one day. Silently, I send a prayer up just to make sure that I’m wrong and I’m not about to have some life altering event happen. Just as the “amen” is through my lips, there’s a knock on the door. My stomach drops.

“Come in” I shout pass the door. It opens and it’s Dillon. Last time we talked a few weeks ago, I asked him to run some background checks for me. I guess since he’s here that means that they’ve come back.

“What’s up man? How you doing?” I greet him, getting up suppressing the sink- ing feeling in my gut. I hope its not as bad as my gut is feeling.

“Nothing much man. It’s good to see you in your office again. Don’t get me wrong, I loved being the face of the company while you were out, but trust me I’m the behind the scenes sleuth kinda guy,” Dillion replies, a laugh in his voice that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. I move to sit on the edge of my desk as he takes a seat in one of the leather arm chairs in front. “Look, my friend, I didn’t come by just to shoot the s**t with you. I got the results back. Something looks a little suspicious.” His face is stone and his eyes are serious when they meet mine. Reaching in his coat pocket, he pulls out a manilla envelope folded in half and hands it to me.

Grabbing the envelope from him, I’m not quite sure if I’m ready to open it right now or let alone open it in front of Dillion. What if it contains information on her that could shatter the illusion of love that I have for her and her daughter?

“Thank you, Dillon, for getting this information to me, and as fast as you did. You must have pulled an all nighter a few times? “I say trying to lighten the heaviness I’m feeling.

He stretches and yawns in exaggeration before getting up and walking towards the door, “Yeah, I had to deal with many lonely nights with this one. You owe me a drink.”

“Yeah, I think after I read whats in this envelope you might need to buy me a drink,” I say before thinking. He turns just before the door and looks at me. I shake my head and walk back to my desk chair.

“It’s not what you’re thinking. I got this,” I say sitting down just as he opens the door. He takes one last look at me and shakes his head. A “yeah, whatever” is his leaving remarks as the door closes behind him.

I do got this, right? I look at the envelope one more time before sliding it into my desk drawer. I got this and I’m going to trust Lizzie.