Rather than going to Macy’s old place, he brought me to a different block. He carried my luggage into the elevator for me as he said, “The houses here aren’t as big as Peakville Estate’s, but it has a great environment and it’s better for Summer.”
I nodded. I was feeling nervous and pressured for some reason which Jackson probably spotted. He patted my shoulder and said, “Don’t be nervous. Summer is a good kid and doesn’t give us any trouble.”
I pressed my lips together and nodded but still felt nervous.
My hands were damp with sweat by the time we reached the door. He pressed the doorbell and Nick opened the door dressed in an apron with a baby bottle in hand.
I paused, not knowing what exactly I was feeling at the moment. Nick, however, was calmer than ever at the sight of me. “You’re here. Come in, the food is getting cold,” he said.
Jackson said to me, “You can go wash your hands first and take a look at the kid before you eat.”
He placed my luggage in a room and said, “You can stay with us while you’re here.”
I didn’t really hear everything he was saying as my head was full of the thought of seeing Summer. I followed Nick into the baby room decorated all over in soft pink including the crib and the mosquito net over the crib. It was neatly equipped with everything needed to take care of a baby.
I was pretty impressed that two men managed to take care of a baby this efficiently.
Summer probably just woke up and as she lay on the bed, her large eyes glanced around in wonder.
She started giggling at the sight of a new face. She was just as small and soft as most three-month-old babies tended to be.
Nick noticed my growing smile at the sight of Summer and offered, “You can feed her.”
He passed the baby bottle in his hand to me and smiled before leaving.
I stayed still for a whole minute with the baby bottle in hand as waves of unspeakable emotions washed over me. One of the best things life had to offer was bringing new life into the world. After all, love and hope always bloomed in the face of new life.
I didn’t know where Marcus had buried the child back then and had never gotten the courage to even think about it, much less go and find the child.
My heart softened at the sight of Summer and my tears finally came to my eyes. Happiness and pain created an uncomfortable lump in my throat.
Jackson came in and saw my tears. “Summer’s your child now. Treat her well.”
I nodded and felt my nose sting again. She was so small, I didn’t dare to pick her up.
I placed the mouth of the baby bottle right next to hers and she cleverly started sucking.
“Summer was born prematurely and has only had baby formula, so she’s quite small compared to other babies her age,” Jackson said with a small sigh.
I froze and immediately remembered how I was lactating when Marcus sent me to the hospital and they took the baby out.
Due to the lack of an actual baby who was feeding, there wasn’t enough prolactin and I stopped.
I looked at Jackson and said, “Go to the hospital with me tomorrow.”
He froze. “Are you finally willing to get checked up?”
I shook my head. “Nope. I want to visit the gynecologist and ask if it’s possible for me to breastfeed four months after birth. I also want to see if there are other solutions.”
He widened his eyes and asked, “You’re thinking of-”
I nodded. “Summer is still young. I just gave birth, and I was lactating but because I didn’t have a child to feed, my body didn’t produce prolactin and I stopped. If we go consult a gynecologist, they might give us a solution.”
I was thinking about all of this for Summer’s sake, but Jackson’s face suddenly became red. “Scarlett, do you not see me as a man?”
I paused and asked in confusion, “What made you ask that?”
He slapped a palm to his forehead. “Is it really appropriate for you to talk about this with me?”
I shrugged. “Why not? I’m already a hag who’s given birth before, so what could you possibly want from me? Anyway, you’re pretty good to Nick so I don’t see a problem with me talking about this to you.”
He froze again and then asked, “How did you know about me and him?”
“I guessed,” I replied. “Before this, I was chalking it up to it being a coincidence. But after seeing you together all the time and how he can’t keep his eyes off of you, I figured it out myself. I’m not blind after all.”
He went silent for a second before asking, “Don’t you think it’s strange?”
“Why would I? The world is full of strange things anyway. Just because there are more heterosexual couples doesn’t mean that’s inherently how the world works and vice versa for homosexual couples. What’s right and what’s wrong is a human concept after all. As long as you’re happy and healthy, there’s nothing wrong with being a little bit different from everyone else.”
He looked at me with slightly red eyes and fell silent for a second before suddenly hugging me tightly. “Thank you, Scarlett!”
I sighed. “You don’t have to thank me. It’s your right to be happy.”
To everyone else, my marriage with Ashton must seem like a blessing. After all, being able to marry a man you loved with excellent qualities to boot was most women’s dream. Sadly, only I would ever truly know what went on behind the scenes.
