Chapter 20

After his talk with Maggie, Jackson was motivated. He knew that there was no way that he and Maggie would be married before she gave birth, but he felt confident that not long after she'd given birth that they would be.

The next day he made plans to speak with both April and his mother to set up times to meet with each of them. He wanted all of Maggie's questions answered so that he could focus on asking the love of his life to be by his side for the rest of their lives.

Jackson walked into his mother's home and found her in the kitchen reading and eating fruit with her morning coffee. He leaned over kissing her on the cheek. He said, "Hey Ma."

Catherine looked up from what she was reading. She smiled at her only child. She kissed him back saying, "Hey baby. What brings you by so early?"

Jackson said, "Can't a son come and see his mother?"

Catherine took off her glasses and asked, "What did you do to piss Maggie off now?"

Jackson laughed swiping some grapes as he took a seat. He said, "I have done nothing to piss Maggie off. Things are actually good. That's why I'm here. We're talking about marriage. Maggie wants to speak with you. She has some questions. I was coming to see when a good time would be."

Catherine looked at her son. She was happy to hear that they were discussing marriage. That was all she ever wanted. That way she could leave her foundation to them to run when she was no longer here. She asked, "Well, that's good to hear. Maggie doesn't have to set an appointment to speak to me. She can come over whenever is convenient for her. She can even scrub in on a surgery with me if she wants. What does she want to talk to me about anyway?"

Jackson said, "Well, she wants to speak with you about your expectations for her as my wife, as far as the foundation is concerned."

"See, I like Maggie. Your first wife never even thought to ask such important questions. Where is Maggie? We can go ahead and have that discussion now." Catherine said with excitement.

Jackson smiled at his mother. He said, "She's at work. She had an early surgery. I just wanted to feel you out first. So, what role do you want Maggie to play?"

Catherine looked Jackson in the eye. She knew what she was about to say wouldn't be well received by her son. She said, "I want you to start taking more of a role with the foundation. Like more meetings and things. I think Maggie needs to start too because I want you two to be prepared to take over the foundation in the case that something were to ever happen to me."

Jackson got a concerned look on his face and reached for his mother's hand. He asked, "Did something turn up on your scans? Is something wrong mom?"

Catherine used her free hand to wave her son off. She said, "I am fine Jackson. Calm down. I just want to be proactive. The truth of the matter is that I am living with cancer and things can change at any moment. I just want to prepare things before any of that happens. I want you and Maggie to be ready to take over the foundation if things do change."

Jackson said, "Mom, you promised that you wouldn't keep things from me regarding your health."

Catherine rolled her eyes. She said, "Jackson I am not keeping anything from you. As far as I am aware everything is as it should be. I just have to think about the bigger picture. You know that I'm a planner and I'm just planning."

Jackson stared at his mother. He heard everything that she was saying, but he wasn't sure if he could trust what she was saying. Jackson hoped that his mother was fine. He hoped that she would witness him getting married to the true love of his life. He hoped he could put her out of the delivery room when Maggie gave birth because she was low key stressing Maggie out. He still had so much he wanted to share with his mother.

Later that afternoon Maggie and Jackson met April at the hospital coffee cart. Maggie was a bit worried about Jackson. He had been quiet, and she could tell that he had something on his mind.

They found a quiet place to sit while they waited for April to arrive. Maggie asked, "Jackson, is everything ok?"

Jackson reached a hand out, gently rubbing Maggie's belly. He smiled asking, "How are you two?"

"I asked you first, Jackson," Maggie said squinting her eyes at him.

Jackson said, "Here comes April."

Maggie was about to argue but thought twice about it as April approached them.

Everyone hugged and April asked, "What's up guys? Did something happen with Harriet?"

Maggie said, "No, nothing happened. I hope we didn't scare you. I just wanted to talk to you. I always want to keep an open line of communication with you and I never want to overstep any boundaries."

April smiled at Maggie and then turned her eyes to an unusually quiet Jackson. Jackson finally spoke saying, "Maggie and I are discussing getting married and she wanted to have a conversation."

April squealed for joy. She said, "Congratulations you two!"

Maggie smiled. She said, "We're not engaged just yet. We're still considering everything which is why I wanted to speak with you."

"Ok." April said skeptically as she sipped her coffee.

Maggie looked at Jackson then back at April. She took a deep breath then said, "Well, when Jackson and I get married I will officially be Harriet's stepmother. I know that you are her mother and I never want to overstep any boundaries, but I need to know what your boundaries are."

April looked at Jackson and then back at Maggie she said, "I don't understand."

Maggie elaborated, "I just want to know what level of involvement are you comfortable with? I'm willing to step up and be an additional parent, but if that's not something that you're comfortable with then I understand. I just need to know."

Jackson placed a hand on Maggie's back and began to rub in slow circles. April looked at Jackson and Maggie she said, "Wow, I never even really thought about it. I guess these are the types of questions that I should have asked Jackson when I married Matthew, but it never even occurred to me."

Maggie said, "Sorry, I'm just a planner. I have to do my research before making any decisions. Even when making a minor decision such as choosing a toothbrush."

April said, "Well, as of right now our co-parenting consists of drop-offs and pickups, communicating about sickness, and anything that may arise at daycare. It's pretty easy going right now because she's so young. I guess as she gets older we'll have to deal with that as it comes. The four of us can discuss that together as situations arise. Maggie, I just want to say that I am not concerned about you being in Harriet's life, or you overstepping any boundaries. I know you. I know the type of person you are. I've seen you with your nieces and nephew. Harriet is lucky to have you in her life. When you and Jackson broke up I was worried about who he might date next and how I would deal with her being in Harriet's life. Harriet loves you and asked for you often during that time. I was glad when I heard that you two had reconciled."

Maggie smiled reaching a hand out to squeeze April's hand. Maggie said, "I just want to make sure that we're all on the same page. Things get muddy when no clear expectations are made, and everyone is operating on assumptions. We all lead busy lives. We don't need to have any misunderstandings and unnecessary complications."

Jackson smiled he said, "I'm just glad that the two of you get along."

April frowned asking, "Why wouldn't we get along?'

Jackson said, "Everyone doesn't have it this easily."

Jackson, Maggie, and April all sat talking a little while longer. When April left Maggie said, "Well, I'll go get Harriet from Daycare and meet you at home?"

Jackson said, "Uh, I'm going to be a little while."

Maggie grabbed his hand saying, "Jackson, something is wrong. I know it. I know you. Talk to me. We talk remember?"

Jackson kissed Maggie on the lips. He said, "I'm just thinking. I love you and I'll be home in time for dinner."

Maggie watched Jackson walk away trying to ignore her annoyance with him. She rubbed her belly saying, "Your daddy isn't going to be happy until he gives me grey hair and makes me tell him a thing or two."

Maggie went and picked up Harriet. They went home and Maggie gave the little girl a bath and washed her hair. Then she made dinner. She and Harriet were watching television when Jackson finally made his way home.

Maggie glanced over at him and he looked worse than he had when she had seen him last. She tucked Harriet in the blanket saying, "I'll be back. I'm going to go get the table ready for dinner."

Jackson was in the kitchen looking in the pots at what Maggie had prepared for dinner. Maggie walked into the kitchen behind him wrapping her hands around his waist and laying her cheek against his back. She said, "I know you very well Jackson and I know something is going on with you. Before you say that you're fine, don't lie to me. We don't lie to one another and we don't keep things from one another. We've overcome so much to get to where we are now. Don't take us back, Jackson."

Jackson took ahold of Maggie's hands where they rested on his chest. He said, "I'm worried about mom. I went to talk to her today. I was going to tell her that you wanted to speak to her. She started talking about how she wanted me and you to take over the foundation when something happened to her. I asked her if something is wrong. She said that she is fine, but I don't know if I believe her. I'm not ready to lose my mom, Maggie."

Maggie pulled back from him. He turned to face her. She said, "I don't think your mother would lie. She might omit information, but I don't think she would outright lie to you about her health. We don't know what the future may hold. We know that she has this illness and she's doing all she can to fight it. I just want you to know that no matter what I'll be here with you. We'll get through whatever together. It's me and you against the world."

Jackson wrapped his arms around Maggie thankful for her support. He knew that with her by his side that he would be able to make it through most anything. He said, "Thank you, babe. I really appreciate everything."

Maggie looked up at him with a stern look. She said, "Not to kill the moment, but I don't like having to pull out of you what was wrong. You hate it when I do that, so I don't appreciate you doing it to me. I can't support you through something that I don't know is going on. If we're going to get married one day then we need to communicate. Do you understand me, Jackson Avery?"

Jackson's hands started to roam Maggie's body. He said, "I understand and I'm sorry Maggie Pierce. So, you're really getting used to the idea of becoming Mrs. Avery?"

Maggie kissed him saying, "Dr. Pierce-Avery, but yeah."

Jackson said, "Mom, said that you don't have to make an appointment to talk to her. She said to stop by when you get a chance or scrub in with her. She wants us to start sitting in or board meetings."

Maggie buried her face in Jackson's chest. She said, "Wow, so this is really happening?"

Jackson tugged at her curls and said, "Yup, no turning back now. It's Maggie and Jackson against the world."

They were standing in the kitchen hugging when Harriet ran in asking, "We eat eat now?"