Japril Chapter 4
Harriet sat silently as she could tell they had something important to tell her. Jackson looked at April and said, "I found a house closer to the hospital and also has a nice backyard to play in."
Harriet looked confused. "I now have to live farther away from both of you?"
April responds, "no sweetheart, what your father is saying is, we would all live in the same house. "You wouldn't have to live in two different places every other week."
It took a moment for the information to register in Harriet's face. "Does this mean you and daddy and getting back together?"
Jackson looked over at April and said, "No, I think it's too soon to think about anything other than our family is closer. Since we've always agreed on not fighting where it came to raising you, we've always had an understanding and we've always been close."
Jackson agrees and interjects that "after the move, things will become more natural and comfortable."
It was an easy transition and Jackson realized he enjoyed and was more comfortable living with April than he ever was when Stephanie stayed over or when Maggie moved in or even with the brief affairs with Vic and April,
April settled into cooking with Jackson helping occasionally. He even made an effort to eating leftovers at least at home to set a good example for Harriet.
While may not be the billionaire he once was after paying out the lawsuits, he was still very wealthy. With April's values, money management, Harriet should not feel entitled because she was an Avery, he wanted her to experience a normal life, as normal as one could have as her parents are different.
One night after work, picking up Harriet and returning home Jackson made dinner for him and April and Mac and cheese for Harriett. While April did the dishes Jackson read a bedtime story to Harriet.
Later, they sat on the couch drinking beers watching the news mostly depressing, before Jackson switching to a movie. April looked over to Jackson then rested her head on his shoulder and he brushed her hair away from her face. He leaned down and they exchanged a long kiss. He smiled and said, "fingers crossed for new horizons? You moved out for new chances for me and hopefully for both of us. I never stopped loving you. Watching you marry Matthew broke my heart, but all I cared about was your happiness. Even after you told me you and Matthew were over, I didn't want to be too hopeful because you looked sad as yet another failed marriage. When you said yes to making Boston work, I was happy because you were supportive of my decision to run the foundation, but I wasn't sure what it meant for us other than a fresh start for each of us. Now I know I want you back in my life and more than just as Harriet's parents. I can only hope you feel the same way I do. I never felt the same after we broke up and I know why we were in different places and had to do what was right for us at the time, but now that we are at the same destinations right for us, I understand why we needed to find our separate paths."
April waited until he was finished and laughed, "are you through?"
Jackson chuckled and nodded yes.
April said, "I knew marrying Matthew was a mistake, but I thought you were over me and I knew I needed to move on. Matthew was/is a good man and was a good stepfather to Harriet. She did love him, but she often asked why we weren't together. I know it hurt Matthew, but I could never come up with a logical explanation. We got married for the wrong reasons. One was from our trying to make things work again, our shared accident, and sadly I felt guilty for leaving him at the altar for you and thought maybe this time it could work, especially since you and I grew in different directions. I was wrong. I was/am still in love with you too."
They both smiled, Jackson threw the beers into the recycling bin, helped her up from the couch, and said, "there's no hotel room, but my bed is much more comfortable."
April laughed and agreed, "I think this feels right and this is time. I just don't want us making this decision only to take two steps backward."
Jackson said, "no, we are taking two steps forward and this is how it should have been done the first time around or maybe when Harriet was born. I never stopped loving you either."
He reached out his hand and she followed him into his bedroom. They slowly undressed each other and crawled under the covers and then feverishly devoured each other. They fell off to the side and fell asleep in each other's arms.
The following morning April woke early and Jackson went and got her a change of clothes and made breakfast before Harriet woke up. April dressed and damp dried her hair and quickly made it to the table before Harriet joined them. Harriet laughed but didn't say anything except eat her breakfast and waited for them to take her to daycare. Both Jackson and April had smiles on their faces after dropping her off and continued their day waiting to get back home.