Japril 5 Revised

Japril Chapter 5

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.

It's been a few weeks and they are no longer hiding their relationship from their daughter, but Catherine doesn't know yet and she will be out for a visit soon and Harriet is not good at keeping secrets (they've been sitting in on phone calls and changing the conversation if necessary), but all Jackson's mother will have to do is see the two of them together and she will figure it out herself. April is concerned about how Catherine will react remembering the last time they had a relationship. When she was pregnant with Samuel she was so good and when she was not with Jackson, they repaired their relationship until she was pregnant with Harriet. Catherine has a need to control what she doesn't like and April is afraid Catherine won't approve considering it didn't work out last time.

Jackson has his concerns, but is hopeful. His mother was proud when he told her he wanted to run the foundation, but also knew he went to see April. He later told her he wasn't his father and would not leave his family. If April said no, he wouldn't leave Seattle. Once she knew they would all go to Boston, she understood how important family is to him. So maybe, just maybe she wouldn't be against them this time around.

They were trying to take it slow this time, sure they knew each other since the Mercy West days, but didn't really become friends until after the hospital shooting. There was much confusion moving forward and then backwards and the surprise that shocked everyone including the disappointment of his mother. April is not the same person, he is not the person. He thinks his mother understands that now.

Catherine flew in on the company jet and got settled and joined everyone at the board meeting. There was a lot to discuss before the family dinner later. She was getting vibes from Jackson and April, but that would have to wait.

They went to a nice restaurant and shared a bottle of wine and Catherine said, "I want to hear all about what is going on with you two, but first I want to see my precious granddaughter.

They arrived home and paid the babysitter and although Harriet was in bed and as soon as she heard grandma's voice. She came running out of her room in her nightgown and Catherine scooped her up into her arms. "Grandma, it's so good to see you. So much has happened since the last time you were here."

Jackson said, "you should be in bed, why don't you tell grandma all about tomorrow?" April nods her head agreeing and looks over to Catherine as if to say, once Harriet is in bed, the grownups can talk.

Catherine replies," yes, I think that's a great idea, your mother and father and I need to talk and I'll come back tomorrow morning and we can all go out for waffles."

April carries Harriet to bed and by the time she is tucked back in, she is already asleep.

April has returned and Jackson opened a nice bottle of wine and is letting it breathe before pouring the glasses.

Catherine has been patient long enough and wants answers. "What is going on with the both of you? April, you gave up your place and are living here now. Don't confuse that poor child with any hopes of you being a family again. It didn't go that well the last time."

April sighs and looks at Jackson and thinks nothing has changed. Sure she loves her and thinks she is a great mother to Harriet, but she will never measure up to making Jackson happy and it failed the last time.

Jackson raises his voice enough to let his mother know he is pissed, but low enough not to wake Harriet. "Mother, I was hoping this conversation would not head this way. I told you I was moving here to run the foundation and I had to talk to April first. It meant I was not going to be like my father and family would be my priority. April is divorced from Matthew and we are seeing each other again. Mistakes were made by both of us. We each grieved for Samuel in our own way April needed to get away for her sanity and make sense of everything. At the time I was so angry, but that overshadowed how much I still loved/love her. If I had listened to you, April and I could have reconciled before Harriet was born, but ultimately I am accountable for my own choices. Still, we agreed to not bring our differences when it came to Harriet. True we moved on, but I found something as important to me in my faith, which leaned towards nature was close as what April has in her beliefs. Now if you are referring to our beliefs, you have no say in the matter. Harriet and April are living with me in Boston. Again, you have no say, except maybe in the way I am running the foundation or how April is running her department."

Catherine sighs and turns to April and says, "you've been very quiet. Do you agree with what Jackson or have something to add?"

April smiles and she is no longer swayed or fearful when it comes to Catherine trying to make decisions on how she lives, nor always trying to be the peacemaker with her former mother-in-law and her son. "Jackson and I have had many conversations about our lives and while we may not agree on many things, the one thing we do agree on is it is our lives, not yours. We are not rushing into anything. Our eyes are wide open. Our only expectations right now are to be happy and make sure Harriet is happy and healthy". Jackson echoed April, feeling very proud of her and how much she has grown.

"Okay, I'll leave you alone, but all of you should make it out next month for the GSMH board meetings and no, you can't zoom this one. Tell Harriet I had to get back to Boston, but I hope to see her next month." She kisses each of them before heading back to her hotel room.

Jackson shuts the door after his mother exited. April rinses out the glasses and Jackson wraps his arms around her from behind. "That went well", he laughs.

April turns around and rests her head on his shoulder. "I guess it could have gone better", she sighs, "but at least your mother knows where we stand."

Jackson says, "I still love you, I have loved you for years and to quote you our eyes are being wide open, but to also and I know you don't want to rush things, but you remember when I told my mother you are the one."

Standing in the kitchen with a damp drying towel, Jackson takes it from her hands and carries her to bed. The following morning, April makes breakfast while Jackson showers. After breakfast, he dresses Harriet and washes the dishes while April showers and gets ready for work. Driving over April comments, "next year Harriet will be attending kindergarten, any plans before that?"

Jackson said, "next month is our trip to Seattle, we can see everyone and Callie and Arizona should be there too. We can reconnect with them and with Sophia. We've lived here long enough; we should make some trips to NY." April nods her head in agreement.

A couple of weeks pass by and Jackson arranges for the Jet to pick them up and has his assistant make all the arrangements. Jackson recommends a sitter for Harriet and dinner out for both of them. April asks for a compromise. They will pick up Harriet and order take-out. Jackson agrees thinking that would be nicer. They'd spend some time with their daughter and then alone time together. After Harriet is asleep, April slowly walks to the bedroom, adds lotion to her body while Jackson stands in the doorway admiring her body. She puts on some sleep shorts and he changes and crawls into bed next to her. They snuggle with April facing his ear saying, "soon I won't be fitting into these shorts or any of my regular clothes."

Jackson rolls over to face her and says, "are you saying what I think you are?" April nods her head and Jacksons says, I love you so much. I want this baby and I want Harriet to have a sibling." They make love and lie sweaty in each other's arms completely naked, but he warms her up with his body heat.

In the morning they shower together and he says, "I want to marry you again and not just because of this baby. I've been trying to find the right time to ask and wanted to wait until my mother went home without her prodding and disappointing eyes."

April's eyes glisten and said, "those were my thoughts too, but I didn't know I was pregnant until yesterday. I haven't had a drink since that night. I don't want to go want what we went through with Samuel, but after the 1st trimester, I do want to know what we will be facing. I want this baby."

Jackson said, "so can we keep this a secret from Harriet and my mother next week? You won't be showing yet, but eventually, everyone will know. I would like a wedding before he or she is born and if you need a church wedding, I want what you want, but it should be small."

April laughs and says, "and leave out the 'speak now or', we both know what we want, we won't be inviting those people anyway."

Jackson laughs, followed by April.

They roust Harriet who wants to know what is so funny. Jackson says, "you are. We will get breakfast on the way in." After getting her settled, Jackson again tells her how happy he is and how much he loves her. April smiles and replies, I love you too, but I'm late for work, can you drop me off?