Catherine and Jackson
Catherine folds her arms and snorts. "You thought I didn't know you used to watch me put my very private documents in that place? I removed anything not meant for your eyes when you weren't looking years ago."
Catherine says, going to open a drawer and taking out more documents.
"This is the rest of what you are looking for. I left those documents as a gift to you because I knew you would eventually come looking."
With Jackson's mouth dry and tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth, he says nothing.
She gives him the documents, and he only looks at them, not wanting to fall into any of her traps. "What are you trying to pull?" He finally manages to ask in anger.
She pulls her hand back and gives him a stern look. "Now, what did I say about you using that tone with me, young man? I'm still your mother!"
Only satisfied when he finally breaks eye contact, she looks back at the documents and says. "These came, shortly after Harriet was born, and of course, you two had worked things out by then, and I saw that you were still in love with your wife and her you, so, I held on to them for safekeeping."
Jackson looks back at her in disbelief at her nonchalant behavior and raises his voice again. "Why do you have these documents, mother? And don't say anything about my tone. Do you have any idea what you have done? And how the hell did you manage to pull this off?"
Catherine sighs heavily, getting irritated by Jackson. "Look, you went through a whole divorce, and I stayed out of it, didn't I? But you two rushed into things like you did when you got married in the first place, and look how that turned out? I was only cleaning up your mess!" She shouts back.
She lowers her tone, going for a more pleasant one, as it sometimes stays his anger, hoping to get him to see things her way. "Look, baby, I did it to make sure you don't lose your daughter, but later I saw how much you both still loved each other and did it to save you from yourselves."
Jackson puts his hands on his head, eyes popped open, not believing his ears.
"Yes, I did it for you! And I'd do it again!" Catherine raises her voice again when she sees him not changing his stance.
"Now, don't pretend like this is not the best news you've heard since you tried to divorce your wife! I have seen how miserable you have been since April left! It's why I was so angry when you got involved with Maggie. I only kept it a secret because I knew you'd overreact and needed some time to get over yourself!"
"And how about now, mom, huh? You thought I wouldn't overreact now?" Jackson asks, lifting his shoulders in frustration.
"No, I knew you would overreact as usual, but I also knew it would prove that I always know what's best. I know what you need, better than anyone, and at times better than even you. And what you need right now is your wife and baby back!"
Jackson looks at his mother for a long second, letting his nerves settle, the wheels of his brain turning, thinking about everything that's happened lately, and her choice of words. In the end, he comes to a conclusion he should have caught onto quicker since he grew up with his mother's games and calmly says.
"Mom, this has nothing to do with me needing my family back. You, are using my pain and loneliness to distract me from finding my past, aren't you? You made the lawyers play hardball with me so that I would have to come here, to look for this, putting a derail on my past in light of my present." He says, eyebrows drawn together.
Caught and knowing she would get caught anyway, Catherine replies with a cheeky. "Yes, I did! And I repeat, I would do it again! But I resent you saying I used your pain..."
"I merely saw an opportunity to put your mind into things that matter and not toxic pasts that have no bearing to your present or your future!"
Taking a breath to calm down, she decides to try to find common ground by walking closer to him and saying. "Now, darling, go get your wife. And remember that out of my wisdom, and in the face of your emotional state, that couldn't possibly see your future pain and future regret made sure that when you were ready. You could get her and Harriet back. Me no one else." Catherine says, pointing to herself.
Speechless, Jackson scratches his head, takes the papers, retrieves the other one's back in the workroom, uses his keys to open the door, and walks out. He needs to be as far away from her as possible, leaving a confused Catherine behind.
