"Today was fun. I think Harriet has enough new sea creature facts to last her a lifetime."
"It was, and yeah. She'll probably be reporting those back to you every night for the rest of the week." April replies with a chuckle.
Jackson smiles, "I don't mind. It's always the highlight of my day."
April finds her mind drifting off as they stand inside his apartment, and he can't help but notice by her slow response. "Hey, you okay?"
"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine...I just...was thinking, sorry," She pauses for a moment, "We've...never really had the chance to do this before. You know, spend time together, just the three of us."
The last time they had spent any time together feeling like a normal family had been when she'd been living with him after the birth. Even then, it was rare that it ever felt like quality time because of how exhausted they were and how young Harriet was at the time. They'd spent her birthdays together, but often Matthew and whoever Jackson had been dating at the time, or Catherine and Richard, had also been there.
Jackson stares at her for a moment, feeling an ache in his chest. On the one hand, Boston feels like a chance for them to make up for lost time and give Harriet the experiences he feels she's missed out on - like being able to have quality moments with both of her parents, together. On the other hand, he can't help but feel guilty and ruminate on the past.
They'd felt like a proper family today, and he longs for that. Longs for her. Longs for days of the three of them, together.
But Boston is all so new, and April is freshly divorced, and he's not even sure if he has a shot with her anymore.
"We can...do this again, you know. Spend more time together, as a family," He eventually says, feeling hopeful that its what she wants, too.
Family. April thinks, and she can't help but feel that same ache. She feels both giddy at the prospect of more play-dates and nervous about what it all means at the same time.
"Yeah, I'd like that. I'm sure Hattie would too."
There's another pause, before Harriet comes bouncing out of the bedroom she'd retreated to, "Mommy, are you staying for dinner?"
April looks to Jackson, as if to ask for permission. "You should."
"Okay. Yeah, bug. I'll stay." She grins at her daughter, getting down to her level and pulling her into a hug.