I shift in my chair, cradling my bump.
“Jackson told us about what happened,” she says softly. “I’m sorry that your sister did that to you.”
I shrug, reaching up to adjust my glasses.
“If it helps, the girls were ready to launch an entire smear campaign. It was very elaborate.”
My lips twitch at the thought. Before this trip, I’d spoken to the Harpers on an off, the occasional text or a friendly wave through video call, but I already feel more a part of their family than I ever have my own.
“I just never understood why she hates me so much,” I admit with a whisper.
Gloria sends me a small smile. “You might never know that, honey. You’ve just got to learn to love yourself more.”
A loud laugh snaps me out of it as I see Tara giggling and showing Jackson something on her phone.
He looks up and shoots me a wink.
“You’ve raised lovely children,” I say quietly to Gloria.
She beams at me. “Well, I wish someone had told methatthirty five years ago. I tell you, motherhood is a constant battle to convince yourself you’re doing a good job.”
I smile and rub my hand against my belly. “I already feel like that.”
Jackson appears at my shoulder, gently tugging at the hair that’s draped over my shoulder. “I’ve got to go run an errand.”
“An errand?” I ask, narrowing my eyes. “On Christmas Eve?”
He grins impishly. “Important Christmas Eve errand.”
“How long will you be?” Gloria asks, checking the gold watch on her wrist.
“Not long,” he reassures us both before he presses a kiss to my lips and runs out of the room.
“He’s either forgotten something, or he’s about to pull off a ridiculous surprise.” Gloria tells me, leaning her chin on her hand. I smile, thinking of the car that’s waiting for her on her driveway at home. “He’s always been that way, going above and beyond. He’s been like that since his father died.”
Jackson hasn’t shared much about his father, only that he’d had an accident when he was younger.
“It was so hard.” Gloria’s voice wobbles and I rest my hand gently on her forearm as her words tumble out. “I’d lost my Oliver, but I had three kids to care for. Tara shut down, she wouldn’t leave her room or talk to me. Ella started acting out at school, getting in trouble and starting fights. ”
She crosses her arms across her body.
“Jackson was the glue that kept us together when we were falling apart. He’d annoy Tara until she started laughing again, he would hang out with Ella at school so she wasn’t so lonely and then he’d play rugby on the weekends. He just didn’t stop, that boy. It was so easy for him to be positive. To look after us.”
That sounds like Jackson,I think with a smile, imagining a younger Jackson without the tattoos, with gangly limbs and a fresh face. “I can’t imagine how difficult that must have been for all of you.”
I’ve never not had both parents, never had to face the grief of losing one. Despite how difficult our relationship is, I know they’re stillthere.Still sitting at the same kitchen table, still waking up in the morning. I could see them again, if I wanted to. I could sit with my dad as he talks about his latest project in the garage, or hear my mum’s gossip about the neighbors. There’s a part of me that doeswant that, but I just don’t think they do. They haven’t reached out since Cleo posted that video. Apart from my dad dropping off the crib and the thank you text I sent that was left on read, they haven’t reached out once, not even to invite me over for Christmas. They just don’t want me.
Tears burn my eyes but Gloria nudges me with a smile, dragging me from my thoughts. “As soon as he started talking about you, I knew you were the one.”
I blush as I shift in my seat, cradling my bump. “Oh, well.” I gesture to my bump.
“He was always going to be an amazing father, Rosie,” Gloria tells me. “He would be there for this baby regardless. But he’s chosen the best partner. You two just…” She shrugs. “Fit.”
I feel my eyes sting, and I blink back the tears. I’m unsure what to do with the compliment, with the affection from this woman I’ve only known for a handful of days.
“I think so too,” I admit quietly.
I lean forward, resting my elbow on the table, but Smudge shifts in my belly. I grab Gloria’s hand with a smile, pulling it to the side of my belly where Smudge likes to kick. It only takes a few seconds for a flutter to hit the spot, and Gloria gasps.
