30. Jax
JAX
I read over the letter in my hand one more time.
Dear Mother,
I hope this letter finds you well. I know it’s been years since we’ve had any contact, but I thought you might like to know that you have a granddaughter.
Her name is Maddison. She’s five years old.
If you’re wondering why I’ve taken so long to inform you, I only found out she was mine a few years ago.
She has become a huge part of my life since then.
She’s beautiful, smart, and has such a sweet nature. I’m extremely proud of her.
I’m writing this letter because I’d love for her to meet my family. She has her mother’s family in her life, and it would be nice if she had some contact with you all as well. I’m enclosing a photo of her. It was taken last week on her first day of school.
As for me, if you’re the least bit interested, my life is going well. I own and run a successful tattoo parlour in Newtown. I’m currently looking into buying another one. I know it’s not the career you envisioned for me, but I’m happy.
Tell Father and Brent I said hello.
Take care,
Jaxson
The letter seems formal at best, but it’s all I’ve got.
My family don’t do mushy anyway. I hate even having to write this, but I’m doing it for my little girl.
No other reason. I’m in two minds about even subjecting her to them, but she should be given the opportunity to meet them at the very least.
I’m not expecting miracles; look how they’ve treated me.
My gut churns as I fold the letter and put it inside the envelope. I hope I’m not going to regret this.
I’m pulled from my thoughts when my phone dings. It’s a message from Carter.
Carter: Are you coming up this weekend? I bought a Jet Ski yesterday. You’ve gotta try this baby out. It’s wicked.
This weekend I have Maddie. I haven’t even mentioned her to him yet.
He’s never asked why I’ve gone from visiting him every weekend to only every second.
He just presumes I’m busy with work. It’s not like I’m ashamed of my situation, I love my daughter and I want the world to know she’s mine.
But as close as Carter and I are, we don’t talk about personal shit. Chicks do that stuff, not guys.
Me: Hey dipshit. I’m busy this week, but I’ll definitely come up next weekend. I need to talk to you about a business proposition anyway. I am looking forward to taking your Jet Ski for a spin. I can give you lessons if you like.
Carter: I don’t need lessons, arsehole. I know how to ride it.
He bites every damn time.
“Jax, it’s Candice,” she says the moment I answer the phone.
“I just got a call from the school. Maddie’s in the sick bay.
She fell and hit her head in the playground.
” Her words have my heart dropping into the pit of my stomach.
“She’s okay. Don’t panic, but they’ve asked me to come and get her.
It’s school policy with any type of head injury. ”
The moment she says head injury, I go weak at the knees. “I’m coming with you,” I blurt. I need to see Maddie with my own eyes.
“I was going to get Sophia to pick her up.”
“We’re her parents, Candice, not Sophia.”
“I’m at work, plus my car is in getting serviced. I can’t pick it up until this afternoon.”
“Text me your address.” I have no idea where she works—the less I know about her life, the better. “I’ll pick you up on the way.”
“Alright,” she says with a sigh.
Fifteen minutes later I pull up outside her work.
I find her waiting for me by the kerb. The first thing that comes to mind is how beautiful she looks, which annoys me.
I read the sign above the shop and see she’s still working in the beauty industry.
I know this isn’t the career she wants. She was happier when she was working for me.
“Hey,” she says once she’s seated in the passenger seat.
I glance at her as I pull onto the road. “Hey.” Maddie’s school is only five minutes from here, so we should be there soon enough. I’m trying hard not to work myself up into a state. You don’t send your kids to school to get hurt. “Have you heard any more from the school since we talked?”
“No. Stop panicking, the lady in the office said she seemed fine.”
“I’m not panicking,” I say defensively.
“Yes, you are.” She chuckles.
She’s right, I am, but I’m not about to admit that to her.
The office lady, Pam, ushers us into the sick bay. Maddie is sitting on a chair in the corner, holding an ice pack to her forehead. Rushing over, I crouch down in front of her. She has puffy eyes from where she’s been crying. It tears me up inside.
“Are you okay, Peanut?” I scan her body as I speak. Apart from the icepack on her forehead and a scraped knee, I can’t see any other injuries. That calms me slightly.
Her bottom lip pouts as her big brown eyes lock with mine. “I hit my head, Daddy. I tripped over Thomas.”
“Hmm.” This Thomas kid sounds like he needs his face high-fived.
“It’s okay, Daddy’s here now,” I say, pulling her into my arms. When I draw back, I remove the icepack to inspect her forehead.
There’s a small lump there, but it’s not as bad as I expected.
“We’re going to take you home. I think we should get a doctor to check you out.
” I lift her off the chair, while Candice chats with Pam.
“I’m okay, Daddy.”
“We’re still going to see the doctor. Just to be sure.” I swear I see Maddie look at her mother and roll her eyes, but I ignore it.
“That school has a lot to answer for,” I grumble once we have Maddie strapped in.
“She was playing, Jax. She was in the playground.”
“I don’t care. They should’ve been watching her.”
“There are over four hundred kids at this school, and maybe two teachers, max, on playground duty.”
“Well, that’s not good enough. I’m going to call the principal when I get back to work. No, better still, I’ll email him. At least we’ll have something in writing then.”
“You will not,” she snaps. “You heard what Pam said. She was running on the concrete and tripped over another kid. How is that the school’s fault?”
“They should’ve stopped her before she got hurt.”
“You can’t wrap her in cotton wool. She needs to be a kid. Kids run. It’s what they do.”
“We do, Daddy,” Maddie says from the back seat.
I’ll never win with these two.
I’m relieved when the doctor gives Maddie the all-clear. At worst, she has a mild concussion, but he’s given us a list of things to look out for just in case. That does nothing to ease my mind.
“She can come back to work with me,” I say to Candice when we’re in the car.
“It’s okay, my boss gave me the rest of the afternoon off. I’m going to work back Thursday night to make up for it.”
“Make sure you keep an eye on her. You have the list the doctor gave you, right?”
“Yes, Jax.” This time Candice rolls her eyes. “When did you become so overbearing?”
“Because I care about our daughter’s welfare?”
She goes quiet. I guess she has no comeback.
“You’re right,” she murmurs a few seconds later. She says it so softly, I barely hear her.
“What was that?” I say, bringing my hand to my ear.
“You’re right. Maddie’s lucky to have a father who cares about her. I wouldn’t know what that felt like.”
My smugness immediately disappears when I glance at her. She looks so sad as she picks at an imaginary piece of fluff on her white trousers.
“Hey,” I say, placing my hand on hers. “Your father’s an idiot. He’s the one who’s missed out on something amazing, not you. He’d adore you if he took the time to get to know you.”
“You think so?” she asks as a smile tugs at her lips.
“I know so.”