Caring again

The days when by naturally, and early on a bright Wednesday morning, Jackson was standing on Miya porched. After waiting for a brief while, the door open and Miya walked out. Then she handed Mila to Jackson before heading back inside.

Jackson had just placed Mila in her car seat when Miya came back outside. Then she helped settled Milu and Milo in the back seat of Jackson's vehicle before turning around to face him.

"Are you sure that you can handle them?" Miya asked as she glanced at her kids with worry in her eyes.

"I swear on my life that a hair on their heads will not get harm," Jackson replied while adoringly staring at his babies.

"Okay, then. I will be back at three o'clock, hopefully, sooner than that?"

"I have to meet up with my friend Steven at Julie's parent's house. However, the kids and I will be back before three."

As she gently rubbed her arms, Miya smiled and sadly said, "Gosh, it feels like ages since I saw those two. Time has really gone by faster than I expected."

"You know Steven and Julie?" Jackson asked in confusion.

"Yeah, even though we only interacted for a brief while. You may not remember, but I was there when your wife and you got into… Well, you know…" Julie mumbled feeling a bit awkward.

For a second, Jackson intensely stared at her. He then smirked and said, "Although that day is not something that I want to recall, I do remember."

"Oh, I am sorry."

"It's nothing."

After Jackson had shut the vehicle back door, he was about to get into the car when Miya asked, "Did you guys work it out? I mean you and your wife…"

Without answering, Jackson got into the driver's seat and shut the door. Then he glanced at her and said, "See you at three."

Afterward, he drove off as Miya stared behind the car, feeling completely embarrassed and a bit annoyed.

"The kids and I? Haha, you both sound like a married couple."

When Miya turned around and her eyes met Lucas's cold gaze, she felt a rise in her chest as her heart skipped several beats.

"When did you come out?" Miya mumbled, swallowing down her fear and putting on a brave face.

"Does it matter? But I am glad that I did because if I didn't, I won't have caught you flirting with our so-called neighbor. What now, do you plan to give yourself to him since you have given him your kids?" Lucas rudely said before puffing on his cigarette.

The last impatient Miya had for her husband got devoured by her rage as Lucas's last statement echoed in her head.

She then slowly pulled her hair behind her ear, sigh, and said, "Maybe I will since he is more of a man than you will ever amount to."

Afterward, she walked past Lucas and headed into the house, feeling disgusted with herself for saying those words, and yet she wanted him to hurt as much as she was hurting.

"I guess I have been too linear, way too linear…" Lucas coldly said before dropping his cigarette to the floor and stomping on it.

Then he headed into the house with his hands in a tight fist and anger raging in his eyes.

A few minutes later, Jackson had just arrived in the driveway of the Harper Bakeshop when he got a call.

"Hey man," Chris said while slightly twisting his chair left then right as he sat in his office.

"What is it?" Jackson asked after he had brought the car to a stop.

"When do you and Steven plan to meet up at Julie's place? I am thinking about stopping by since I don't have much work on my desk."

"I am already here."

"Is Steven there with you?"

"No, but the triplet is."

The chair suddenly became still as Chris jump to his feet in shock and shouted, "Who? I told you not to do anything stupid, dude!"

"And I didn't. I'm just babysitting them why Miya attends some job interview." Jackson said.

"Lucas was okay with that?"

"No. But that's their problem to deal with."

"Dude, I told you not to do something stupid! That guy is not only verbally abusive, but he also physically hits on her. If he's not okay, then Miya is not safe!"

A sigh slipped from Jackson's lips as he scratched his eyebrow while slowly losing his patience. Then he narrowed his eyes and asked, "That sounds like her problem, not mine. I care about my kids, not her."

"You piece of…! I know that your wife messed you up, but you are not going to destroy someone else life because you are damage!" Chris angrily shouted.

However, the moment he ended his statement, Jackson ended the call and tossed the from on the car seat. Then his eyes caught sight of his kids and he let out a sigh.

"The sooner I get custody for you guys, the quicker I can cut ties with that woman… I mean your mother." He mumbled.

The sudden sound of another car engine drew his attention, so he stared away from the kids and gazed out his car windshield.

Then he patiently watched as Steven got down from his vehicle and approached him.

"Tuxedo? Is today your wedding, and I don't know about it?" Jackson teasingly asked.

"Haha, funny. Are you not getting down?" Steven mumbled.

As Jackson chuckled, his hand reached for the door handle. But then he stopped and looked back.

Out of curiosity, Steven's eyes following his friend's gaze, and his jaw dropped.

"Why do you have three babies in your car?" Steven mumbled without taking his eyes of the triplet.

"I feel bad for saying this, but I got to go," Jackson said.

"What are you talking about? You just got here."

"I think I need to be somewhere else."

"What could be more important than being there for your friend for one of the biggest moments of his life? And I also need you here!"

After staring at his kids for a few seconds, Jackson looked back at his friend and said, "I am sorry, bro. I will try to make it up to you later!"

"Hey, don't you dare! Do you hear me! Don't you freaking dare leave me…" Steven angrily yelled.

However, Jackson already had the car in gear, and before Steven could end his statement, he had already driven off at full speed.

"What are you doing, Jackson?" You promise yourself that you weren't going to get involved with another woman again. But while are you stressing about her. This is all Chris's fault! Yeah, his stupid words are messing with your head." Jackson mumbled while blowing his horn aggressively for the other vehicles to drive faster.