Chapter Text
“Okay, buddy, which pair?” Jackie asked, holding out one set of pyjamas with dinosaurs on them and a second set with sharks.
Her three-year-old son scrunched up his nose, debating the difficult choice. After a moment of intense contemplation, he beamed and declared, “Sark!”
“Excellent choice.” Jackie praised, tucking away the dinosaur pyjamas and helping her son into the shark ones. “Alright, Max, let’s go say good night to Mommy. Then it’s bedtime.”
Shauna was in her office, sitting at her cluttered desk, surrounded by stacks of paper and half-empty coffee cups. She was leaving in the morning for a conference, and she’d spent most of the past two weeks working on the presentation she would be giving while there. To say she was stressed out about it would, Jackie knew, be a major understatement. Her wife was a nervous wreck. But when their son burst into the room, his voice ringing with excitement, Shauna’s exhaustion momentarily faded as she looked up with a tired but genuine smile.
“Mommy!” He exclaimed, darting over to her.
Shauna held out her arms and scooped him into her lap when he ran to her. “How was bathtime?”
“Fun! I splashed!” Max rattled off a complicated story he’d made up about his toys while he was in the bathtub. Shauna nodded and fully engaged in his imaginative narrative, while Jackie watched the scene from the doorway, enjoying the moment. Especially when Shauna glanced up briefly and they shared a quick smile.
“That sounds fun,” Shauna remarked when the three-year-old finally reached the end of his story. “And did Mama help you clean up the bathroom?” Their son was notoriously good at splashing water everywhere.
“Yes! She cleaned it all up with lotsa towels.”
“Bathtime extraordinaire, that’s me,” Jackie said.
“Everyone’s got their superpower,” Shauna quipped with a chuckle.
Jackie laughed in agreement. “Something like that. Okay, Max, tell Mommy good night so she can get back to work.”
Max stuck out his bottom lip. “No story?”
Shauna tenderly ran her fingers through her son’s damp blonde curls. “You know, Mama tells good stories, too.”
But Max was insistent, his big brown eyes pleading as he looked up at Shauna “Want Mommy story, please?”
Shauna’s gaze flicked to her laptop, her mind already racing with unfinished tasks, but she sighed. “Alright, just one story.”
“Yay!” Max wriggled out of Shauna’s embrace, then ran out of the room.
Jackie turned her head to watch her son run down the hallway, making sure he went into his own bedroom. Then she turned to look back at her wife, who had stood up and was stretching and yawning. “I never pegged you for a softie.”
“Like you can say no when he looks at you like that. Plus, I’m going to be gone for almost five days.” She took Jackie’s hand. “And I needed a break. So, story time.”
“Fair point. Got one in mind already?”
“Yeah, I know a great one about Muppets and pirates,” Shauna responded with a mischievous glint in her eye.
“I see how it is.” Jackie chuckled, squeezing her wife’s hand gently.
Shauna laughed and kissed Jackie’s cheek. When they reached their son’s room, Max was staring into his fish tank. The goldfish, which had been a birthday present from his enthusiastic Aunt Lottie, was swimming in a circle, as usual.
“Alright, Max.” Jackie scooped her son up. “Tell your fishy goodnight.”
“Night, fishy!” Max waved to it, as usual. Then he bounced in Jackie’s arms and looked around until he spotted Shauna, already sitting on the bed. “Now story, Mommy!”
“Now story,” she agreed, holding out her arms, and Jackie handed her their son before dropping onto the relatively new ‘big boy bed’ beside her.
After Max went to sleep, Shauna went back to her office to fine-tune her presentation. Jackie sprawled on the living room couch, drowsily watching some reality tv. It had been a long day at work. She was glad she’d taken the next two days off to be home with Max while Shauna was out of town since Shauna normally worked from home a couple of days a week.
As the credits rolled on the TV screen, Jackie let out a wide yawn, reaching over to power down the TV before mustering the energy to hoist herself off the couch.
She paused at the entrance to Shauna’s office, leaning against the door frame. “Hey, I’m headed to bed. You coming soon?”
Shauna’s eyes stayed fixed on her computer screen. “Uh, yeah, there should be. I went to the store yesterday.”
Jackie rolled her eyes. But after this long together, she was used to it. This was just how Shauna got when she was focused on major projects. “Don’t stay up too late.”
When Jackie woke up, she was aware of two things: it was the middle of the night, and something was off. She blinked blearily at the alarm clock, which said 2:47 a.m. Rolling over, she reached out for Shauna, only to find the space beside her cold and empty. Jackie groaned into her pillow. With a resigned sigh, she dragged herself up and padded down the hall to go get Shauna.
On the way, she stopped at her son’s room. Max was sprawled on his sheets. In the dim glow of the fish tank, Jackie could see he’d kicked most of his covers off. With a tender touch, she carefully tucked the blanket around him more securely and gave her son a featherlight kiss on the forehead. Then she continued down the hall to where light was pooling on the floor as it spilled from Shauna’s office.
Shauna was still sitting at her desk, nose two inches away from her computer screen. The desk lamp cast a soft glow over the photographs and book covers covering the walls. Jackie lingered in the doorway, a tired but affectionate smile playing on her lips. “Hey, Shipman.”
Keeping her eyes on the screen, Shauna said, “I’m almost done. I’ll come to bed at midnight.”
Jackie raised an eyebrow, then shook her head and stepped into the room. Shauna didn’t look up as Jackie walked over to her desk, but when Jackie rested her hands on Shauna’s shoulders, she didn’t shrug her off, so Jackie knew she was okay. Jackie leaned down to kiss her neck. “Baby, it’s almost three a.m.”
That got Shauna’s attention. When she turned to look at Jackie, her brown eyes were bloodshot. “Seriously?” She croaked out.
“Seriously,” Jackie affirmed with a sympathetic nod.
Shauna cursed. “My flight is at ten! We need to leave in like four hours!”
“I know. And our son will probably be up in about three hours, so…” Jackie gave Shauna’s shoulders a comforting squeeze. “Come to bed.”
“Fine.” Shauna sighed and clicked a few icons on her computer, presumably to save her work. “There’s nothing else I can do on this stupid presentation anyway. God, I’ll be glad when it’s over.”
She snapped her laptop shut, then stood up, turning to drape her arms around Jackie’s neck.
Jackie hugged her, rubbing circles on Shauna’s back. “You’re going to do awesome. That’s why they picked you.”
Shauna nuzzled Jackie’s neck. “You’re sweet. I think I’ll keep you.”
A grin tugged at Jackie’s lips as she nestled into Shauna’s tangled hair. “Glad to hear it.”
As they made their way back down the hall, Shauna’s voice broke the silence. “Did you check on the baby?”
“Yeah.” Jackie squeezed her hand. “He kicked all his blankets off again.”
Shauna shook her head, a fond smile playing on her lips. “He is ridiculously squirmy.”
Jackie slipped back under the covers while Shauna got ready for bed. When Shauna crawled into bed a few minutes later, she immediately curled up against Jackie’s side. Jackie’s arm settled easily around her. Comfortably snuggled up with her wife, Jackie fell back to sleep.
Jackie woke to the sound of retching. Slivers of light outlined the bathroom door. Frowning, Jackie threw back the covers and tapped on the door. “Shauna? You okay?”
The sound of running water filled the silence before Shauna’s hoarse voice replied. “Fine.”
“You sure?” Jackie pressed, the worry evident in her tone. The door swung open, revealing Shauna standing at the sink, her face pale and sweaty as she brushed her teeth. Jackie arched an eyebrow. “No offence, but you don’t look fine.”
Shauna shot her a glare that was less fierce than normal as she finished brushing her teeth. “This damn presentation is making me sick to my stomach. I threw up yesterday, too.”
Jackie leaned against the doorway, watching as Shauna splashed water on her face. “You can’t let it get to you like that,” she said softly. “It’s going to be fine.”
“I know,” Shauna admitted, her grip tightening on the edge of the sink. “I just don’t want to mess this up. I’m representing the entire publishing company and it could potentially lead to some freelance jobs and…” her voice trailed off as she heaved a sigh. “I’m probably just getting way too worked up about this, aren’t I?”
“Maybe,” Jackie replied gently, wrapping her arms around Shauna, pulling her into her chest. Shauna relaxed against her. “Especially since you, my love, are Shauna Shipman, bestselling author. It’s like an honour for them to get to hear your presentation.”
Shauna laughed lightly. “Don’t oversell it, Jax. But thanks.” She tilted her head to smile at Jackie.
“You’re welcome very much,” Jackie responded with a grin, squeezing Shauna a little tighter.
“Hi, fishy!” Their son’s voice carried down the hall as he greeted his goldfish, the first thing he did every morning.
“There’s our little alarm clock,” Jackie said.
“At least he’s cute.” Shauna squeezed her arm. “You want to get that so I can jump in the shower? We need to leave for the airport in about half an hour.”
“Yeah, I’ve got him.” Jackie tightened her hands on Shauna’s waist. “Although I wouldn’t mind joining you.”
Shauna shot her a wicked little smile that sent a shiver down Jackie’s spine. “Save that thought for when I come home on Sunday.”
Before Jackie could respond, Max called out cheerfully, “Mommy! Mama! I’m awake!”
“Go.” Shauna pushed Jackie’s chest lightly and shut the bathroom door.
Before she walked away, though, Jackie said, “I’m holding you to that, Shipman!”
“It’s a date!” Shauna called through the door as the shower turned on.
With a smirk, Jackie headed down the hall to get her son ready for the day.
After a rushed breakfast, Jackie loaded Shauna’s suitcase into the back of the car while Shauna strapped Max into his car seat. On the drive to the airport, the three-year-old made his toy car, a gift from his Aunt Nat last Christmas, zoom around the car. Occasionally he stopped imitating car sounds long enough to bombard his mother with questions about the airplane she was going to be flying in, which she very patiently answered.
“When you going to fly, Mama?” Max asked seriously.
Jackie glanced back at him in the rearview mirror. “Mama doesn’t really fly much, buddy. So probably not soon. Your Mommy just has to for work sometimes.”
Jackie expected a follow-up question, but Max just frowned thoughtfully, then asked, “Mommy, is other people on the plane with you?” And the conversation went on from there.
They pulled into the parking garage so Jackie and Max could actually walk Shauna into the airport since the questions about the plane had morphed into questions about exactly how long Mommy would be gone, which had resulted in a trembling bottom lip and reassurances that Mommy would definitely be back, and in the meantime, he got to hang out with Mama, which would be lots of fun. Despite these reassurances, Max clung to Shauna’s neck as she carried him into the airport, a very uncertain look on his face as he studied the crowds of people.
“Alright, buddy,” Jackie said when they reached the terminal and stopped a little ways outside security. “This is as far as you and I can go.”
Max tightened his arms around Shauna’s neck. “How come?”
“Because you have to have a plane ticket to go through security,” Jackie explained as Shauna cuddled her son. “So only Mommy gets to go.”
“But I’ll be home in four days,” Shauna assured him, her voice gentle but firm. “And you can tell me stories about all the fun things you and Mama are going to do.”
Lip trembling, Max murmured, “But I don’t want you to go.”
“I’m sorry, baby, I have to go. But I love you so, so much.” Shauna kissed his forehead, his chubby cheeks, and the tip of his nose, which actually drew a grudging smile from him. “And guess what?”
“What?”
“I’m going to bring you back a special present.”
He perked up at that. “Present?”
“Yep. But you have to be good and help Mama, okay?”
After considering that briefly, Max nodded and said, “Okay.”
“Awesome. Alright, I really have to go. I love you.” Shauna kissed Max again, then passed him to Jackie, which took a little extra effort, since he didn’t immediately want to let go of her neck.
“Have a great trip,” Jackie said once their son was settled on her hip. She held out her other arm to Shauna and she stepped into Jackie’s embrace, briefly burying her face into Jackie’s neck. Jackie hugged her tight. “Your presentation is going to be amazing.”
“I hope so.” Shauna kissed her, lingering for a few moments. “Take care of our little guy.”
“Of course. I’ve got this.”
“I know you do.” Shauna smiled, then leaned over to kiss their son’s cheek again.
“Call when you get there.” Jackie kissed her again. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. See you in a few days.”
Jackie waited until she was out of sight, knowing Max wouldn’t stop waving at his mom until she gave him a final wave and disappeared down an escalator. When Jackie noticed her son’s lip start to tremble again, she bounced him gently, and said, “Hey, how about we stop at the park on our way home?”
Max perked up at the suggestion, so Jackie carried him back out of the terminal to the car, though she herself threw one last, possibly wistful, look over her shoulder at the spot where her wife had disappeared.
The rest of the day was pretty good. The weather was beautiful, and they soaked up the sunshine at the park for several hours. They got fast food burgers for lunch, and Jackie might have let her son get a kids’ meal with the toy, which was a special treat. Shortly after they got home, Shauna called to say she’d landed safely in Miami and was already checked into her hotel. Max spent several minutes on the phone filling her in on the park and his new plastic toy. Then, Jackie and her son spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out at home. And, almost as reliably as clockwork, every hour, Max asked how much longer until Mommy came home. By evening, Jackie exhaled heavily, thinking it might be a long few days.
They had hot dogs and macaroni and cheese for dinner (because why not?), then watching The Lion King for what was roughly the forty-seventh time. Jackie could quote it word for word. But she was also pretty happy that her son liked something so much.
When the movie ended, Max sprang up off the couch and announced, “Bathtime!”
“Yeah, little guy, it’s bathtime.” Jackie agreed with a smile. She had heard of other kids who hated taking a bath. Luckily, Max had no such issues. Bathtime was his favourite. Jackie was pretty happy about that, too. It reminded her of the first time she’d taken her son to the lake. Max had only been a few months old, but he’d squealed happily, kicking his tiny feet in the water. As her now three-year-old son beamed at her, tugging her hand eagerly, Jackie had one of those moments where it almost overwhelmed her, just how much she loved her child. Sometimes she couldn’t even believe that this was her life now. But it was. And the home and family she and Shauna had built together made everything they’d gone through to get here worth it.
So Jackie let her son pull her off the couch and march her down the hallway. And when Max asked her to “roar like Simba,” Jackie did her best. Because there had been a time when she would have given almost anything to be here. And she tried her best to never take what she had for granted.