ด้วยรักตลอดไป (With Love, Forever)

Jackson

I wasn't sure how the morning had turned into this.

The house was already warm with the smell of pancakes and coffee when I heard the doorbell ring. I hadn't expected Jeff to show up so quickly—he must've been just as eager to dodge whatever awkwardness could've followed after last night.

I opened the door and found him standing there, holding a small bag of what looked like fancy coffee beans. "I come bearing gifts," he said, a playful grin on his face, like he hadn't just spent the entire night sitting next to me, holding my hand, and kissing me in the middle of a cheesy action flick.

"Yeah, well, you're late." I stepped aside to let him in. "Xinxin's already eaten, but she'll be happy to see you. We're on to round two of pancakes, anyway."

He raised an eyebrow as he entered, glancing at the table where Xinxin was perched, nibbling on the last of her pancake stack. She looked up and waved excitedly when she saw him.

"Mr. Jeff! You're here!"

"Always," Jeff replied, ruffling her hair and making his way over to the counter where I was flipping more pancakes. He set the bag of coffee on the counter like it was nothing, his eyes meeting mine briefly as if nothing had changed, but there was a slight shift in his expression, a knowing gleam that lingered too long before he turned to Xinxin.

"Pancakes, huh? Looks like I'm in the right place."

Xinxin giggled. "You always are!"

I couldn't help the smile that crept onto my face at the scene. It wasn't normal in the sense that it used to be, but there was something strangely comforting about it. Even after the confusion of last night, it felt right.

"So, what's the plan today?" Jeff asked, leaning against the counter beside me, but he was careful not to stand too close. Like he was giving me space—or maybe just waiting for me to crack first.

I shrugged, flipping the pancake with one quick motion. "I dunno. Xinxin has a playdate later. But if you're sticking around..." I trailed off, unsure of how to finish that sentence.

"Of course I'm sticking around," Jeff said, his voice light, but there was something else in the way he said it, something that made the air feel a little heavier.

I met his gaze, and for a moment, I felt that pull again—the one I'd tried to ignore. But instead of running from it, I held on.

"Good," I said, my voice steady. "I could get used to having you around."

Jeff's eyes softened, and for a second, I thought he might say something more. But instead, he grinned. "Well, it's a good thing I like pancakes then, huh?"

It was just a joke. But there was something in it—something unsaid—that made me hold his gaze a little longer. It felt like we were both tiptoeing around whatever this was, but we didn't have to. Not necessarily anymore. 

Xinxin had just left for her playdate, her backpack bouncing as she skipped out the door, her laughter still echoing as the car pulled away. The house felt quieter now, emptier. It was always a little unsettling when she wasn't around, but it also gave me a chance to breathe, to think—or, in this case, to hide from the mess I was trying not to confront.

Jeff and I had retreated to the studio. It wasn't comfortable, not entirely, but it was familiar. And, for once, it was nice to have someone else around to help fill the silence.

Jeff was sprawled across the couch, scrolling through his phone, probably looking at a dozen random things he didn't care about, while I sat at my desk, trying to finish some work I'd been putting off. The soft hum of the air conditioning, the quiet shuffle of his movements—this was easy. Simple.

Until the phone rang.

I glanced at the caller ID and froze. It was Ms. Virawathin, my lawyer.

I hesitated for a moment, then answered.

"Hello, Ms. Virawathin."

"Jackson," she said, her voice professional, clipped. "I wanted to update you on your case. It seems your ex-wife is pushing for a hearing with a judge. She's determined to have Xinxin's opinion on custody dismissed, claiming that she's too young to understand the situation properly."

I felt my stomach twist. Too young. That was the argument? The same one she had used when she'd disappeared from Xinxin's life for so long?

"What do you mean by 'dismissed'?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. "Does that mean she wants to disregard Xinxin's wishes completely?"

"That's precisely what she's aiming for," Ms. Virawathin replied, her tone softening just a touch, but still firm. "She wants the judge to rule that Xinxin, being only seven, can't have an opinion in the matter. She's accusing you of encouraging Xinxin to speak out of turn."

I squeezed the bridge of my nose, fighting the wave of frustration building inside me. "And what does that mean for me? What's next?"

"Well, if the judge agrees with her, it could complicate things further. You'll need to be prepared for a formal hearing. I'd recommend gathering statements and any evidence you can regarding Xinxin's well-being with you. Her safety, stability, and happiness—those will be the key points for the judge to consider. But understand, this is going to get more difficult."

I felt a weight settle in my chest. "More difficult than it already is?"

"I'm afraid so," she said, a pause in her words. "I'll keep you updated on the date of the hearing. In the meantime, you'll need to stay prepared for whatever comes next."

"Right. Thank you, Ms. Virawathin."

I hung up, staring at the phone in my hand. My ex-wife had done this. She was using Xinxin's age against me, trying to rewrite the narrative to suit herself.

I ran a hand through my hair, my head feeling heavy. I didn't want to think about it anymore—not now, not in front of Jeff. But I knew I couldn't hide it either.

I turned to him, his gaze already on me, concern flickering in his eyes. He didn't ask what was going on, but the silence between us spoke louder than words.

"Looks like we're in for a bit more of a fight," I said quietly. "She's taking it to court. Wants a judge to decide whether Xinxin's even allowed to have an opinion."

Jeff sat up, a frown pulling at his features. "She's seriously doing that? After everything?"

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Yeah. She doesn't think Xinxin's old enough to understand what's going on."

Jeff let out a low curse under his breath, rubbing his eyes as if he was the one who'd been hit with this blow. He stood, crossing the room to where I sat. "That's messed up. Really messed up."

"I don't know what to do anymore," I admitted, feeling the weight of it all. "I thought I was protecting her, but now... I don't know. It feels like I'm losing ground."

"Hey," Jeff said, his voice softer now, reassuring. "You're not losing ground. She's not taking Xinxin from you. You're doing everything right." He moved closer, putting a hand on my shoulder. "You're a good dad. Don't let her mess with your head."

I looked up at him, meeting his gaze. There was something in his eyes—something deeper than just sympathy. I didn't have the words to say what I was feeling, but I nodded, grateful for his support, even if it didn't fix anything. It wasn't much, but it was enough for now.