The Late-Night Host And I

Nineteen

Leigh

"Leigh, wake up." I felt someone tapping me repeatedly and I adjusted my head. "What time is it?" I slowly opened my eyes and wiped the morning stars away.

"Ten in the morning." I stretched my arms and yawned, "Dad?" As I heard his voice, I quickly got up and straightened my clothes.

"You came here late, very late, last night. You had a few drinks, I think?" I scratched my head, remembering what happened last night. "Sorry, dad." I uttered, standing up and sitting beside him on the hospital bed.

"It's okay, Leigh. Where's son-in-law Jimmy?" I furrowed my eyebrows, thinking of answers. "We had a fight last night, nothing to talk about." I faked a smile and looked at him, I feel so mad at myself for all the lies I have said to him.

"Come here, sweetie," he wrapped his arms around me, making me feel warm, "I am always here, when there's something wrong, just text me." I started to feel like I don't deserve him as my father, I am a big disappointment to him. I wish I could've give him more than this.

"Dad, I miss mom." He started rubbing my back as tears fall down from my eyes. "I miss her too, sweetie." I took a deep breath and he removed his arms from me.

I could see the worry on his face when he saw my tears, "I'll just get some water outside." I stood up and grabbed a water tumbler.

"Do you need anything?" He shook his head and I walked my way out of his room.

--

Jimmy

"Justin?" I knocked on his bedroom door and opened it, I saw him scribbling on his notebook. "Can we talk?" He put down his pencil and closed his notebook, "Yes. dada." It warms my heart that he still calls me dada.

"What you did yesterday is wrong," I knelt down and held his hands. "you disturbed her while she's doing some things. It's not good to disturb people unless you need something important, okay?" He nodded and hugged me, this is surprising me. I haven't received a hug from him for years, this is going to make me cry. "Dada?",  he called out. "Yes?"

"Do you love me? Do you love my big brother and sister?" I tilted my head and smiled, "Of course. I love you all more than a million red M&Ms." He nodded and kissed my cheek, "I love you too, dada!" 

I touched the spot where he kissed me as I started to fight the urge of crying, this moment is so special and unexpected. I stood up and walked straight outside of his bedroom, closed the door and sighed. 

This all started when Leigh showed up. Is she Mary Poppins? Because I am sure she is kinda like Poppins, she had an effect on Justin. Will she even have an effect to James and Jiana? Everything feels so surreal. Justin would not normally talk to me but now, he is. 

I felt my eyes tearing up from happiness that I felt with Justin, I wiped my eyes and sighed in relief.

Suddenly, I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. I quickly reached for it and read the screen, it is Pixton. "What?", I sullenly glanced as I answered the call. There's no one speaking, is she drunk again?

As I was to end the call, I heard someone unknown speak, "Hello? Jimmy? Are you my son-in-law?" I returned the phone back to my ear, "You're speaking with him right now." I cleared my throat.

"I know that you have a busy schedule, that's why I called you. I am hoping to see you soon." I took a seat at the stairs, "What's the matter, mister Pixton? I'm glad you called. Leigh and I are planning to visit you in Chicago last week but there are some things that changed our plans." 

I heard him laugh, "I'm in New York now!" I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion, "You are?" Pixton didn't tell me?

"Yes," I shook my head, "but the real reason I called is because of your wedding with Leigh." My eyes widened as I heard him blurt out those words. "Sir, what do you mean-"

"I only have six months to live, I want to walk my daughter down the aisle. Jimmy, please make that happen in six months." I kept my head down, why? Why is he doing this? 

"I can't promise you that, sir. But I will try my best. Call me if you need anything. Take care." I touched the red button and took a deep breath. I proceeded to my messages and composed a text message.

Me: please look into the medical records of pixton's father

As I was to hit send, I deleted the message.

Me: do u know someone who can look into the medical records of pixton's father?

I pressed send and stood up from the stairs, where I was sitting earlier. I entered Justin's room and I found him knocked asleep on the floor.

I picked him up and placed him on his bed, I tucked him in his favorite blanket which he owned ever since he was born. 

I sat on one of the kiddie chairs he have in his room, I've never been here before for so long. Ever since my wife died, I didn't spend enough time with my kids. It's just, so hard for me. Every time I am with them, I always wish that my wife, the love of my life, is here with us.

I looked over Justin's nightstand and saw a notebook, it's the one he is scribbling with earlier. I turned it to first page and saw a signature of their teacher, I never knew that they require my child a journal for his everyday life.

I flipped the pages to the date today, I saw a drawing and his cute little handwriting.

How was your day? daddy say i love you to me 

I smiled to myself reading that whole explanation of his day, it's still in the morning but he felt that his day is already complete.

// AUTHOR'S NOTE //

Y'all guys I missed updating this story. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

(school starts next week and i can't update as much sooo nooo)

Love y'all! xx

Detective_Fallon