The Story of Us

Chapter Five

      Right before Anna's Third birthday Nicole found out that she was pregnant with their second child. Jackson was so happy, “I will be able to treat you the way that you should've been treated when you were pregnant with Anna. I will be able to make up for some of the things that I did then."

     "That sounds good to me!” said Nicole happily.

     The very first day was about as far as that went. The only nice thing he did was pull the car up to the porch so she wouldn't have to walk as far. They went to Nicole’s parents’ house and then to Jackson’s parents’ house to tell them all that Nicole was pregnant.

     Nicole started getting morning sickness really bad again, just like when she was pregnant with Anna. She tried to do everything she could; the laundry, wash dishes, and take care of Anna normally. But, sometimes the dishes got left behind. Jackson would never rinse off his dishes and the food would dry on the dishes and when Nicole would try to wash the dishes the stuck on food on them made her sick at her stomach.

      “Jackson, could you please wash some of the dishes for me? It always makes me feel sick when I do them. You said you were going to help me and you haven’t helped me do anything."

     "No, I am not doing the dishes. I don't do dishes!" Jackson said rudely.

     "Well, it makes me sick. Why don't you want to help me?"

     “I am not doing dishes. Women have babies all the time and they still do everything. Like wash dishes!" Jackson said sarcastically.

     "Yeah but, every pregnancy is different and every woman is different and they all have different symptoms. They also have husbands that help them because the woman is having their child!"

     “Yeah, well how am I supposed to know if that is my child? We were split up only one month before you found out you were pregnant!"

     "Because I have never been with anyone else but you! That’s how I know it is yours! You are the one that had the girlfriend, remember?"

     Jackson just got up and walked out of the room.

     These yelling matches at one another happened quite often.

                        ~********************~

     Jackson lost his job again. Now, it was only a couple of months before the new baby was due. They didn't even have anything for the baby yet. Nicole's parents bought them a diaper bag and a bassinet. Jackson's parents bought them some bottles and Jackson has been working with his uncle fixing semi-trailers a couple of days week so they could pay their bills and get the other things they needed for the new baby.

                                ~*************~

     Then, Danielle was born at 7:47 am. On June 11th by C-section. Everyone was so happy to have another addition to the family once again. Danielle had Light brownish-blonde hair that was identical to her big sisters hair. She also had her Daddy's pretty blue eyes.

     Jackson was barely even at the hospital with Nicole. He said that he had to work with his uncle. His wife, Anna, and new baby should've been more important. But, her parent's were there all the time and was watching Anna while Nicole was in the hospital. The day that Nicole got to go home from the hospital Jackson didn't even come to get her. Nicole’s parents had to take her and both girls home.

      Nicole's mom offered to stay at her house for a couple of days to help Nicole with Anna and Danielle until Nicole started to feel a little bit better. But, Jackson insisted that he would help her. So, Nicole's mom left. After her mom left and he said that he would help, Jackson left and was gone for at a couple of hours while Nicole could barely walk and she was left alone to take care of two little girls. He didn't help her much at all and if she said anything about it he would say, "My God, all you did was have a baby its not like you’re the only one that has ever had a baby by C-section."

      "It is a major surgery. I could have died! And you think it's no big deal!”

      "It's not a big deal!" Jackson said as he walked outside.

At least they weren't arguing as much lately…. Except Jackson was still going fishing on his days off all the time and not spending any time with her and their precious little girls. Anna would run over to him as soon as he walked in the door from work or where ever he had been and give him a big hug. All he would do is say,” I love you too, Anna. Now go play." Or, Anna would go up and sit by him on the couch and try to get as close to him as possible because she had missed him so much. He would say, "Anna, Get off of me. I'm hot. Go play." The things that he would do and say to her really hurt Nicole that he would treat their kids in that way. Nicole was sure that it probably hurt Anna's feelings too. But, aside from that, it seemed that things between Nicole and Jackson were actually starting to be a little better.

      When Danielle was 4 months old they decided to move again, to this nice house that sat out on a back road that barely had anyone else around. There were nothing but woods behind the house, and Jackson loved that. He couldn’t wait to get out there and go hunting.

      Jackson was now working for a furniture rental company, and Eugene was always coming home really late.

      "Where have you been?" asked Nicole.

      “I was at work. I had to work late."

      "I thought your store closes at seven thirty?" asked Nicole.

      "Yeah, it does but we had to stay late and deliver stuff that we didn't get done before we closed."

      "Oh." Said Nicole. But, she had a lot of Questions about if he was telling her the truth on all those nights he worked late. But, she didn't want to start an argument so she told him that she believed him.

      Nicole still didn't have a car so, Nicole and both of her little girls were stuck at home all the time by their selves. Jackson would be gone from eight or nine in the morning until nine or ten at night. So, they all got really use to Jackson not being there, and always being by themselves all the time.