Born and gone

1

"Jackson?" I almost whispered, my mouth dry and palms clammy. His caramel hair in tight curls at the top of his head and the sides short, I wonder if it still felt the same. His dark brown eyes pierced into mine as his mixed skin gleamed and glowed but his face pale.

"Mummy, who's that?" Lacey said looking up at me with big eyes, Jackson's eyes.

"Just the post man sweetie, go play."

I watched as she ran off excitedly to carry on playing with her Barbies.

"Just the post man? That's my daughter, Fallon."

"You're five years too late to start calling her your daughter. Now get out of here." I went to close the door but his foot stopped me from doing so.

"Fallon... please. I was wrong to do what I did but I've grown up and I'm ready now-"

"You know what? I'm going to let you in this house, not for me but to give Lacey the opportunity to meet her dad... so let me talk to her, prick." I said as he scoffed at me.

"Okay... thank you, so much."

"This isn't for you, it's for her." I said before finally closing the door behind him. I walked back into the other room to see Lacey on the floor playing with her only play set. Her African American hair just like her dad's but his dark natural colour... her skin caramel and her eyes were just like his. I smiled as she spoke to herself in different voices pretending to be a different doll each time... Jackson stood next to me smiling like an idiot but it just made me feel more sick.

"What are you staring at mummy? Can't you see I'm trying to play?" And of course... she has my attitude.

"She looks just like us both..." he whispered as I shook it off.

"I just want to talk to you, is that okay?"

"I suppose so." She said as she came over and jumped on the couch next to me.

"Now what did I say about jumping on the couch?"

"Wish that kid would stop doing that or I'll have to strip for the next one." She said mimicking me.

"No, Lacey... not that. Just that we don't want to have a broken couch."

"That to." She said as Jackson chuckled and I rolled my eyes.

"Anyway... you know you asked me why all the other kids in your class have a mummy and daddy or two mummy's or two daddy's and you only have me?"

"Yeah and you said it's because the other kids need two people to love them as much as you alone love me therefore I only need you... why's the postman here?"

"My names Jackson..." Jackson said as he shook her hand and she giggled.

"Anyway, baby, what if you did have a daddy..."

"Do I have a daddy?!" She said all excited and as much as I loved to see her happy, it broke my heart slightly that she probably always wanted me to tell her she had one.

"Yes, honey you do. Jackson is your dad..."

"He's my dad?" She said looking him up and down as I stopped my self from laughing.

"Yeah, I am... I'm so sorry I haven't been around until now."

"It's okay, mummy gave me everything on her own anyway."

"I know, that's why she's so amazing." He said locking eyes with me before Lacey dragged him up to go play with her dolls. I sat on the couch laughing at them both playing and having fun.

"You're playing it wrong, daddy!" But as soon as that D word was said... the smile was wiped clean off my face.

"Okay, Lacey, it's eight o'clock... time for bed." I said as I went and picked her up.

"But mummy can I play with daddy a bit longer?"

"His names Jackson, baby." I said before taking her and putting her to bed.

Jackson POV:

I began tidying away what appeared to be the only toys Lacey had. I listened to Fallon saying goodnight to her with a heavy heart yet a slight smile on my face...

"Night, baby."

"Night, mummy."

"Sleep tight."

"Don't let the bed bugs bite."

I stood up when I heard Fallon re enter the room. She wore a black vest top and blue skinny jeans. Her dark brown hair thrown up in a messy pony tail at the back of her head and the short pieces at the front I used to tuck behind her ear fell around her face, framing it like the piece of art it is...

"What the fuck was that?" Her golden eyes , ice cold and button nose snarling.

"I made a mistake, Fallon I'm not going to deny that. I was a piece of selfish shit, and it's unforgivable but I want her as my little girl-"

"Your little girl?!"