At the prison, the guard unlocked the cell door and announced, “Inmate 067, you have a visitor.”
Was someone here to see him?
Jayden frowned and placed his book neatly on his pillow before walking out. His posture was straight, his gaze calm, as if he owned the room.
Behind him, he could hear one of the younger guards murmuring, “What’s he so smug about? If he’s so tough, why’s he in prison?”
Jayden’s brow twitched, and he gave the guard a cold, sharp look. For a brief moment, the air felt noticeably colder, and Jayden wondered if these guards had treated her similarly previously. His fists clenched, and his knuckles crackled with tension. The young guard fell silent and looked away uneasily.
Jayden paused in the Visitation Room’s doorway, staring at the woman and two children across the table.
Victoria. Nora. Zion.
His eyes became misty, and his legs felt like lead, unable to move forward. He couldn’t take his gaze away from the two tiny figures.
Nora was dressed in a pink floral dress, her large eyes darting around as she surveyed the room with interest. Zion was fast asleep in his pram, a small bubble forming on his lips as he snored.
Jayden stumbled forward, reaching out to take Nora in his arms. He hugged her close and kissed the top of her head. “Nora, I’m your dad!”
Nora looked at the unfamiliar man, wriggling in his embrace, before turning to Victoria and reaching out. “Mommy?” Victoria approached, grabbing her little hand and comforting her. “Nora, don’t you remember? He’s your dad…”
Her voice caught in her throat as she averted her gaze, fearing she would burst into tears. She couldn’t bear seeing him like this. Jayden had never looked more vulnerable. Victoria’s chest tightened as she saw him in the familiar yet foreign blue and white stripes, making it difficult for her to breathe.
Jayden gently ran his fingers over Nora’s head, realising he’d startled her. Taking a deep breath, he looked at her with reddened eyes. “Nora, don’t you remember your dad?”
“Dad?” Nora blinked, feeling a wave of familiarity wash over her. He looked very familiar! And he appeared to be about to cry, just like her younger brother when he couldn’t get his favourite toy.
She sighed and patted him on the shoulder, as she had seen her mother do. “Daddy, don’t cry. Here, you can play with my doll.”
There it was, a child’s most genuine way of showing love: sharing their prized possession. Jayden couldn’t contain his tears any longer.
He kissed her gently and smiled. “Alright, Daddy won’t cry. Good girl. Now, say ‘Daddy’ one more time for me.”
Nora looked over at Victoria, who gave a slight nod of encouragement. Turning back, Nora’s face lit up with a smile, “Daddy!”
“My little angel!” Jayden exclaimed, pressing a kiss on her forehead. He held Nora in one arm and reached for Victoria with the other, pulling her close.
He kissed her forehead, his voice low and hoarse. “Victoria, no funny business. Don’t you dare let anyone else be the father to my kids, you hear me?”
Victoria’s eyes sparkled with tears as she laughed, “Fine. Then hurry up and get out here to keep an eye on me. I can’t promise I’ll behave without you.”
Jayden gave her a fierce look before breaking into a smile, his expression unexpectedly serious. “Victoria, you have to wait for me!”
The sincerity in Jayden’s eyes made Victoria’s heart tighten. She pressed her lips together and nodded firmly.
A weight appeared to lift from Jayden’s chest. He reached out, covering Nora’s eyes with his hand and leaning in, his lips brushing against Victoria’s. The familiar scent of tobacco and cologne filled her senses, and her eyes welled up with tears.
She pressed a hand to her nose and spoke softly. “Jayden, come back soon. Let’s leave the past behind us. After this, it’ll be you, me, and the kids together, as a family. Okay?”
Jayden’s expression faltered.
Nora wrapped her little arms around his neck and whispered in his ear, “Daddy, I don’t care if it’s difficult; I just want to be with you.”
In the pram, Zion laughed as he stretched out his small hands. Jayden reached for him, but his hands slid through the air. Zion began to fuss, his cries growing louder, and Jayden was startled awake, realising it had all been a dream.
Now there was Victoria, offering a future together: “Let’s put everything behind us. After this, you’ll be with us. We’ll be a family. Okay?”
Jayden was on the verge of giving in. But he could not.
He shook his head, a flicker of resolve on his face. “No, Victoria, you don’t understand. I need to make things right by serving my time.”