Chapter 19

I was up early on Saturday trying to figure out what happens next. I put on a cream Irish knit sweater, my mom had gotten me, she didn't realize it was a mans extra large. So I often wore it around the house, more so lately. I threw my hair up and made some coffee. I poured myself a cup and sat in the small window seat looking out at Chicago. Did I have the right to have a chance at another life? I was so deep in my head, I didn't hear Jack get up, "Over thinking again," he called from the kitchen. I turned back and smiled, as he walked towards me. He sat down on a chair near the window, and stared at me. "How do you know, I'm over thinking?" I asked. I chuckled, "You get a far away look in your eyes, like you're somewhere, else," He explained. I looked into my cup embarrassed that I was so easy to read. He slowly rub his hand up and down my leg, "I'm not letting you go this time," he assured. I grabbed his hand, "Want some coffee?" I asked. "Please," he replied. "Where have you been staying," I asked handing him a mug full of coffee. "The company found me a rental place up the street, about three blocks," he answered. "Really?" I asked with a giggle. "Yeah, I realized when we pulled up last night," he chuckled. It was awkward for a bit, Jack put his mug down and stood in front of me, "We are just two people, trying to have a relationship," he whispered against my forehead. "We have a history," I replied. "Yeah, we're a lot farther into a relationship," he shrugged. "How is this so easy for you? How are you so calm?" I asked. He furrowed his brow, "Because I love you, I've missed you," he told me. "You aren't worried?" I asked. "About what?" He questioned back. "I don't know, I'm going home for Christmas on Wednesday, what am I supposed to tell my parents?" I asked getting worked up a little. Jack ever calm just looked at me, "Do you want me to meet your parents?" He questioned. I stopped it didn't occur to me that I should ask him to meet them, I thought that's what was going to happen, "I don't know, do you want to meet my parents?" I pushed back. "If it's not moving too fast for you," he answered. "Ok, well, we're gonna have to buy you a ticket then," I said. "Whitney," he said with a pause pulling me to him, wrapping his arms around me, "We will figure this out, slowly. Stop thinking you have to answer it all now," he told me. I rested my head on his chest, I felt myself relax, I didn't have to have all the answers now, Jack was here, and I was happy again.

Over the next week Jack and I went out on real dates, not like on the island. We went to movies and walks in the park in the snow, we cooked together. It felt very natural and so different then I thought it would. It was better than being at the spa with him, where I had assumed everything was forced.

We were eating lunch at my apartment, Tuesday before we left. I was grabbing sodas when he saw my shelf of Greer, "Who's this?" He asked. It caught me a little off guard, "My daughter, Greer," I answered. He turned and looked at me, "I didn't know," he began. "She died in the accident with her father," I interrupted. "I'm sorry," he said. "It's ok, I probably should've said something," I offered. "How old was she?" He pushed. "She was six," I replied sitting down at the table. Jack sat down across from me, "Is it too hard to talk about her?" He asked. I paused, "No, no one asks," I told him looking up and realizing no one has asked or reminisced about her since the accident. "What was she like?" He questioned taking a bite of his sandwich. I smiled, "She was very girly, loved princess everything. She had quite the temper, when she was mad she would purse her lips together so tight, they almost disappeared," I giggled at the memories that brought up. "She was the most perfect little girl, except when she was doing things she shouldn't, but that wasn't very often," I admitted. "Have you thought about having another?" He asked. I stopped and blinked a few times, "No," I said shaking my head, "I don't think I could again and not think of her with every situation, and I don't think that would be fair," I finished. He nodded, "What about you?" I asked realizing this could be a make or break questioned. "I enjoy being the cool uncle," he replied with a smiled. "I'm sure you are," I joked. "I am, I get to go to all the cool shops and ice cream places, and then I can drop them off and go home," he said. I laughed, "How many nieces and nephews do you have?" I asked. "I have two nephews and a niece, back in Seattle. I take them to all the cool toy stores, we eat a fun restaurants play video games and then they go home and I go home and it's quiet," he explained with a look of relief. I shook my head, "My sister loves when I do this, she has a day to herself and when the twins come home they knock out and sleep all night," he explained. "It's smart," I assured.

We had changed our flight when we bought Jack's ticket, to the twenty third and it was an evening flight, we got in around ten. As hard as we tried not to we had to check a couple bags, as we walked to baggage claim, I saw my mom and dad. "Of course, they both came," I laughed. I hugged them and introduced Jack as we waited for our bags, "So Jack, Whitney says you met on vacation," my dad said puffed up. "Yes, we did. It was a nice vacation and we were partners on a snorkeling cruise together, and I guess you could say we hit it off," Jack replied smiling at me. "How did you end up in Chicago?" My dad continued with his grill. "I was transferred when I got a promotion, so I had to move to the main hub in Chicago," Jack handled the grilling very smooth. We grabbed our luggage and headed to the car. "Whitney, said you're a financial advisor," My dad stated. "Henry, stop grilling the man like he's a steak. Don't pay any attention to him, Jack he's being over protective since finding out about Caleb's mistress," my mom told him. "Thanks mom," I said. We drove to my parents house and we headed to my bed room. "Sorry about my dad," I said as Jack set the bags down. "It's fine, I get it," he said. I took my shoes off and walked to him putting my arms around him, "I hate to tell you my bed squeaks," I said with a smirk. "You say that like the bed is the only place we can do that," he joked back.

The next day was Christmas Eve and we would be having everyone over again, for dinner. I laid there in Jack's arms, it was early the sun was creeping through the window, when I heard commotion from downstairs, "Hello? Is anyone awake?" It was my sister. "Willow's home," I said getting up. We got dressed and headed downstairs, Willow gave me a big hug, and I introduce her and Peter to Jack. We all sat down for breakfast and Willow began her grilling, "So you met on vacation?" She began. "We've all established that, Willow," I said annoyed. She glared at me, "We met at dinner and the next day we were paired up on a snorkeling cruise," he answered. "Whitney doesn't snorkel," Willow pushed. "She did that day, I have pictures to prove it," he said with a smile. I had completely forgotten about the camera we took, "You have pictures, Whitney said she didn't take any," Willow continued. "I had a water proof camera, I'll grab them," he told her and headed up the stairs. "Stop it, Willow," I whispered angry. "Stop what?" She asked. "Your worse than dad, I love him. Can you guys be a little nicer," I growled. They all stared at me, "You….You love him?" Willow asked. My face relaxed, my eyes darted to each family member, "Yes, I do," I answered feeling a little more secure. Jack came down, "Here," he said happily handing over a small picture book. My parents and Peter crowded around Willow to look at the photos, "You actually swam with dolphins?" My mother asked shocked. I smiled, "I'm impressed," my sister finally gave in. I grabbed the photo book and started looking through, I had completely forgotten these pictures but I smiled at the memories. "Well, the tree needs decorating before everyone gets here," my mother hinted. We all got up and headed in to the living room where the tree sat partially in the window by the front door. We opened boxes and pulled out garland and began wrapping the tree, then ornaments, most of which were hand made by Willow and I. We laughed at the pictures that were in some of them, how little we all were. About noon Jack and I went into town with Willow and Peter to get some last minute gifts and a few ingredients my mom had forgotten. "He seems nice," Willow said once the Peter and Jack had gone in another direction. "He is," I replied. "It's gonna take us all some time," she told me as we walked the grocery isles. "I know, you weren't there with me go through all this with me, but I promise things are better than before," I explained. She smiled and we continued. We met the guys at the car and headed home.

It wasn't long before my relatives began showing up, and filled the house with stories and laughter. Sitting down to dinner with my family and Jack by my side felt surreal, I couldn't believe I was finally at this moment. All the pain and secrets that had come out in the last two years and I was finally at a place where I felt normal again. As we laughed and joked I noticed how easily Jack was fitting in with my family. He grabbed my hand and I smiled at him, "What?" He asked with his amazing smile. "Nothing," I replied. It wasn't anything I could express, it was pure content and relief. Relief that my life was going on, I was me again and I was still moving forward. By the end of the night my uncles had taken to calling Jack, "Jacky-Boy" and asking for retirement advise, claiming family gets free help. I couldn't help but laugh as Jack sat there with my uncles and advised them seriously on investments for retirement. I was grateful he fit and was taking this whole crazy family in stride. I had also realized his work was something he was passionate about, helping people make a future for themselves. We said our good byes around ten, helped my mom clean up and while my parents went to bed my sister, Peter, Jack and I sat up to watch Christmas movies. Something Willow and I did since we were seven and eight, only my parents didn't know then. We all fell asleep, the next thing I know Jack was waking me up. "It's Christmas," he whispered in my ear. I shook my head and looked outside, "The suns not even up," I mumbled. It was the time of morning when it's slowly becoming light and everything looks blue, it's actually my favorite time of morning, but I was tired. I rolled over into him. "I have a present for you before anyone else is awake," he whispered. I popped my eyes open, "You do?" I murmured back. He smiled and nodded, we snuck up to my room, he sat me on the bed and pulled something out from his suitcase. He knelt in front of me and handed me a small wrapped gift. By the shape I knew it was a ring box, I hesitantly opened it and when the little velvet box was free I looked at him, "Open it," he said smiling. I was nervous, it felt too soon to be engaged. I opened the box and in it wasn't an engagement ring, but a beautiful eternity ring with emeralds. I looked up at him tears streaming down my face, "That was Greer's birthstone, right an emerald?" He asked worried. I nodded completely speechless, he took the ring out of the box and fit it to my middle finger, "I was worried it wouldn't fit," he said and kissed my hand. "Thank you," I whispered and kissed him deeply. I slunk to my knees on the floor as we continued to kiss, I pulled at his shirt and he broke the kiss to lift it over his head and lifted mine over my head. He pulled his pants down and I kicked mine off, we met kneeling in front of each other again, kissing. I could feel his erection pushing against my lower stomach. I wrapped my legs around him and he sat back. He lowered me on to him as I buried my face in his neck, kissing him as he rocked my hips back and forth. He lifted me and kissed down my chest nibbling my breasts. He lowered me back down and I inhaled sharply as his hands made their way to my back side, grabbing he quickened the pace. I moaned as quietly as I could, "Jack." "Come on baby," he moaned back quietly. My arms wrapped around his neck I couldn't hold it in much longer and as I fell into the climax he slowed grabbing me and holding me.

"Since we are giving gifts no one can see," I whispered walking over to my suitcase. I pulled out and handed him a little box, he unwrapped and opened it, "A key?" He questioned. "It's a key to my condo," I explained. He pulled me to him and kissed me, "I love you," he murmured against my lips. "I love you," I repeated. We got back in our pajamas and snuck back downstairs, I grabbed some coffee and we sat in the living room watching the snow fall out the French doors in the dining room wrapped up together. One by one as my family woke up I couldn't help but smile at this life, I miss my daughter and always will, but I never thought I could have this happiness again. Here it was, and for the first time in a long time I was finally excited and thinking about a future.