by Mary Eason
“Baby, why don’t you show your father how that car works? I need to start dinner.”
What she really needed was time alone. She went to her room and closed the door quietly then sat down on the bed and tried to stop the shivering. She needed to think. She’d just found out that everything she believed to be true about the past, all of the pain and heartache she’d carried in her heart for so long, had all been a mistake. Jack had wanted to find her.
She didn’t know what to do with all the pain and anger she’d carried around for so many years now that there wasn’t anyone to blame except herself.
She heard a soft tap on the door and waited.
“Are you okay?” Jack came and sat next to her.
She nodded and he took her hand and held it.
“I know that this isn’t the best time to talk about this, but I think we need to. We have to clear up the past between us.”
“For Sammy, you mean?”
“For us, Rachel. For us. I don’t want there to be any more misunderstandings between us.”
She sighed deeply. “I’m sorry. I know what you meant. It’s just so hard. Jack, I thought you didn’t want me.”
He pulled Rachel closer and kissed her temple. “Never. I never stopped wanting you. Rachel, there’s been no other woman in my life in all these years. Doesn’t that say something?”
Somehow, she forced herself to search his face. Suddenly she wanted to believe Jack more than anything else in the world.
“Yes. I want to believe you. I do.”
“Then that’s all I can ask. I know it will take time for you to trust me completely. But I’m not going anywhere. And I hope that you won’t either.”
All she could do was nod and pray that she wasn’t making the worst mistake of her life in trusting Jack again.
“Come on. I left Sammy practically bouncing off the walls with happiness. He’ll be wrapped up with his presents for a while. Why don’t you let me help you with dinner?”
Chapter Eleven
Jack tried to help with the meal, but Sammy kept demanding his attention. In the end, Rachel shooed them both off to the great room to play so that she could finish up.
“Momma, you should see how it climbs mountains.” Sammy ran into the kitchen with Jack close behind. “It’s terrific, isn’t it, Daddy.”
“It sure is.” Jack stopped behind her and pulled her close. “Something smells good,” he whispered against her ear. It was hard not to respond to his touch, but she was still unsure of him, and uncomfortable with showing affection in front of Sammy.
“Jack...” The shaky catch in her voice rewarded her with a chuckle.
“Relax. He’ll get used to seeing me touch you if you don’t get all nervous around him.” Jack kissed her neck, then let her go.
They spent the rest of the day watching old movies on TV until it was late.
“You should probably pack some things for you and Sammy. I’ve arranged for us to fly out first thing in the morning.”
“Yippee. We’re flying.” Sammy was thrilled to be taking his first trip on a plane. Rachel found herself feeling a little overwhelmed by everything that had happened in their lives in such a short amount of time.
“How did you manage to get a flight out so quickly?” She said the first thing that came to mind, sounding foolish. But she needed time. Everything was happening so fast.
“I didn’t. I’m having the corporate jet pick us up in Denver tomorrow at ten. We’ll be home tomorrow afternoon. Which should give you and Sammy time to get settled in. I thought we could call your mother when we arrive and maybe have dinner with her, Michael, and Molly if everyone’s up to it. What do you think?”
She couldn’t tell him she didn’t know how to face her family after discovering the truth.
“That sounds nice. And you’re right. I should pack.” She got to her feet but he grabbed her hand.
“They were only doing what they thought was best for you. Don’t be angry with them.”
She left Sammy and Jack watching Scrooge on TV and went to pack, starting with Sammy’s things first.
She sat down on his bed and tried to decide what to take with them. Would they be coming back here soon? She was still sitting on the bed staring off into space when Jack found her.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m just wondering what to take with us.”
Jack came and sat next to her. “Rachel, honey, we’re moving back to Austin. You and Sammy will be living in my -- our home. We won’t be coming back here for a while. You need to take what you feel you want with you. We can always do some shopping for what you need when we get home.”
“What about New York? Will you be going back there? And if you do, where does that leave Sammy and me?”
Jack closed his eyes then put his arm around her.
“I’m not going back to New York. I’m going to be staying in Austin with you and our son. We’re a family now.”
After Sammy was sleeping, she found herself nervous again.
“Please trust me. I’m never going to do anything to hurt you again.”
*****
The next morning passed in a flurry of dressing, getting breakfast, and packing everything into the truck for the trip to Denver.
Sammy insisted on taking all of his new toys, which Jack willingly agreed to.
“We’ll make room for them on the plane.”
After the rush to get everything turned off and secured for the winter was over, she took a moment to look at the house where she’d spent so many years.
“Are you okay?” She turned to look into Jack’s blue eyes.
“Yes, it’s just that so much has happened here. This is where Sammy was born. Where Sam died.”
“I know it must be hard.” He touched her face gently. “But we have the rest of our lives to make new memories together. And I promise we’ll come back. We’ll make it a point to spend time here with Sammy. I won’t let him forget Sam.”
*****
The jet arrived in Austin just before noon. Jack had thought ahead and left his car at the airport. Somehow, they managed to get everything loaded into the Rover with just enough room for Sammy in the back seat.
Sammy had barely been able to contain his excitement through the flight. Now, his eyes were huge with wonder and he couldn’t stop the questions.
“Where are we going, Daddy?”
“We’re going to our house. This is where I grew up.”
“Does your dad still live there?”
Jack glanced at Rachel. She’d been quiet throughout most of the trip. He knew how hard this must be for her.
“My father passed away a few years ago.”
“Like my daddy?” Rachel’s gaze met his. There was no way he could hide his reaction to Sammy’s innocent question.
“Honey, why don’t you ask your father to tell you about the time he and Uncle Michael got in trouble for picking peaches from the neighbor’s tree?”
He loved her for trying to lighten the moment. “I can’t believe you still remember that. And as I remember it, we were over there in the first place because you had your heart set on having a peach.”
Sammy was only too happy to hear all about the time the three of them had been left to their own devices one summer day.
Normally, Rachel’s mom wouldn’t have dreamed of leaving her alone with only her older brother and his best friend to look out for her, but she’d been in a pinch and the girl that normally kept Rachel had been taken to the hospital with appendicitis.
Rachel had been left in the care of Michael and Jack for the entire day. At five years old, Rachel was in awe of Michael and his friend.
Liz had given Michael very strict instructions not to take his sister anywhere.
After spending the morning being bored to tears, Michael decided a little trip over to Jack’s house didn’t actually constitute leaving, since they were technically just going from one house to the next. Unfortunately, Liz hadn’t agreed
. Especially after she heard what they’d been up to.
Over the years, Rachel had been to Jack’s house dozens of times. Back then, she’d been just the tagalong little sister of his best friend, which had been fine. Once she became his girlfriend and then later his wife, his father’s anger had hit the roof. He’d read his son the riot act.
On this particular day, his father had been away in New York and the housekeeper, who had been left in charge, was busy working and completely unaware of what they’d been up to until it was too late.
After spending the afternoon playing in the pool, the boys decided to do a little exploring and as usual Rachel was right there with them.
Rachel loved peaches. She’d cried and cried until finally he and Michael jumped the fence and went for it. They had just climbed to the first branch of Mr. Jackson’s prized peach tree, when it snapped and Michael fell hard on his arm, breaking it. Jack ended up bruised, but he’d gotten Rachel her peach even though they’d all ended up grounded for weeks.
“Your mother was always getting us in trouble back then. You see, she had this way of looking at me in particular that made me want to do whatever she asked. Which usually meant doing something that was going to get me in trouble.”
They’d reached the turn off leading to the house. He stopped the car for a moment and looked at her. Since they’d left the interstate, he could feel her tension growing. He didn’t even have to ask to know she was remembering the last time they’d been to his house.
It had been a few days before he’d broken her heart. The last time they’d made love together. At the time, he thought they’d be together forever.
He reached for her hand and squeezed it then started down the familiar drive. “I know what you’re thinking, but it’s different this time.”
“What’s different?” For a moment, they’d forgotten about their son listening to every word they said.
When the house came into view, Sammy forgot all about his question.
“You like it?” Jack grinned at Sammy’s awestruck expression.
“This is our new home?”
“Yes, this is your new home. Yours, mine, and your mother’s. Welcome home, Rachel,” he whispered only for her.
It was all Sammy could do just to wait until the door was unlocked. Then he was racing through each room of the house.
“Momma, look there’s a pool,” he exclaimed and didn’t wait for her to answer before rushing off to explore the rest of the house.
“He’s so excited,” she told Jack when it was just the two of them again.
“You and I have a lot of history here in this house. Most of it good, I hope. I want you to be happy here. If not, then we’ll move. We’ll find someplace else to start our new life together.”
She turned to him, surprised by his answer. “You’d do that for me? You’d move?”
“I’d do anything you want. Anything at all.” He stepped closer, cupping her face.
And then he kissed her and held her close and prayed that she believed him.
Sammy ran back into the room then stopped when he saw them kissing. For a moment, he appeared a little uncertain about someone else, even the man who was now his father touching his mother.
“So what do you think, son? You like it?”
“You bet I do. Which room is mine?”
Jack shook his head and tried to control his laughter.
“Well, there are lots to choose from. We’ll let you decide. Come on, why don’t we go pick one out now.”
He turned back to Rachel and took her hand.
In the end, Sammy decided on the room closest to what would be his parents’ room. With all the changes in his life, he needed the reassurance of knowing they were close.
“Momma, can we call Gran now?” Sammy asked once they’d brought up all of his things from the Rover.
“Sure, baby, if that’s what you want.”
“Why don’t we see if your grandmother and uncle and maybe Molly want to come have dinner with us tonight?” Jack added while Sammy happily dialed his grandmother’s number.
They listened while Sammy told Liz all about the wedding and his gifts from Santa, and then the flight to Austin.
Jack knew how pleased Liz would be. This was what she’d hoped for all those years, even though her daughter was looking more than a little embarrassed when Sammy told Liz his room was next to his mother and father’s.
He pulled her close. “What are you so worried about? Your mother has been hoping for this marriage for a long time now.”
She looked a little confused. “What do you mean?”
“Oh I think you know. I’ve been talking to your mother for a while now. And you’re right, she told me you were coming home, although I have to admit I was shocked to find you at the office that day. Why do you think I came back from New York so suddenly? Not even Michael was expecting me.”
“Momma, she wants to talk to you.” Sammy held the receiver out to Rachel.
She took it from him reluctantly and turned away. “Hi, Mom.”
“Sammy, why don’t we grab something to eat and give your mother a little privacy?” Jack took Sammy downstairs for a snack.
“Let’s see, we have Mac and cheese or peanut butter and jelly. What’s it going to be, buddy?”
“Peanut butter and jelly.” Sammy climbed onto one of the chairs near the bar and watched Jack make a couple of sandwiches.
They were just polishing off the last bite when Rachel joined them.
“Daddy, can I go play in my room?”
From the look on Rachel’s face, he could only guess her conversation with Liz hadn’t gone so well.
“Sure, if that’s what you want.”
He waited for Sammy to leave. “What is it?”
“Nothing.” She wasn’t being completely honest. He could see how upset she was from the tears she was trying to control.
“That’s not the truth and you know it. What’s wrong?”
“Oh, Jack, I’m such a bad person. I married Sam because I thought if I did I could get over you. I used him. He deserved better than a wife who was in love with another man. My marriage to him was a lie. He loved me, but I never felt the same way about him. And now you and I are married because of Sammy. I’m such a fake.”
Jack brushed aside her tears and brought her into his arms. “You cared about Sam. He had to know that. And there’s nothing fake about you or us. This marriage is very real.”
“What happened between us isn’t love or commitment. We’re no closer to that than we were five years ago.”
“You don’t believe that. We love each other. That hasn’t changed. We realize the mistakes we made and we’re committed to making our marriage work. We have a second chance, Rachel. How many people get that in life? It will be different this time. I can promise you, I’ll never let you go again. And I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy.”
Chapter Twelve
Liz was standing on their doorstep less than half an hour later, so excited that her daughter and grandson were actually back home for good that she could hardly sit still.
“Mom, why don’t you sit down for a bit? It’ll be hours before Michael and Molly get here.”
They gave Liz the tour of the house. Sammy couldn’t wait to show his grandmother his new room.
“I can’t believe in all the years you and Michael have been friends, I never once got a look inside this house.”
Liz stopped in the living room to smile at the three of them. “I can’t wait for you two to start making more babies.”
“Mom, for crying out loud.” Rachel could feel the color rising in her face.
“As much fun as that is to consider, could you give us a little while? We’ve been married less than a week and I’m enjoying have a son.”
“Oh, Rachel, grow up. And Jack, you’ve told me a dozen times how much you look forward to having children. You and Rachel were always crazy about each other. I think I knew you’d end up t
ogether when you two were just kids. I mean, Jack was always the one to look out for you. Your brother usually got you into trouble. But Jack, well, he’d save you.”
Sammy erupted into a fit of giggling that had both Jack and Liz joining in.
“It’s true. You two were just always together. And I for one couldn’t be happier.”
Rachel put her arm around her mother. “Well, that much is obvious. I’m glad you’re happy.”
Sammy tugged at Jack’s hand. “Daddy, can we go explore?”
Jack looked at his son with his heart in his eyes. “I don’t see why not? Come on, let’s grab our jackets and I’ll show you the first place I ever kissed your mother.”
Jack winked at Rachel and left her alone with Liz to catch up.
With Sammy and Jack’s voices barely disappearing in the edge of the woods, Liz turned to give her daughter one of those looks that usually managed to get her to confess everything back when she was growing up.
“What?” Rachel fidgeted with her hair. Another tell-tell sign.
“Don’t what me. You know what. That’s a good man there, and I hope you know how lucky you are to have him back in your life again. Sammy needs him.”
“I know that, Mom.”
“Do you? Because frankly you still look as if you could run at any moment.”
Liz spotted the truth in her statement, took her daughter by the hand, and led her to the sofa.
“Honey, he loves you. He’s always loved you. Anyone can see that. Let the past go.”
“I’m trying, but it’s hard and not for the reasons you think.”
“What do you mean?”
“Mom, I wasted five years of my life trying to hate Jack. Now, I find that he never wanted our marriage to end. He wanted to come after me.”
“This is good news, honey. It should make you happy,” Liz reminded her.
“It does. And you’re right, I love Jack and I know that he loves me—and he adores Sammy.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“Mom, what if Sammy isn’t his son? What happens if we find out Sammy is really Sam’s son? Will any of this matter? Will his love for me matter if Sammy isn’t his?”
“Oh, honey, do you really think Jack would leave you? Rachel, stop worrying about things that might happen and just be happy. You and Jack have a second chance. Take it. Stop looking for problems that don’t exist.”