The sun rose through the barely shaded windows, and Carly covered her head with a pillow to shield the light. Most mornings she loved waking up and watching the sun rise, but not this particular morning. She actually wished that she could sleep forever.
She had spent all night tossing and turning, thinking about what Jack and Janet were up to at each and every moment. She told herself it didn't even matter, drifted off, and then woke again. This pattern continued for far too long. Today she just wanted to shut the world out, and find peace in her own mind, and bed. Jack and Janet had probably made love throughout the night, a thought that disgusted her.
As Carly was finally drifting back into a semi-deep sleep, she heard a thud on the door. "Go away, whoever you are, I don't want it!"
The door opened, and in trotted two familiar faces.
"Really, cuz, sulking in bed will get you absolutely no where!"
"So we have come to whisk you away for the day, and take in the sights of this beautiful place."
Molly and Rosanna both smiled at one another, while Carly covered her face in her pillow once more, and groaned.
Back in Oakdale, Janet slowly opened her eyes, and reached across the bed to feel her husband's warm and comforting body, but all she felt were empty covers. She stared at the ceiling for a long while before she pulled herself out of bed and headed downstairs.
The smell of fresh brewed coffee and chocolate chip pancakes filled the kitchen up, and familiar voices were coming from the table.
"Daddy, can we go horseback riding this afternoon? Uncle Holden said he was going to bring Nat and Faith over and we could all go."
"That sounds like a nice idea, honey. Parker, are you going to go to?"
Parker shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe I'll see if Liberty wants to catch a movie or something."
Jack nodded. He figured that much. Parker was at the age where spending too much time with his family was super un-cool. And Jack didn't blame him; after all he was living in two broken homes, part time. Parker had wanted more than anything for his mother and Jack to reunite, and to be a real family once again. It's all he has ever wanted, and when Jack turned to Janet, things between the two of them haven't been the same. Jack understood, but he wanted to find a way to bridge the gap between them.
"Hey buddy, how about you and I dig out our old fishing poles and head down to the pond, try and catch some fish, cook em' for dinner…"
"Do we ever catch any fish?" Parker countered.
Jack laughed, and shook his head. "No, but maybe this time we'll get lucky. Besides, we haven't spent much time together lately."
"Sure, I guess." Parker stated blandly. He loved Jack, and tolerated Janet, but ever since his dad and Janet got together, he really hasn't seen the same spark in Jack's eyes. "It'll be nice to talk, you know."
Janet walked over to the table, and wrapped her arms around Jack's neck. "Good morning, honey. Parker and Sage. So what are the plans for the day?"
"Well Uncle Holden is taking me and Faith and Natalie horseback riding, and Dad and Parker are going fishing. Doesn't that sound borrrrring."
"You're boring, Squirt." Parker said, playfully.
"Oh, well that sounds like an eventful day. I guess I'll go and check on Terri, and keep her company while she rests. Looks like there's still no change."
Jack nodded, "Yes, that's a good idea. She needs you, and you call me if anything changes."
Jack was glad that Janet didn't invite herself along with either of the groups. He needed to clear his mind, and having her around would just complicate things. Yes, she was now his wife, but deep down Jack knew where his heart lay. Same place it had always been: in Montana.
Rosanna and Molly joined Carly on the bed, and waited rather impatiently for her to get up.
"Carly, we have a great day planned, and no one can ruin it."
"Besides, your favorite cousin and sister are here, so you should be beyond excited!"
"And it's so beautiful out. Why would you wanna stay cooped up in here all day?"
Carly laughed. They knew exactly how to keep her spirits up. That is why she loved them so much. Molly and Rosanna were the only two people in her life that she trusted with everything. And just recently, they had all actually begun to get along.
"You two didn't need to fly all the way out here."
Molly smiled, "Yes, we did. Someone needs to make sure you're being taken care of, and not just Hannah. "
"I'm just fine. So what if Jack married some loud, perky, Suzy-homemaker? I suggested it, anyway."
"Oh Carly, when will you ever learn. That man will never be over you, and you'll never be over him. And one day, hopefully before it's too late, you'll both realize it and move forward together."
"Not happenin', Rosanna. Jack and I, we don't work. We've tried everything imaginable. And we break, we let each other down, we fail one another, and we hurt one another over and over again. Living like that is not what I want anymore. He deserves to be happy, and I'm not that person. I could never make Jack truly happy."
Molly and Rosanna look at each other and roll their eyes.
"Says the girl that makes Jack's head spin."
"And the girls that makes his eyes light up."
Carly threw pillows at both of them. "And I also drive him up the wall."
"Yet, no matter what happens, the only two people that matter are Carly and Jack." Rosanna stated. "No one has ever been able to make you as happy at that man, and we're here to make sure you realize it before it's too late."
Carly shook her head sadly, "It's already too late. They're married. And I watched it happen. I let it happen."
Jack and Parker were sitting by the pond, fishing poles cast into the hazy water. Jack was unsure what to say to Parker without having Parker blow up. He decided to break the ice with some small talk.
"So, any idea where you are going to apply for school to in the fall?"
Parker shrugged, "Not really. I don't know if I even want to go to college. I'd rather be close to home, in case mom needs me or something."
Jack listened silently. This wasn't like Parker; Parker used to ramble on and on about college, and sports and even girls. He had always had such high ambitions, even if he didn't show it to the rest of the world. Jack and Parker had always been able to talk about anything and everything.
"Can I ask you something, Jack?"
"Anything, buddy," Jack replied, staring into the water. He had a feeling he knew what was coming.
"Are you still in love with mom?"
Jack wasn't expecting that. He nearly choked on his drink. Surprised was one word to describe it. Complicated was another. How was he ever going to explain to Parker how he felt, if he couldn't even admit it to himself?
Carly was in her room getting ready as she had a flashback to a talk she and Jack had the morning of his wedding.
"Jack, I'm happy you found someone like Janet. And I hope she makes you as happy as you once made me."
"Did I really make you happy, Carly?" He lightly brushed the back of his hand against her cheek.
Carly closed her eyes, savoring his touch. "You're the reason I am who I am today. You're the man I will always love, whether we're together or a million miles apart. And you're the man who loved me despite all my flaws and imperfections."
Jack stared at Carly and asked, "Loved?"
Carly turned her head away, taking his hand in hers. "But your love made me a better person, and I hope you don't regret it. I hope you never regret us." A tear falls onto her cheek, and Jack reached up to brush it away.
"You said I'm the man that loved you, Carly. Loved. As in the past. But everything I do, or have done is for you. You're the reason…"
He trailed off as a distant shout from Holden rang down the hallway. "Jack! Jack, we're getting ready…"
Carly let go of his hand, and turned to walk away. "I should go. You should go, Jack. Go be happy, be really happy"
Jack reached out for her hand, only to miss it by centimeters. "Carly, can't we at least finish our conversation?" Carly was already out the door, and he whispered, "You're my true north."
Carly flashed back to the present. She had heard the words clearly, though Jack didn't know. Her; his "true north." She couldn't help but wonder what could have come out of their conversation if she hadn't had run away like a coward. But she was doing the right thing, wasn't she? It wasn't her place anymore to interfere in Jack's life, as enjoyable as that may be.
She put on the final touch of mascara as her phone rang…