A/N: I'm borrowing another song, Creed's With Arms Wide Open, and as usual the lyrics are in italics in the text.
Ally woke the next day to an empty bed and an urgent need to pee. Bright sunlight was filtering in through the curtains and she smiled at the fact that the weather had brightened up for Jackson and Bobby's camping trip. She stretched and sat up, checked the time on her cell and, thinking that Jackson was out walking Charlie, got up and padded barefoot to the bathroom. In the kitchen, she grabbed a banana from the bowl, peeled it and as she took the first bite thought back to the previous night.
All traces of the party had been cleared up. Well, party wasn't the right word for it, it had been a gathering of their loved ones, a quiet but happy and relaxed affair that meant more to her than any fancy parties she'd ever gone to. Once she'd recovered from her shock, she'd greeted everyone and then changed into more comfortable clothes and taken her makeup off. Jackson had ordered hors d'oeuvres – an assortment of chicken and beef skewers, avocado toasts, crab wontons and other canapés from Duke's restaurant in Malibu - Bobby had been there to take receipt of, and soft drinks had flowed freely.
Because Bobby hadn't heard it yet, she'd played the song at the piano again and everyone had watched, entranced. Then they'd taken the conversation to the patio and backyard, and Jack had proudly showed the hole he'd had a hand in digging and where the pool was to be built. When they were on the beach that afternoon Jack had said that things were looking up for them and she wanted to believe it with all her might.
The smile of recollection lingering on her face, she moved to the fridge and was taking the milk out when Charlie wandered in, not through the open sliding door as she would have expected if he'd been on a walk but from inside the house. She finished her banana and frowning bent down to stroke him. "Where's daddy, huh?" she asked, turning away when Charlie eagerly began licking her face.
Charlie stepped back from her and, as she stood, walked out of the kitchen, seemingly keen to show her where Jack was. Smiling, she reached for a glass from the cupboard and filled it with cold milk. Milk was the in-thing right then, replacing her customary glass of sweet tea which itself had replaced her morning cup of coffee, and she figured if her body craved it then it was good for her.
"Jack?" she called, as glass in hand she came out of the kitchen.
"In here," came his quiet reply.
Frowning, she followed the sound of his voice to the den and found him there, sitting at the desk in front of the laptop in semi-darkness.
"What are you doing?" she asked softy, setting her glass on a nearby shelf as she walked over to the window, "Alone in the dark." She opened the curtains, letting much needed sunlight in.
He turned toward her and winced, and she angled the blinds so the sunlight wasn't so blinding. "I was―" He paused, hesitating, then closed the laptop lid.
A look of puzzlement registered on her face, and then it came to her. "You looking at porn?" she asked, grinning.
"No," he exclaimed, sounding and looking shocked that she should think that, "What the fuck? Ally, no."
Picking up her glass, she shrugged and took a sip. "I mean, it wouldn't be the end of the world if you were."
He pulled a face at her. "I wasn't looking at porn."
She pinched her lips to stifle the smile that wanted to escape. "So what?" she asked, once again sipping at the milk.
His gaze averting, he sighed.
Her eyes narrowed quizzically, worriedly, and again she set the glass down on the shelf. "Jack? What's wrong? Did something happen?" She took a step toward him and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Is it bad news?"
Looking back up, he shook his head in reply. "No, nothing like that."
"Then what is it?" When he didn't immediately reply, she dropped her hand from his shoulder. "Jack, you're scaring me."
"Don't be mad," he finally said, fully swivelling around toward her, and sighed.
Her frown deepening, she reached past him to open the laptop before thinking better of it. "What is it?" she asked again, meeting his cautious eyes. "Tell me."
"I got an email―" Taking a deep, fraught breath, he scrunched his eyes shut and scratched at the stubble on his cheek.
"Jack, come on. Stop fucking around and tell me."
He reopened his eyes and gave a slow nod. "You know how we―we talked about…looking your mother up, right?"
Her shoulders sagged. "Oh, Jack, no. Come on! You looked her up?" she exclaimed with disbelief.
"Well, I didn't, no." He winced. "I hired a private investigator to do it."
"What the hell, Jack? But why?" Moving away from him, she began to pace. "I told you, I'm not ready. There's so much going on right now and―"
"Ally, I know that," he said, standing up and taking her by the shoulders to stop her pacing. "I just wanted to see if he could actually track her down, you know?" He dipped his head to catch her eye. "Just find out where she lives. What she's doing. If she's even alive. It's been so long."
His words gave her pause. "I'm not―I don't think I'm ready to―is the email from her?"
"Sweetie, no. It's from the PI – some guy Bobby knows from way back." He sighed. "I'm sorry I went behind your back. I just thought I'd get the ball rolling, that's all."
She gave a nod, considered the implications. "And has he?" she asked fearfully. "Has he found her?"
Jackson shook his head. "Tracking her down isn't going to be as straightforward as I thought." He paused, sighed. "I just…want to help you," he went on softly, pleadingly. "If you got some answers about how she is now, if you knew she got better and stuff, then that'd take some of the worry off, right?"
He stared at her probingly and Ally gave a grudging nod.
"I mean, looking her up, finding out about her, it doesn't mean that you have to do something about it. You wouldn't have to make contact unless you wanted to. Not until you were ready to."
Her gaze averting, she gave another nod.
"I mean, aren't you even a little bit curious?"
She refocused on him sharply. "Sure I'm curious, but what if she doesn't want to be found, huh? What if she rejects me again? What if she's got a brand-new life with a brand-new family? If she wanted to make contact she could have done. I mean, I'm fucking famous for crying out loud."
Jackson tried but failed to stifle his amusement, and she punched him lightly in the side. "Don't," she said, smiling too. "Don't you dare fucking compare me to a fucking diva."
His smile broadened. "I won't." He paused and his expression sobered. "Maybe she moved out of state," he went on earnestly, "Or even abroad. Maybe she doesn't realise that the Ally on the billboards and on the fucking television is her daughter."
Ally gave a sigh.
"Or maybe she's scared," he added quietly, "Scared to make contact with you."
"Scared?"
"Think about it. Maybe she thinks you'll reject her, for what she did to you and your Dad when she abandoned you."
Again his words gave her pause. "So," she said in a sigh, nodding at the laptop, "What does the email say?"
"Nothing." With a sigh, he dropped back down into the chair, pushed it back and motioned for her to sit down on his lap. Then he opened the laptop, typed in his password and she read the email.
"I'm going to have to speak to Dad," she said. "Apart from her name and middle name, I don't have any of the information this…Stuart Daniels wants."
"He's the best in his field," Jackson said, "Or so Bobby tells me, and he's discreet."
"You met him?"
He shook his head. "We spoke on the phone once and did the rest via emails. Like I said I was just―"
"Getting the ball rolling, I get it."
Wrapping his arms around her midriff, he nuzzled his face into her neck. "You pissed at me?"
She turned her face toward him and shook her head.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
His lips on her skin caused her to repress a shiver. "It's okay."
"The search might come to nothing, you know."
"But it might not," she replied quietly, turning back to the email.
Jack reached over to close the lid on the laptop. "Let's not think about this now, okay?" Smiling he nuzzled her neck again. "It's still early, let's get back to bed."
Ally was clearing up breakfast when there was a rap on the sliding door glass. "Hello, Mrs Maine," the contractor said, a smile on his face when she looked up. "Jack gone already?"
"No, not yet. He's in the bedroom packing." She paused. "Why? Is everything okay?"
"Sure. I just need a word, if it's okay."
"Sure."
Sauntering into the kitchen, Charlie made a bee-line for the contractor, who knelt down to greet him. "Hello, pal," he said, stroking between his ears.
"I'll go see where he is," Ally said.
"I'll be in the yard."
After putting the dishwasher on, Ally made her way to the bedroom and found Jackson there, packing clothes into a rucksack. With a sigh, she sat down at the edge of the bed and picked up his washbag she handed over to him.
"What's up?" he asked softly, taking the washbag from her and stowing it in the bag.
"Marty's here. He wants to speak with you."
"Oh, okay. Did he say what about?"
Ally shook her head. "You know he doesn't talk to me about pool stuff. As far as he's concerned, you're the man."
Laughing, Jackson moved his rucksack to the floor and sat down on the bed beside her. "You okay?"
The corners of her mouth turned down into a pout. "No," she replied, dropping her head to his shoulder and he opened his arm around her. "I'm going to miss you."
"Why don't you come with us?"
She scoffed. "And crash yours and Bobby's little tête-à-tête?" She turned her face up toward him. "No. This time, it's for you and Bobby. It's just that, well, like, it's the first time we're going to be apart from each other since―since, well, you know, you went to rehab."
Lapsing into silence, Jackson nodded his head. "It's going to be fine, Ally. I'm going to be fine, okay?" Dipping his head forward to look at her, he smiled. "Bobby's planned this trip like a military operation. And you're just at the other end of the phone, right?"
Her smile returned. "You'd better remember it."
"I will, I promise. What time's Phil coming?"
"Half-nine."
He gave a nod and after pecking her lips pushed to his feet. "Bobby will be here soon. I'd better go and see what Marty wants."
She finished getting ready and was in the bathroom styling her new hair when she heard Jack and Bobby talking in the kitchen.
"Hi Bobby," she said, smiling as she joined their side. "You're all set to go?"
"Just waiting for Jack."
"Everything okay with Marty?" she then asked Jackson.
"Sure. I told him you were the man while I was away."
She smiled and shook her head, and he winked at her.
"I'll just go and grab my bags," he then told Bobby. "There's a crate with food and drinks and camping gear in the garage, if you want to start loading up the truck."
"Sure."
Bobby headed out, and Ally followed Jack to the bedroom. She watched from the door as he shouldered his backpack and picked up the sport duffel that contained his sleeping bag, a pillow and a couple of towels. Ally reached for his ball cap from the dresser and passed it to him.
"You got your cell?"
He checked his back pocket and nodded his head.
"Your charger?"
"Yep." He gave her a smile and dropping the bag moved to hug her. "I won't forget to call, I promise," he said, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
They held each other tightly for a long moment before she pulled back from him decisively. "Come on," she said, "Or Bobby will be wondering what we're up to."
"Let him wonder," Jack said, waggling his brow suggestively.
Bobby was waiting by the truck, talking to Charlie, when they got outside. Tail beating enthusiastically, Charlie sauntered over to them, and Jackson put his bags in the open truck bed. He turned back to Ally watching and bent down to make a fuss of Charlie who was hovering by her feet uncertainly.
"He thinks he's coming with us," Bobby said.
"You're staying here with Mommy," Jackson told the dog, picking him up in his arms. "You're the man of the house now, so you be a good boy, okay?" He lifted him up so he could look at him as he spoke. "I'll only be gone a couple of days and I don't want to find any holes – anywhere – you hear? Stay in the pen."
Realising that that was what Marty's talk to Jack had been about, Ally smiled and shook her head in disbelief. Putting Charlie back down, Jack glanced at Bobby and then looked at her and picked up her hand.
"You look after yourself, okay?" he said, smiling a little melancholy as his gaze briefly dropped to her stomach, and she knew he was including the baby in that one statement.
Returning his smile brightly, she nodded her head. "I will. Don't worry."
"There's plenty of food in the fridge and―"
"Jack, I know," she said, cutting him off, "I was there when we went to the store, remember?"
Pausing, he gave a nod. "I'm going to miss you," he went on with a heavy sigh.
"Oh, come on, Jack," Bobby said. "We're only going for a couple of days. You sound like you're going to war or something."
Ally laughed, and Jackson pulled a face at his brother.
"Have a good time," she said with a look encompassing the two brothers, "And look out for each other, okay?"
"We will." Bobby walked over to hug her. "Don't worry about Jack," he said in her ear. "I got his back." He pulled back, then looked over at Jackson who was waiting his turn to hug Ally and walked around to the driver's side.
"It'll go by in a flash," she said brightly, noticing his hesitation. "You'll see."
Jack nodded his head, then pulled her into his arms and held her to him for long seconds.
"I love you," she said into his good ear.
Jackson tightened his hold on her before letting go suddenly and turning to open the truck door. Bobby fired up the engine and he climbed in, Ally shutting the door behind him. Bending down, she took Charlie in her arms.
"Have a great time!" she called.
Jackson powered down the window and as Bobby began to reverse leaned out for one last kiss. Laughing, Ally stepped forward and as their lips met Charlie began licking their faces. She moved back and taking Charlie's paw in her hand waved them goodbye. Bobby put the truck in drive and turning in his seat Jack mouthed the words I love you. Waving, she followed the truck to the track until it gathered too much speed and she stopped. She stood there, holding Charlie in her arms and staring at the track long after they'd gone. When she went back inside the house, a text message was waiting on her cell. She smiled – I miss you already.
"No Jack?" Rez asked, standing and looking past her as she closed the door to his office.
"No," she replied lightly. "No Jack. He's…gone camping with Bobby."
Rez registered a look of surprise. "Camping, huh? Oh, okay." He motioned for her to sit down, then walked around his desk to a side cabinet. "You want a drink? Some breakfast?" He glanced over his shoulder. "The Danishes are fresh. The coffee too."
Ally watched Rez suspiciously. "I'll just have a glass of water, thanks."
Rez filled a glass he put on the corner of his desk for her. "You sure I can't tempt you with a Danish? They're from Copenhagen Pastry."
Unsure what to make of this somewhat uncharacteristic pleasantness, she paused. "Oh, alright then. Thank you."
"Apple? I've also got blueberry or cinnamon."
"Cinnamon would be nice."
Rez put a braided cinnamon pastry on a small plate for her, then sat back down at his desk with a cup of coffee. Hesitantly, she leaned forward and tore off a corner of the treat.
"So first," he said, putting his cup of coffee down, "I've got some excellent news. I had a call last night from Jimmy Kimmel's people."
Her face lit up with surprise. "Jimmy Kimmel?"
Rez nodded excitedly. "They heard about your performance on Ellen and they want you on the show."
"Oh, wow!" And then it came to her. "But Ellen's not even aired yet."
"What can I say? Word travels fast."
"When?"
"Not sure yet, but soon. We're talking days." He frowned. "Why? You're not planning on going anywhere, are you?"
"No," she said, reaching for her water. "I just want Jack to be back for it."
Nodding, Rez picked up his coffee and took a sip. "I'll let you know as soon as I know more," he went on, setting his cup down and turning to his computer screen, "I should find out some time today. So, this summer's schedule?"
Quickly, she finished her mouthful. "I took a look at the copy you emailed me and―"
He lifted his finger to cut her off. "I've added a few more dates since," he said, flicking through a pile of papers.
"Oh. All local?"
Finally, he located a print-out he handed over to her. "To the west coast, as per your instructions, yes. Seattle is the furthest but I figured that Jack could go with you."
Scanning her eyes over the schedule, she nodded her head, then a date right at the end of the list caught her eye and she frowned. "I can't make the Joshua Tree festival in October," she said, looking up at an expectant Rez.
"Why not?" he asked, surprised. "I mean, I know it's not Coachella but it's only…a couple of hours drive from here and right at the end of the season. A day trip at the most."
She paused, hesitating. "It's a great opportunity, I know, but Jack's doing a slot at the Austin City Limits festival that weekend," she said confidently, even though Jack was still to make a final decision. "And I'm going along with him."
His expression becoming thoughtful, Rez gave a slow nod. "What if…" He refocused on her sharply. "What if I managed…to get you to play there too?" He shrugged. "Would that work for you?"
She pondered her reply. Maybe if Jackson knew she was playing there herself, he'd be more willing to take part. "I don't know," she said. "I mean, could you? Isn't like ACL booked years in advance?"
Rez smiled. "Sure, but it doesn't hurt to try. Besides, there's always artists pulling out at the last moment."
Ally gave a nod. "I don't know," she said again, still uncertain. "I mean, it would be Jack's comeback. I wouldn't want to―"
"Eclipse him?"
Her expression darkened. "No, that's not what I meant. I could never…eclipse Jack. At his best, Rez, he is the best. A much bigger star than I am."
"Maybe he's…past his best, Ally," Rez said, his gentle tone belying his words. "I mean, don't take this the wrong way and I don't mean for my words to hurt you but sometimes you've got to face facts and…
"Jack's working on new material," she cut in decisively. "It's stronger, edgier, rawer than anything he's done before. He and his band are going back to the studio soon. I wouldn't write him off just yet."
"I wasn't writing him off," Rez said. "And I'm glad he's bouncing back. He looked good yesterday. It's just that I don't want you to…miss the boat, you know?"
Her gaze averted.
"Think about it, okay? Better still, talk it through with Jack. I won't do anything until you give me the go-ahead."
She refocused on him with surprise. "Thank you."
Rez paused. "While we're alone and I've got the opportunity," he went on hesitantly, and she frowned. His eyes lowered to her stomach briefly before he brought them back to her face. "There's something else I want to talk to you about."
Ally sat up straighter expectantly.
"It's been nagging at me for a while now and well…there's a rumour, some gossip online that you may be pregnant."
Unsure how to play it, Ally kept silent.
"Someone claiming they've seen you at some…clinic or another." He laughed somewhat awkwardly. "I mean, that's all it is, right? Gossip? Because let me tell you a pregnancy at this stage, just as I'm about to start renegotiating the terms for your second album with the label―"
Rez's desk phone rang, cutting him short, and he picked it up abruptly. "Yes?" He listened briefly before asking, "Is the room ready?" And when the reply was clearly affirmative, "We'll be right there." Hanging up, he turned to Ally. "Randall Roberts is here – from the LA Times. He's up first."
Committing the name to memory, she gave a nod.
"Ready?" he asked, standing, and she followed suit.
She drank the last of her water. "I just need to use the bathroom first."
Rez had a moment's pause. "Sure."
Let him have his suspicions, she thought then, she'd confirm the news – to him and everyone – when she was good and ready.
It was late afternoon by the time she got home, and she was exhausted. She'd given four back-to-back interviews to LA-based newspapers and magazines at Rez's office and then they'd driven to the studios of KIIS-FM in Burbank, part of the iHeartRADIO group, for a radio interview that would be broadcast the next day. Unlike with Ellen, she kept to her script, and Rez seemed pleased with the result. After thanking Phil, she let herself into the house and greeted Charlie who was waiting for her behind the door.
"Let me get changed and we'll go for a walk, okay?" she said, making of fuss of him.
Straightening up, she kicked off her heels, dumped her purse and sunglasses on the kitchen island and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. She drank her water, then under Charlie's watchful eye got changed into some slacks, put on her sneakers and a ball cap on her head. Back in the kitchen, she checked her cell – still no reply from Jackson – and picked an apple from the bowl. She looked at the cell in her hand, then at Charlie, waiting tail wagging by the door, and with a sigh put the cell back down.
"Come on then," she said, picking up her keys and sunglasses.
She and Charlie skirted around the building site to the back gate and munching on her apple she set off down the familiar trail. The sun was still high in the sky, warm on her skin after a day spent in air-conditioned buildings and she felt herself relax almost immediately. She was about to fork off when realising Charlie wasn't by her side she turned around to look for him. He was waiting by the back gate, looking toward the house.
"Come on, slowpoke," she called.
Charlie looked over to her, then back at the house dolefully.
"Come on," she called again, and then when Charlie finally sauntered over, "You're missing your daddy, huh? Me too."
Immediately as they got back she changed Charlie's water, then checked her cell and found a text from Jack waiting. A smile of anticipation forming, she retrieved the message. Service bad, sorry. Really happy about JK. You home?
Smiling, she composed her reply and was about to send it when she tried calling him instead. When the call went straight to voicemail, she sighed and hung up and sent him the text. I am. Having fun?
She waited a beat and when his reply wasn't instantaneous took the cell to the bathroom. She was taking care of business when it chirped with another text. Smiling, she picked up the cell from the floor.
Depends on your idea of fun. You?
She smiled. Took Charlie for a walk. We missed you.
While she waited for his reply, she flushed and washed her hands and made her way to the living area where she curled up on the couch with the cell and her bottle of water. Miss you too, chirped not long afterwards.
She sighed. So no fun?
Plenty of fun. Just fucking exhausted.
She was composing her reply when the cell rang in her hand. Startling, she smiled at the name on the display and connected the call. "Jack? I thought you said you had bad service."
"I did, at the campsite."
She frowned. "Where are you?"
"On the beach, by the roadside."
"I thought you said you were tired."
He scoffed. "Tired? I told you. I'm fucking exhausted. I thought we'd have a quiet afternoon acclimatising but no. Big brother had other plans. Had us trek all 6.5 miles all the way up to Point Mugu and back."
"You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm okay. I'm still pumped actually. Just sore. And Bobby wouldn't let me have the keys to the truck so I had to hoof it here too."
She laughed. "Just to talk to me?"
"Just to talk to you," he echoed softly, a smile in his voice. "But, sweetheart, it was worth it. Your voice is like honey to my blistering skin."
She winced.
"Not my best metaphor, huh?" he laughed, and briefly she wondered if he was watching her on camera. "But the views from the top?" he went on eagerly. "Ally, it was worth it just for them. It's ridiculous scenery. I'd forgotten how beautiful it was, or maybe I never noticed first time around 'cause I never took the time to properly look. And it's so quiet. I can hear all my fucking thoughts so clearly. And they're good thoughts, Ally. Good thoughts."
Hearing him being so happy and enthusiastic brought tears to her eyes. "I'm glad to hear it."
"I'm going to bring you here, Ally, you got to see how magical the place is for yourself."
"I can't wait," she said, a wistful smile on her lips.
There was a pause. "Anyways, enough about me. Congratulations on Jimmy Kimmel."
"Thank you. I mean, it's not definite yet."
"Rez will make sure it happens, don't worry about that. How did it go with him today?"
She shrugged. "It was…fine. Good actually, like finally he's come around to my way of thinking."
"Maybe he has."
She made a musing sound. "The jury's still out on that one. He knows about the baby."
"You told him?"
"No, and I didn't confirm his suspicions either. It's just…there's some gossip on social media. That time at the clinic."
"He's going to find out soon anyway."
"I know." She thought about bringing up the festival in Austin, ask if he'd come to a decision about taking part, but he sounded so happy that she thought better of it. "And Bobby?" she asked instead, changing tack.
Jack laughed. "He's cooking us dinner. I'm washing up."
"Oh, the joys of camping," she said, laughing.
"Listen," he said. "I'm going to have to head back."
"Oh, okay."
"I told Bobby I'll be like five minutes and that was twenty minutes ago." He paused. "I'll call again tomorrow, alright?"
"Sure. I l―"
"I love you," he said, stealing the words right out of her mouth.
She smiled. "I love you too. Give Bobby a hug, and tell him to take it easy."
"On me? Too right."
She laughed. "On himself. He's not as young as you are."
"Too fucking right he isn't."
She hung up with a heavy heart, then got up off the couch and tossed her cell back in her purse. Charlie was laying in the shade on the tile floor, and she picked up his food bowl off the mat and put more kibble in it.
"Sorry, buddy," she said, when he joined her side and she put the bowl down for him. "No steak tonight."
While Charlie ate his dinner, she put hers to heat up in the oven, then sat down at the piano and stroked her hands to the keys. Charlie walked up to her, and scooting over she patted the space beside her on the bench and he jumped up. He was missing Jack as much as she was. She gathered him into her side and with a sigh played a few notes with her right hand.
When she looked up, she noticed a stray sheet of paper on top of her songbook on the piano top. Frowning, she reached up for it and read the lines Jackson had written down. They looked to be verses to a song that didn't have a title or a chorus yet. There was no music to go with it, no chords or key, just lines of words. A leaving present, she wondered? After all, hadn't he done the same thing when he'd gone to rehab and left the lyrics to I'll Never Love Again for her to find?
Well I just heard the news today
It seems my life is going to change
I close my eyes, begin to pray
Then tears of joy stream down my face
Well I don't know if I'm ready
To be the man I have to be
I'll take a breath, I'll take her by my side
We stand in awe, we've created life
And as she read the words and understood the meaning, realised that the song was about their unborn child, her eyes filled with tears. The lyrics was joyful, hopeful, mirroring his current mood and it warmed her heart. Gone was the self-loathing of the other new songs he'd been putting down on paper, the feelings of inadequacy, worthlessness and failure that had been so intrinsic to his spirit up to now. Had he really turned a corner?
If I had just one wish
Only one demand
I hope he's not like me
I hope he understands
That he can take this life
And hold it by the hand
And he can greet the world
With arms wide open
She put the sheet on the piano stand, and lowered her hands to the keys. It was almost as if her fingers were moving by themselves as she played a few notes, then tried a few chords until she hit upon the melody she'd first heard Bobby and then Jack play. Hadn't he said that the melody was one their father used to play but never put into a song? Could her subconscious be trying to tell her something? Quickly, before she forgot the chord progression, she grabbed her cell, disturbing Charlie in the process, tapped on the Voice Memo icon and set it to record.
The smell of burning brought her back to the present. She frowned, then remembering her dinner was in the oven swore and sprung to her feet. She opened the oven, grabbed a mitt and took out her dinner she quickly dropped on to the stove. With a sigh, she turned the oven off and surveyed the damage, decided her meal was unsalvageable and turned to Charlie waiting on his hind legs by her feet.
"Oh, Charlie," she said, laughing. "We are missing Daddy, aren't we?"
Her cell vibrated on the piano top and she reached for it. It was her father.
"Hi Dad," she replied, trying not to sound disappointed that it wasn't Jackson again.
"I taped The Ellen Show today. Do you want to come over so we can watch it together? Make an evening of it?"
Her face lit up. "Sure." She looked at the charred remains of her dinner. "I'll grab us a pizza on the way."
"I hoped you might say that."
She hung up, reached for her purse and put her cell in. "Come on, Charlie," she said, looking inside the bowl where Jack kept the keys to the truck. "We're going to see Grandpa."
Little did she know that this new-found happiness would be short-lived.