When Jack caught up to his father he asked him if he would mind taking a
walk with him. They didn't plan on it, but they ended up at the creek where
Jack and Sean spent hours fishing.
It wasn't an easy conversation, for either of them. There were a lot of things that went unsaid. Even with the unspoken words a bonding that never existed before was taking place.
Oddly enough, the cornerstone of their conversation centered around their wives.
Don said that he had something to confess, about his feelings for his wife. "I know your mother had her problems, but I miss her. That sounds strange doesn't it? Even at my age I dream of having her in bed with me. I miss talking to her. I miss holding her."
Jack told his father that he didn't find it strange that he missed his wife.
By the tone in his voice Don concluded that Jack probably missed his wife also. When he asked him if he did, he really wasn't surprised at the answer he was given.
"I love her, Dad." Jack looked at his father to see if he would disapprove of what he just said. He was glad that he saw no signs of disapproval.
Then it was Jack's turn to make a confession, regarding his relationship with his wife. "You know how you dream about being with Mom, just one more time."
"Yes." Don answered.
"I had that 'one more time' with Irina. I don't regret it."
Don laid his hand on Jack's shoulder and told him that he was glad for him.
They sat quietly for a few minutes. Each lost in their own thoughts. Then Jack checked his watch and saw that time was running out. He had to leave soon, to catch the plane back to LA.
On the walk back to the house the two men were able to recall some loving moments with Rebecca.
Don told him that Rebecca didn't like being the way she was. She was aware of what she was doing and she really tried to control it. "I guess maybe I should have forced her to go the doctor." Don said.
Jack told him that he shouldn't second-guess his decision. It could have been worse. He wouldn't have wanted his mother to be institutionalized or subjected to shock treatments.
Jack recalled that although there were many nights when she attacked him physically and verbally, there were some nights when she came into his room and laid down with him. She would tell him that she loved him. He likes to believe that the woman who held him on those nights was his real mother.
When they arrived back at the house, Sydney had already packed the car. Sara had insisted on packing some sandwiches.
She cried when Jack hugged her good-bye. He promised that he would call her often and that he would come back for her granddaughter's wedding, if he could.
After saying good-bye to Sara, Jack turned to say good-bye to his father. He offered him his hand. Don was barely able to hold back his tears as they shook hands and said good-bye. Just as he did with his aunt, Jack promised that that he would call often.
Before he left there was something Jack really wanted his father to know. It was hard for him to use the words love and respect so still holding firm to their handshake and recalling the conversation they had at the bar, Jack told his father, "Dad, I want you to know that your life was never a waste."
Swallowing the lump in his throat, Don was barely able to say, "Thank you." He knew exactly what Jack meant by those words.
Their time together was up. Sydney and Jack got in the car and headed to the airport. Sydney thanked Jack for taking her home and sharing the memories of his past with her.
He once again tried to tell her how sorry he was about keeping her away from her family. Sydney made him promise that he would never again apologize for that.
Jack said that the best he could do is to promise to try.
It wasn't an easy conversation, for either of them. There were a lot of things that went unsaid. Even with the unspoken words a bonding that never existed before was taking place.
Oddly enough, the cornerstone of their conversation centered around their wives.
Don said that he had something to confess, about his feelings for his wife. "I know your mother had her problems, but I miss her. That sounds strange doesn't it? Even at my age I dream of having her in bed with me. I miss talking to her. I miss holding her."
Jack told his father that he didn't find it strange that he missed his wife.
By the tone in his voice Don concluded that Jack probably missed his wife also. When he asked him if he did, he really wasn't surprised at the answer he was given.
"I love her, Dad." Jack looked at his father to see if he would disapprove of what he just said. He was glad that he saw no signs of disapproval.
Then it was Jack's turn to make a confession, regarding his relationship with his wife. "You know how you dream about being with Mom, just one more time."
"Yes." Don answered.
"I had that 'one more time' with Irina. I don't regret it."
Don laid his hand on Jack's shoulder and told him that he was glad for him.
They sat quietly for a few minutes. Each lost in their own thoughts. Then Jack checked his watch and saw that time was running out. He had to leave soon, to catch the plane back to LA.
On the walk back to the house the two men were able to recall some loving moments with Rebecca.
Don told him that Rebecca didn't like being the way she was. She was aware of what she was doing and she really tried to control it. "I guess maybe I should have forced her to go the doctor." Don said.
Jack told him that he shouldn't second-guess his decision. It could have been worse. He wouldn't have wanted his mother to be institutionalized or subjected to shock treatments.
Jack recalled that although there were many nights when she attacked him physically and verbally, there were some nights when she came into his room and laid down with him. She would tell him that she loved him. He likes to believe that the woman who held him on those nights was his real mother.
When they arrived back at the house, Sydney had already packed the car. Sara had insisted on packing some sandwiches.
She cried when Jack hugged her good-bye. He promised that he would call her often and that he would come back for her granddaughter's wedding, if he could.
After saying good-bye to Sara, Jack turned to say good-bye to his father. He offered him his hand. Don was barely able to hold back his tears as they shook hands and said good-bye. Just as he did with his aunt, Jack promised that that he would call often.
Before he left there was something Jack really wanted his father to know. It was hard for him to use the words love and respect so still holding firm to their handshake and recalling the conversation they had at the bar, Jack told his father, "Dad, I want you to know that your life was never a waste."
Swallowing the lump in his throat, Don was barely able to say, "Thank you." He knew exactly what Jack meant by those words.
Their time together was up. Sydney and Jack got in the car and headed to the airport. Sydney thanked Jack for taking her home and sharing the memories of his past with her.
He once again tried to tell her how sorry he was about keeping her away from her family. Sydney made him promise that he would never again apologize for that.
Jack said that the best he could do is to promise to try.