CHAPTER FOUR
Suddenly Jackson was standing upright out of pure instinct as he heard a man's voice yell out to him from behind. As the two men stood face to face ready for battle, Jackson screamed, `WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TAD, GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK'. Tad was laughing so much over Jackson reaction that he could not manage to get one word out. After several minutes, he regained his composer and said `I came to see how your last night of freedom is going'. Jackson glanced first at Tad and than out the window and back at Tad again. Although he did not say a word, it was not hard for Tad to see that Jackson was having seconds thoughts. ` What's wrong my friend, you look like you are getting ready for a funeral instead of getting married'.
Jackson's tone was very loud and angered as he began to tell Tad his thoughts. `I AM A JERK! I AM THE BIGGEST KIND OF JERK! I am so in love with Erica that I cannot breath in her presence, but tomorrow I am supposed to marry Veronica. Tad did not want to interrupt Jackson, so he sat on the arm of the chair that Jackson was previously sitting in and went into listening mode only. As Jackson continued, his voice softened, as it often did when he spoke of Erica. `I thought I was over her Tad, but I should have realized that I could know more get over her than I could live without air, and now she hates me! It is all such a mess Tad and this time I lost her forever'.
There was a brief silence between the two friends until Tad realized that maybe this was his time to speak. Tad was always great at leading Jackson in the right direction and he hoped that tonight would be no different. Well let's see my friend, this is quite the mess you have gotten yourself into! Although Tad was only joking, Jackson was in no mood for his humor and shot him stuck a look that told him so. Seriously though Tad said, as if trying to redeem himself, I can see that you that you have a problem here and I am glad to help.
Let's start with Veronica Tad said, `I know that you care about her Jackson and it is more than evident that she loves you, but it would be unfair to marry her when you heart and soul belong to someone else'. The words echoed in Jack's ears so loud that he began to rub his forehead in pain. Over and over again, his mind repeated Tad's words `you don't love her, NOT LIKE YOU DO ERICA. Jack glanced back at Tad who was still talking. He tried to redirect his attention back to their conversation, but he was having a hard time thinking of anything other than
Erica. I know that you don't want to hurt her, but you would be hurting her more if you married her when your thoughts are of another woman. Jack was drifting in an out of the conversation, but he returned in time to hear Tad say `every time you go to make love to Veronica you will think of Erica'. Jackson silently nodded in agreement and allowed Tad to continue. `As far as Erica goes Jackson, she loves you more than you could possibly know. Sure she is hurt over what happened in the penthouse, but she is more upset over the possibility of loosing you forever'. Tad stopped speaking for a moment and glanced back over his shoulder to where Jackson was now standing. To his surprise, Jackson's eyes were filled up with tears. Tad already knew how deep Jack and Erica's love was rooted, but this moment confirmed it for both of them.
For the first time, Tad was at a loss, as he watched is best friend break down. It was not that long ago that Tad lost his wife, so he felt Jackson's pain. Jack's heart came pouring out as he said `you could never lose me Erica, you will always have my heart'. With that Tad put his hand on his friend shoulder, not as means to relieve his pain, but to let him know that he was not alone.
It was clear to both men where this conversation was going, but it was not until Jack spoke the words that the reality of the situation came to light. I cannot marry her, Jack said, I just can't go through with the wedding. His words crashed down on his mind destroying any possibilities between him and Veronica, but freeing his soul to love Erica again. There was an odd sense of relief at finally being able to admit his true desires, but he could not help but feel bad for Veronica.
It was hard to know what doors would open for Jackson and Erica, but one thing was for sure that he would not be getting married, at least to Veronica anyway. His final words filled the air as he screamed, `GOD HELP ME TAD, BUT I LOVE HER. I LOVE YOU ERICA KANE, I LOVE YOU. Caught up in the moment of Jackson's revelation, neither man noticed that Veronica was standing in the doorway and had heard every single word of Jackson's confession.
Suddenly Jackson was standing upright out of pure instinct as he heard a man's voice yell out to him from behind. As the two men stood face to face ready for battle, Jackson screamed, `WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TAD, GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK'. Tad was laughing so much over Jackson reaction that he could not manage to get one word out. After several minutes, he regained his composer and said `I came to see how your last night of freedom is going'. Jackson glanced first at Tad and than out the window and back at Tad again. Although he did not say a word, it was not hard for Tad to see that Jackson was having seconds thoughts. ` What's wrong my friend, you look like you are getting ready for a funeral instead of getting married'.
Jackson's tone was very loud and angered as he began to tell Tad his thoughts. `I AM A JERK! I AM THE BIGGEST KIND OF JERK! I am so in love with Erica that I cannot breath in her presence, but tomorrow I am supposed to marry Veronica. Tad did not want to interrupt Jackson, so he sat on the arm of the chair that Jackson was previously sitting in and went into listening mode only. As Jackson continued, his voice softened, as it often did when he spoke of Erica. `I thought I was over her Tad, but I should have realized that I could know more get over her than I could live without air, and now she hates me! It is all such a mess Tad and this time I lost her forever'.
There was a brief silence between the two friends until Tad realized that maybe this was his time to speak. Tad was always great at leading Jackson in the right direction and he hoped that tonight would be no different. Well let's see my friend, this is quite the mess you have gotten yourself into! Although Tad was only joking, Jackson was in no mood for his humor and shot him stuck a look that told him so. Seriously though Tad said, as if trying to redeem himself, I can see that you that you have a problem here and I am glad to help.
Let's start with Veronica Tad said, `I know that you care about her Jackson and it is more than evident that she loves you, but it would be unfair to marry her when you heart and soul belong to someone else'. The words echoed in Jack's ears so loud that he began to rub his forehead in pain. Over and over again, his mind repeated Tad's words `you don't love her, NOT LIKE YOU DO ERICA. Jack glanced back at Tad who was still talking. He tried to redirect his attention back to their conversation, but he was having a hard time thinking of anything other than
Erica. I know that you don't want to hurt her, but you would be hurting her more if you married her when your thoughts are of another woman. Jack was drifting in an out of the conversation, but he returned in time to hear Tad say `every time you go to make love to Veronica you will think of Erica'. Jackson silently nodded in agreement and allowed Tad to continue. `As far as Erica goes Jackson, she loves you more than you could possibly know. Sure she is hurt over what happened in the penthouse, but she is more upset over the possibility of loosing you forever'. Tad stopped speaking for a moment and glanced back over his shoulder to where Jackson was now standing. To his surprise, Jackson's eyes were filled up with tears. Tad already knew how deep Jack and Erica's love was rooted, but this moment confirmed it for both of them.
For the first time, Tad was at a loss, as he watched is best friend break down. It was not that long ago that Tad lost his wife, so he felt Jackson's pain. Jack's heart came pouring out as he said `you could never lose me Erica, you will always have my heart'. With that Tad put his hand on his friend shoulder, not as means to relieve his pain, but to let him know that he was not alone.
It was clear to both men where this conversation was going, but it was not until Jack spoke the words that the reality of the situation came to light. I cannot marry her, Jack said, I just can't go through with the wedding. His words crashed down on his mind destroying any possibilities between him and Veronica, but freeing his soul to love Erica again. There was an odd sense of relief at finally being able to admit his true desires, but he could not help but feel bad for Veronica.
It was hard to know what doors would open for Jackson and Erica, but one thing was for sure that he would not be getting married, at least to Veronica anyway. His final words filled the air as he screamed, `GOD HELP ME TAD, BUT I LOVE HER. I LOVE YOU ERICA KANE, I LOVE YOU. Caught up in the moment of Jackson's revelation, neither man noticed that Veronica was standing in the doorway and had heard every single word of Jackson's confession.