[I've been looking everywhere for pictures of Heidi 1993 because that's what Kimmi looks like but the only site I found you have to pay for the pictures. Grr.]

I slept with feverish dreams of years that had past. Images of Jack in the bar flew through my mind and every nightmare that I had before then came flooding back. I remembered the pain that I felt and why I had left Jack.

I woke up with a start and almost knocked the children off of the bed. After some explaining, we all fell back to sleep and didn't wake up until morning. Everything was going well until Jack came by to eat breakfast.

"Hello, luv! How's my angel?" He picked up Kimmi and kissed her. She yawned and he laughed. "Are you tired?"

"Uh huh. Mummy woke us up last night when she had nightmares." Jack looked back at me as I set down some silverware and avoided his face.

"Why don't you three go outside for a minute while I talk to Mommy." Jack walked over to the other side of the table.

"Amanda, what did she mean?" I slowly set down the rest of the silverware so I wouldn't have to answer. "Amanda, please answer me." I straightened everything on the table. "Amanda." I brushed up imaginary crumbs. "Answer me." My eyes watered. I would not give in to him. I could not. "Amanda." No, no, no, no!

I felt his arms come around me and I subconsciously gave myself up in his embrace for the moment. Then I remembered myself. I pushed him away.

"No, Jack, no! Leave me alone."

"Amanda, what happened was a misunderstanding. It's not what it looked like."

I flashed my eyes at him. "Oh it wasn't? Oh of course! Those women just so happened to be in your lap and the rum just so happened to be in your hand. Why didn't I think of that in the first place?" I whirled around and left the room, but Jack followed me.

"Amanda, please, let me explain." I started to wash clean dishes from the cabinet.

"I'm listening."

"Amanda, I don't even remember why I did that."

I spun around. "Jack, it's doesn't matter if you meant to do it, it matters that you did it. Do you know how much it hurt me, Jack? Do you even care?"

"Amanda, I care so much about you. That's why I want you to forgive me."

"There are some things that I cannot do, Jack. However, I will go to Elizabeth and Will's party with you." I turned back around and washed the dishes again.

"Thank you, Amanda." I heard his steps go out the door but they were replaced by the soft patter of my children's feet.

"Where'd Daddy go?" Kimmi asked, while she attempted to stick her finger in the breakfast cake. I slapped the offending digit and picked up the cake.

"Daddy wanted to go eat somewhere else." She decided that it was okay and that she wanted some cake instead.

Jack didn't come by until the next day a few hours before the party. He gave me my finished dress and I went upstairs to put it on. Sarah insisted on helping me.

"I wish that I could go to the ball. It would be terribly wonderful." I smiled at her new grown-up word "terribly." She helped me straighten my gown's overskirt and put my dress shoes on. My hair was in a curly style on the top of my head with the rosette on top.

I nervously left my room. 'Why am I so nervous? It's just Jack!' I thought. But the butterflies remained. I reached the end of the hallway and touched the stair rail with a shaky hand. Jack stood at the foot of the stairs with a small package in his hand.

"Amanda, you look absolutely ravishing." I blushed slightly as I got to the bottom of the stairs.

"Th-thank you, Jack." He handed me a bouquet of blue flowers. "Oh, Jack. They're lovely." I smelled their deep fragrance.

"This is also for you." He gave me the small package and took the flowers so I could open it. Inside were the most beautiful shoes I had ever seen. They looked like they were made out of glass.

"I don't know what to say." I wiped away tears from my face as I reached down to take my shoes off.

"No, let me." Jack took the shoes and knelt down in front of me. He took my black shoes off and slipped the glass ones on. They fit like a glove. He got up and gave me the flowers back. "There, you see? I do remember some things about you." I grinned. Kimmi got up behind us and brought our hands together.

"Don't stay out too late!" She started pushing us towards the front door (which was already open) and shut it behind us.

"My lady." Jack held out his arm for me and I slipped my gloved hand around it. "Let's get to that ball, shall we?"