Chapter 24
Author's notes and general ramblings: I know it's been forever since I updated, but I'm really getting bogged down with school work. And on top of that I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my writing and I wanted to make sure I didn't screw up this story. Trust me, you'd much prefer this chapter to my last draft.so, anyway, it's finally here. Thanks for sticking with me thus far. You guys are great!! Happy reading!
Jacob cruised along in Sam's vintage Volvo trying to sort out what he was going to say to Jack. He had rushed out the door without bothering to contemplate his actions. Jack needed help and sad as it may be, Jacob was the one best suited for the job, though he wished that wasn't true. It had taken all of Jacob's courage to finally tell his daughter about Samuel. It was a well-kept secret, not even his dear friend George had known him then. To tell Jack, a fellow soldier and good friend, was a heck of a lot different from telling his daughter.
Before he knew it he had arrived at Jack's house. Jacob took a deep breath, got out of the car and approached the door. He raised his hand to ring the doorbell but stopped himself. It wasn't too late; he could still go back to Sam's house. Instantly he was chastised by Selmak. 'Do what you came here to do.' Jacob sighed with the realization that his friend and constant companion was right and rang the doorbell. A moment later the door was whisked open. Jack stood there in sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt, a look of apprehension on his face. A German shepherd puppy ran up alongside him barking excitedly.
-Jacob!! What are you doing here?! Is there something wrong? Sam, Brady.
-Calm down, Jack. Nothing's wrong. I just need to talk to you.
Jack sighed with relief then looked at him queerly.
-You woke me up at midnight just to talk?!
-Um, yeah. Well, actually, it's 11:30 but.
-Yeah, yeah, same dif. Come on in. This better be good.
Jacob walked into the dark house and followed Jack into the kitchen. Jack flipped on the light and rubbed his eyes groggily. Homer chased after them, nipping at Jacob's heals playfully. Jacob looked down at the puppy and smiled.
-I always figured you for a Doberman or a Mastiff. Or maybe a Great
Dane. You know, something with a lot more bite.
-Funny.
Jack went to the fridge and grabbed a pint of mint chocolate chip from the freezer.
-You want some?
-Um, no thanks. Look Jack, I wouldn't have come if I had known you'd
be asleep. I never expected a guy like you to be out before midnight.
Jack smiled faintly.
-Me neither, but the past couple of weeks I've been so tired and.
Jack paused, suddenly understanding the reason behind Jacob's visit.
-It's about Brady isn't it?
Jacob nodded.
-Yeah.
-Maybe I should have grabbed a beer instead.
-I think ice cream will do you just fine. And on second thought, I
will take some. Orange sherbet if you have it.
-Sure thing.
Jack grabbed Jacob's ice cream and they headed into the living room.
-I can't let you do this to yourself.
Jack whirled around to face Jacob.
-Do what?!
-Don't act like you don't know what I mean. I'm talking about Brady. I
won't let you neglect him like this.
-Neglect him!?!? That's what you think I'm doing?! I'm trying to help
him. This is for his own good.
-Since when was it good for a boy to grow up without a father?
-Since that father is me.
-Uh huh. Look Jack.
Jack sighed, interrupting him.
-No, you look here Jacob. I'm not going to put myself through that. I
can't handle that. I won't.
He sat down on the couch, confident the conversation was over. He was wrong.
-Jack, you need to do this.
-Don't tell me what I need to do!!! You have no right to pass judgment
on me. You don't understand!
-I do Jack. That's why I'm here.
-No, you don't. Everyone offers their condolences, tells you it'll be
alright, that they understand.but they don't. No one understands.
-Unless they've lost a child themselves.
-Exactly.what?
-Just eat your ice cream and listen. You're not the only one who's
been carrying around pain all these years.
And so Jacob preceded to tell him about Samuel.
Author's notes and general ramblings: I know it's been forever since I updated, but I'm really getting bogged down with school work. And on top of that I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my writing and I wanted to make sure I didn't screw up this story. Trust me, you'd much prefer this chapter to my last draft.so, anyway, it's finally here. Thanks for sticking with me thus far. You guys are great!! Happy reading!
Jacob cruised along in Sam's vintage Volvo trying to sort out what he was going to say to Jack. He had rushed out the door without bothering to contemplate his actions. Jack needed help and sad as it may be, Jacob was the one best suited for the job, though he wished that wasn't true. It had taken all of Jacob's courage to finally tell his daughter about Samuel. It was a well-kept secret, not even his dear friend George had known him then. To tell Jack, a fellow soldier and good friend, was a heck of a lot different from telling his daughter.
Before he knew it he had arrived at Jack's house. Jacob took a deep breath, got out of the car and approached the door. He raised his hand to ring the doorbell but stopped himself. It wasn't too late; he could still go back to Sam's house. Instantly he was chastised by Selmak. 'Do what you came here to do.' Jacob sighed with the realization that his friend and constant companion was right and rang the doorbell. A moment later the door was whisked open. Jack stood there in sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt, a look of apprehension on his face. A German shepherd puppy ran up alongside him barking excitedly.
-Jacob!! What are you doing here?! Is there something wrong? Sam, Brady.
-Calm down, Jack. Nothing's wrong. I just need to talk to you.
Jack sighed with relief then looked at him queerly.
-You woke me up at midnight just to talk?!
-Um, yeah. Well, actually, it's 11:30 but.
-Yeah, yeah, same dif. Come on in. This better be good.
Jacob walked into the dark house and followed Jack into the kitchen. Jack flipped on the light and rubbed his eyes groggily. Homer chased after them, nipping at Jacob's heals playfully. Jacob looked down at the puppy and smiled.
-I always figured you for a Doberman or a Mastiff. Or maybe a Great
Dane. You know, something with a lot more bite.
-Funny.
Jack went to the fridge and grabbed a pint of mint chocolate chip from the freezer.
-You want some?
-Um, no thanks. Look Jack, I wouldn't have come if I had known you'd
be asleep. I never expected a guy like you to be out before midnight.
Jack smiled faintly.
-Me neither, but the past couple of weeks I've been so tired and.
Jack paused, suddenly understanding the reason behind Jacob's visit.
-It's about Brady isn't it?
Jacob nodded.
-Yeah.
-Maybe I should have grabbed a beer instead.
-I think ice cream will do you just fine. And on second thought, I
will take some. Orange sherbet if you have it.
-Sure thing.
Jack grabbed Jacob's ice cream and they headed into the living room.
-I can't let you do this to yourself.
Jack whirled around to face Jacob.
-Do what?!
-Don't act like you don't know what I mean. I'm talking about Brady. I
won't let you neglect him like this.
-Neglect him!?!? That's what you think I'm doing?! I'm trying to help
him. This is for his own good.
-Since when was it good for a boy to grow up without a father?
-Since that father is me.
-Uh huh. Look Jack.
Jack sighed, interrupting him.
-No, you look here Jacob. I'm not going to put myself through that. I
can't handle that. I won't.
He sat down on the couch, confident the conversation was over. He was wrong.
-Jack, you need to do this.
-Don't tell me what I need to do!!! You have no right to pass judgment
on me. You don't understand!
-I do Jack. That's why I'm here.
-No, you don't. Everyone offers their condolences, tells you it'll be
alright, that they understand.but they don't. No one understands.
-Unless they've lost a child themselves.
-Exactly.what?
-Just eat your ice cream and listen. You're not the only one who's
been carrying around pain all these years.
And so Jacob preceded to tell him about Samuel.