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Chapter 24

It wasn't until Janet was alone, some time later when Jack had gone to get coffee for the two of them in the hospital cafeteria, that she took a moment to reflect on what Jack had said. He'd called her "the woman he loved". She loved him, too, but for some reason, she could not bring herself to say it to him. Although that didn't mean she didn't reciprocate his feelings, because she did, she knew her focus had to be on her child, first and foremost.

"Taylor, honey," Janet said, clasping her daughter's small hand in both of hers, "you have to pull through this. The doctor said your fever isn't as high as it was. That's a good sign. I know your body needs to fight off the infection, but I so want to see your beautiful eyes. We're all with you, honey. Please come back to us. Please."

Jack returned with the coffee a little while later and handed a cup to Janet.

"This isn't from the cafeteria," she said. "This actually tastes like coffee."

He chuckled at Janet's amazement.

"I cheated," he admitted, with a smile. "I went to the café across the street. I can get you a sandwich or a burger if you want."

"I'm not hungry," she said.

Jack knew Janet hadn't eaten much in the last day, but he didn't push because he realized concern for her daughter would diminish any kind of appetite she might have had.

A little while later, both of them were leaning against the metal railing of Taylor's bed, looking for any signs that she was coming to.

"Can I ask you a question?" Janet said.

"Of course."

"It's personal," she warned.

"I don't mind. Ask away."

"In the past eight years, did you ever...well, did you ever come close to marrying someone? Did you ever think about having a family?"

Jack shook his head. "No. I didn't want to get serious with anyone in Europe because I knew I would be returning to the U.S. At first, I was miserable there, but after a while, I decided to have some fun. But I didn't meet anyone I could see myself spending the rest of my life with. Because of that, I put thoughts of a family out of my mind. It doesn't mean I don't think about it because I do, but I knew it just wasn't the right time for anything like that."

The arrival of Terri halted further conversation between Jack and Janet.

"Oh, Jack," Terri said, after hugging Janet and asking about Taylor, "I'm so glad you're here. Travis told me about the phone call."

Terri looked at Janet to make sure she was all right with the way things had turned out. Janet nodded at her friend.

"It's okay, Terri. I'm glad Jack is here, too."

"Has the doctor said anything else about Taylor?"

"No. We haven't seen him in a while. The nurses check on her a lot, but she's still out of it."

Terri held Taylor's hand and offered comforting words to her.

"Uncle Travis sends his love, and Jeremy can't wait to see you, sweetie. He's sad that you're in the hospital, but I told him you were going to get well quickly and come stay with us."

After visiting for a while, Terri finally talked Janet into grabbing a bite to eat at the café. Jack offered to stay with Taylor. Janet reluctantly left her daughter's side, promising she would return soon.

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After being seated in the nearly empty restaurant and ordering a garden salad and an iced tea for Janet and a cup of coffee for herself, Terri hesitantly broached the subject of Jack.

"Are you really okay with Jack being here?" she asked. "Travis felt awful when I told him you didn't want Jack to know about Taylor."

"No, it's fine, Terri. Please tell that adorable husband of yours not to worry about it."

She gave the first hint of a smile since Taylor had gotten sick.

"What?" Terri asked, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

Janet shook her head. "I was dumb for not wanting Jack to know. He's been great. I didn't think he would be able to come here, but look. He's here."

"He cares about you, Janet. You and Taylor. Very much."

"I know," she said, nodding. "He called me the 'woman he loves'."

"Oh, Janet, that's fantastic!" Terri said, looking for any ray of hope on this dreary day. "Now, what about you? How do you feel?"

Janet closed her eyes, took a deep breath and then opened them. "I've fallen in love with him all over again, Terri. Or maybe I never was completely not in love with him. Know what I mean?"

"Yeah," Terri said, her voice thoughtful. "I think I do. Well, this is great!"

"Except I haven't told Jack. I sorta let the comment slide by, although it didn't. It's all I've thought about when I'm not thinking about Taylor's condition. But I can't say anything to him. Not yet."

Terri covered Janet's hand with hers. "I don't think there's ever been a better time. What are you so afraid of?"

"Of this," Janet said. "Of being so close to having everything I think I've ever wanted, only to lose it or see it slip it away again. I don't know what would happen to me if I lost Taylor, but I feel as though it's a very real possibility. To have Jack be in my life again and be so loving and sweet is wonderful. But it was wonderful once before, too, Terri, until it all came crashing down around us."

"You gotta give yourselves a chance," Terri advised. "I know Taylor is your main concern right now, and she should be but, Janet, how many people get the second chance you and Jack have been given? How can you not want everything you didn't get the first time with the man you truly wanted to spend your life with?"

"You mean the ring, the wedding, the marriage, the happily ever after?"

"Yes."

"I don't know, Terri. Call me crazy, but I'm just not ready to jump into this with both feet. My eyes are wide open this time, and I want them to stay that way."

"Okay," Terri reasoned. "Your eyes are wide open. So, look around you, Janet. What do you see?"

Janet averted her eyes from her friend's piercing gaze.

"I know, I know," she said. "I have a man who's just traveled over a thousand miles to be with me in my time of need. I'm not taking his concern for me or for my daughter lightly, Terri. I know what a huge sacrifice he's made."

"And you wouldn't have been able to say anything if he hadn't come here, Janet, because you know the circumstances and why he wasn't going to be here in the first place."

"You're right. I'm being foolish. My only excuse is that I love him so much, I'm terrified I'm going to find a way to mess this up."

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Jack leaned against the railing on Taylor's bed, talking to her as if she were awake.

"I know you're going to open those gorgeous eyes of yours any minute," he said. "And when you do, you are going to make your mother the happiest person in the world. You know what, Taylor? I've been thinking a lot about your mother and you. I never thought I'd be this close to your mom again, but we've managed to find our way back to each other. And it feels so wonderful and so right. I love your mother so much, and I'm pretty sure she loves me, too, even though she hasn't said the words to me. Do you think I could make you and your mom happy? I know you love your Uncle Nick, but I want to tell you a secret, Taylor. When the time is right, I'm going to ask your mom to marry me, and I hope, with all my heart, you will accept me into your life because I'm learning to love you as if you were my own daughter. Your mom asked me if I'd ever thought about having a family. Your mom and you, Taylor. That's the family I want."

"Mommy," Taylor whispered so softly Jack wasn't sure he'd heard her correctly.

"Taylor?" Jack asked, wanting to be certain she had spoken.

"Mommy," the little girl repeated, her eyelids beginning to flutter open. "Where's my mommy?"