They played for over two hours, neither noticed the passage of time until Terri came in announcing how long they had been playing for. They had both been sucked into their own little world of strategies and the concentration, and Jack realised it was the first time since the entire ordeal, when he had truly felt comfortable in his home - everything felt right. Jack had then kissed Kimberly on the head before she went to her room. Terri was already in bed by the time he had packed the board carefully away onto the cabinet shelf, where the pieces would not be disturbed.
Before he went to their room he opened Kim's door a crack and peered through, making sure she was indeed in bed this time - he was still scared of her sneaking out again. Satisfied that she was not planning on any more adventures he quietly closed the door and wandered through the hallway before going in his room.
He went in the bathroom and changed into some white shorts to sleep in, before getting into bed. As he approached their bed he couldn't help but notice how Terri was perched on the very end of her side of the bed, which he thought was a little strange. He laid under the cover and switched the bedside light off which had been illuminating the room. He rolled over to Terri and whispered, 'I love you,' into her ear softly. He watched the back of her head expectantly, but all he got in return was as, 'Night Jack.' She didn't bother to face him, she stayed exactly where she was. He waited a few minutes, feeling hurt, then slowly closed his eyes as sleep called. He rested his arm over her stomach to hold her as he slept, and he could not help but notice how much she tensed up when he did so. He fell asleep full of doubt and confusion, just what was wrong with her? Had he done something to make her behave this way? She had been fine earlier with him, but now, it was as though she was scared of his touch, and that thought alone scared him to death.
The following morning Jack woke as the bright sunlight came streaming in through the slight crack in the curtains, directly onto his face. He came too and looked over at Terri, still worried about the night before - he was beginning to wonder if she was suffering from Post Dramatic Stress Syndrome, but was not entirely sure - after all, Kim seemed fine and had been through just as much - but then again, he thought, it does effect different people differently. He decided that he would talk to her about it later in the day, after.... after the funeral. He had decided earlier that he would go, but only for a short period of time, and he was going to stay well hidden at the back - he didn't want to cause trouble, even if he was sure his presence their would do just that. Still, it was worth the risk - he owed it to Walsh to be their, despite the consequences.
He got up and stretched before walking over to the French windows and rearranging the heavy curtains so the gap allowing the bright light access to the room was gone. The room suddenly seemed so much darker, he thought, as he padded across to the bathroom. Before he closed the door behind him to prevent the noise of the shower waking her up, he took one last glance across the room at her and he chuckled at the position she was in, curled up into a tight little ball. He didn't know how she could sleep so soundly in such a way, and let out another slight chuckle as he thought about how much she would be aching when she woke up.
After showering he quietly dressed in some black trousers and a plain black shirt. He had decided against wearing a suit, after all, he wasn't going to be their long and the formalities were done in the church, he was only going to watch the actual burial. This fact, combined with the heat wave outside made up his mind, and so it was.
He sauntered downstairs and noticed he still had an hour before he needed to go, so he made some breakfast and read the paper. After that he was lost for what to do. He decided to go early and wait in the car, as it was clear that he was too preoccupied with this to do anything else.
Before he left he scribbled a short note to Terri saying he was busy and he didn't have his cell on him, but he wouldn't be long. The last thing he wanted to do was draw attention to himself, and he was sure this would happen if his phone started bleeping loudly during the procession. He placed the note on her bedside table, using the digital radio alarm clock as a paper weight. He kissed her softly on the head and left, making sure he didn't slam the door behind himself as he left.
Terri herd the door shut, and then the engines roar slowly dissolve as he drove away. Once she could no longer hear the car she finally opened her eyes, and a single tear dropped onto her pillow, dissolving quickly into the fabric before she had time to comprehend what she had just done.