Weeks went by and things were getting better day by day between them. Jack was coming over and spending time with Brian as much as he could. Shiela had forgotten how much she really missed him. She had heard that, for years, that he was so buried in his work that it was as if he'd forgotten how to enjoy himself. His son was obviously curing that problem. Sometimes they'd act like two kids picking on her, playing games and such. She felt bad when she heard about his past and how he'd lost Claire Kinkaid so tragically.

She began to remember how much she'd also missed his smile, since she saw it so seldom lately except when he was with Brian. The Good memories came flooding back the more he was there. She finally learned how to smile herself all over again.

One Saturday morning, Jack picked Brian up on his BMW motorcycle, to Shiela's chagrin because she hated those infernal machines, and took him to his office to show him where he worked. Brian, being a typical teenager, thought it was "cool". They went to Central Park, ate hot sausage sandwiches from the street vendors, then went back to the house. Shiela was cleaning the kitchen when they arrived. Brian was exhausted, but excited at the same time, telling his mother about the day they had. Jack beamed as he stood beside his son. He gave his dad a hug and went off to bed.

Jack and Shiela went into the living room. She had to look at him and shake her head, not believing how happy he was. She offered him some scotch from an old bottle she kept in the back of the liquor cabinet that had never been opened. "This bottle is twenty-seven years old." "How do you know?" "Because it was already twelve years old when I bought it." She tuned and gave him a look. He did the math in his head and realized that she had bought it for him before she left him. He smiled and took the bottle from her hands. "Why don't we use it to celebrate new beginnings?" Shiela smiled back, nodding, as Jack winked at her, then opened the bottle. They sat on the couch and talked for hours catching up, not realizing the time. They had mended a lot of emotional fences, which was a healing experience for both of them. Before they knew it, the sun was coming up. Jack knew he had to go, but told her he would see her later. As they stood in the doorway, saying their goodbyes, they became quiet for a few seconds and just looked into each other's eyes. Then, as if he couldn't help himself, he slowly leaned forward and kissed her for the first time in all those years. Shiela put her hand on the back of his head and accepted the gesture. She gave him a shy grin when she pulled away, then quietly said good night. She leaned against the inside of the door after closing it, feeling like a teenager that had just gotten her first kiss after the prom. Jack still had an amazing effect in her, and she knew it.