Chapter 5
"I know, I know I'm late." Jack announced as he came in through the door.
"It's ok, so was I. How'd it go?" She said coming into his view with an ice pack against the side of her head.
"Well, you know I…..What happened to your head?" He had noticed the small but visible cut above her right eye.
"I can't leave you alone for five minutes, can I? What happened?"
"Oh it was stupid, I was chasing after this kid who wouldn't talk to us and I tripped and cut my head on a banister."
"Are you nuts? Who do you think you are Wonder Woman?" He said surveying her injury as they sat down together.
"Surely you wouldn't say no to the outfit I'd have to wear…..Owww!" Her banter turned to pain as he touched around the wound.
"Jack, what use is sticking your finger in it? Look the ER doc checked it out and I'm fine. Now would you tell me how it went?"
Jack sighed.
Jack had been meeting with his lawyer to discuss fighting for custody of the girls.
"Well he did manage to get a court date that's agreeable to both Maria and I which I have to say was a minor miracle. The court's going to send out a welfare officer to both homes to check out the "living environment". Apart from that it was just paperwork." He sighed looking out the window.
She could tell it was hurting him. All this bureaucracy when all he wanted to do was spend some time with his girls. She hated to see that hurt look in his eyes. She took his hand in hers and began stroking it softly.
"Well that's good right? At least things are moving now and everything's official. Did you ask him about when you could see the girls?"
Suddenly his eyes lit up and she knew it was good news.
"He said he had been liaising with Maria's lawyer on the subject and she's agreed for me to have them next weekend! She's gonna call me with their flight details. She's not crazy about them flying on their own but the flight attendants will take care of them since they are under the age of thirteen."
"That's great!" She said, knowing how much it would mean to him. Inwardly though she could have killed Maria. She watched him get up and go to the bedroom to hang up his suit. How could a woman do that? Be so vindictive to a man she had shared a life with and had children with.
She had always been careful not to be negative about Maria. Partly because she knew that the woman's present situation had only come about because of her involvement with Jack. Also, on some levels she felt sorry for her. She had tried to put herself in her place, making a commitment to someone only to be dumped for a younger woman twenty years down the line.
Samantha knew that Jack would never do that to her but then she thought to herself that must have been what Maria thought once upon a time. She sighed and shrugged. "You can't help who you fall in love with." She said softly as she followed Jack into the bedroom. She sat down on the bed and watched him. She took a deep breath and decided to ask him what she really wanted to know. When would he be free?
He turned towards the closet and hung up his jacket in the little space she had cleared for him. He liked it when she had done that, but then he'd done the same for her too. They both laughed when they'd found out that each one had done it without telling the other. They'd swapped apartment keys almost straight away too. A further testament to their 'secret language', as Martin had referred to it.
"Did the lawyer say how the actual divorce was going?"
Her question coming out of the silence woke him from his little daydream.
"Well, he said that she has backed down slightly from her original "all guns blazing" plan. Only you are named on the papers now. All we have to do is admit that we had an extra-marital affair, you know play-along and, fingers crossed, I should have my decree nisi in two months. Then it's another six months before it's all finalized and then the world will be my oyster!"
"That's very funny Jack. So, eight months then? That's something to look forward to isn't it?"
"It sure is. But you know…." He knelt down in front of her, "just because I'm not divorced doesn't mean that I'm not completely yours. Because, in case you were wondering, I am."
He kissed her softly and realised just how much he'd missed her all day. He'd been in meetings and so he hadn't seen her since 9am and it was now 7pm.
He was trying to reassure her, she thought to herself. She put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her as he put his arms around her waist and sat forward on his knees. Although if he was going to reassure her like this she thought, he could do it anytime he wanted.
She sighed and broke away from him, looking into his eyes.
"I know you are. Just like you know I'm yours. I'm just going to feel better when it's all behind us that's all."
She leaned in and kissed him again. He got up and sat beside her on the bed as she did, wanting to be closer to her.
"Listen, when the girls come next weekend you know it's going to mean that…." She put her fingers to his lips to stop him, mid-sentence.
"I know. You want to spend the whole weekend with them. I understand Jack, really I do. The time you have with them is precious. You can see me anytime you want."
He smiled, relieved that she understood. Not that he was worried that she wouldn't but he was worried about her being neglected or hurt during this painful process of his divorce. He loved her and he this was supposed to be a carefree time in a relationship, not one spent worrying over custody battles and legal wrangling. Most of all though, he was glad she understood because he wanted to ask her something.
"So on Saturday night I wanted to take them ice-skating, they really like it. I was wondering if you maybe wanted to come with us."
She hoped the look on her face hadn't shown her total shock. She wanted to get to know the girls eventually but she was worried about what they would think of her and, more importantly, what Maria would tell them about her. She looked at Jack and relaxed a little.
"Are you sure? I mean, it's your weekend with them, I don't want to be unwelcome."
His heart started to pound. She's getting sick of the situation already he thought to himself. Oh shit!
"You wouldn't be unwelcome honey. I want them to know you. You're a part of my life now. Besides they've met you already and know who you are. But, if you're uncomfortable about it…."
"No, I'm not really, I'd love to come. It's just that, well, I'm kinda nervous as to what they're going to think of me. I mean I'm, you know, the other woman."
"Not now you're not. You're the only woman."
She smiled and exhaled.
"Well ok then. Just go easy on me all right and only if it's ok with the girls." He nodded. He could live with those terms.
"Also, you have to tell Maria. If the girls go back to her raving about a weekend with Daddy and his new girlfriend she's gonna hit the roof. Now that she's cooperating the last thing I want is for her to start making waves for you out of spite towards me."
She noticed he had a strange look on his face.
"What? Is my hairy stepmother wart showing already?" She said, theatrically covering her nose.
"No. You said girlfriend."
They both grinned like teenagers excited about being boyfriend and girlfriend as opposed to a married man and his co-worker/mistress.
"I know it's weird huh?"
"It's pretty nice though. Come here." He folded her into his arms once more for a lingering kiss.
She pushed him over to lie down on his back and lay on top of him. He laughed,
"What about dinner?"
"Dinner can wait. I want to make out with my new boyfriend."