Chapter 20

The next day, he couldn't stop thinking about his mother and father. He was daydreaming about them as he looked out the window.

"Jack?"

He smiled at her voice and spun his chair around to face Samantha.

"What's shaking babies?" She laughed and sat down in the visitor's chair opposite him, throwing a bag down in front of him.

"Lunch."

"That's my girl. But honey, I can get lunch on my own; you didn't have to come all the way down here."

"I was worried about you."

"Oh I'm fine, I promise. We still on for 4pm, going to see the home manager?" He said preparing to take a bite of the huge subway sandwich she'd brought him.

"Yep." She got up and moved around the desk so she was sitting on it facing the window. She ran her left hand through Jack's hair whilst absently looking out at the city.

"I love you."

He smiled as she leaned in for a kiss.

"I love you too." He suddenly broke into a devilish smile. "Do you want to know what I'd love to do right now above anything else in the whole world? Take you home for some quality time, sexy lady."

She pretended to look shocked and replied,

"You can't talk to me like that anymore; I'm going to be somebody's mother."

"You're not my mother." He said, patting her backside as she moved away.

She laughed, kissing him again and then left, shaking her behind at him as he whistled at her.

Later they sat in front of Mrs Henry and waited for her to lower the boom on them.

"Mr and Mrs Malone, I'm sure you are aware of what I'm about to say."

They both nodded. It felt like the principal's office.

"Your father is entering the stage of his condition that requires more specialist help. Help that unfortunately we are unable to provide for him at this time. While I understand that he is by no means bad enough to go into the next stage of a home, he also needs full time help. We can't give that to him. He needs a highly trained nurse who has experience in treating patients with his condition.

She sighed and leaned forward slightly.

"Please understand, I'm not saying take him with you now, but you will need to start thinking about it in the coming months. Certainly before this Christmas, he would need to have found a place somewhere else. I've compiled a list of the best homes in the area for you."

She handed Jack a list of numbers and sighed.

"I'm terribly sorry. I wish there was more I could do for you."

Jack remained silent, folding the list again and again.

"Thank you, we understand your position. We have been thinking about alternatives for him. It's just all happening a little faster than we expected." Samantha replied.

Mrs Henry nodded sympathetically.

Jack ventured into the bedroom with a tray of breakfast for Samantha and carefully settled down beside her on the bed. He gently stroked her face as she stirred.

"Wake up sleepy head. This time a year ago I was a nervous wreak and Danny was trying to calm me down."

She opened her eyes flashing a brilliant smile at him, knowing what he was talking about. He continued,

"I was nervous because I was about to marry the love of my life and now here we are a year later and she's having my baby. Happy anniversary, sweetheart."

She sat up and kissed him, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Happy anniversary to you too. Food! I'm starving."

He laughed and watched her dig into the food. She had been hungry since the day and hour she'd found out she was pregnant. He reached under the bed and brought out two gifts.

She smiled and took them from him. She read the tags.

"To Samantha, all my love on our first anniversary, Jack." As she turned to the second one he held his breath feeling a little embarrassed that he was about to reveal himself as the biggest sap in the universe.

"To my mommy, I love you already. Baby Malone."

"Oh Jack." She said, wiping away a stray tear.

From the baby she got a book to record everything that happened during the baby's first years. From Jack she got a platinum heart shaped locket, on the back was the inscription "To my wife, with love from your husband."

She sighed and took his hand in hers. He opened the package from her to reveal a large black leather photo album. He looked up at her.

"It's for all those photos of your mom in that box. They should be displayed and looked at more often."

He smiled warmly at her and pulled her close for a kiss. It turned into a very passionate one but reluctantly he pulled away from her and got up. Going into the bathroom he said over his shoulder,

"I gotta go to work you temptress!"