Ok, here is an update! I wanted to send a great big thanks to Katie(aka Ventura Highway) This chapter truly could not have been written without your help, you are wonderful. One more chapter to come.
Jack was gone. His best friend for most of his life was gone. The one he could laugh with, cry with and the one he could count on to get him out of trouble. He was still expecting Jack to walk thru the door at any minute. He always brightened up the room the minute he walked in. No matter what was wrong everyone could count on Jack to make everything ok again. When Terri called him at work to tell him the news he thought it was a joke. If Terri wanted him home, she didn't have to make a sick joke to get him there. At the sound of his wife's crying he knew it wasn't a joke. He rushed home and saw Terri crying uncontrollably. That is when he knew. His best friend was gone. Somehow he knew his life had just changed forever.
12 year ago-
Janet and Jack were getting married. Who would have thought that they would take that big step? Certainly not Larry, he didn't even realize that they liked each other until about 4 or 5 months ago. Call him clueless but he never saw it coming. You could have knocked him over with a feather the night that they told him that they were getting married. He had no idea. The ceremony was a nice one. Larry was Jack's best man. Terri was Janet's maid of honor. She was almost as beautiful as Janet. Man, if only he could meet someone like Terri. She was pretty and classy. Two things that most of the women he dated lacked. If only Terri could see him for what he really was, someone who wanted love and one special woman to share his life with. It was not likely, but a man could dream, couldn't he?
Jack was a lucky man. Not only did he have a beautiful wife, but now he was going to be a father. He was opening another restaurant and he had just bought a house. The man was definitely living a life that Larry was starting to envy. He wished he could find someone to spend his life with. After all, he wasn't getting any younger. Larry remembers the day that their baby was born. He wasn't any help that day. They were relaxing by the pool and suddenly Janet comes outside and tells Jack, Larry and Terri that it is time. Larry looked and Jack and asked him what it was time for. Jack looked stumped, only Terri was of any use. It looked like something out of a three stooge's movie. Larry and Jack were running around like chickens and Jack grabbed the grocery bag and started out of the house. Thank goodness Terri was there. She was cool and calm. She really has everything. She is so darn pretty. If only she would take a second look at me. Nah, she is too special for me. No woman like her would ever fall for a man like him. Smiling he returns to the present.
Present-
Why did Larry feel like crying forever? His best friend was gone. The one man that was always there for him, thru all his crazy money making schemes, all the times he acted like an idiot. The one man who saw thru all the bravado of his macho attitude, he was really a man looking for love. He smiled when Terri walked into Janet's kitchen. She hugged him and smiled. Once again he lost himself in his thoughts.
9 years ago-
He never thought Jack would play matchmaker for him and Terri. Sure they still fought but somehow they started connecting on a different level. He noticed that Terri started talking to him more, smiling more and actually wanted to be around him. Of course Jack had something to do with that. He made sure that Larry was invited over for dinner whenever Terri was there. Terri seemed to laugh more when Larry was around. Who would've thunk that Terri could be falling for him? Certainly not Larry. He was still stunned by the fact that she fell for him.
8 years ago-
Larry was getting married. What surprised him most was that it was Terri that he was marrying. After years of a love hate relationship something just clicked. One night they were standing outside Jack and Janet's house getting ready to leave, when suddenly they both seemed to realize that neither on wanted the night to end. They ended up driving to the pier and talking all night. Shortly after that they started dating. After about 6 months he proposed to her. To his surprise she said yes.
Janet agreed to handle the flowers. Even though she was 8 months pregnant she was still stunning. Jack handled all the food. Boy, can he cook. I guess that is why he owns 3 restaurants. God was Larry nervous that day. He still remembers it to this day. It felt like there were a million butterflies in his stomach. During the wedding ceremony he kept stumbling over the words. He was marrying such a beautiful woman. Jack simply put his hand on his shoulder and whispered so that no one be Larry could hear. He simply said, "Easy Larry, she loves you." Suddenly it was easier, and the rest of the ceremony went off without a hitch.
Present-
Terri was over at Jack and Janet's house. This seemed so unreal. He felt the urge to pick up the phone and talk to Jack. It still felt like they were all together still. The terrific foursome, that is what Terri and Janet called the couples. He needed to do something to feel useful. He decided to go outside and do some work in the yard. Who would have thought all those years ago that Larry Dallas would enjoy housework. Larry got lost in his memories.
6 years ago-
Terri was pregnant. Larry was going to be a father. Why did the idea scare him so much? It was the next natural step for them. This was a big step. Terri looked even more beautiful now that she was pregnant. She seemed to glow. Not only was she pregnant, but Janet was pregnant again too. They were due within days of each other.
God, he was nervous wreck the closer it got to Terri's due date and a complete basket case when she went into labor. Jack was great, he had been through it with Janet first and knew exactly how his best friend felt. He was completely if not brutally honest with Larry. "Look man!" he said "I know you're scared and Terri's probably gonna say a lot of mean things. She may even hit you. but, you have got to be strong. She is counting on you for that. Now you go in to that room and be there for her." Hours later, their twin sons entered the world.
Larry was so incredibly happy, he thought he'd burst.
Present
As heartbroken as he was, Larry couldn't help but smile as he remembered Jack's pep talk. He could hear Jack's voice as clear in Larry's mind as if he were standing right next to him. He wasn't getting anything done. His thoughts shifted from Jack and Janet's kids to his own children. Man, you better start taking better care of yourself, he warned himself. Watching the twins playing in the back yard he vowed then and there that he would always be there for his family. Larry allowed himself to get lost in his thoughts again.
3 year ago-
Larry just knew this idea was a gold mine. Getting men and women to invest their money in his business was sure to bring in big bucks. Terri was worried that it was going to bring more trouble than it solved. He tried to tell her that it was a sure thing. Yeah, it was risky, but hey when the money started rolling in they were going to be all set. That is when Terri called Jack. Jack sat him down and told him that he was crazy. "Larry, you've got a wife and 2 kids to support now. Isn't it time that you find something honest to do? They are depending on you. Do you want to take a chance like this knowing that it could leave you with nothing? No house, no car absolutely nothing. At least this way you will have the love of your wife and kids." Larry knew that he was right. As much as he hated to admit it, he knew it was a stupid idea.
Present-
Larry decided that he was going honor Jack's memory the only way he knew how. He would always be there for Janet and their children. Nothing could make up for a lost father, but Larry would spend every minute he had trying to be there for them. He knew Jack would have done the same for him. He owed it to his best friend to do the same.
Yesterday-
Larry was busy working when Terri called him. He was surprised to hear the agony in her voice. He wasn't sure what was wrong but he had a feeling it was bad. He thought that one of the boys was hurt or sick. Terri could have handled that though since she was a nurse. So it was absolute heartbreak that he heard when she told him about Jack. His thoughts had immediately settled on Janet. She was nearly 9 months pregnant and he wondered how the shock of her husband's sudden death would affect her. So without another thought he rushed out of work and got Terri. They then rushed to get Janet. Larry will never forget how small and lost Janet looked at the moment. He walked up to her and simply put his arms around her. That is when Janet lost it. She started crying so hard that Larry was afraid for her. Once she started crying it seemed like the tears wouldn't end. He felt so helpless. He would have done anything in the world if he could have brought Jack back. He would have given every last dollar he had, everything. He just wished it was enough to bring back the one man that meant more to him than a brother. Jack was everything to him. Friend, brother, sounding board and confidante, how was he going to go on without him?
He found himself in a room with Janet and Jack's children. He had to tell them about their dad. Terri had asked him to do it for Janet. She was still too much of an emotional wreck to handle it. So Larry tried to find the words to explain it to them. "Kids, I have something to tell you. Something that is hard to say. Well, you see your dad he.." Larry's voice cracked and he felt the tears come to his eyes. He needed to tell them. God, this was the hardest thing he had ever done in his entire life. The kids were staring at him with wide eyes. They knew something was wrong, their mom was crying and their dad wasn't home. Larry continued. "Kids, the thing is you see, your dad, well he um. He has gone to heaven. You see, God felt he needed an angel there in heaven. So um" Once again Larry's eyes filled with tears. He told the kids in simple terms that their daddy would always be looking down on them. Even though he couldn't be there in body, he would always be there in spirit. The kids seemed to understand. Much more than Larry did. Telling the twins was only slightly easier. They just asked when Uncle Jack was going to make the special dinner that he made every week for them. He walked into the empty living room and let the tears roll down his face. This was the hardest day of his life.
Present-
Terri called him early in the morning to tell him that he was needed at Janet's house. Janet was in labor and Terri needed Larry to take them to the hospital. Larry picked up the baby sitter and rushed to Janet's house. There he picked up Janet and they drove off to the hospital. After a long hard labor, the baby finally arrived. It was a little girl. Larry felt a rush of love for the screaming bundle. It was Jack's daughter. He would do everything in his power to protect her, teach her and guide her through life. Larry Dallas vowed then and there to always be there for Janet and her kids. He asked Terri to make a doctor's appointment for him. He needed to help Jack's family. The best way he could think of was to make sure that he was healthy and that he would be there for everyone. Larry had finally grown up. He was truly a family man. The thing was he loved every minute of it. Love made him strong and confident.
Michelle (with major help from Katie)
