"Veronica? Pregnant?" Terri asked. "What did Jack say to you?"
"Well, nothing. I don't even think he saw me."
"Oh no!" Terri replied, sitting on the bed where she spent a few moments thinking. She then looked up at Stephanie and offered her a slight smile. "I don't know what I'm worried about. I'm sure Jack is going to do the right thing and marry Veronica."
"You really think so? You know Jack so much better than I do on a personal level." Stephanie said as Jack knock on the bedroom door.
"I have to run girls." He announced after opening the door. "Sis, don't keep Jason waiting all night, huh?"
"I won't." Stephanie assured him.
"Jack, can we talk a few minutes?" Terri asked.
Jack looked at Stephanie. "I would love nothing more than a long talk but unfortunately I have to get going."
"It won't take long." Terri assured him.
"Okay, as long as it's quick." Jack entered the bedroom and closed the door. "What's up?"
"It's just a rhetorical question, Jack." Terri began, taking a deep breath. "Suppose I came home one day and told you I was pregnant. Do you think getting married would be the right thing to do?"
Jack appeared bewildered that Terri was even asking such a question, but he couldn't help but look at his sister as he replied. "No, absolutely not!"
Stephanie and Terri looked at him in shock. "No?" Terri asked.
He held Terri's shoulders but made sure Stephanie could hear what he was saying "Look, I know it's important for a baby to have a father, but some men just aren't cut out to fill the role. A girl should rely on the help of her family to get her through such a trying time." He ended by giving Terri a tight hug and then, with a pained look, he turned toward the door with an 'I gotta go' before exiting the bedroom and the apartment.
Terri crossed her arms as she looked at the bedroom door Jack had just exited. "I just don't believe it! Jack doesn't think he's cut out to be a father!"
"Whether or not he's ready, it looks like he's going to have to face up to it anyway!" Stephanie summarized. "Somebody has got to have a long talk with him."
"Your right." Terri agreed, putting her arm around Stephanie's shoulder. "And you're just the person to do it."
"Me?" Stephanie asked, pointing to herself. "I don't know what to say to him! I mean, I know he's my brother and all but as far as really knowing him….."
"I understand, but you're family. He loves you and wants to set a good example for you which I think could really influence him to make the right decision."
"Maybe you're right, Terri. I'll talk to him tomorrow." She glanced at her watch. "I guess I've kept Jason waiting long enough." With that, she collected her purse and met Jason in the living room before they exited the apartment together.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The next day, the siblings spent their long awaited day together. While they had a great time and spent a lot of their time talking, neither could summon up the courage to bring up the important issue they wanted to discuss.
Later Stephanie arrived back at the apartment alone. Finding no one there, she went to the phone and began to dial. "Hi Larry!….Oh I'm fine…..We had a great time today…..I miss you too. I was hoping you could come over……..huh? Oh you're still working on the commercial? I thought that wrapped up yesterday……….oh, I see…………. Well it would be a little late but I don't think anyone would mind…..Why would Jack kill you?…….Oh don't worry, I'll handle him, just come over….Around 10:00?……..Okay, I'll see you then……Bye."
Just as she was hanging up, Janet opened the door and began to struggle with a big box.
"Oh hi, Janet. Here, let me give you a hand." Stephanie greeted Janet as she went to the door and grabbed the other end of the box.
"Thanks Steph. It's not heavy but it's awkward." Janet replied as she and Stephanie carried the box and placed it on the sofa. "Did you and Jack have a good time today?"
"Yeah. We thought about Disneyland but ended up at the Los Angeles Zoo. Then we went to the boardwalk for an ice cream. What's in the box anyway?"
"Oh this." Janet replied. "Flowers. We've had three weddings to prepare for in as many days and after being down there two days, I decided to work on the last project at home."
"I don't blame you." Stephanie said, taking a white flower out of the box. "You guys are so busy all the time. Here you are bringing work home. Terri got called to the hospital on a double shift last night, Larry's been working on a car commercial for two days, and poor Jack is back at the Bistro on some wild assignment for Mr. Angelino. I'm beginning to rethink my being here."
"Oh no no, nonsense." Janet replied, patting the girl on her arm. "The last thing that Jack wants you to do is head home. Honestly, we're usually not this swamped and if Jack thought we worked you out of the house, he would feel so guilty."
"Okay, I'll stay." Stephanie sighed. "But if I am going to hang around the least I can do is help you with some of these arrangements."
"That would be fine." Janet smiled and nodded. "Let me go make some coffee then we will get started.
Soon after, Janet had made the coffee and she and Stephanie began going through the flowers. "Did you and Jack get a chance to talk today?" Janet asked hopefully.
"No." Stephanie said while making an arrangement.. "Janet, has Jack mentioned any problems to you?
"What kind of problems?" Janet asked.
"Well, any family problems." Stephanie replied.
"No." Janet looked at Stephanie, hoping she was about to reveal her secret.
"Well, I was just wondering. There's something I think he and I need to talk about."
"Oh? What is it?" Janet asked.
"I really don't want to say." Stephanie replied. "I mean, it concerns Jack and I don't know if he would want me to mention it."
Janet patted Stephanie's hand. "Stephanie, Jack is very proud of you. I don't think there is anything you could do to upset him. Please don't be afraid to talk to him. You need to talk to somebody!"
"I do?" Stephanie asked in confusion as the doorbell rang.
"Who could that be?" Janet wondered aloud as she got up to answer the door. She opened it to find a familiar face standing there. "Reverend Snow!"
"Janet! How good to see you again." Reverend Snow replied, giving Janet an impromptu hug.
"How's Chrissy?"
"Chrissy's fine. Just fine. She's actually working in the same church as I am, as a secretary."
"That's wonderful! Please come in." She ushered Reverend Snow into the living room where Stephanie stood to greet him. "Reverend, this is Jack's sister, Stephanie. She's visiting us from San Diego for a couple of weeks."
"Hello Reverend, nice to meet you." Stephanie shook his hand. "I met your daughter a few years ago while she was still living here in the apartment."
"Yes, I seem to remember her mentioning you. She talked about Jack's sister and how much she looked like him." Reverend Snow smiled.
"What brings you here, Reverend?" Janet asked.
"Well, Chrissy found out that I was going to be in town and she asked that I stop by and get that last box of things she left behind."
"Oh yes. It's up on the shelf in my bedroom." Janet remembered. "But why don't you stay and talk for awhile? Jack will be home later this evening and he would be so disappointed to know he had missed you."
"Well I suppose that will be fine. I don't have anywhere I need to be until tomorrow morning."
"Good! It's all settled then." Janet moved the box of flowers off of the sofa so the reverend would have a place to sit. "If you don't' mind, Reverend, Stephanie and I are going to work on some flower arrangements while we catch up. We've been swamped down at the flower shop."
"No problem." Reverend Snow replied.
The girls worked on the flowers while they and the Reverend talked and nibbled on sandwiches for about an hour and a half. Then Terri arrived home where, yawning, she snaked around several flower pieces that had been set up around the room upon completion. She was introduced to the Reverend before asking "What is all of this."
"This is for the Sanderson Wedding, Terri." Janet replied. "I was just so sick of being down at the flower shop that I brought the work home with me."
"I can understand that." Terri said, yawning and stretching. "If I don't see that hospital again for a few days, it will be fine with me. I'm going to bed."
"Okay, goodnight." Janet replied.
"It was nice to meet you, Terri." Reverend Snow added.
"Goodnight." Stephanie said.
"Oh Stephanie!" Terri said, turning around and stepping back down into the living room once again. "I almost forgot. I talked to Marge down at the clothing store today where we got your dress."
"Yeah?" Stephanie asked.
"Well, she wanted to know if it was going to work out for you for sure, because it seems one of her best customers had been eyeing the dress…."
Stephanie held up her hand. "And she wants it back for her customer if it doesn't fit."
Terri nodded. "Would you be a doll and try it on? I sort of promised her I would bring it by tomorrow morning if it didn't work out for you."
"Sure." Stephanie nodded as she headed for Terri's bedroom.
"What dress?" Janet shouted out.
"I'll show you in a few minutes!" Stephanie shouted back.
Reverend Snow looked at his watch. "Well, it's almost 10:00. I'd love to see Jack again but if I'm going to be able to get up in the morning, I'd better get back to my hotel."
"Oh, I wish you could stay a little while longer." Janet replied as she got up to escort Reverend Snow to the door through the forest of arrangements. In doing so, she bumped into the plant stand near the door which knocked a book to the ground.
"What's that?" Reverend Snow asked when she reached over to pick it up.
"This? It's my family Bible." Janet replied proudly, realizing it had come to the attention of the only person who could truly appreciate the fact that she had it in her possesion."
"How did it get in such a condition?" Reverend Snow asked, horrified. He took the Bible from Janet and noted the dust and water marks on the cover. "A Bible is God's holy word, a comfort to us in times of dispair, and such a book should be treated with love and with care."
"Oh." Janet replied, fidgeting in discomfort.
"Go to the kitchen and get a damp towel for me. I want to clean this book properly." The Reverend ordered.
"Oh Reverend Snow, you don't have to…."
"Now." The Reverend replied calm but firmly.
"Sure." Janet replied, rushing into the kitchen.
Just then, the doorbell rang. Terri rushed out of the bedroom to answer it.
"Hi Terri." Larry exclaimed, still dressed in his dark suit and red tie from the commercial. "Is Jack around?"
"No he's still at work." Terri replied.
"Oh good, then it's safe to come in." Larry replied, walking into the apartment. "Hey, I remember you. You're Chrissy's dad, right?"
"Reverend Snow." the Reverend replied, shaking Larry's hand.
"Larry, you showed up at just the right time. Wait 'till you see Stephanie!" Terri exclaimed. "Steph, come on out!"
Stephanie emerged in the vintage dress and veil that Terri had chosen. Larry let out a low whistle.
"What do you think?" Stephanie asked.
"I think it's gorgeous but way too modest." Larry replied with a sparkle in his eye.
Stephanie smiled and turned around. "It's supposed to be modest, silly. We're talking about the 1860's here!"
"What's going on?" Reverend Snow asked. Stephanie quickly told him about her play.
"Well I think it's a lovely dress. I wish girls today wore dresses just like it." The reverend replied as Janet emerged from the kitchen.
"Reverend Snow, Will a paper towel…." She trailed off as she saw Stephanie's dress. "What's going on here?" She asked in a stern voice as she looked at Larry.
As Larry shrugged, bewildered by Janet's outburst, Reverend Snow took the paper towel. "A paper towel will do just fine, Janet. I'll clean up the cover and smooth out some of the creases inside. A family heirloom can never suffer from too much care you know."
"You still haven't told me what's going on." Janet argued as she continued to look at Larry.
"I'm sorry, Janet. I told Larry it would be okay if he came over to see me. I didn't think you would mind." Stephanie spoke up.
"It's not Larry. Well, it is Larry but I was talking about this dress." She replied, fingering some of the lace on the skirt.
"I was just trying it on. Do you like it? Do you think it will work?"
"I think you should take it off and then I think you and I should have a long talk." Janet replied seriously as she steered Stephanie toward the bedroom.
"Is it that bad?" Stephanie asked.
"Wait a minute!" Larry argued. "What is this? I don't see my girl for two days and you don't even give me a chance to kiss her? If we wait 'till Jack gets home, he might kill me!"
"I don't think Jack will kill you Larry, but I certainly won't deprive you anymore." Stephanie smiled. She went into Larry's waiting arms and they shared a sweet kiss.
As they kissed, Jack arrived home and stopped short. He looked around the apartment. He saw wedding flowers, Stephanie in a wedding gown, and Larry in a suit, kissing in front of the Reverent as he had the Bible opened, smoothing out pages.
"Oh my gosh!" He exclaimed, dropping a box of plates he had been carrying and leaning against the door.