Author's note
I am going back in time to right after they lost their little girl.
15 and a half years ago
Janet was still locked inside her grief. She had spent most of her day in bed. It had been like that since she lost her little girl. It was different for Jack. He grieved differently that she did. She couldn't get the image of her little girl out of her head. She was so small and helpless. She would have given anything to have been able to save her little girl, even her own life. She had said that one time to Jack and he had been horrified. She still remembered the conversation. She had been laying in their bed and he had seen her crying. The tears came so easy. All she had to do was think of the little girl she had lost. Jack had tried to comfort her, but had only succeeded in making her cry more.
"Janet honey, I now that you are hurting, I am hurting too. But honey, there was nothing you could do. It wasn't your fault darling. She was just too small. The doctor's had no choice. If they didn't do something they could have lost you both."
She had looked him square in the eye and said "I wish I had died along with her! God, Jack! It hurts so much. I can't even think about her without crying."
Jack was horrified and said "Janet honey! I loved her too, but honey you are my world! If you would have died too I don't know what I would have done. I love you so much."
He grabbed her and held on for all he was worth. He didn't know what else to say. Nothing seemed to reach her. She sat on the bed all day crying and mourning for their little girl.
Then she said something that hurt him more than she ever had "I blame you Jack! You gave them permission to take our daughter! She might have lived if you had waited!"
Nothing she said could have hurt him more. He still held her, but he felt dead inside. That was truly the lowest point in her life. She had wondered then if their marriage would survive. She knew that she had hurt him deeply. What she didn't know was how she could stop the hurt deep inside her heart. She knew that she had everything to live for, but she was so deep within her grief that it took an almost tragedy to shake her out of it.
Present-
Janet shook her head when she thought about that time. Who would have thought that they would still be together after all this time. Especially since she had treated him so coldly for almost a year, they had slept in separate rooms for almost a year. She shuddered when she thought about the event that had finally brought her back to her husband and son….
15 years ago
It was what had become a normal day for Janet. Jack had taken Jack Jr. to daycare. He had been going there since their daughter had died. Jack was afraid to leave him with Janet. Not because she would hurt him, he was afraid that he would get into trouble. Janet was so out of it lately. It was almost like they were two strangers living in the same house. They shared nothing more than the same house and food. Jack wondered what it would take to bring back the woman that he loved. Unfortunately, he wouldn't have to wait long to find out.
Jack was late getting out of his restaurant one night. He had to call Terri to pick up Jack Jr. from his daycare. He had been having a strange feeling all day. He was very unsettled and had a bad feeling that something was going to happen. Something bad, he just had no idea how bad it was going to be.
He was half way home when it happened. He was driving and saw another driver stopped with a flat tire. He slowed down and saw that it was a woman. The man in him couldn't resist helping a woman in distress. He pulled his car behind hers and got out. He walked over to her and asked "Looks like you are having trouble there Ms. Could I be of any assistance." He smiled and she nodded. He walked over to the back of the car and pulled out the spare tire. He had just gotten it out when he heard the click of a gun. He turned around to see a man standing in front of him, he was holding a gun. Jack started to say something and the guy said "Just shut up and give me your wallet!" Jack hesitated and that is when he threw the tire towards the guy. However, his aim was off and the man fired the gun and hit Jack in the left shoulder, just above the heart. Jack crumbled to the ground and that is where the police found him an hour later. He was weak from the loss of blood. They took him to Wilshire Memorial. The doctor on duty knew him. He also knew that Terri was a good friend of his. They called her and Terri rushed over to Jack and Janet's house. She had left Jack Jr. with her husband. She was red eyed when she got there. Her friends had been thru so much, and now this. She sat down beside Janet and started out simply.
"Janet honey, Jack is in the hospital. We need to get there right away. It isn't good."
Janet stared at her friend and said "What happened?"
Terri said "Oh, Janet, I would feel better if the police told you. We really need to get going."
Janet smiled a sad smile and said "I really can't leave."
Terri was getting more and more upset at her friend "Janet, I don't think you understand! Your husband really needs you right now! If I have to drag you out of this bed I will. You need to get dressed and get up! I will drag you out of here in your nightgown if I have to!"
Janet knew that Terri was serious. She had never seen her friend more upset at her. She was up and dressed in minutes. They were on their way to the hospital and when they arrived the doctors met Janet in the waiting room.
"Mrs. Tripper, your husband is in critical condition. Chances are that he will make it. However, there is also a chance that he won't."
Janet stumbled and said "Can I see him?"
"I'm afraid that he is in surgery right now. He should be out soon though. I will come and get you as soon as he is allowed to have visitors."
Janet's tears rolled freely now. Tears for her husband, she had treated him terribly. She had closed him off for so long now, that she had almost felt as though she were single again. She hadn't meant it when she said those cruel words to him 6 months ago. She was just so torn up with grief that she lashed out at him in anger. She soon found her way to the chapel. She knelt in one of the rows and prayed to a God that she was sure had forgotten her almost a year ago.
"God, I know that I have been so wrapped up in my grief over loosing Madison, I haven't been much of a wife to Jack, but I love him so much! I couldn't stand it if anything happened to him. He is the love of my life. I hate to think of my life without him. Please God! Bring him back to me and I will do everything I can to show him how much I love him!"
Janet broke down and cried. Real genuine tears for her husband, and all the time that they had lost. She fell asleep in the chapel and the song played softly in the background.
One More Day by Diamond Rio
Last night I had a crazy dream
A wish was granted just for me
It could be for anything
I didn't ask for money
Or a mansion in Malibu
I simply wished, for one more day with you
One more day
One more time
One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied
But then again
I know what it would do
Leave me wishing still, for one more day with you
First thing I'd do, is pray for time to crawl
Then I'd unplug the telephone
And keep the TV off
I'd hold you every second
Say a million I love you's
That's what I'd do, with one more day with you
One more day
One more time
One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied
But then again
I know what it would do
Leave me wishing still, for one more day with you
One more day
One more time
One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied
But then again
I know what it would do
Leave me wishing still, for one more day with you
Leave me wishing still, for one more day
Leave me wishing still, for one more day
Leave me wishing still, for one more day with you
Janet woke up crying. She had to have another chance with Jack. Their life together hadn't been nearly long enough. She had to apologize to him for all the terrible things she had said to him… If she had the chance she would make it up to him.
It was nearly 6 hours before Jack was out of surgery. He was put into the ICU. They allowed Janet in for only a few minutes. She had never seen as many tubes hooked up to a person. She leaned over and whispered "I'm sorry Jack. I am so sorry. I love you darling. Please come back to me. I couldn't make it without you. I have been so wrapped up in my grief that I forgot what is important in our lives. I love you so much.." She dissolved into great sobs. Grief for her husband, the daughter she lost and the time with her family that would never be reclaimed again. She would spend the rest of her life making it up to them. If only she got the chance.
Jack was in the hospital for almost 4 weeks. He finally spoke 3 days after the shooting. The first words he spoke were "I love you Janet. Thank you for loving me."
Those were the sweetest words Janet had every heard in her life. She had her husband back and they were working at making their life whole again. It wouldn't be easy, but Janet knew she had to try. For herself as well as for the two men in her life, her daughter would always hold a place in her heart. She would always think of her, but she needed all of her there for Jack and Jack Jr. So she put Madison's memory in a special place in her heart and would remember her on her birthday. She deserved to rest in peace.
Present-
Janet smiled at the bittersweet memory of that time so long ago. She had almost given up on the love that Jack and she had together. She was so glad that she had realized what she had before it was gone. She realized now that they had been on the brink of loosing their marriage, their love. She hated to think what her life would have been like had she not had Jack and their children in it. Luckily she would never have to find out….