Chapter 14

"Breakfast is ready." Janet heard Diane calling through the intercom as she brushed her hair.

Jack ran down the stairs and into the kitchen as fast as lightning. "Morning Jack." She greeted the cute little boy.

"Morning Diane." He said before washing his hands.

Jack and Janet followed behind him hand in hand. "Good morning guys." Jack said as he pulled out the chair for his wife to seat.

After their wedding Jack and Janet found a perfect size house for them to share. It had four bedrooms and good size kitchen and everything else needed for them to call it home. Jack had his own bedroom decorated in race cars since he had outgrown the desire to be a southern cowboy. Dianne also enjoyed the privacy of her own room, bathroom and small living area inside their guesthouse in the back. While Jack and Janet shared their master loves nest decorated in an old Victoria style.

"I have a meeting later tonight. So please don't wait for me to start dinner." Jack said taking a bit of his Spanish omelet.

Janet smiled and thanked him for letting her know. "I hope you get to close the deal, honey. I know you've had plans for it quiet a while now. And getting back on your feet with another restaurant will be great." She added.

The happy family enjoyed their breakfast before it was time for each to part their separate way. "Bye honey." Jack stood to kiss his lovely wife's lips. Janet smiled before she too attempt to stand, but was restraint to her sit as the whole room seemed to spin in circles. She grabbed a whole of Jack's jacket before letting out a small moan.

"Janet." Jack cried anxiously "Honey are you okay?" he said catching her body.

"Yes." She said waving her hand. "Don't worry." She tried smiling. "I am just tired. I was at the shop till late yesterday taking inventory."

"Well maybe you should call the flower shop and tell them you won't be coming in. Jason is a great manager he will take care of everything."

"That's okay I bet I can make it."

"Janet please,"

"I'll be find I promise." Janet said as she stood up successfully this time and kissed his lips. "If I don't feel better by noon I'll go see Dr. Stewart"

"Promise?" He asked, Jack had known Janet way to long, she was stubborn and when it came time to pay a visit to the doctor she was never a happy camper.

"Yeah, mommy you need to go see Dr. Stewart I don't want you getting sick." The little boy said waiting for his dad to drive him to school.

"I promise. Now stop treating me like a baby you two. Men!" She said playfully as she giggled.

"You two better get going or you will be late." Diane said as she helped little Jack with his backpack.

Throughout the day Jack would call the shop and check up on Janet. "Don't lie to me Jason." He asked for a sincere answer from his friend, "Janet has not been feeling well for a few days now and I am not the only one to notice. She keeps saying its stress and over-work but I think there is something wrong with her. Maybe she'll listen to you buddy."

"I will keep my eye on her, but you are right we've noticed it too. She didn't want me to tell you this but two days ago she passed out in the middle of the lobby."

"What?" Jack asked shocked and a bit angry, "How come no one informed me of this?"

"Janet didn't think it was necessary. She didn't want you worry while you had that big restaurant project going on."

"She is my wife, the most important thing in my life I have a right to know." Jack said frustrated.

"I will talk to Janet and she will have no other option but to go see the doctor."

"Well I hope she listens to you." Jack chuckled.

"She'll have no other option. I am going to call and make an appointment right now." Mr. Crockett said before hanging the phone.

Against her will but knowing everyone else was very worry about her health Janet accepted to see her doctor during her lunch hour. After a few test and blood work, the doctor reviewed the results with her. "As I suspected, Janet," he said with a smile across his face. "You and Jack will soon be parents of a new child. You are expecting a baby."

Janet was stunned, "I'm pre- pregnant?" Her eyes became wider as she tried to intake the results of her lab work. "How far?"

"Three months and a half."

She grinned happily, "We really weren't planning this but this is just a blessing. You have no idea how much Jack has wanted to have a child of his own. I can't wait to let him know the news…." She looked around curiously, "Do you think you would be able to get an idea of what the child would be….or is it too soon?"

"I believe we are advance enough to tell. One moment." He said as he began to dial for his nurse.

'A child,' Janet thought with tears in her eyes, 'mine and Jack's. No wonder my clothes were beginning to feel very tight.' She laughed inside.

Janet returned to the flower shop later that afternoon. She felt like she was walking on clouds. She knew the other employees would ask about her doctor's appointment and decided she wasn't going to tell anyone until she's told Jack. "I just need to get some rest." She lied, "I am just stressed the doctor said."

"Good, you had us worry for a while there." Jason said as they walked into her office, his hand wrapped around her shoulder.

"Thanks for worrying. Without a doubt I have the best staff ever."

"Hi honey," Janet heard Jack's sweet voice over the phone. "How was the doctor's appointment?"

"Fine. He said I just needed to rest."

"Is that all?"

"Well no but I want to talk about that when you get home tonight."

Jack didn't know if that sounded so good, "Why? Why can't you just tell me know?"

"Because I rather tell you in person." She said smiling into the speaker, "It's nothing bad. I promise."

"It better not be Janet Tripper."

"Promise. Babe." She said eager for night fall to come around, "When do you think you'll be getting home?"

"Well, that is what I needed to talk to you about too, but now that things have change ….Richard wanted me to meet him in San Francisco tomorrow. But you are more important to me then any contract."

"No." She interrupted his speech, "I don't want you to change your plans. I'll be here waiting for you. Nothing is the matter with me in contrast this is a happy surprise."

Janet convince Jack to follow through with his meeting in San Francisco, "I promise I will be back to celebrate our anniversary just like every month." He said before blowing a kiss into the speaker. "I love you."

"I love you more." Janet said before they hung up.

Just like he promised Jack was home in plenty of time for him to get ready to celebrate their three month anniversary. He knew it was corny but he wanted to make sure Janet never forgot or even doubt his love for her, so on every anniversary they have shared he's taken her out to dinner and then some dancing afterwards.

Before they proceeded into the dancing floor, Janet informed her husband of the great news, "Before we go on with our date, I want to tell you something very important." She said smiling as she rubbed his hands with her own.

"Okay Janet. You really have me worry, I asked you yesterday, this afternoon when I got home and now you tell me it's very important." He said expecting the worst.

"Well this is a different type of very important." She added, "This is a good type of important news."

Confused he motion for her to tell him, "Jack what have you wanted more then anything in your life."

"You." He joked,

"I'm being serious sweetie"

"Me too," he laughed pinching her nose.

"Okay well what else did you say would make your life complete once we were pronounce husband and wife?" She asked her eyes seemed to glow with excitement from the joy of being able to share this great news with her husband.

"A child."

She nodded her head and smiled a big wide smile.

"You really mean it?" He asked in shocked. "A child, yours and mine?"

"No, mine and Elvis'." She laughed. "Who else's? Yes honey, you and I are going to be parents to a baby girl who should be coming into our life in about 5 months and a half."

With such an excitement Jack forgot they were not alone but in a public place. He jumped out of his chair before taking Janet is his arms and spinning her around. "I love this woman." He shouted out in delight. "She is making me a father. A father." He echoed his last words as if he were dreaming of such news.

"Thank you for such an incredible night." Janet said before she leaned to kiss her husband's lips. "I love you and you have no idea what joy you bring into my life." She said staring into his liquid blue eyes.

"I am the one who should be thankful." He said rubbing her upper arm. "I have the best wife in the world, the best child in the world another one on its way, a successful career and have I mention the best wife in the world?" He joked.

They laughed before sharing one last kiss, "I love you, Janet."

"Me too Jack. I love you with every single cell in my body."

He smiled before turning to open his door. He then made his way around his new red Mercedes. "My lady." He said while opening the passenger door.

Janet giggled at his charm. "How I wish this night would never end." She said as he leaned in to kiss her.

"I do." Jack said, "I can't wait for April or May to be here." Janet had a confused look on her sweet face. "So that I can hold my little princess in my arms and read and sing to her before bed time. What do you think we should name her?"

She placed her index finger on her chin s she thought for a moment, "How about Stella?"

"That is pretty."

"It means star in Italian. That was my grandmother's name. Plus this child will come into our life to brighten our lives just like a star brightens the sky." Janet said day dreaming as Jack caressed her tummy.

Janet placed her hands on top of hiss. "You think I will be a good father?"

"You will make for the best father." She said before Jack began to search his pockets for the house keys. "You must have left them in the car. Silly."

"See what you make me do I'm loosing my mind Janet. And it's your entire fault." He joked before kissing her nose, "I'll be right back."

Janet began to unzip her purse to take out a tissue while she waited for Jack to come back with the keys. When all of a sudden she heard a loud and intense noise close by, she tuned in search of it but all she saw was Jack falling to the ground as Vicky drove by tossing the gun on the floor next to his shivering body. "Jack." Janet screamed as her purse hit the grown before making her way towards him. The sound of her voice seemed to have echoed a million times lasting an eternity. She lifted his body and asked him to not speak, "I'll go call for help, Jack. I'll go call for help you stay right here and everything will be okay."

Janet, little Jack, Diane and many neighbors from around crowed around his body as they waited impatiently for the ambulance to get there. They drove him off to the nearest hospital where he was taken into surgery as soon as he arrived. Janet rode with him, holding hands through the situation just like so many other times, inseparable.

Jack was still in very critical conditions for the bullet ran so close to his heart the doctors though it would have been impossible for them to continue through the surgery. But Jack was strong, he has too many reasons to live, too many reason's not to give up.

His body was weak; his lips dry and white just like the rest of this body. The room was silent only the sound of the machines that held Jack alive beeped. Janet had been inside the small cold room for about an hour now. She had dark circles around her red eyes but she refused to sleep or leave his sight.

Her head was resting against the bed's side and her hand was twined in his. She softly rubbed his arm up and down, as she cursed the woman responsible for this. Vicky was arrested and placed in jail but that will never be enough to pay for the pain she was leaving in their hearts.

Jack slowly opened his eyes, "Janet." He called out. "I need my Janet." He repeated.

With tears in her gloomy eyes but a smile on her pretty face, she informed him she was there, "Like always, babe. I am by your side, never leaving you."

"I'm afraid we may have to part for a while Janet. But don't worry baby, I will always keep an eye out for you and our children from heave above." He said as tears ran down his dry eyes.

"Don't." Janet ordered him, "Don't talk like that. You and I will always be together. One for all and all or one. Just like its' always been and will always be." She said stretching her body so that she could see those beautiful baby blue eyes; she's so desperately fallen for.

"I'm afraid this time I've let you down honey." He said trying to lift his arm to touch her one last time. "I don't think I will make it through, Janet but I want to you know that I love you."

His words seem to pierce her heart. The pain was killing her and the view was destroying her.

"Janet, I love you. I loved you yesterday, I love you today, and I am going to love you forever." He said with small pauses between each word.

"Jack please don't, you will be fine. You'll see. You will be out of here in no time and when you do we will start plans for the coming of our child, honey. Our family will be together forever."

"No." Jack said slowly trying to catch his breath. "I can feel it babe, but I want you to know something, even though I may not be here physically I will always be next to you, our son Jack and our princess Stella. "

"Jack please, you can't leave I need you-" Janet started to protest but was interrupted by his index finger against her lips. Tears were now streaming down her beautiful but sad face.

"I will always be here Janet, I promise. Everyday when you step outside to a beautiful sunny day, and you feel the sun warming your body that will be me hugging you. When you look outside your window in a rainy April day, that will be me crying unstoppable tears missing you, when you feel the earth shaking that will be my angry heart furious because I can't hold you, and when you feel the wind of a mid-March day wrap around you, that will be caressing your petty body as I make love to you from heaven." He took a small pause, "Always remember that and please never forget just how much I love you and will always love you." He added panting.

Those were Jack's last words as his left hand dropped lifeless on top of his stomach, right after telling his soul mate how much he loved her. Janet sat on top of his bed staring at him terrified as she shook his body screaming out his name and calling for him to stay. "Don't leave me Jack. I need you. We need you." She shouted as she reminded his dead body of their two children. "Honey please come back, come back to me." Janet screamed at him as she hugged his buddy against hers.

It was useless, for Jack had pass to a better life and a better place. She softly kissed her lover's lips one more time before the doctors and nurses came to take her away from him. Screaming, shouting, and crying Janet stepped out of the room, away from the love of her life. She saw his weightless body for the last time. "I love you Jack." Were the last words she remember saying before she fell into a deep sleep, after the nurse injected a sedation substance to calm her down.