Here it is, the last chapter. The previous chapter on Diane didn't get much in the way of reviews. I suspect that there are only a limited number of us out there who like Diane or want Jack to end up with her. So like it or not, here's the last chapter. Please let me know what you think.
The Debriefing
The Future
The next six weeks passed in a swirling, merry-go-round of excitement for Diane. She went into work on Monday morning and turned in her resignation, telling her boss that she would stay on until her house was sold or until the end of the summer, which ever came first. (She and Jack had decided that they wanted Derek to be enrolled in school in LA for the fall term, so they would have to move before the end of the summer regardless of whether or not her house was sold.) Then she put her house on the market and started making plans to move.
To Diane's surprise, Jack officially proposed the next weekend after chivalrously asking Derek for her hand in marriage. Her hand shook as he placed the diamond engagement ring on her finger and she cried as he kissed her. It was all so loving and so fairy tale-like that she couldn't believe that it was happening to her. She wanted to elope, but Jack wouldn't hear of it. Diane had never had a real wedding before and Jack wanted her to have one. When she protested, he insisted that it would just be a small affair with family and their closest friends, but he wanted her to have a wedding. Diane was amused by this romantic side of Jack that she had never seen before and she found herself loving him more every day.
It didn't take long for Jack and Diane to find a house that they were both happy with. Jack would have liked something just a little bit bigger, but it was only a couple of miles from Kim's house and Diane fell in love with it from the moment she first saw it. That was enough for Jack.
Jack and Diane were married in late August in a quiet ceremony performed by a judge whom Jack had known for years. Kim and Derek stood as the honor attendants for their parents. The ceremony was followed by a luncheon for a handful of family and friends. Both of them were happier than they had been in years as they drove north along Highway 1 to spend the first seven days of their marriage exploring the California coast and each other. They were staying in Santa Barbara where Jack had rented the bridal suite at an exclusive bed and breakfast. Their cottage sat not far off the water and, while Jack checked in, Diane watched the early evening sun glinting playfully off the surf.
She took a deep breath. This was it. She belonged to Jack now, mind, heart and soul. And, in just a little while, body as well. They hadn't had much time alone in the previous six weeks, so it hadn't been hard to resist the temptations that they had nearly succumbed to on the sofa in Diane's family room what seemed like a lifetime ago. Diane had never been nervous about being with a man before, but Jack was different. She suspected that his brand of love was somehow different, more sophisticated than her previous lovers and that he would expect more of her. It scared the hell out of her that she might just disappoint him.
The thought left her head as she saw Jack returning with the key in hand. "It's the last cottage at the end of the street," he told her as he handed her the key and kissed her. "Then I'll have you all to myself," he whispered seductively.
Diane said nothing in return but could feel her knees weaken and a breathy sigh escape from her between her lips as she slipped back into the car and Jack closed the door. They drove the half mile to the cottage and Jack parked the car in front of it.
"Stay here," Jack said as he took the key from her hand and began to get out of the car. "I'll take the luggage in and then I'll be back for you."
Diane laughed. "Jack I can get out of the car and walk in without any help."
Jack shook his head in mock seriousness. "Oh, no, you can't. I need to carry you over the threshold. It's a time honored tradition, Diane. You could completely screw up our changes for a good marriage if you walk through that door on your own."
"Jack, you'll hurt your knee again. You just got cleared to go back to work next week. How will it look if you injure it again on your honeymoon?"
Jack laughed. "I'd milk that one for all it was worth. Every guy in the department would want to know what we did on our honeymoon. The rumor mill would be grinding in high gear. That's the kind of stuff office pools are made of. I bet even Curtis would want a piece of that action and you know how quiet he usually is."
Jack closed the car door and hauled their bags out of the trunk. Diane waited obediently for Jack to come back for her. She watched as he opened the door and went inside. Moments later he emerged. He had already taken off his jacket and was opening his tie and the top button on his shirt as he walked toward her. Jack opened the car door and wordlessly extended his hand to her. Diane took his hand and got out of the car grateful that he planned to carry her over the threshold because she wasn't so sure her legs, which currently felt a little like jelly, could make the trip.
They walked hand in hand until they reached the brick paved sidewalk that led to the cottage's tiny front porch. It was there that Jack stopped and smiled at her. "You ready?"
Diane couldn't help but smile as she nodded and locked her arms around his neck. In seconds she felt her feet leaving the ground. Jack cradled her in his arms and carried her with great ceremony through the doorway. Once inside, he kissed her and set her down. In the same motion he closed and locked the door, symbolically signaling the start of the rest of their lives together. As he turned back, Jack gathered Diane in his arms once again and began kissing her. The kisses were long and slow, softly infiltrated by passionate moans. Jack lowered his mouth onto Diane's neck. She loved the sensation and her desire for him was growing by the second.
"Why don't you open the champagne and I'll go put on something more comfortable," she suggested. Her voice was warm and seductive. She noticed that Jack's kisses suddenly became firmer and wetter.
"Sounds wonderful," he breathed between kisses. "I could help you undress," he offered. "You can't reach all of those buttons by yourself."
Jack had been eying up those buttons for hours now. Diane wore an ivory colored silk dress with a column of pearl buttons that ran down her back from neck to waist. Jack first noticed them when he placed his hand gently on the small of her back to lead her into the restaurant for the luncheon after the wedding. Having barely touched her in weeks, he immediately imaged himself opening each tiny button and kissing his way down her spine. After that he would push the dress to the floor. The fantasy ended there as the maitre d' approached, led them to their private dining room and asked if they would like anything from the bar.
The fantasy was back and it could finally proceed uninterrupted. He turned Diane around and slowly opened each button, placing warm, wet kisses along her spine just as he had planned. Diane seemed to enjoy it at first, but as he got further down her back, he noticed that she tensed up.
"You don't like that?" he asked assuming that he had hit a ticklish spot or a place that she didn't like to be touched.
"It feels wonderful," she said quietly trying to allay his fears.
Jack had made a career out of reading people's emotions and gauging the truth in their words and he knew that Diane was lying to him. He turned her around to face him, his face clouded with concern. "Whoa, whoa, no it doesn't 'feel wonderful'. I could hear it in your voice. What's wrong, baby? If I did something you didn't like, please tell me. That's the only way I'm going to learn what you do like."
Diane tried to breathe normally but found that she was suddenly so nervous that she couldn't maintain a steady, constant rate. Her lip trembled as she tried to find the right words. "I guess, uh, I guess I'm just a little nervous."
She tried to pull away but Jack wouldn't let her and drew her back in against his body. He tenderly kissed her forehead. "You're nervous about us? About tonight?" The revelation surprised him. He had never imagined that she might be nervous. Certainly neither of them was a teenager or a virgin. They had both done this before, just not with each other.
Tears filled Diane's eyes as she finally allowed herself to voice her deepest fear. "I've never been with a man like you before," she said cryptically.
"I'm pretty much like every other guy, Diane. We all come equipped with the same parts," Jack said with a smile as he tried to lighten the moment.
"I don't mean that," she whispered wanting desperately to pull away from him but unable to easily slip from Jack's embrace. "Jack, you're more educated and more sophisticated and classier than anyone I've ever been with."
"And you think my idea of sex is different than other men?" he queried her, still not fully comprehending her concern.
"I just want to be able to please you, Jack," Diane gasped in an exasperated whisper.
Jack finally understood. He pulled her closer and she rested her head on his shoulder. He could feel her tears soaking through his shirt and dampening his skin. "Baby, tonight isn't about you pleasing me. It's about us. It's about learning each other's likes and dislikes. It's about learning what buttons to press and which ones turn us on the most. First times are always awkward if you really love the person you're with, but it should be beautiful, too. Honey, I'm so excited right now that anything you do it going to take me to another planet. I just want to be with you. The fact that you've agreed to be with me, that you've chosen to be my wife, those things please me. Everything else is secondary. I love you, Diane, and I believe that you love me. The rest will work itself out."
They stood holding each other for a long moment before Diane lifted her head from Jack's shoulder. "I love you so much," she whispered, having composed herself enough to speak. "Why don't we try this again? You open the champagne and I'll go change."
Jack loosened his grip and Diane turned and walked toward the bedroom. Jack watched the sexy sway of her hips and smiled. He wondered what her "something more comfortable" looked like. At this point, he was so aroused that it really didn't matter, but, given the choice, he had lingerie preferences. Unlike most men, who liked their women as scantily clothed as possible, Jack liked lingerie that left more to the imagination. He liked long, full nightgowns in dark colors. There was something about getting them both tangled up in yards of satiny material that turned him on. It must have had something to do with all the frantic pulling and tugging and rolling around necessary to get them untangled that he liked. Skimpy little nighties or camisoles and panties that were off in a matter of seconds weren't any fun.
Diane slipped into the bedroom and stepped out of her mostly unbuttoned dress. She was still nervous and could feel herself shaking but felt somewhat better after what Jack just said. She hung up the dress and continued to strip and finally opened her suitcase to consider the possibilities. She had received a couple of pieces of rather skimpy lingerie from friends who had a small bridal shower for her before she moved to LA. She picked each one up and held it in front of her but ended up putting them both back and deciding on a deep plum, full length gown with a halter neckline that Kim had given her. It seemed so much more modest and as nervous as she was, she didn't feel like strutting around like a whore. This looked more sophisticated.
Diane put on the nightgown and looked into the mirror. She was pleased with what she saw. She rarely felt really good about her reflection, but tonight she knew that she looked good. The style and color of the nightgown were perfect. Her hair, now cut shorter and making the most of her curls, framed her face and diamond earrings that Jack had given her as a wedding present sparkled in the low lighting. For the first time in her life she felt beautiful and sexy and she hoped that Jack thought so, too.
Jack stood in front of the window looking out at the ocean and sipping a glass of champagne. He looked up anxiously when he heard the bedroom door open. "Wow!" he said almost inaudibly. "You look gorgeous."
Diane looked down, embarrassed by the compliment.
"Don't blush," he said with a smile and he lifted her chin so that he could kiss her lips. "This is beautiful," Jack said indicating the negligee. He was mystified that she would have known to buy his favorite style.
"Thank your daughter. It was a gift from her."
"Kim? My Kim gave it to you?"
"Last night after the rehearsal, while you and the guys were having your last round in the bar, Kim took me aside and handed me a present. She hugged me and thanked me for making you so happy and said that she hoped we'd always be happy."
"So this was like some kind of a peace offering?" he asked sarcastically.
Jack had been somewhat disappointed at Kim's reaction to Diane. She had never been unkind to Diane, she just wasn't overly friendly and had made no move to welcome her into the family. Jack didn't know why he was disappointed with Kim's reaction because, frankly, he wasn't all that surprised. This had been Kim's reaction to every woman that he had dated since Teri's death. She was cool to all of them and treated them like outsiders. Kate Warner had gotten the closest to her, but Jack attributed that to the fact that Kim was still young and in need of a mother and Kate graciously filled that role whenever necessary. Later, when he started dating Audrey, Kim grudgingly acknowledged their relationship but largely ignored Audrey. The same had been true with Diane at first but now it seemed that maybe Kim was coming around.
"Jack, stop! It's not a peace offering. I think it's Kim's way of telling us that she's okay with our marriage. I'm not going to tell you that she's happy about it, but she's okay with it. Kim's been through a lot in her life. I think once things settle down for her for a few years, she'll be fine. And if not, I'm sure we can manage to peacefully coexist."
Jack kissed her deeply. "You're really special. Do you know that?"
"Why thank you, sir," Diane replied with a slight laugh. "Now, where is my champagne?"
Jack handed her a glass. They touched the champagne flutes in a silent toast and both drank. It was a good, dry champagne and Diane let the bubbles swirl around her tongue and finally down her throat. She loved the sensation and she smiled.
"You're smiling," Jack observed.
Diane took the champagne flute from Jack's hand. "I'll carry these if you'll bring that," she said indicating the tall stand holding the champagne bottle and ice.
Jack picked up the stand with one hand and steadied it with the other. "After you," he replied as he followed Diane into the bedroom again watching the sexy sway of her hips and, this time, barely suppressing a groan.
Within minutes the two were, as Jack had hoped, rolling on the king-size bed tangled in yards of plum colored satin. They were kissing and laughing and, for the first time in her life, Diane understood the meaning of the word "foreplay". Eventually, all of their clothes, including the negligee, were on the floor and just about every inch of their two bodies had been kissed or caressed at some point. Diane found herself sandwiched happily between Jack's body and the satin bed sheets.
He slowly, carefully began to enter her, easing himself in and watching Diane's expression. Her head was back and her eyes were closed. Her face held an expression of serene ecstasy and Jack knew that he was pressing all the right buttons. He closed his eyes and initiated a slow rhythm which Diane immediately matched; their hipbones and pelvises colliding with each slow thrust.
Jack opened his eyes again to gaze upon his wife. Her expression had only slightly changed, but now she was biting her lip to maintain control. Jack began kissing her face and whispering to her.
"Tell me what you want, baby," he hissed into her ear.
"Oh God, Jack! More," she whispered in return.
"What was that? I couldn't hear you," he said feigning sudden deafness.
She spoke a little louder this time. "More," she begged breathlessly.
"Like that?" he asked as he increased the speed and intensity.
"Oh, yes," she responded.
Jack noticed that she again bit her lower lip. He kissed her. "No, baby," he panted. "Let it go. Let yourself lose control. Tell me what you want. I need to hear you," he directed her pushing her closer and closer to an edge that had somehow eluded her so many times in the past.
"Oh, Jack! Don't stop!" she begged.
Jack again picked up the pace and Diane finally groaned out loud.
"That's it, baby! Let yourself go!" he encouraged her right before he reached that point beyond which he could no longer form words that made any sense. He cried out loudly in deep, guttural tones; his cries now matched by Diane's. The air around them was filled with the sounds of their passion, their fulfillment. Jack slid his arms around Diane's back and pulled her to him. They were both gasping, hearts racing, neither could speak. As soon as they got their breath back, they found each other's mouth and kissed frantically. Having finally joined as one, neither was ready to let this session of lovemaking end.
It was hours before Jack and Diane snuggled silently beneath the covers. Exhausted, Jack drifted immediately off to sleep. Diane was equally tired, but her mind was too full to allow her to sleep. The day had been perfect and the last few hours had been, if it were possible, beyond perfect. Jack had told her that night on her sofa that he wanted to make her scream. She thought he was being melodramatic and just saying that to turn her on. She had no idea that he could actually do it.
Her life was suddenly a fairy tale. She was Cinderella at the ball and Jack was her Prince Charming. She thought she lost him when he first returned to CTU, but he came back to find her, glass slipper in hand. He had taken her back to his castle and now all that was left was to live happily ever after and as she settled against him and closed her eyes, that was what she intended to do.
18 months later:
Jack sat in the conference room with Bill and Curtis discussing plans for a disaster drill that was to take place later in the week.
"The plan looks solid," Bill said. "I'm impressed with the level of detail."
"Now let's just hope it goes off without a hitch," Curtis agreed with a wry smile. He stood up. "Bill, I'm not trying to rush you, but I have paperwork about a foot high on my desk. I really need to get back upstairs."
Bill nodded. "We're finished here unless you have anything to add, Jack."
Jack shook his head. "I think we're all set."
"Good," Bill answered. "Then I'll see you two next week."
Curtis left the room and Bill and Jack both started to gather their papers and stand.
"Jack," Bill said as they neared the door. "If rumors are to be believed, then congratulations are in order." He extended his hand across the table toward Jack.
Jack smiled an embarrassed smile as the two shook hands. "Thanks."
"How is Diane feeling?" Bill asked.
"The first trimester was rough, but she's doing well now. Thanks for asking."
Bill smiled at him. He liked Jack and was glad to see that his life was finally going in a positive direction for a change. "You look happy," Bill told him.
Jack nodded. "We're both thrilled. We talked about having a family before we ever got married, it seemed like a good time to do something about it. We knew that Diane would graduate this semester, so we kind of planned it so that the baby would be due in the spring. So far everything had worked out well."
"I'm happy for you. Give Diane my best." Bill paused for a moment. "Will I get to see you two at the Christmas party?"
"Yeah, we'll be there. Are you going? Why don't you plan to sit with us? There's room at the table. Curtis and his girlfriend will be there and I think Chloe is bringing someone. That's always good for a few laughs, so there's plenty of room. Are you bringing a date?"
Bill looked around not quite meeting Jack's eye. "That's part of what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Your date?" Jack asked not sure what Bill was getting at.
"I don't want this to be awkward, Jack, so I thought I'd talk to you about it ahead of time." Bill paused for a moment not sure what to say next. "Jack, I've been seeing Audrey for the last few months."
"Audrey? Audrey Raines?"
"Yes and I'm concerned that it might be uncomfortable for you if we come to the party together."
"Bill, why would it be uncomfortable? Audrey and I parted on good terms. We couldn't make a go of our relationship and we both knew it. I adore Audrey, but I don't think our relationship would have lasted very long."
Bill looked relieved. "So this won't bother you? Audrey has never talked about your relationship or how or why it ended. I didn't know what to expect. I knew that she had a hard time dealing with the realities of your job so I just assumed that she was the one who broke it off. I didn't know if you were still angry."
"I'm happy that you two are together. Audrey's a wonderful person."
Now Bill looked embarrassed. "It took me a long time to get up the courage to ask her out. I'm glad I did. The last six months have been great."
Jack's phone rang interrupting the conversation. Bill could tell by Jack's response that it was Chloe and she was having one of her daily crises. Bill missed running CTU, but he didn't miss having to deal with Chloe. Jack hung up and returned his cell phone to his pocket. "Bill, I've got to go."
"A Chloe moment?" Bill asked already knowing the answer.
"You got it. Diane and I will see you guys on Saturday," Jack said as he started to walk away.
By the time Jack and Diane arrived at the party Saturday evening, it was in full swing. Curtis stood at a table near the back of the ballroom. He waved to get Jack's attention. Jack waved back to acknowledge and he and Diane wound their way through the crowd to the table. Jack knew most of the people there and they stopped repeatedly to talk.
"Could Curtis have found a table a little further away?" Diane asked Jack with a smile.
Jack returned her smile. "Once a field agent, always a field agent," he told her.
"What?" Diane asked.
"It's simple. He picked a table in the back near a corner and not far from an emergency exit. It provides maximum protection, maximum visibility and quick exit."
"What does he think is going to happen?"
"Nothing. I would have picked the same table. It's just a habit that's hard to break," Jack explained. "It's the same reason that every agent in here is armed. I don't think anything will happen; I just feel naked without a gun."
Diane shrugged her shoulders. "You guys are a strange breed," she said as she leaned into him playfully.
They finally reached the table and began exchanging greetings all around.
"Diane, you know everyone, don't you?" Jack asked.
"I think so," she agreed.
"Diane!" Bill was approaching from the side after a trip to the bar. "Congratulations! You look wonderful," he told her as he hugged and kissed her.
Audrey, who had been a few steps behind him, reached the table seconds later. She saw Jack first. "Jack, how are you?" she asked as she hugged him. "Congratulations, I know how happy you must be."
"Thank you," Jack returned. "Diane, do you remember Audrey?"
Diane looked surprised to see her, but recovered quickly. "Of course. Audrey, it's good to see you," she said as she extended her hand.
"Bill's right," Audrey agreed. "You look great. When is the baby due?"
Everyone else at the table started laughing while Bill and Audrey tried to figure out what was so funny.
Curtis spoke first. "Apparently you two are the only people on the planet who haven't heard yet!"
"Heard what?" Bill asked.
Jack looked at the tip of his shoe trying to keep from laughing. "It's not one baby; it's two," he said as a huge smile erupted. "And I guess I've been a little over zealous about telling everyone."
"It would have been easier if we would have just emailed it to CTU, Division and District as an emergency bulletin," Chloe said with her characteristic pout. "That way we wouldn't have had to listen to Jack telling the story 400 times!"
"I'm excited," Jack said defensively. "Am I expected to keep this to myself?"
"No, Jack," Curtis told him, "but you probably didn't have to tell the guy who was delivering the new printers."
"Jack, how many people did you tell?" Diane asked him.
"Alright, I got carried away. I probably told a few more people than absolutely necessary. Okay? I admit it. Are you all happy?"
"I just talked to you last Monday, Jack," Bill said. "You didn't tell me."
"We didn't know until Wednesday when we had an ultrasound," Jack explained.
"I can't believe you didn't hear it over at Division," Chloe said shaking her head. "I thought there was a CIA-wide announcement."
"Well, if there was, I missed it," Bill said smiling. "So, congratulations again."
"If you are all finished making my life miserable," Jack said in mock seriousness, "I'm going to go get a drink." He turned to Diane. "What would you like, Sweetheart?"
Diane rolled her eyes and put her hand on her stomach. "Oh, the possibilities are endless. Let's see, there's ginger ale or tomato juice or maybe sparkling water. Should I have a twist of lime with that or maybe lemon would be better," she said sarcastically. "It's such a touch decision; I guess I'll go with you so I can mull it over on the way." Diane put her evening bag on her chair and linked her arm through Jack's.
As they walked toward the bar, Jack noticed that Diane was suddenly quiet. She had been so chatty and charming at the table that the sudden change in disposition caught him by surprise.
"You aren't angry that I've told everyone about the babies, are you?" he asked.
"No, not at all," she said smiling at him. "I'm happy that you're so excited about it."
"Good," he said patting her hand, but he noticed that her smile had quickly disappeared.
"Are Bill and Audrey a couple, or did they just join up for this party?" Diane asked.
"Apparently they're a couple. I didn't know until Monday when Bill told me that they were dating."
"Is it serious?"
"I don't know. Bill said they've been dating for about six months. Kind of sounds serious to me."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Diane asked as they approached the bar.
Jack shrugged. "I didn't think it was important."
Diane could feel an ugly little streak of jealousy forcing its way out through her every pore and hard as she tried she couldn't suppress it. "Oh, you didn't think it was important for me to know that we were having dinner with your gorgeous, and might I add," she said looking down at her expanding waistline, "thin, ex-girlfriend."
Jack's eyes widened in surprise. "Diane, I hope you're not jealous, because I haven't looked at another woman, including Audrey Raines since that day I came to your house and proposed."
They had just reached the bar. Jack cut his comments short and turned to the bartender. "Bourbon and Branch, please. Honey, what are you having?"
"Just a ginger ale," she told the bartender.
They waited while he poured their drinks. Jack dropped a tip into a strategically placed brandy snifter and they started back toward the table. Jack resumed his comments as if he hadn't been interrupted. "If Audrey and I had wanted to continue our relationship, we could have. I didn't want to and, frankly, neither did she. I love you, Diane. You don't need to be jealous of Audrey."
Diane stopped walking for a moment in an empty alcove near the bar. She closed her eyes and put a hand to her forehead. She knew that she couldn't afford to cry now but her emotions were getting the better of her. "I know, Jack. I'm being stupid, but she's so pretty and so sophisticated and I can't help but think you'd be happier with her."
"Diane, are you kidding me? Nothing could be further from the truth. The last 18 months have been a dream come true. Now we're having a family. That's all I want from life. I want you and our children and a lifetime together. Don't let her make you feel inferior, Diane, because you're not. You're beautiful, you're intelligent. If I'm not mistaken, next week you're going to graduate with honors. I seem to remember that the school where you did your student teaching has made you a nice offer to work with the children in the reading program until the babies are born. They wouldn't have done that if you weren't great at what you do. It's a hassle for them to take you on in that capacity knowing that at any time you could have to go out on medical leave. Sweetheart, you should be proud of yourself," he told her emphatically as he kissed her forehead. "I certainly am."
Diane smiled weakly at him. "Thanks," she said without sounding convinced.
"Jack Bauer!" a voice called from behind. "How the hell are you? I haven't seen you in ages."
Jack turned and smiled broadly. He extended his hand but ended up in a bear hug with a much taller man, probably ten years his senior, bearing a shock of white hair. "Good to see you, Roy." Jack turned to greet the tall, good looking woman next to the man. "Nicki, you look great," he said to her as he hugged and kissed her.
"So do you," she returned.
"I heard a rumor that there was a new Mrs. Bauer," Roy said. "I just had not idea that she would be this beautiful." Roy extended his hand to Diane as she blushed. "I also had no idea that she would be so pregnant. Congratulations," he added.
"Diane, this is Roy Alderman and his wife Nicki. Roy was my commanding officer when I was on the SWAT team. Now he does all of the weapons training for the CIA on the west coast."
"Speaking of which, if you want to keep your advanced weapons certification, you need to come in and test," Roy reminded him.
"Those days are over, Roy," Jack told him. "I only need basic certification now. Christopher Henderson took care of that when he screwed up my knee."
"I heard about that, but I didn't think it was serious."
"Neither did I, and I didn't need surgery, but whatever happened to the ligaments effects my running. I can't pass the physical for field ops any more. So now, I manage operations from CTU or a staging ground depending on the situation. It works out okay. I've got a good group of guys who know how to handle themselves in the field."
"I, for one, am glad to hear it, Jack," Nicki told him. "It's time for you to settle down." Nicki turned to Diane, "Marriage and impending fatherhood have done wonders for Jack. He looks better than I've seen him in years. You've obviously been a wonderful influence on him. Keep up the good work." The older woman patted Diane's arm.
Diane, now even more embarrassed, smiled and thanked Nicki Alderman. She and Jack promised to talk to them later and each couple headed back to their table for dinner. Jack held the chair for Diane as she sat down next to Audrey.
"You never did tell me when the babies are due," Audrey reminded her as they picked up their forks to start eating their salads.
Diane smiled, suddenly happy to answer Audrey's questions. She could feel Jack's hand reassuringly resting on her leg. She remembered his loving comments and the unsolicited ones by Roy and Nicki Alderman. Audrey had nothing on her. She was the one carrying Jack's children and she was the one he came home to every day. She never doubted his love or his fidelity. Any feelings of inferiority vanished like snow in the warm sunshine. For Diane, the sun was very warm and it had been shining on her for a while now but she hadn't taken the time to notice it. Now that she noticed it, she liked it and she liked herself and she loved Jack and their family. And that was all that mattered.