Chapter 4

It was the night before Martha's ceremony, and Jack was trying to write Martha's speech. It's not that he was short of words when it came to Martha, he could go on for hours about the great gal she was, but he knew that he couldn't go through pages and pages talking about her. He had to have a brief summary of her, which was hard for him, because when he started talking about her, he found it difficult to stop. He reached out for a drink, and then put it down, next to the journal that was now on the table. He'd moved it into the kitchen, for some inspiration. He really wanted to read it, but he wasn't sure if it was right. He looked back down, at his blank sheet of paper. 'Well, Alf did say that I should.." He thought, and quickly grabbed the journal, before he could argue with himself. He opened the first page, he was surprised how early the date read, it was the day before they first met, the day before the party. He read through the first page, jotting some friendly comments down that she'd made about her friends Tasha and Robbie. He turned over to the next entrée.

Dear Diary,

I've just come back from Tasha and Robbie's house warming party, and I'm fuming! Everyone was enjoying themselves, apart from me, then a jerk of an officer came in and ordered the music to be turned down, due to a complaint. It wasn't even loud! He must have known that! Idiot!

Jack laughed, he could imagine Martha saying it as he read it.

Well, I'll tell you why I was in such a bad mood before the music incident; Tasha and Robbie were trying to set me up with their friends. It was my own stupid fault for complaining to them that I was a bit, well, not happy that I'm 18 and single. Not that I'm desperate or anything, because I'm not, I just know that Tash loves what her and Robbie have, and I guess I'd like to experience the same. Anyway, Tasha and Robbie setting me up with their friends has DISASTER written all over it! Tash and Robbie came over, introducing the dates they'd both organized, they were both obviously competing against each other, wanting me to pick their friend. They filled me in on them both, but I kept insisting for them to leave it. They finally got the message, and then apologized for their freakish behaviour! That's when the police officer came in.

"Wow." Jack thought. He'd never known that Martha had been single for a while before he met her, he figured that she would always have guys running after her, she was a really great woman, and he felt the luckiest man in the world when they were together.

He was so annoying, I'm sure he loved to tell us to turn it off, I bet he felt really pleased with himself. I HAD to comment, I wasn't going to let a uniform frighten me, so I said what I thought, and I thought "jerk." Sure, it wasn't the cleverest thing I've ever done, and when he did turn around, I must admit I did feel the tiniest bit worried, but he just smiled! After he left, I couldn't stop ranting and raving about how annoying he'd been. I don't know why he got to me, he just did!

Jack chuckled, reliving the memory, then flicking over to the next page.

Dear diary,

You never guess what happened to me today! I was driving along with Robbie and Tash, when I got pulled over by a cop! But not any cop, it was the same one from last night. His name is Jack Holden, a new cop here in Summer Bay, and he had the cheek to say that I was speeding. Sure, I was going a bit over the limit, but I know that road like the back of my hand, I was perfectly safe going at that speed, but he thought otherwise, and gave me a ticket. We then went to the Hunter's house, where we stood in the front garden talking about the Single's night that Beth had been on. She said it was a disaster, and that she had no luck. Well, it's not just me that is having trouble finding a guy then. Whilst we were talking, we all noticed a removal van pulling up in front of next doors house. The Hunter's new neighbours were arriving. A car pulled up on the drive, and a man and a boy got out, walking up to us. They introduced themselves, Tony and Lucas Holden. I got the biggest shock though when he indicated to a car that was now pulling up, it was his eldest son arriving back from work. When he got out I was so annoyed to find it was Jack! I can't believe he's going to be living so close, I really can't stand that guy!

Jack then read on, through pages and pages of Martha's handwriting, recording her day's events. He had discovered really how guilty Martha had felt after she had been horrible to Jack at the town meeting, and also how she felt after her spider joke going terribly wrong. Jack grew mad at himself when he thought about how horrible he'd been to her, but this emotion faded away when he read about their first kiss, and their first date.

Dear Diary,

Last night I had the most amazing date I've ever had in my life! I went to Jack's house, and at first I was shocked that Jack was in normal clothes. I felt totally embarrassed that I'd thought we were going out for dinner and that I was stood there, all 'dolled up.' But, it was worth it when I saw Jack's reaction, so cute!

Jack laughed. He had said "wow" by accident when he saw how she looked, and he felt pretty stupid for doing it. He never thought that she'd have found it cute!

Anyway, I walked in to a lovely, romantic dinner set up on the table. It all looked so gorgeous, too good to be true in fact, so I took a sneaky look around to see if I could see any take away boxes of some kind.

Jack couldn't stop laughing at this, he had never seen her do this, and she'd never mentioned it either! Now he came to think of it, she had made a comment, that implied she wasn't sure if he'd done it all by himself.

We got on great, I really enjoyed the meal, and the company. I couldn't stop smiling whenever I thought about him doing this for me. It was so beautiful, and it was all for me! I felt the luckiest girl alive last night, as he walked me down the beach, hand in hand. I was freezing, but I didn't want to go back, I didn't want the evening to end. But he saw me shiver, and put his jacket around my shoulders. I melted at how sweet he was, even though it was the cheesiest thing ever, he made it very cute and personal. After that I couldn't resist kissing him, and then spending the night with him. I woke up and looked at him for a while, smiling at him, reliving the date and thinking about how sweet he'd been.

I really think that we could last a while, well, I hope we do.

Jack smiled to himself. He had hoped the same and when they broke up, it had shattered this hope. After a few more pages, he then started to read one of the hardest entrees so far, their break up.

Dear Diary,

Me and Jack are over, and I really don't know what to say. I left his house about 20 minutes ago, after suggesting that we shouldn't be together anymore. He hasn't got over the ear accident, and I know that we can't continue the relationship if he still hasn't forgiven me for that, so I was forced to end it. I wish I could say with confidence that I'll get over him, but I'm not sure.

Jack thought about his feelings that night, when he collapsed on his bed trying to come to terms with it. He too wasn't sure if he'd get over Martha, he didn't know why, but he just couldn't imagine not being together with Martha, he really did like her, and he didn't want it to end. He continued to read on about Martha and Corey's relationship, the way Martha had described him was only as a friend, and together with the information that she'd told him back in Sydney it made sense. She still wrote about Jack, how he'd acted that day, how she missed him, and how annoyed she was with herself for holding back her feelings towards him when he asked for her back.

Jack looked at his watch, it was very nearly 2am and he didn't want to be late or look shockingly tired for the ceremony tomorrow, so he shut the book and went to bed. Reading the 20 or so pages had given him a good idea what to say tomorrow, and he had confidence in himself that he would give the best speech that Martha deserved.