Chapter 5
Getting To Know You
Jack and Elizabeth arrived at her home. She asked if he would like to come in for a little while? Jack smiles with those dimples and agrees. Elizabeth asked if he would care for some coffee as she's making a pot? Jack just says he'll take a bottle of water thanks. She reaches into the fridge and grabs a bottle of water and hands it to him. They sit down at her dining room table. They sit in silence until Jack asks, "What brought you here to Aspen? I know you said you work here. What made you pick Aspen of all places?" Elizabeth tells him about growing up in Estes Park but she needed a change. She told him that she got her Masters in business but needed a change. Jack asked, "business in what?" Elizabeth wasn't ready to divulge that her family had money yet. So she just said any business. Jack asked why ski instructor? Elizabeth said that it's something that she had always loved. Elizabeth asked if she could ask him a question? Jack says, "I'm an open book, ask me anything. Elizabeth said that she seen on his card that he was a Sr. Was wondering why he wasn't home with his wife and child? He got a very sad look on his face and leaned back in his chair. Elizabeth noticed and cut into his thoughts and told him he didn't have to answer if it was to difficult. He replied no it was fine. You deserve an answer. BefOre he could catch it,a tear slipped down his cheek. Hoping she hadn't seen before he wiped it away. But she had, just didn't say anything. Elizabeth excused the question. Jack collects his thoughts and proceeds to tell her. He says, "I was married almost 5 years ago to my childhood sweethearts, Jenny. We were married straight out of college. We'd been married 2 1/2 years. Jenny was 9 months pregnant. She went to the store right down the street from our house. On her way back a deer ran out in front of her and caused her to swerve off the road and down the side. The car flipped over causing her to hit her head on the steering wheel. It knocked her unconscious. I was waiting for her to return. She should've been back in 10 minutes. I called her cell phone but no answer. After 30 minutes I decided to go look for her. I get almost halfway to the store and the cars are backed up. I get out of my car to see if anyone needed help. I could see cops and an ambulance on the scene already. I just figured that she was stuck on the other side of traffic. I started walking and there it was. Jenny's car upside down. I started running but couldn't get there fast enough. It was like I was running in slow motion. Tears were steaming down my face. I couldn't focus. I finally got to the scene and a deputy sheriff stops me and tells me that I didn't need to see that. I screamed at him and told him that was my wife's car. He backs up and lets me pass, but before I could get very close someone stops me and says I have to back up. The jaws of life was working to get her out. I screamed that she's 9 months pregnant. Everyone turns and stares at me. They got her out and life lite her to the hospital. The sheriff tells me I can ride with him. We get to the hospital but not before they take her into surgery. They are shoving paperwork at me right and left. I sign everything and hand it back to them. The head nurse tells me I can go up to the 4th floor maternity ward and wait in the surgery waiting room. I head up and call the family to let them know what happened. I must have been there for a while because I didn't hear anyone come in. No one asked questions. They figured that if I was sill there then there was no news. A while later the doctor came out to tell me that Jenny was in recovery and the baby was a boy and he was in the nursery. He also said that Jenny was on life support but wouldn't be in her room for about 30 minutes. I asked him why she was on life support? He said she died on the delivery table before they could get the baby out. So they hooked her up to life support so we could keep the baby alive for the emergency C-Section. I knew but had to ask. Will she pull through? He said no that she was brain dead. I hit my knees and screamed. My wife was really gone. I asked to see her when they got her in her room. He said give them a few minutes and he'll have her in a room. They finally came out to tell me she was in room 412 down on the right. I didn't say anything just started running until I found her room. I shoved the door open. She was laying there like an angel al peaceful like. I went to her bedside and grabbed her hand. Bent down and kissed her. Really hoping that she would open her eyes. The family al came in. I gave them there time. The doctor came in and asked if I wanted her left on the life support? The family all said that she wouldn't want to be on it for the rest of her life. I knew they were right but this was my wife. We were supposed to grow old together. Watch our children grow up and get married and have families of their own. I wasn't ready for this. They all said their goodbyes and went back to the waiting room. Directly the nurse came in and says there's someone that wants to meet you. She handed our son to me. Boy he was a big baby. I asked how much did he weigh? She said 9 lbs. 11.5 ozs. And was 23 in. long. I said thank you and she walked to the door. She turned and said if you need anything just let me know and she was gone. I'm sitting on the side of Jenny's bed holding our son. He opens his eyes and their hers. He looks just like her except for his dimples. They were mine. The nurse sticks her head back in for a moment to ask what his name was? I didn't want to but Jenny wanted him to be named after me. I wanted him to have his own name. I went with Jenny's, Jarrick Thomas Thornton, Jr. The nurse said thanks and left. Jarrick was getting fussy so I pulled Jenny's gown down just enough and I laid him on Jenny's stomach. He heard her heartbeat and quieted right on down. I rubbed his back and talked to Jenny for a little while longer. I told her that I was going to miss her dearly. I promised to tell Jarrick all about her. I promised he would know that she loved him dearly. I pushed the call button for the nurse. When she came in I told her that we were ready to take her off life support. She left and the doctor came back in along with a few more technicians. One handed me a paper to sign. I signed it and handed it back. They waited for me to pick Jarrick back up before they started turning off the machines. I'm swaying and crying. Jarrick never moved. Just nestled into my neck. I bent down and kissed her one last time and told her we would see her later. I whispered in her ear I love you. She took her last breath. I turned and walked out to the waiting room to show everyone our son. Everyone this is Jarrick Thomas Thornton, Jr. Jenny's mom just cried. My dad was ecstatic that I gave him my name. I told them that that's what Jenny wanted. After everyone had a chance to hold him I took him back to the nursery. The pediatrician came in and gave him a clean bill of health and said I could take him home if I was ready. He asked if I had a car seat? I told him that his mother put that in my car a month ago. What I didn't say was she had bought 2 one for mine and one for hers. The nurse gave me enough formula and diapers to last a week which was fine. They put it all in a diaper bag and I signed his discharge papers. I picked Jarrick up and walked out to the waiting room. Told my mom that we were ready to go. I turned around one more time and looked at Jenny's room and mouthed goodbye love. We got out to the car before I remembered that I left my car sitting in the middle of the road with the car seat. My dad said no we stopped and got it on our way here. He handed me my keys. I walked over and unlocked it. Opened the back passenger door and put Jarrick in and buckled him in. I bent down and kissed him. Shut the door. Looked up at the heavens and the softest breeze blew. I knew it was Jenny saying goodbye. A little tear rolled down my cheek. We got home and my parents were already here. We walked in and my parents both said they would stay. Jarrick never cried. When he was hungry, he sucked his lips. If he needed a diaper change, he just squirmed. I know he can cry because if he got a bellyache, he screamed. He was the best baby. I couldn't sleep in our bed so I told my parents that I was going to turn in my 2 week notice and move to Aspen where they lived. My mom understood with a nod. Deep down she was ecstatic. So as you see I'm not married anymore. Yes I do have a child that is my name sake. Jarrick will be 5 in 3 months. He stays at my parents during the day while I work. Then I pick him up and go home. Elizabeth was in tears and said she was sorry for his loss. She had to ask, so have you kept your promises to her? He said with a big smile, yes I have! Jack leaned back on the table and said I haven't told that to anyone not even my parents. Jack stands up and says I had better go. They both looked up at the clock. It was almost 3:00. They walk to the door, but Jack turns around to Elizabeth and says that he enjoyed their conversation. I feel so comfortable talking to you. She nods and says I'm a good listener. He opens the door and Elizabeth asks him if he would like a ride back to the station? It's no trouble. Jack excepts. She grabbed her keys off the hook along with her coat and gloves. Just as they pulled into the parking lot and stops, he asks her if she would like to have lunch tomorrow that is if I'm not called out? She agrees and tell him to call her. Before he could ask she asks for his phone. She puts her number in his phone and hands it back to him. He agrees and says thank you. Gets out of her SUV and closes the door.
