Jackie hoped that Catherine hadn't seen the interview. That night she cried herself to sleep, knowing that she never meant for this to happen. How could she be so stupid and leave her dairy behind. Of course, her mother would eventually find it and read it. She missed Catherine and Mattie, but needed to protect them both from her mother. Jackie knew her mother meant every word of what she threatened that day. Her mother would indeed destroy both Catherine Stark's career and reputation. She told Jackie that she'd go to the media and expose Catherine Stark as a sexual predator. She told Jackie, she made copies of her diary and would release it to the media for all the world to read if she stayed with Catherine. Every intimate moment spent in Catherine arms would be exposed. Jackie loved Catherine and she couldn't allow anyone to expose her personal life like that. Jackie knew Catherine never wanted to go public, she had made it clear the evening Catherine told Jackie she wasn't worth it. She knew that she needed to let her go or her life would be destroyed by the media.
Jackie was indeed dating Tommy. Her mother continued to blackmail her into doing as she said. Jackie started drinking more and more. She wanted to end her life at least she would be able to get away from her mother. Not a day went by without her thinking about Catherine and Mattie, Jackie never wanted to wake up as she dreamed about being home with them back in Bloomington. The evening the interview aired, Jackie knew it would hurt Catherine. Despair had set in as she raced her sports car through the hollywood hills, Jackie wanted to end her life and hoped she would miss a curve and plunge to her death. That night, Jackie decided to text Catherine. She was completely drunk and said, "Catherine, please forgive me. I love you both so much." Jackie pushed send as she fell back to sleep.
Back in Bloomington, Catherine was asleep as her phone beeped. Waking the baby, Catherine got up and changed her diapers and made her a bottle as she laid backdown in bed watching her daughter go back to sleep. Mattie slept every night with Catherine in her bed since the first night Jackie left. Catherine couldn't sleep alone otherwise. Catherine looked at her cell phone to see who had texted her so late. As she looked at the number, it started with a 323 area code. Reading the message Catherine knew it was from Jackie. Catherine also knew Jackie was in pain from the words she wrote. Catherine deleted the text and kissed her baby on the head. She was hurt Jackie had ignored her all these months. Catherine cried herself to sleep that night like she had every night since she left her.
In the morning, Jackie woke up with an awful hangover. As she looked at her phone, she remembered she had sent Catherine a message. Scrolling down her many messages she found the one she sent Catherine, Jackie noticed Catherine hadn't responded. Jackie hoped deep down that she would respond, it was still early so she held out hope.
Back in Bloomington, Catherine was angry with Jackie. She was angry she had dared to text her. Catherine couldn't get her out of her mind. Catherine regretted deleting the number, and called her cellular service to see if she could retrieve the number. After an hour, Sprint was able to give Catherine the number that texted her last night. Catherine finally had the number, but couldn't bring herself to call her. As she tried to busy herself and calm her thoughts, Catherine decided to take her daughter for a stroll in the park. Mattie was now 8 months old and was a very alert baby. Catherine enjoyed being with her daughter as she tried to figure out what she was saying. Catherine sat on a bench as she decided to call Jackie. She was ready. The phone call went straight to voicemail. Disappointed, Catherine left her a message. "Jackie, it is me Catherine. Can you please return my call when you get a chance. I would really like to talk to you."
Jackie had heard her phone ringing as she grabbed it into her hands. She noticed that it was Catherine, but she was to afraid to answer. Once she heard the message, Jackie had an emotional breakdown. She knew she couldn't call Catherine in this condition, so decided to text her instead. Jackie wrote, "I'm sorry, I texted you so late last night. I was just missing you." She pushed send. As soon as she did, a minute went by when Catherine started calling her again. Jackie answered, but couldn't get a hello to come out of her mouth. Catherine said, " Jackie, are you there? Jackie, please say something." Finally Jackie said, "I'm here." Catherine could tell Jackie was crying and couldn't talk.
Catherine said,"Jackie, we need to talk. I'm glad you finally called me. I saw your interview and you looked beautiful." Catherine could hear Jackie crying on the other end of the line. Catherine waited silently as she hoped Jackie could pull herself together enough to speak to her. Catherine continued, "Jackie, I would really like it if you came home to come see us." After a moment of silent, Jackie said, "I can't come home." As she cried into the phone. "Porcupine, yes you can. I will make your flight arrangements an I will pick you up from the airport. Jackie, please come home, no one has to know."
Catherine suspected her mother was threatening her, but Catherine no longer cared who knew about them. She needed to get Jackie alone to talk to her.
Catherine said, "Jackie, no one will find out, please just listen to me. All you have to do is get to LAX and catch the flight. I will call American Airlines and have a ticket waiting for you. Jackie, no one will find out, I promise." Jackie finally said, "okay." As Jackie packed her bags, and took an uber to the airport. Catherine indeed had called in a ticket for her to Bloomington. Jackie got on the plane and calmed her nerves by having a few drinks. As she landed that evening in Bloomington, Catherine was waiting for her at the airport. As Jackie spotted Catherine, Jackie ran into her arms and began to cry into her chest. It had been four months since she had seen Catherine. As they got into the SUV, Jackie asked for Mattie. Catherine told her she was home with the nanny. "Are you hungry?" Catherine asked Jackie. Jackie shook her head no. Jackie wasn't feeling well, she was emotionally drained from the days events. Catherine knew they needed to talk ,but she did want to push her to fast. Jackie was finally home, and Catherine was happy. Entering the house, with some take out food. Jackie went straight to Mattie's bedroom. Mattie's hair had grown and so had she in the last four months. Holding Mattie, Mattie started to cry and reach for Catherine, she no longer recognized Jackie.
Catherine paid the nanny and walked her out. The three of them sat down to have dinner. Jackie was happy seeing Mattie eat her solid food. Catherine was cutting up her chicken nuggets into tiny bits as she turned to cut up Jackie's food also. After dinner, they put Mattie to bed and sat in the living room together . Catherine did not start the conversation, but waited for Jackie. Jackie started to speak, "Catherine, my mom said she would release my diary to the media and destroy your life if I didn't leave with her that day." Catherine looked at her and told her that she figured that is what happened. "Jackie, you should have told me. We could of have figured it out together, I know you were scared, but Jackie you need to trust me. I know how to handle your mother's threats." As Jackie cried, Catherine held her tight.
Panic set in as Jackie continued to speak, "Catherine she will release my diary to the media, she made copies of it. Jackie, started to pace back and forth in a panic." Consoling her, Catherine told Jackie she would be hiring an attorney tomorrow to help them sort this out. Nothing Catherine said seemed to calm Jackie nerves or subsided her fears. Catherine asked one simple question, "Jackie, what do you want." Jackie said, "I want to come home, but I don't want her to hurt you and Mattie. Catherine, she will. She told me she would destroy your life."
Catherine wiped away her tears and tried to reassured Jackie everything would be okay. Catherine slowly began to kiss her as things got heated between them. Catherine lead Jackie upstairs to her bedroom, Catherine started to undress her like she had the first time they had sex. That night Catherine made love to Jackie for hours. In the morning, as she left Jackie sleeping, Catherine checked on the baby and went downstairs to call her lawyers. Catherine knew Mrs. Kirk meant every threat and knew she would have to be ready. Catherine would fight to keep her family together.