Soul Mates United

PART 1

Jac was standing in front of a full length mirror, since her prosthetic leg had been fitted her confidence had come flooding back. She'd only been using it for six weeks, but it had made her life so much easier. Rather than using two crutches now she only needed one stick for support. Jac was taking daily walks to build up her strength, she hadn't told Joseph she planned to walk down the aisle without any sticks at all. Jac wanted to surprise him. She was about to get married in three days. All of this seemed surreal to Jac. Like it was happening to someone else. It had been six months since Joseph had proposed. Jac had no hesitation in accepting it. She could honestly say she'd never felt more contented or at ease with herself as she did now. The wedding was going to be a small and private occasion, with just a few colleagues from work. After Joseph's last car crash of a wedding, they both just wanted a quiet affair with no fuss. Joseph had gone to work. Jac herself had started to do some research on patients notes, she was going back to work in two weeks and she wanted to hit the ground running. Jac was excited but also slightly daunted by the prospect of returning to the hospital. But for now all she could think about was her impending marriage to Joseph. She smiled at the thought of being his wife. She was going to take the Byrne name, although she didn't think Jacqueline Byrne had quite the same ring to it. But it didn't matter - a change of name would represent a brand new start.

There was a knock at the door, Jac opens the door to Michael who is grinning holding a large bunch of flowers.

MICHAEL: Hey Naylor, got these for ya!

He gives Jac the flowers.

JAC: Thank you, they're lovely Michael, I'll go and put them in water. She walks out of the room to find something to put them in. She comes in, trying to hold a jug of water in one hand and her stick in the other. Michael walks over to help. Jac gives him a warning look.

JAC: Come any closer, and I shall empty this entire jug of water onto your head.

MICHAEL: I was only gonna ask if you needed a hand.

JAC: Yeah well don't, I need to start doing more things for myself. I've got a wedding to prepare for.

MICHAEL: Yeah, it's the talk of the whole hospital. Someone has finally gone and done it.

JAC: Gone and done what?

MICHAEL: Melted your frozen heart, I always knew there was one in there somewhere.

Jac raises her eyebrows and can't help but smile.

JAC: Charming! She pauses. To be honest I never saw this coming - with Joseph he makes me feel different somehow. Like I belong, if that makes any sense.

MICHAEL: Gee Naylor, I never thought you'd go all soft on me. In fact your scaring me right now.

Jac laughs.

JAC: I think I'm scaring myself too! Look Michael, I never really thanked you properly for everything you did for me. You know with my mum. If you hadn't have been there...

Michael looks at her, his tone of voice becomes serious.

MICHAEL: Hey, I was just doing what anyone else would have done. I'm just glad things have finally worked out for you. You deserve it. Joseph's a lucky man!

Jac hugs Michael.

MICHAEL: Well next time I see you you'll be a married woman Jac.

JAC: I know! I can't wait.

Jac is busy dealing with a mountain of paperwork. It is early evening now. She glances at her watch and drums her fingers impatiently on the table. Joseph was due back in half an hour.

There is a knock at the door. Jac sighs, she was not expecting any visitors. She gets up to answer the door and is more than a little surprised to see Anne-Marie staring straight back at her.

JAC: Anne-Marie? Joseph's not back from work yet. He won't be long-

ANNE-MARIE: Actually it's you I came to see.

Anne-Marie spoke in clipped tones. Her manner seemed calm enough. But Jac got the distinct Impression she was bubbling with anger and resentment.

ANNE-MARIE: I hear you and Joseph are getting married?

JAC: Yes we are, in three days. How did you know?

ANNE-MARIE: I have my sources, as you know. I must admit I was a little shocked at the news. But Joseph always follows his heart rather than his head. Pauses Like his father.

JAC: I can see you don't agree with this. But I'm different now. For once someone has given me a second chance. I know what it feels like to lose Joseph. I never want to feel like that ever again.

ANNE-MARIE: Until you get another sniff of promotion, and you'll drop him like a hot potato!

Jac nods her head firmly.

JAC: In the past yes, absolutley but not now. I swear to you Anne-Marie, I love your son and nothing will change that.

ANNE-MARIE: You see I don't think you know what love is? You're confusing love with lust. You're too twisted and damaged to love someone, and Joseph is too blind to see it, but he'll see sense eventually.

Jac could the feel the anger rise, but she knew she couldn't give Anne-Marie the satisfaction of watching her crumble. She clears her throat.

JAC: Thanks to Joseph I do know what love is. You have no idea how long we have waited just to reach this point. I realise how lucky I am to be marrying him.

ANNE-MARIE: If you love Joseph as much as you say, then do the decent thing and walk away.

Jac can't quite believe what she is hearing, and is even more disgusted as Anne-Marie hands her a cheque for £50,000 pounds.

JAC: (Laughs) What you seriously think I'd take that? That I'd walk away from the man I LOVE? If you think that then you are totally deluded. I wonder what Joseph would say, if he knew his own mother was trying to buy off his future wife?

Jac takes the cheque and rips it up, leaving pieces scattered on the floor.

Anne-Marie's face turns white, and she starts breathing in deeply, as her anger threatens to spill over.

JAC: Stuff your money, you have nothing now and you know it, that was your last resort and you failed.

Anne-Marie can feel her head throbbing so hard it feels like it's going to explode. The last thing she can remember is Jac smirking as she collapses on the floor...

As this is my last chapter I have decided to do it in 2 parts. Part 2 will be coming soon.