Chapter 18
With Monday, Fashion Week arrived. Brooke woke up early when the Room Service delivered her a gift from Jack. He sent her a box of her favorite chocolates whit a card that read: "Hope these last the whole week. Jack." She felt completely happy.
Meanwhile, Jack arrived to St. Sebastian after leaving the kids at school. As he walked to his office everybody stared and smiled at him impishly. He soon noticed he was the headline at the coffee machine and the water cooler. He could hear the comments on "this hot chick Jack was seeing" and feel the excitement everybody seem to have about it.
That really got to his nerves. The last straw came when he went to the cafeteria to get his usual latte and found Derek, Patrick, Varya and Marion in there.
– Jack! –Marion said as she gave him a hug.
– Looking good, huh? –Varya added.
– What's going on? –he asked, annoyed.
– Nothing, we were just talking about you. –Patrick affirmed.
– Really? Why? –he said flatly.
They all looked at each other and then Marion explained. – Well, you know, we were just saying how perfect Brooke and you are together, and we're thinking about going on a trip, the six of us, to some nice place and…
Jack thought this was going too far. – Okay, I've had enough. –he snapped.
The rest of them looked at each other and then at him, shocked. Jack went on, anger in his voice. – I think it's awesome you're having such a great time with all this "let's fix Jack's life" thing, but you know what? I'm sick of it. I'm not in high school anymore, and neither are you. Brooke and I are not together, in fact, I barely know her. She doesn't even live in the city! So, just stop pushing me and stop making a circus about it, okay?
Patrick gave him a set look. – Fine. –he replied. Then they all walked away from him.
Back in his office, Jack thought of the outburst he just had and felt bad. After all, he knew his friends cared about him and wanted to see him happy. But it was too soon to assume things were back on track in his life so easily. The truth was he had no idea what was going on inside him.
Jack got home early. He just couldn't take anymore the atmosphere at the hospital. He was way welcomed by the kids, who would have more time to be with him. While Jackie and Brett were doing their homework, he sat at his studio, trying to put his ideas together. His daughter entered the room.
Jacqueline Christina Shephard was born on April 8, 8 years ago. Kate chose to name her after her father and grandfather, in spite Jack's refuse. Physically she was exactly as her mother, but she had a mix of both Jack's and Kate's characters. She was smarter than the rest of the kids her age and with Kate's death, she had no choice but to grow older before her time. She loved her father like anything in this world and in her little mind she thought she must help him find happiness again. Since Jack had met Brooke, Jackie noticed how he smiled for the first time since her mommy was gone and his eyes were brighter. She loved when her daddy smiled.
– Hi daddy! –she told Jack whilst jumping on his desk and sitting in front of him.
– Hey princess, how you're doing?
– Great, I beat Aaron at PlayStation.
– Really? I guess you've done your homework, then.
– I had no homework today, daddy.
– How come?
– My teacher felt sick and left early.
– Well, lucky you. –Jack told her daughter as he touched softly her wavy hair. Then Jackie looked deeply at his father's eyes.
– Daddy, do you have a girlfriend? –she openly asked.
Jack felt his throat constrict. – No, I don't, why you ask me that?
Jackie smiled mischievously. – I heard Uncle Hurley telling Uncle Charlie.
Jack tried not to lose his temper at that revelation. – What have I told you about adult conversations? –he told Jackie with a warning voice.
– I wasn't listening daddy, I swear. They were talking in front of us.
– Us? Who, us?
– My cousins, Brett and me.
Jack just couldn't believe it. Sometimes he thought Hurley and Charlie needed to be looked after even more than the children. – I'm sure you misunderstood honey. Don't worry, I don't have any girlfriend.
– But I'm not worried daddy! I think you should get one.
That comment amused Jack. – Why?
– Because then you would be happy all the time. – Jackie replied, as if she had all figured out.
– Well, it's not that simple, honey. Relationships between adults are sometimes… complicated.
– But she's nice, mommy told me.
Jack looked at his daughter with concern. It wasn't the first time Jackie said Kate spoke to her and told her things after she passed. The therapist had told Jack that was a normal defense mechanism that children developed after losing a parent. – Who's nice, baby?
– The girl you like.
Jack's worry grew more. – What girl?
– The one with high heels, at your office.
Jack went mute. He had totally forgotten Jackie had met Brooke that day. Obviously Jackie suspected she was not only a patient, he thought. – She was just one of my patients, honey.
– But you like her. Mommy told me and said she's fine.
Jack smiled at his daughter tenderly. – No honey, she's not my girlfriend, I promise. You don't have to worry about that, okay? If I ever get a girlfriend, you must know that she… nobody will ever be most important to me than you and your brother, okay?
– I know daddy. But we can still like her, can we?
– Of course, and she has to like you back.
– Okay then, daddy. –Jackie got down the desk. – Now I've got to go play with Charlene, I promised her.
Jack laughed shortly. – Okay.
Before Jackie walked out the studio, she looked back at her dad. – Daddy, can I ask you a favor?
– Of course sweetie, what you need?
– Can your girlfriend be as pretty as your patient with high heels?
Jack couldn't help but laugh. – Okay, I'll try.
– Cool, bye daddy!
After Jackie left the room, Jack went pale. That conversation with his daughter made him realize all the issues that might come with a new woman in his life. What if she didn't get along with his family? What if Brooke wasn't a "kid person"? Then the worst fear crossed his mind: what if their kids learnt to love her and then she left him, breaking everybody's heart? Then it hit him. He couldn't afford to take such a risk. He would be fine if things didn't work out, he knew that. But there was no way he could expose his children to the pain of losing someone again.