Chp. 17

The next day Prue arrived at Starbucks feeling a little nervous as well as excited to meet Jack. Jack noticed her from across the street and his face instantly lit up. Prue spotted Jack too and headed over to the table he was seated at.

"Hey, how are you today?" Jack asked as Prue pulled up a chair.

"Um I'm good."

"That's good," Jack said glancing down at the ring on her finger, "so who's the lucky guy?"

"Was the lucky guy," Prue replied, "Cole, Cole Turner but he was in a fatal accident a couple months ago." Jack reached his hand across the table and grabbed hers as a sort of act of sympathy. Prue was about to pull away but something stopped her from doing so. Something she wasn't really sure of yet.

"I'm so sorry Prue. It must have been really hard raising that little one of yours."

"Yeah it has been but I have to be strong for my kids. I don't want to flake on them. Anyways, enough about me. What about that little stud of yours?" Prue said with a smile on her face. Jack smiled back.

"Ah yes I see you noticed the good looks he inherited from his father," Jack said with a smile. Prue just rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Well it hasn't been going to good for me either. I lost my wife around the same time as your husband. Poor Riley was so devastated but he's been dealing pretty good with it lately so I'm not too sure what to make of it right now. It's so hard being a single parent then again I probably shouldn't be complaining considering your situation."

"Jack I'm so sorry. Poor Riley at least Cole won't have to feel the pain your son must be feeling right now."

"Well it must be pretty hard for Peyton too right?" Prue just stared at her coffee. How could she explain all of it to him? It was so confusing and she' never told ask about her little secret. Suddenly she realised how hard it was going to be to be happy again. Cole was magical it didn't matter, but how do you explain it to someone like Jack? She remembered how Andy had taken it. Prue was suddenly pulled away from her thoughts by Jack's voice.

"Prue? Are you alright?"

"Yeah I'm...I'm fine." Jack realising her distress about the subject, apologized.

"Prue I'm sorry I shouldn't have brought up the subject." Prue just shook her head.

"Jack don't apologize, really I'm fine." Prue smiled trying to reassure him. You have no idea, she thought to herself. "Hey why don't we go for supper tomorrow night or something?" Jack's face lit up then frowned again. "What's wrong Jack?"

"It's just I don't have a babysitter for Ri that's all." Prue thought for a moment then spoke.

"Hey maybe I can see if my sister cna watch him for you."

"That'd be great Prue but I have to say he is a bit shy."

"That's fine Wyatt's pretty shy too."

"Alright it's a date then I guess," Jack said then paused a little alarmed at what he had said, "I mean...I mean it's...it's a friendly dinner?" Jack's face looked red with embarrassment. He didn't mean to push Prue like that, it just...kinda slipped out. Prue rested a hand on Jack's shoulder as they stood up and smiled.

"Jack, it's a date." Jack smiled and Prue waved as she walked back to her car.