***Conference room***
Jennifer sat down across from Natalie.
"Natalie, I had no idea that you felt this way. I don't understand- it didn't have to come to all this. You could have come and talked to me at any time".
"I was afraid to. Daniel didn't know about this part of my past".
Jennifer nodded.
"I am sorry that you feel I am responsible for destroying your marriage, but I promise you, I had no say so in the magazine putting that picture on the cover. Honest. I promised you when I wrote that article that I wouldn't print anything unfactual or unfavorable. And I kept my word."
Natalie nodded.
"Natalie, what is the name of your first ex-husband?'
"Sam Prescott. He took the kids and moved back to Vegas. I have tried calling but he won't let them talk to me".
"Natalie, keep your head up in prison. Don't get involved in other inmate's situations. And absolutely never accept any items from another inmate. You become their property if you do".
Natalie nodded.
"Jennifer, I am really sorry. I really did think of you as a good friend, and I wish I had been able to talk to you or let all of this go. I hope that you can forgive me".
Jennifer nodded.
"I hope that you can forgive yourself".
The bailiff took Natalie then, and Jennifer told her that she would be alright.
She returned to the courtroom.
Jonathan was speaking to Daniel Evans, and the families were waiting to speak to them also.
Daniel was the first to speak.
"I apologize, Jennifer. I had no idea she would take it this far."
"Thank you. I appreciate that".
"How was she?"
"Emotional. You should go visit, she could sure use a friendly familiar face".
He nodded.
"Jonathan, I am going to sell the stock back. Can I call you next week to arrange that?"
"Absolutely". They shook hands, and he left.
The families spoke up next.
"Thank you for paying our expenses. We appreciate it".
"You're welcome. It was the right thing to do. I am so glad to see that you two are ok."
She turned to the mother of the lady who passed away.
"I am so, so, sorry. And I know that's not enough, but really- I truly am".
"We are sorry for you, too. We are glad the truth came out".
They all exchanged handshakes and then Jonathan and Jennifer headed out.
"We need to go to the jail and clean out my account, so to speak".
"Sure".
She quickly wrote some of her cellmates a note, and the guard agreed to give the notes to them. They collected her things, and then headed out.
They got to the car and Jennifer put her hand on Jonathan's chest.
"Where are we going?"
"Wherever you want to go, darling".
She didn't say anything and looked at him anxiously.
"Is home ok?"
"If you'll have me".
"I wouldn't have it any other way".
He kissed her and helped her into the car.
***Willow Pond***
They picked up La Scala, and took it home.
Jonathan insisted on carrying her through the threshold.
He set her down, and wrapped his arms around her.
"So good to have you home".
She kissed him, and they went and sat on the couch.
After they ate, they had a cocktail and just loved on each other.
"Darling… I'm sorry I pushed you away. It was the only way I could think to deal with it."
"I understand. And you didn't push me away. You tried. I am still here".
"I am going to miss some of the girls. You know, I was facing a lot of time, but I really had it easy compared to some of the others. And some of them, didn't have anyone supporting them-no family visiting, no one to call, nobody sending letters. It was very sad".
She turned to him.
"I was so hard on you. I'm sorry, darling. You didn't deserve that".
"This was hard on both of us, but it's over now." He kissed her.
"I have missed doing that".
"I did too. I know that I said you should leave me in there, but I missed you so much while I was there. I missed our life, I missed our home".
"We have a lot of time to make up for".
"I agree with that, Sailor. And I know just what I want to do first".
She stood up, and he followed. She went upstairs and ran herself a long bubble bath.
He got her some towels and lit some of her candles.
She climbed in and immediately sighed in excitement.
She wanted to soak, and do a face mask, and shave her legs, and scrub every grain of prison dirt off her.
He sat in her vanity chair, and scrubbed her back and gave her a nice, long back massage.
"Darling, what would you say if I told you I wanted to do something to help some of the girls I met in the jail?"
"That depends. What do you want to do for them?"
"I want to give them commissary money every month. I want us to volunteer there, maybe at Christmas, I don't know. I cannot explain to you how cold and unfeeling that place is. Anything we do will bring them happiness, even for a little bit. I want to visit them, especially the ones who have nobody, but I can only visit one at a time. So, I want to do something where I can see them all, like in a group".
"That's very thoughtful of you. I think we could arrange that. Is there something they need, like a library, or something vocational? Hart Industries could fund that".
"That's a great idea. There was a library. And there were several vocational classes offered. However, I bet they could use some more".
"I will call the warden next week and set it up".
He got her bath pillow for her, and leaned her back against it.
"Now, you just relax, and I am going to go get us something to drink."
She nodded and kissed him.
She sat there and pondered something else she wanted to do.
She just hoped she could pull it off.
Jonathan reappeared with a bottle of champagne, and two glasses.
He poured them each a glass and handed it to her.
"To innocence".
"I'll drink to that".
She clinked glasses with him, and then took a sip.
"Darling, the food in there was horrible. Does Hart Industries own a food company?"
"No, but we could look into it".
"I haven't had fresh fruit and veggies since I went there".
"Want me to run get you some to snack on?"
"No, that's alright".
Jonathan listened to Jennifer ramble, and thought to himself that it was the sweetest sound he had heard in weeks.
When she was ready to get out, he helped her up and wrapped her in a towel.
She dried off and slipped into a nightgown.
She spent a long time doing her beauty routine, of lotions and baby oil, and wrinkle creams.
"I need to take a day and just get my hair done and a mani/pedi, and some pampering."
He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.
"Leave the pampering to me".
He went and got in bed, and she joined him when she was finished.
She cozied up to him right away.
He could tell she was a little on edge.
He wrapped his arms around her, and she rolled on top of him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I hope you weren't planning on sleeping right away".
"You aren't tired?"
"No. I am afraid if I sleep I will wake up and this will have been a dream, and I will still be there".
"I assure you, it's real". He ran his hands up and down her back.
She unbuttoned some of the buttons on his pajama top, and kissed his chest a few times.
"Jennifer, we don't have to do this if you don't want to. It's completely up to you".
"Jonathan, I have never wanted something more in my life".
He rolled her till she was on her back, and ran his hands up under her nightgown. She got it off over her head in a rather swift move, as he focused on suckling her taut nipples. She pushed his pajama pants down, and reached for him.
"Jennifer, I know it's been a long time for you, and darling, it's been a long time for me too".
"Got it".
She cut to the chase and guided him to where she wanted him, and he thrust into her. She dug her nails into his back as they rocked their hips together before going over the edge as one.
They spent hours caressing and holding each other and making love. She was so happy to be back in his arms. They finally fell asleep in the middle of the night, wrapped up together.
***A few weeks later***
Jennifer had taken a few days to get acclimated back to regular life. She was a little overwhelmed at first by the attention from her friends, and by making her own decisions, but after a few days, all was well. She was serious about the project that she told Jonathan she wanted to start at the prison. She had decided that she wanted them to fund the vocational programs, and she also wanted to stock a supply closet, filled with supplies for the inmates who couldn't afford envelopes and stamps and paper so that they could write letters to their family. She also wanted to look into a mentoring program, so that people who didn't have anyone visiting them could be paired up with someone from the outside who would come visit them.
She also had a very special project in mind. She did some investigating, and found the information that she needed.
Jonathan was at the office, so she called him and told him she had a surprise and wanted to know if he would meet her at the airport.
"See you in about 45 minutes, darling".
She blew him a kiss as she hung up the phone.
She met him at the airport and as they waited for take-off, she filled him in on what she wanted to do.
He wrapped his arms around her and leaned in close.
"You are amazing, you know that?"
"No, but you can tell me again".
He kissed her.
***Nevada***
They landed and he had secured them a car. They made their way to the address she had uncovered and parked out front.
They walked up a little walkway and rang the doorbell. Pretty soon, a man of about 40 answered.
"Can I help you?"
"Sam Prescott?"
He nodded.
"I am Jennifer Hart. This is my husband Jonathan. Can we come in and speak to you?"
He nodded and let them in.
They took a seat on the couch.
"I am here on behalf of your ex-wife, Natalie."
"We don't have any contact with her".
"I know. I was hoping you would have a change of heart. She has made some mistakes, and believe me, they are big ones. But just last week, I forgave her for what she just did to me, and I am hoping that you will do the same and let her see her kids".
"Why? What did she do?"
"It's a long story. But she blamed me for the article that was published that contained the picture that you saw that informed you that she was a prostitute. She blames me because I wrote the article. I am not responsible for the picture being put on the front page, but she has secretly blamed me for it all these years. I say secretly because I didn't know that she did so till just last week. Anyways, she decided to get back at me and drug me at a party. I drove home, fell asleep, had a car accident and injured two people and killed another. I was in jail and was sure to stay there a long time if she hadn't confessed. Now she is in jail, and I met with her for a few moments before they took her away to tell her that I forgave her and that I was sorry it came to all of this. And when she explained that she hadn't seen her kids since you two divorced, I realized that she is really and truly broken. She has a lot to make up for, I get that. But your kids would benefit from seeing her and she would benefit from seeing them. I am just asking you to consider it. If you are willing, my husband and I will provide transportation each month for your kids to come visit".
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to at least let them visit once."
"Perfect. We brought our plane, and if you are willing, we would love to fly all of you back this weekend. And then fly you back home, of course".
"Thank you, that's very generous of you. Tell you what, let me go get my kids ready. I will meet you at the airport, in say 45 minutes?"
"Perfect."
They headed to the airport, and waited for them.
Right on time, the Prescott family arrived.
Jonathan got the kids all set up with movies in the back, and Sam went and sat in there with them.
It was a very short flight.
As soon as they landed, they all piled into the limo that Jonathan had arranged for them.
They were at the jail in no time.
Jonathan had called ahead and made arrangements with the warden of the prison.
Natalie was going to be allowed a 2 hour visit, outside, with her children. Jonathan, Jennifer, and Sam could be present as well.
After everyone got cleared to visit, they went outside to the playground to wait for her.
She was brought out, and was clearly confused asking the guard what they were doing out there.
As soon as she rounded the corner, her kids saw her.
"Mommy! Mommy".
She sank to her knees, and enveloped them in huge hugs.
"Caitlyn, you got so big! And Preston, you are so handsome!"
They all went over to a table where the kids climbed into her lap.
Jonathan and Jennifer and Sam sat at a different table for a bit, and let her talk with her kids.
Pretty soon, the kids wanted to play on the playground.
Natalie looked over at Sam.
"Thank you".
He nodded.
"You've made some mistakes, but they weren't one of them".
Natalie nodded.
She turned again and realized that Jennifer and Jonathan were there.
"You? You arranged all this?"
Jennifer nodded.
Natalie came over and hugged her.
"Thank you. I can't believe you did this for me".
"Friends help each other out".
Natalie wiped away the tears.
"How are you holding up?"
"I'm getting by. It's an adjustment, but for the most part, everyone's been really nice and nobody has really bothered me. There are a few ladies who sing your praises though".
"Let me guess-Willie Mae, Olivia, Rochelle, and Lexie?"
"Yes! That's them".
"They will be nice to you, if you are nice to them. And genuine. They really respect those that are genuine".
Natalie nodded.
"How are you and Daniel doing with the visits?"
"He filed for divorce the other day. I am ok with it, we have really and truly been over for awhile".
"I'm sorry. That's gotta be rough".
"I am trying not to dwell on it. Truth is, it would have happened most likely whether I was in here or not. I am focusing on my sentencing".
"How much time are you facing?"
"3 years, so with good behavior, I could be out in less than a year".
The kids came back over to her then, and she went with them to play.
Jennifer walked over to one of the tables and sat down. Pretty soon, she heard a tapping noise. She looked up.
Her friends from inside were tapping on the windows to get her attention, and waving like crazy.
She smiled, waved back and blew them several kisses. They made the heart symbol with their hands for her, and she gave them one back.
Her heart was full, knowing they were going to take care of Natalie, and also knowing that they loved her as much as they did. It was the only positive thing she could take away from this nightmare.
She and Jonathan visited with Sam a little bit, and he kept thanking them and saying how happy the kids were and that it was great to see them happy.
When their visit was up, they all said goodbye to Natalie, and Jennifer told her that the kids might be back to visit her once a month. She was ecstatic.
"You don't know how much this means to me. I will never be able to thank you enough".
"You can thank me by getting your life together and getting out of here and going straight".
Natalie nodded.
Jennifer and Jonathan and Sam and the kids all got back in the limo and headed back to the airport.
"The plane will take you back to the airport where you met us. And in a few weeks, I will call you and make arrangements for the next visit".
Sam and the kids thanked the Harts, and then Jonathan and Jennifer got in their car and headed home.
***Willow Pond***
They came in and Jennifer set down her purse.
She turned to face him.
"Darling, did you ever think of divorcing me?"
"Not once".
She kissed him.
"I did think about the rest of our vows though".
"Oh? Which ones?"
"Specifically, the one that said "To Have and To Hold". I missed holding you and touching you, and kissing you, and seeing you".
"I missed that too. I was focused on a different one".
"Which one?"
"For Better or for Worse. That was the worse, this is the better".
He leaned forward and kissed her.
"I'll show you better".
He scooped her up and carried her upstairs, as she kissed him the entire way.