Jack banged on Steve and Kayla's door and was glad that Steve answered. Seeing Jack, Steve swung wide open the door and gestured for Jack to come in.
"I've got to get Jennifer out of this marriage to Lawrence," Jack blurted out.
Steve shrugged like it was no problem. "Sure."
"I need your help. I've got an idea, but it's not exactly legal." When Jack finished that sentence, he had by that time reached the Steve's living room and saw Kayla working at the desk. Jack winced and wished he could swallow his words. He didn't want to talk about committing crimes in front of Kayla.
"Hi Kayla," Jack said with fake brightness and his face slightly flushed from embarrassment.
"Don't mind me," Kayla said, half-amused and half-concerned.
Jack tried to backpeddle, "Y'know, it's not important."
Steve was growing impatient, "Spill it. And anything that you want me to do, you can say it in front of Kayla."
Jack cringed, but ultimately relented and started speaking frankly. "Jennifer really needs to have this marriage to Lawrence ended. He's blackmailing her; he's threatening her; and I just have to stop him. Like I said, I have an idea, but it involves forgery and fraud." He looked at Steve seriously, measuring his reaction, "Can you help me?"
Without hesitation, Steve answered, "I'm in. What's the plan?"
Jack gave a sideways glance at Kayla, "You may not remember this, but I'm hoping to help you recollect your memory because you were a witness."
Steve looked puzzled, "A witness to what?"
"That I was married in October. I have to make sure that the County Clerk's records reflect that."
Steve slowly smiled as his realization of Jack's plan dawned on him. "That's right. How could I forget? I didn't even get you a wedding present."
Without a trace of irony or humor, Jack replied, "You survived October, that's all the present I would ever need. Will you help me?"
Steve nodded.
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As soon as Jack stepped through the threshold of his penthouse, he tugged off his tie, kicked off his shoes, and shed his overcoat and suitcoat. He poured a tall drink of Kentucky bourbon.
"We can share," Lawrence had said today with a wink, meaning Jennifer, during their god-awful confrontation in the park. He wanted to punch the man. For minimalizing Jennifer, for demeaning her. For always treating her as currency to be traded in deals—one Katerina was as good as another, Lawrence could exchange Jennifer's future and her divorce for the Von Leuschner fortune. Raping her so she couldn't get an easy annulment from him. The man made Jack sick.
And yet, here he was alone in the penthouse. He couldn't see himself as that much better. Jennifer would be here with him at this moment, but she couldn't stomach what he had said in his confession. He couldn't blame her. Sometimes, he couldn't stomach himself—as he had been—either.
"We can share," Lawrence had said.
"Me? I don't like sharing," Jack had said. Jack had said that to Kayla after he learned the truth about her and Steve.
The same arrogant attitude had motivated both comments. He kept trying to forget who he had been, but he was starting to fear that the past would haunt him forever. Jack downed his bourbon thinking about purgatory. That concept had been drummed into him when Harper made him go to church when they lived in Washington D.C. They had to go to church for appearances sakes with all the other senators. Voters liked their politicians in churches on Sunday and so he went. In Church, Jack had learned about purgatory and penance and atonement. Jack had never learned about Grace and compassion and forgiveness there. Those were unknown concepts until this past year when he learned them from Jo, Steve, Jennifer, and Kayla. But Grace has its limits and he worried he had exhausted all of those chances with Jennifer.
He would always be here for her though. He had done his best and would continue to do so for the remainder of his life to make things right with Kayla. Now, he would do everything in his power to protect Jennifer against Lawrence, whether she wanted him in her life or not.
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A few days later, Jack and Steve were together at the penthouse, putting the finishing touches on the paperwork for their plan.
Steve interrupted his concentration, "So what happened in Europe?"
Jack paused, debating what to tell Steve about what he had learned. "I did get some information about Lawrence. I need to sit on it for a while before I know what to do with it. It's—I'm not sure how or if to use it. The less I reveal the better, I think, for the moment."
Steve stared at Jack; his brother shouldn't be holding out on him if they were a team. But then he paused before reacting. He decided to think the best of Jack instead of the worst. If Jack was keeping this to himself, then he had a good reason. "Okay," Steve replied simply, slowly.
Jack put down his pen and just stared at Steve for a long moment. Jack felt so indescribably grateful to Steve for his help. He was overwhelmed how his brother had come through for him—never gave it a second's hesitation. Jack had needed him and that was all it that was necessary for Steve to hear. Jack was desperately missing Jennifer, but he wouldn't allow that to consume him.
In a temporary stint of emotion, Jack blurted out, "I love you."
Steve paused, his pen hovering in mid-air. His eyes got wide and his eyebrows raised up.
Jack wanted to bite back those words, "I don't know why I said that. I must've drank some flavored coffee today or something similarly…girly."
A playful smile came over Steve's face. "No, don't take it back. I wuv vu too."
Jack finally smiled, "Just thanks for helping me out with this. I couldn't do it without you."
Steve kept the mood light, not revealing how much Jack's words had meant to him. "Hey, I'm more blue collar than blue blood, so I won't commit these white-collar crimes for just anybody. But you're my brother and it's for a good cause, so I'm glad to help."
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Jack stood outside Jennifer's door, nervous about asking Jennifer for this errand. He didn't want to explain why he needed her to do this and he was breaking an unspoken promise that he would wait for her to come to him. Jack didn't want to tip off Jennifer about his plan too soon. It wasn't that he didn't want to involve her, he just didn't want her to worry about anything more.
This plan of his was important though and worth bending those unspoken rules. He didn't want to venture inside the loft though. It would be too tough now with his confession so fresh on both their memories.
Tentatively, he knocked. He knew she was home. He had broken another promise too and had contacted the security agency about her current whereabouts; the meeting with Mickey and Lawrence was tomorrow and there was no time to waste.
She answered; when she slid open the door she was surprised to see him there, but she did smile. In the span of a heartbeat Jack surreptitiously glanced at her left hand; the diamond ring was still there. He smiled; not a happy one or a sarcastic one, but more friendly and ironic.
"I need a favor," Jack began.
"Sure," she answered without hesitation. "What do you need?"
"I'd like you go put on a light-colored dress, suitable for springtime even though we are still in the dead of winter. We're going to take a little field trip," Jack replied. "Umm, look festive, not professional," Jack called to her as she was going up the stairs to her bedroom to oblige to his request. The whole time she was changing, he stood outside her door, wouldn't even come into the loft as far as the kitchen.
An hour later, Jack was depositing Jennifer back at the loft; she was even more confused than when Jack had made the request. Jack had brought her to the County Courthouse of all places and showed her around, giving her a tour of the building and recounting his days as an assemblyman—'this is where I ate my lunch' and 'this is where I had my morning meetings'. At one point, they ran across a photographer who was there for the civil ceremonies and Jack inexplicably wanted a photo of them together.
Jennifer knew Jack never did anything so apparently bizarre without a good reason, but she couldn't imagine what had gotten into his head. Throughout the tour, he was the perfect gentleman; he never imposed or asked her anything about their relationship.
When he dropped her back off at the loft, he merely thanked her for a pleasant afternoon and was quickly gone, leaving Jennifer shaking her head.
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The next day, Jack appeared at WATB about a half-hour before she was supposed to go to Mickey's office. She and Lawrence hadn't come to any agreement and Frankie definitely hadn't given the Von Leuschner fortune to Lawrence. However, Mickey was hoping to move things along through negotiation and Jennifer still didn't feel comfortable explaining why an annulment could be so potentially difficult.
"Jack, I really appreciate that you want to go with me to Mickey's office for these divorce negotiations with Lawrence, but I can handle it. I need to be able to confront him and deal with him on my own. I can't let him get to me anymore."
"Jennifer, I appreciate you saying that, but there are some things that I need to say to Lawrence and to make sure that he is aware of." Jack hoped she'd feel the urgency in his voice and acquiesce. "I need to go. Okay?"
Jennifer nodded; he had asked her for so little and had given her so much. If it was that important to him, then she couldn't deny him.
They arrived to Mickey's office ten minutes early and Jack was staying tight-lipped about his briefcase. Jennifer captured Mickey in a tight hug, "Thank you so much Uncle Mickey for helping me with this. I know this can't be easy with trying to learn about the obscure laws of Lawrence's country." Mickey merely nodded at Jack; there was too much history with Kayla's rape trial and the disastrous relationship with Melissa for him to ever warm fully to Jack. Perhaps if he did marry Jennifer and make her happy for years, then he could give more than stilted politeness.
"Mickey," Jack started, feeling the awkwardness as much as Jennifer's uncle, "there are some things that need to be discussed when Lawrence arrives. Private matters between Lawrence, Jennifer, and me. Would you mind giving us twenty minutes or so when he arrives?"
Mickey looked at Jennifer, confused. He wouldn't do anything for Jack without Jennifer's approval. Jennifer looked at Jack equally surprised. She wasn't expecting this. "What about, Jack?" she asked, filled with trepidation.
"Trust me?" Jack asked.
"Of course, but…"
Mickey interceded, "Jack, this annulment is an extremely delicate and complicated matter considering the laws of Lawrence's country. Don't make this more difficult. Jennifer has put her trust in me to resolve this."
Jennifer put her hand on Mickey's arm, "It's okay. I know Jack wants this marriage ended as much as I do."
Mickey conceded and put up his hands, "If you wish. I'll let you have your privacy." Mickey looked back at Jennifer once more, his concern and wariness obvious, but exited from the room.
Jennifer was looking at Jack, studying him and trying to read his intentions, "What are you planning?" Jack merely replied with a placid smile.
Lawrence sauntered in to Mickey's office, noticeably feeling confident that he could extort a very favorable divorce agreement. His face betrayed a look of confusion for a moment when he walked into the office and saw the addition of Jack and the lack of Jennifer's uncle and lawyer. He quickly recovered though and his smug look returned.
"Mr. Deveraux, unless you're masquerading today as a lawyer, I hardly think your presence will be beneficial to Mrs. Alamain's concerns. In fact your presence will work to my benefit so I will not object, but I do have such sympathy for my lovely wife and don't wish to see her disappointed."
Jack maintained his placid smile. He was going to enjoy this meeting. It wasn't going to bring about Lawrence's destruction like he wanted, but he would win this battle and untether Jennifer from Lawrence's last remnants of his control over her.
"I believe you are mistaken for several reasons," Jack began. "Some of which I will enumerate here. Miss Horton was not married as herself with her given name, but as Katerina Von Leuschner. She freely testifies that she endured the farce of the ceremony only because she was threatened, blackmailed, and kidnapped."
Lawrence rolled his eyes, "Evidently you need your Uncle Mickey to explain the laws of my country. The marriage was quite legal, I assure you. You are trying my patience and like I said at the outset, not helping Mrs. Alamain whatsoever."
Jennifer looked back and forth between Lawrence and Jack. She wasn't sure what Jack had planned, but the politeness and Ivy League elocution and manners that were covering up Lawrence's vile actions and Jack's seething anger were quite unsettling.
"You are incorrect on one very important point, Lawrence," Jack was obviously relishing this moment, "You were never married to Jennifer."
"Really? I think I know the laws of my country far better than you. This really is getting pathetic, Jasper."
"You were never married to Jennifer because at the time that she was your prisoner, she was already legally married to me."
Jennifer turned round and stared at Jack-unsure that whatever scam he was trying to run here was going to work. Lawrence was surprised by Jack's statement and carefully monitored Jennifer's response.
"Really? Jennifer was married to you?" Lawrence turned to Jennifer, "Is that right Jennifer?"
Her mind was swimming; she trusted Jack and hoped he had more than just a con. She weakly nodded. She'd follow Jack anywhere-even into the abyss of some cockamamie story.
Lawrence was acting amused, "Really? When?"
Jack stopped smiling. He hated Lawrence and wanted to annihilate him; he was going to enjoy this, but it wasn't a game. He opened up the briefcase he had brought to the meeting, "Here is our marriage certificate. You'll notice it was dated October 8, 1990 here in Salem County between Jack Harcourt Deveraux and Jennifer Rose Horton-Jennifer's real name and the name on her birth certificate. This was a full month before your supposed sham wedding at your villa."
Lawrence was not amused anymore. "A piece of paper means nothing."
"It's entirely legal I assure you. Here is an apostille certifying the executed marriage license. Our wedding ceremony was presided over by Judge Ingalls and witnessed by my brother, Steve Johnson and my editor, Vern Scofield. All their signatures are there and they will testify that they witnessed our ceremony. Here is a copy of our wedding photo."
Jack held up a photograph of Jack with Jennifer in the white dress she wore yesterday at Jack's request when they had inexplicably gone to the County Court House. Jennifer started to realize the scope of what Jack had arranged. If he could establish that they were already married in November then Lawrence would be completely powerless and her marriage to him would be declared invalid. Neither an annulment nor a divorce would be necessary. She tried to hide a smile; Jack had gone to incredible lengths to remove her from this marriage and from any further control by Lawrence.
"That is all smoke and mirrors," Lawrence asserted. "You cannot do an end run around Jennifer's and my marriage. I don't care if you get your fellow stooges, Steve and Vern to perjure themselves for you."
Jack wasn't done yet. "It's perfectly legal, I assure you. Our marriage has been on file in the Salem County Courthouse for months. You can even check the security video footage from that day; you'll see that Jennifer and I came to the Courthouse, went to Judge Ingalls's office, and exchanged our vows. Jennifer was married to me so she couldn't possibly have been legally married to you."
"I have to talk to Judge Ingalls."
Jack shook his head, "Judge Ingalls had a heart attack right before Christmas. He's passed away. You can check his signature and schedule though. Everything will hold up, I assure you."
Lawrence was getting irate; he was realizing that on this point, he just might have been checkmated. He wasn't ready to concede defeat though. "I have very powerful lawyers and will take this to court. You won't win."
"Really? Who do you think a judge will side with? A marriage between Jennifer, with her legal name, on American soil, entered into willingly, and in October. Or your sham wedding in November in which she didn't use her real name-a coerced and forced wedding in a foreign country and Jennifer was only there because you had kidnapped her. Who do you think an American judge will decide that Jennifer is married to?"
That question hung in the air for several moments before Jack continued. "She was married to me so she certainly doesn't need to obtain a divorce or annulment settlement from you because there was never any marriage-legal or otherwise. You trying to cling to this non-existent, invalid marriage, only to try to use it as leverage to further blackmail her in another feeble attempt to get the Von Leuschner fortune, only makes you appear more pathetic and diabolical. No judge will ever side with you. Our marriage is iron-clad. Your claims are so ridiculous in comparison that Jennifer can't even get busted for bigamy."
Jennifer spoke up, "And you really must stop calling me Mrs. Alamain; it is Mrs. Deveraux to you and to everyone else."
Jack smiled, "Uncle Mickey will be back soon and if you continue with this harassment of my wife, then we will start pressing charges and filing lawsuits. Be gone from our sight."
Lawrence knew he was beaten-for the moment, "This isn't over yet."
Jack held Lawrence's icy stare, "Damn right it's not over. Here's a copy of our wedding certificate. You can have it as a souvenir." He knew Lawrence would be looking for any possible loophole, but Jack felt safe. Both he and Steve had been thorough.
Lawrence snatched the paper and tromped out of the office.
After the door slammed shut, Jennifer threw her arms around Jack. "I can't believe you did that! That was amazing!"
Jack held her tight; he had controlled his temper during the tense standoff with Lawrence. He had wanted that man's neck under his heel.
Jennifer felt incredible in his arms. He hadn't held her like this since the day of the joint counseling session. He wasn't fooling himself though; he knew it was more the adrenalin and relief that fueled her into his arms instead of a sudden, magical resolution of all their problems.
Still tight within his arms, Jennifer spoke into his chest, "So are we married?"
Jack took half a step back, "No. I had us legally divorced on December 6th, the day before I proposed the first time. It wouldn't make much sense to propose to get married if we were already married. Besides, if we're ever going to be married for real, then I want you to be there and I really want to hear you say your vows."
Jennifer cupped his cheeks in her hands. She wanted to confirm that they would have their happy life together. God knew she wanted that, but still something was holding her back.
Jack could see her hesitating to commit to their engagement and eventual marriage. She was still wearing her diamond ring and he wouldn't pressure her about her feelings regarding their future. He had promised to wait. He had promised to let her choose. That promise was getting more difficult though with each passing day though. It seemed that with everyday that passed, their past and their future were slipping further away into obscurity.
Steve had been an invaluable help to Jack, coordinating all the logistics to retrofit his marriage license and get it part of the public record as though it had been there and that he and Jennifer had been legally married since October. To make the ruse foolproof, Steve had advised Jack that he would need tangible evidence. The wedding photo and surveillance video at the county courthouse that were supposedly collected on the wedding day would help make the marriage legally irrefutable.
Jack and Steve had debated about having the wedding occur in Salem or New York City. New York City would have made more sense with the timeline and help explain why there were so few witnesses, but the logistics of trying to sneak all the necessary legal paperwork into a New York courthouse just seemed beyond all possibility so they settled on Salem. The official version would be that Jennifer and Jack had a quickie wedding in October (and all official records would reflect that) and then a quickie divorce in December (right before he proposed marriage). The reasons for a quick marriage and quick divorce were irrelevant; the only thing that mattered would be that the marriage would hold up in a court of law.
Despite her hesitation to come back into his life, Jack was glad he could at least offer Jennifer some consolation though, "Your marriage to Lawrence should no longer be an issue. He can't try to hold your marriage over your head to blackmail you or those who care about you anymore."