May 23rd, 2023
Austin, Texas
*dot*
After hearing his name from Kate, asking where her purse was, Jason bowed his head staring at the meal being prepared. A small part of him begged why he ever agreed to move to ungodly hot Texas, but the blonde woman was rubbing his back, and this he remembered was the cause he agreed.
"Jay?" asked Kate, her smile filling the room in their large kitchen. She peeked a kiss on his shoulder before leaning against the counter. Looking at her and sighing, he smiled, plating the Balsamic spinach and mushrooms as the salmon sizzled.
"Sorry I'm late. Needed to stop at Sephora before they closed."
"You're still pretty," he offered quietly turning to give another kiss. "I prefer ruffled hair and running mascara."
Kate beamed before gently hitting his side. A wince of pain shot through, and she grabbed his arms to steady him realizing it had been too hard.
"Kate," he urged, pointing at the sizzling salmon on their stove and rubbing the spot roughly. It was the old bullet wound that never fully healed. "I'm fine, please Kate. I'm fine!"
The woman eyed him closely as she pushed him into a dining chair taking over the meal. A moment later a tall boy with bright blond hair appeared throwing back a chair from the table. It was Henry, their nearly sixteen-year-old and he was holding his phone dearly. There was much concern on his face.
"Do yall known when Gina will be here?" he asked anxiously, placing the phone down quietly on the glass surface.
"Your Mama knows," offered Jason, taking several gulps of his drink.
"Her daddy is dropping her off round eight," answered Kate turning the fish over once more.
After a few minutes, Kate turned back to plate the salmon pieces and the small family enjoyed their dinner. Discussing the upcoming vacation to Europe, which would include Henry's girlfriend of three years, Jason smiled looking up at a large portrait of them overlooking the fireplace. It was the one they did last Christmas. Surrounding the larger frame were smaller ones, each showing one of Henry's grandparents. They were all dead except Kate's father, the wonderful politician he was. Mr. Williams was a stern man who disliked his daughter's partners, and certainly never enjoyed time spent near Jason. He reminded him of John Marshall.
The man who died ten years ago when he lost everything, or so Jason thought. Frowning at the smiling dead man, he reminisced that it had been difficult to escape that life. He realized though that another chance to live without fear or rejection was possible with Kate and Henry. The cruel man in the photo was long gone. Jason hadn't even attended the funeral because he had been in the custody of Mr. Thomas. The Frenchman, unsurprisingly, gave the kindest gesture in letting him find Kate, but had to find criminals per their agreement. It took everything out of him to keep the past just that, the past, but when Kate found out, she never judged him for it. It was after all part of the past she would always say.
The doorbell rang loudly as the chairs scrapped the wooden floor. Being closest to the entrance foyer, he walked there seeing three people outside the door. Opening it, he spotted an aging couple in their late forties with a teenage girl beside him. Between them was a single carry-on luggage.
"Sir. Ma'am." He smiled acknowledging each with a handshake. "It lovely to see you. Please come in! It's too damn hot."
"It's too hot indeed," laughed Gina's father. Her mother always stared at him in a strange way, but Jason assumed his charm was still there after all these years. Leading them toward the others, Henry jumped up and smiled nervously at Gina and her parents. Jason smirked, knowing somewhat the struggle his son was enduring now. Gina went to hug her mother before doing the same to Kate.
"Thank you for letting me tag along," she said kissing Kate on the cheek. "I've been looking forward to it so much!"
As the two teenagers went to sleep sometime later, Jason cleaned up their dinner before settling back into a chair in the study. Grabbing a book, he opened it lazily to read when his eyes found a brown cardboard box sitting on his desk. Setting the book down, he opened it, finding many photos sitting inside it. The photos contained were from growing up in Missouri, living in California, or of women from the past. Many who he had sexual relationships with. Jason blushed as he looked up trying to find Kate. Seeing his youthful face made him grimace as he found the stack of one woman. Holding a few up and observing one longer than he intended, he frozen as memories filled him up of the woman in question.
"Who's that?" asked Kate in a quiet voice behind him. She had a navy-blue cardigan on, and a stemming cup of tea wrapped around her hands. Admittedly, Jason didn't want to say the name because of the hurt he had caused. Kate's earnest rub on his back gave him the courage to say the woman's name.
"This is … her name is Betty, short for Elizabeth."
"You look cozy with her. I mean, I get cozy like that with ya now," smirked Kate grabbing his extended hand. Clearing his voice, he stared at the photo, remembering when it took place. It was shortly after they finished high school, and they were partying with friends in Kansas City before the family business became their everything. Betty's arms were wrapped around his neck as they kissed passionately.
"Was she the one of the others?" asked Kate quietly.
"She was from Missouri like me. We— umm— we had Darcy. Business ya know."
He was shaking horribly and knew Kate had seen it. She rubbed his shoulders before plucking the photo from his hands and ripping it in half. Thankfully she didn't press the issue.
"And this one?" she asked suddenly holding a photo of a different brunette. Her clear blue eyes still made him smile after all this time.
"That is Jess," he answered looking away. "We got to meet up in Vegas when her brother got married. We had a good thing going for us until I …. I did… I did something really bad –"
Jason picked up another one of them both and showed her. This photo had the two of them plus a small boy nestled in his arms. The photo was of them after Jack's birth. Looking down, he gulped and turned over the photo in annoyance knowing the lies he had said long ago. Even now he remembered the words Phil had spoken. You wouldn't have stepped in front of Jess if you hadn't cared.
"She's pretty, very pretty. Ya had a thing for brunettes! Besides the fact I'm the only blonde," she laughed pushing his arm a bit with a smile. "What made me so different?"
"You weren't the only blonde, but you were the first," he said holding her gently seeing her blue eyes looking back. "I wanted you out of love. Everyone else was used, even Jess."
"Who is the little boy? I thought Henry was your only son?" she asked gently rubbing his back pointing at the photo of Jack.
"Henry is my only son," he stated firmly. "That is Jack, who I… he was my son until he was 3. He was really someone else's son and I lied about it. I tried to hide it but she was made aware after I hurt her."
Kate looked over the photo and could tell he was uncomfortable about it.
"If I may, and be honest, did you try to replace Henry with that little boy?" Jason's hands clenched a moment before loosening and he looked up at her. There was a small tear escaping from his eyes as he said it.
"I never realized it but yes, I did. Jack was never mine." They sat there several minutes before Kate held his hand and smiled. "Jack had my last name, but I doubt it's still that now. I assume Jess changed it to match the real father."
"I don't blame you. You were a part of a gang and hell you still are. Besides we weren't fit nor ready either."
Jason stood up and folded his arms before turning sharply. "Kate, I caused Phil to not have his son for three years. I was the reason that he missed out!"
"Yes, and because of that man you came back to me," she said kindly taking him within her arms. Jason relaxed after getting close. "Henry was always here, and you missed seven years of his life. Not the same length but still time missed like that man."
Like that night on November 1st, 2013.
Jason and Kate had left the bar and went to his hotel, simply taking out the future, the good and bad. They spent all weekend together, even going to see the Cowboys win against Vikings, but he kept an ear out that the Chiefs had also won too. They were his team after all. Leaving the game with Kate in his arms, it made him realize that being a normal guy could be attained but it would take time to get this fully. Time he wasn't sure he had but he left that weekend thanking her for another chance to rekindle their romance. Granted it took nearly a year to convince Mr. Thomas to allow him to move there and her father, being a predominant Texan politician, hadn't been too pleased either.
"I don't know what the hell I was thinking meeting you there. Daddy said you was a good for nothin' bastard," she said pushing her blonde hair back.
"I'm still a good for nothin' bastard," he laughed lightly brushing her stray bangs away. "I didn't think you'd even come."
Wrapping his arms under her, he kissed deeply the woman he loved all the way to their bedroom. Sitting her on the edge of the plush blanket, they could faintly hear their alerts going off for bed. Smiling against it, they knew everything was calm. Looking down, he leaned into her making her laugh again before she teasingly pushed him off her. Laying down, she cuddled against his side.
"Jay, you did a lot of messed up stuff."
"Yah, but I hurt a lot of people. Including you," he admitted softly resting his index finger under her chin.
"We've been together for ten years. It would be hard to run away from you now," she laughed.
Beaming at her, noting the date, and knowing she was right.
*dot*
God getting through that damn line took forever it felt like. From them getting separated and he accidentally going through without handing their passports over, Phil found himself seated at their departure gate as Jess took the children to get some food. It was sunny and clear, with little clouds covering their path. But today he sat already exhausted by the travel day they would have.
"I don't get why you didn't tell Mom. She's literally going to kill you," commented Jack pushing his hair back under the baseball cap as he took the empty seat beside him.
"Your mother and I haven't been back since 2008 and I wanna make this very special," smiled Phil turning and waving at the girls who were five people away from the agent.
"2008 was a long time ago," smirked Jack nudging his arm.
"It wasn't that long ago," smiled Phil pushing his arm back.
"I was born in 2010, and I'm thirteen and a half now…"
Phil turned, eyeing the boy who sheepishly grinned. Letting out a soft scowl, he tilted his head observing the innocent look before him, and watching his son playfully let out every snippy snide remark he himself would make.
"Oh—" started Jack again holding a finger up, a wide smirk crossing his face. "And you're nearly fifty Dad!"
"Jackson," he warned as a nearby agent let out a smile at the father-son exchange. In disbelief at the boy's tone, he turned back before replying. "I'm forty-five."
"I'm just sayin' brah," said Jack shrugging his shoulders self-consciously.
Taking his phone out, messages began flooding in as friends and family, even some fellow staff members, wished his family well on their month-long vacation. It was something that he had been planning for over a year.
Doug and Stu shared a chat thread with him that made him smile.
Jess will love revisiting the beginning of your love story. - Stu
I've always been good at keeping secrets. – Phil
Yeah, from us. – Stu
I'm so proud to call you not only my best friend but a brother. - Doug
I feel so left out lol. – Stu
You better not get drunk and end up on the roof. - Doug
I doubt Jess or I will end up there ever.- Phil
I may have thought about killing you outside that Ihop…. – Doug
Yeah, that was a rough day. You were beet red. – Stu
Nah! lol you love me.– Phil
I love my sister. – Doug
I love her more. – Phil
Does Jess not know where your going at all? – Stu
No. Unless this damn boy of ours opened his mouth and ruined it. – Phil
He is so tall! Like Jess was. – Stu
Just don't tell Alan anything you do with Jess. He asked me her breast size to buy her a bikini. – Doug
That's so gross. – Stu
But really thank you for being there. – Doug
You have no idea what you mean to Jess. - Stu
I know she and our kids are my entire world. I would never fuck that up. – Phil
Looking up, he noticed a pair of dark blue leggings sitting down beside him. Opening his arm, Jess laid her head down and pulled out her phone, adjusting the mermaid tail braid away from her face. Sitting quietly, their children were quietly arguing about some video on Jack's phone. Upon boarding, Phil and Jess helped settle the kids in their seats before sitting themselves. After some thirty minutes, Maggie, who sat beside her father grasped his hands as the pilot began his preflight instructions.
"Daddy!" she whispered, her eyes big and round, fear beginning to sit in. "I don't wanna go!"
"We can't leave the plane now sweetie. Everyone wants to leave on time," he said calmly knowing the nervousness was too much for her. It was her first ever flight. "Did you pack your headphones?"
Maggie looked at her mother before Jess pulled them from her bag. Passing them over, she smiled as Phil laid them in her lap until she was ready. Pulling on his sleeve, he turned to adjust them as the flight attendant began a safety demonstration.
"Remember, hold my hand, and squeeze it as hard as you need. I will be right here. Mama is there with your brother and sister," said Phil pointing across the aisle. Waving, Jess blew a kiss to the pair.
"But what if—"
"There are no what ifs. I will be right here for you always."
Looking up, he noticed Jess was staring at him. It was as though the last twenty-six years had come full circle, because these were the same words he once spoke to Jess. The young girl nodded at him before taking his hand when the plane began to taxi, her eyes were glued to the window as the airport came fully to them. They could see other planes taxing as well before the booming sound of them taking off.
"Remember like I told you, the plane will taxi until it reaches the runway. The pilots usually pause as they straighten out. A moment's later and the plane will begin picking up speed. You'll feel your body hug the seat, and that's when, if you need, squeeze my hand. I'll be right here!"
"Okay, Daddy!" she smiled. "I remember you said that the plane will go up and up until we are in the clouds!" She was beaming at him as another rumbled boom came from another take off.
"That's right. We are almost there. So be ready!"
It was just like that time all those years ago.
Jess was seated beside him that late afternoon. The then man of thirty held onto the seventeen-year old's hand as the plane taxied before pausing a moment and then suddenly the plane began rapidly gaining speed and within ten seconds, they were soaring above LAX. She had him in a death grip, but he knew this was her first flight ever and it was scaring her. She was perfectly okay, of course, when they landed. Phil had no idea he would leave after three weeks, knowing how much this young woman meant to him and how she changed his heart forever. They spent the three weeks exploring the ancient city, in all its glory having discussions over the cradle of modern civilization, the arts, or her favorite subject literature.
Jess wanted to visit one place more than anything else and they achieved that on the last day. He was surprised when everyone thought she was his daughter, given everything internally happening to him. It filled him knowing this was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of time with. Jess even said so. And being the fool, he believed every word of it. They stood at the site, she wearing a sheer blouse, olive-green shorts, and brown anklet sandals, and he wearing a simple pair of khaki shorts with a light blue buttoned shirt smiling at the stranger taking their photo. That evening, he remembered holding her hands as they sat at docks admiring the stars above them. Her smile was the brightest in the area, and for Phil that was it.
"Here, we go!" He smiled at his youngest child seeing the excitement and fear in her small face as the plane gathered speed and took off into the skies of Los Angeles.
"Told you Mom should've been told!" muttered Jack after deboarding at their destination.
Jess was pissed to say the least. Jack's smirk said he didn't say but judging off Lily's expression, it was equally annoying that she was kept out of the planning. It would seem at least the parts he could contain were held until they got to the connection gate.
"Greece?" she smiled cupping his face and kissing him sweetly on the ride to the hotel.
For a several days, Phil and the family spent a lot of it exploring and seeing around the country where he and Jess fell in love. However, near the end of the vacation, he had a special night planned that required Jack to watch over his sister's. He begrudgingly said he would but knew it meant a great deal to his father.
Taking Jess by the hand, they left for their night out on a private dinner date cruise. She looked beautiful in that dark blue bikini covered by a flowing semi-opened sun dress, sparkling silver ankle sandals, and hair pulled up into a messy bun which sat on top of her head threatening to topple over. Phil in turn wore black swim trunks and a loose button-up outdoor shirt.
It had been ten years of marriage. Ten long years since the night their lives changed forever, fifteen years if you counted since returning here. The aging man paused before stepping out into the car, he arranged for tonight's surprise.
"Ready to go?" he proclaimed as Jess nodded, taking his hands carefully.
"Where are we going?" she asked with a smirk on her face. "It must be somewhere near the water."
"You'll just have to see."
Phil smirked again, remaining tight-lipped. Their driver drove them to the location where she let out a booming giggle and hugged him, nearly knocking him over. He had arranged a romantic, private sunset cruise with dinner and drinks for that evening. Boarding the private boat, they felt completely at ease sailing through the ocean waves. They even took several opportunities to take a dip in the waters. Diving in, Jess and Phil shared a kiss before reboarding. As the sun set and they dried off, one of the attendees set up their dinner under sparkling lights illuminating the space they had. Treating Jess like the queen she was, Phil could only sigh at her beauty seeing any flaw as nonsense. She kept playing with her hair, trying to dry it, but her thick mane often was a force to reckon with.
"This is so beautiful! Thank you, Phil!" she said taking her fork and slowly eating. "You really outdid yourself!"
"I wanted to make it special," he said taking bites of his own meal.
They chatted endlessly like they had for years, either when they would whisper in his classroom, or that fateful one night in Vegas. Even the time on the roof in Bangkok. A memory came of their quick wedding in Vegas after all the Marshall events. It took her a long time to get over all of it, but she knew that with him anything was possible. Looking out from the viewing dock, Phil wrapped his arms around his wife, and they watched as the sun disappeared under the twinkling sky.
"You know, I have one more surprise for our family tomorrow."
Jess turned in his arms studying him closely for any kind of hint of what it could be.
"Whatever it is, I will surely love it."
Phil smiled as he bent forward to kiss her deeply, his fingers wrapping in her hair not allowing her to go. They stayed there for an hour longer before returning to the mainland and escaping into the roaring nightlife.
*dot*
It was so late. Kate eyed Jason along with Henry and Gina knowing they weren't night people. For once she felt bad for them knowing their red eye was not planned. Their vacation was coming along nicely, but the arrival from Rome made them collapse the moment they got to the hotel.
"Hey, we have a room under Jason Marshall," she told the clerk. Nodding at the others, who had nearly passed out in the seating area, Kate took Jason's credit card from his wallet and showed his ID.
Finally given a card, the group took slow steps toward the elevator and up to their floor. There was another couple entering around the same time, clearing too in love and drunk to realize they were being loud. The man was quite tall with dark brown hair with a woman with equally dark hair, who let out a giggle as they walked up. The pair looked at Jason briefly before hushing up seeing he was half awake. Based on their voices, she could make out they were American like them, but she was simply too tired to care.
"We're on the fourth floor," said the man quietly pointing at the four. Nodding she pressed it along with five. Henry was holding his father up, who zombied his way with them. Hurrying along, she opened the door allowing Henry to bring his father in fully. Gina took a moment to grab Kate's bag before announcing she was going to have a quick shower.
"Dad is pretty light considering all Mama," stated Henry handing her a pillow for him. Raising his head, Kate sighed slightly brushing Jason's hair from his face.
"Yeah, he's got some medical stuff that keeps him thin, but work keeps him busy too."
"What does Dad do anyway? Grandpappy said he was involved in business but— like the bad kind?"
Kate looked at her son knowing what he meant. "Daddy should keep his nose where it ought to stay."
"Mama had Dad done bad things?" he asked earnestly. "I've looked him up online and he's done some stuff that's kinda wrong. I mean some bad things—"
"What are you talking about?" she asked sharply sensing the conversation's direction.
Henry looked down seeing he had upset her. Looking around he saw that Gina was still in the bathroom. "Mama, I'm just asking was my dad ever a criminal?"
Taking a deep breath, Kate let out a low breath before answering him. The boy looked onward with concern but remained quiet. Closing her eyes, she knew the words she had to say before his girlfriend returned.
"If you mean your father's stolen valuable items or held people at gun point, and murdered them, sure. He's done those things," she said in a near dead whisper so no one could hear. "He aint proud of it, but Thomas sponged most of everything else. But by your age your father had taken his first life."
Henry's eyes got big as she spoke. The seriousness in her face meant she was lying but deep down he knew there was reason.
"Took his first life?" he repeated, his voice broke at that. "Like killed someone?"
"Yes, he has killed people," she said flatly watching his subdued expression. "He was and is a mobster. Head of the Marshall family from Kansas City. He's done horrible things, but because of us, he made choices to stop them. Living with that kind of guilt, well he works very hard to make amends for those mistakes."
"My dad is a gangster?" he asked quietly, standing a bit too rigid. "Wait, is that way Dad never misses when we go shooting!? Were we in witness protection?!"
"Get your shit together boy!" laughed Kate at her son as the bathroom door opened revealing Gina once more.
Tomorrow, they would spend it visiting more places. Jason sighed in his sleep, unaware the group had removed his shoes and jacket and with Henry's help pulled him under the covers.
Kate looked at the group, watching Henry's face change at the awareness of his father's true identity. But he remained quiet, falling asleep beside his father. Gina and she took the other bed quietly.
"That boy will be our salvation, Jay. Ya just watch," she muttered closing her eyes hearing the faint snores of everyone.
*dot*
Her heartbeat was beating against her rib cage, filled with nerves of whatever Phil had planned for the day. She had a feeling of what it was, and it was not the fright of surprise but of the notion he was returning them to the exact beginning. As the day waned, she was reminded of the June afternoon, long ago in 2008, having felt something so rare and so calming that it stopped her realizing what this man had meant for so long. Steadily passing the Dionysus' Theatre, they had great views over the Odeon of Herodes Atticus before reaching Propylaea.
"Come on! This is amazing Dad," pointed out Lily and Maggie as they rushed forward observing the overview of Athens.
"Hey be careful! No running! It could get slippery," he called to them hoping they heard. "These damn kids."
"But they're our kids!" offered Jess grabbing his hand as she stumbled for a moment on a slippery rock. Taking in the Pantheon was as amazing as she remembered. Phil was standing hands on his hips as he looked up, staring at the blank sky. There was a soft smile under his pilot sunglasses. Patting her shoulder and gripping it firmly, knowing his thoughts, Jess looked up out with him admiring the view. Hearing their names, they turned to see Jack, Lily, and Maggie stood behind them a bit motioning them together.
"Mom! Dad! Look here!" called the boy holding up his phone. "Don't get gross on us!"
Laughing Phil and Jess posed as they had all those years ago, in absolute euphoria. His arm reached around her waist and hers wrapped around his torso. Their children snapped photos away as they smiled unaware of anything around their group. Looking up into his eyes, she saw generous adoration in his eyes. Leaning up to kiss him, their children let out gasps begging them to stop. Her crying was a better description of how they were right now in this moment.
"Here we are again," she smirked hearing their daughters argue with Jack about true love.
"Here we are again, together," he smiled leaning down and kissing her sweetly, brushing hair behind her ear.
Letting go of each other, another couple took notice of them and offered to take a photo of the whole family. Phil and Jess stood in the back with Jack in the middle of both girls. Their family was absolutely everything they wanted and more.
*dot*
They sure looked cheerful standing there together. A happy man holding his wife as their three children watched with glee and disgust as the couple shared a quick kiss giving zero cares to their surroundings. Staring a moment, though, the woman became familiar to Jason. Beside him Kate took notice of the family there as well.
"Is that?" she asked, grasping his hand firmly as Henry and Gina took several photos of the area. He only nodded and refused to say anything else as the Wennecks began to make their way around the side of the structure. Looking at the eldest child, he could make out Jack had become handsome as he grew. His green eyes followed as he remained still in discontent. It filled him to know that Jess and Phil had raised Jack into the young man he was. However actually seeing them in person after so long was like ripping the Band-Aid off old wounds. Tears intensified as he listened to their laughter, sensing that someone was watching him.
Standing there quite still was Phil watching him quietly. Looking up, he titled his head at Kate before smiling, silently acknowledging he wasn't there for Jess. He knew the place to remain and of all the places he never thought to see them again. They shared a curt nod before he turned away, reaching for one of his daughter's hands. Feeling the stare leave, he turned once more seeing the Wennecks taking more photos.
"That's who she left you for. The old man?" mumbled Kate with a laugh.
"I'm not young anymore," he laughed too. "I'm thirty-six."
"Yeah, but I think I got the better deal," she said rubbing his arm.
From a distance, he could see that Henry had wandered off and saw him standing next to Jack overlooking the city together. It was strange how the two boys were conversating about whatever it was, but it was reassuring that despite everything, the two had no idea why they mattered to each other.
*dot*
Eyeing the ancient structure, Jack looked out peacefully as he heard quiet footsteps approaching. He always heard about this place being special to his parents and never understood it. It was just a building on top a big rock, his mind laughed.
"Hey, watch your step!" said a tall boy beside him pointing out he was standing a bit too close to the edge.
"Oh, thanks man," said Jack taking several steps back. "It's very nice here, isn't it?"
"Yah, well it aint like this at home. Mama and Dad say livin' in the city makes it louder, but they prefer the countryside. Says its quieter," said the boy, his blond hair even brightener under the blinding sunlight. "Names Henry."
The boy extended his hand which Jack shook trustily.
"I'm Jack," he replied nervously.
"Nice to met ya, Jack."
Looking over the view, the two boys talked briefly about being teens and how their families were greatly annoying to them, while laughing about a pair of other families who couldn't keep their kids under control.
"I can't wait to start school in the fall," said Henry quickly stretching a moment.
"Whys that? School sucks," complained Jack folding his arms. This kid was clearly from Texas based on his accent.
"I like it. All my friends play football and I run everywhere. I sorta like doing that," said Henry pulling his hands in his pockets. "Ya know I was offered a partial scholarship to UT Austin last season. My birthday's in July like my Dads and I'll be a junior coming up this year. What about you?"
"I'm in middle school but my dad's a teacher and my mom's a dentist."
"Being a teacher is hard work. Especially these last few years. Mama's always tired from her students."
"What's your dad do?" asked Jack softly looking at the elder teen. A smile crossing Henry's face.
"My dad? Well— my dad is a businessman. He works with government agencies to better the world," he said softly turning around in place hearing some footsteps approach. "Is that your Mama?"
"Jack, we gotta go," said the woman but she stopped staring at Henry. She was observing him closely as though something was bothering her.
"Mom, this is Henry!" offered Jack holding an arm out. "He's visiting from Texas."
"Nice to meet you," she nodded slowly. Another set of footsteps came up beside them, this one was a tall man with light blonde hair and green eyes. Jack's eyes widened as he recognized the man from his mother's photos.
"Come on son. Your mother's getting hungry," he said reaching for his son's shoulder.
"I was talking to Jack here! He was telling me about stuff in California, where he lives."
"Oh, I lived there once. In San Diego," commented Henry's dad. "I knew someone very special from California."
"Yah that woman, that Mama teases you about. She looks pretty from the photos!"
Jack's mom stiffed up a moment before shaking her head. "I've lived in San Deigo once, I didn't must care for it after a while."
Henry's father's smile turned as he looked at Jack's mom. Both boys noticed they were staring at each other far too long to not know something was going on.
"I'm sorry you had that experience. California isn't my home state, but I did enjoy living there while I did. Had to move away after a bit because of family. Well Henry you need to be back in ten minutes. You know how your mother gets."
"I will Dad. Let me take a few more photos," said Henry turning back to Jack and shaking his hand.
*dot*
It was ten years since they last saw each other. They had lived in fear of that night in San Deigo recalling everything they had done from then on. But here they both were standing back from their sons who were talking without a realization of what had happened years before.
For Jason and Jess, they didn't care about any of the underlying meaning of the ancient structure they stood on. They waited, hands crossed or in pants pockets, for the next generation knowing what they each had said or done. Jason looked over Jess and let out a small chuckle.
"Jack's grown up hasn't he," he whispered softly watching a young girl grab onto Henry's arm.
"He's just like Phil. Sorta unnerving really," smiled Jess. A moment later, the young girl came up to him holding out her phone.
"Mr. Marshall will you take our photo please?"
"Yes, give me a minute! Sorry," he muttered to Jess turning back in place. "Gina, she's –"
"Gina? That's a pretty name."
"Yes, she's pretty. She's my son's girlfriend, if you can believe that. And I'm sorry about him. He has a filter usually."
"Henry, was it?"
"Yes," nodded Jason rubbing his hair. "And how could I ever forget Jack's name? I was there for a bit, and we named him."
Seeing his smirk, Jess felt her face become flush remembering the small detail of Jack's birth.
"Henry? Wasn't his mother Kate?"
Jason turned pointing at a short blonde woman taking several selfies and making a TikTok. Jess let out a soft smile before turning to face him. He had aged into a mature older man, the blond hair turning a soft, nearly white in some parts, but those once vibrant green eyes had dulled over time as his life played out.
"Kate was the first one, wasn't she?" asked Jess pushing back her hair.
"Yes," he replied blushing. "Kate was before anyone, even Betty."
There was a loud shout behind them as a young girl came from around Jess. Her long brown hair was held back by a ribbon as she passed a phone into Jess' hands.
"MOM! You promised you'd take my photo so I can show my friends!" called the young girl holding her phone up higher. "MOM!"
"Okay, okay! Stand there Lily!" instructed Jess, opening the camera and snapping several pictures of her daughter and even Jack jumped into one. For a moment, Lily was surrounded by Jack, Henry, and Gina. The four of them smiled big as they posed. There was a quietness that came around the adults suddenly and they knew why. Handing the phone back to Lily, Jason let out a soft chuckle.
"Lily?" he asked with a smile.
"Phil was really insistence on it being her name, but never told me why. I like it a lot. So gentle and free sounding."
Jess and Jason stood still as the sun dipped lower and the afternoon spilled away. It was nice to see each other after all these years. He was still handsome, and she was still beautiful. Taking another moment's pause, Jason turned away before Jess reached out grabbing his arm.
"Jason!"
Turning once more, they each remembered that night long ago when everything changed.
The beginning of their relationship chatting online, feeling the absence of everything around them expect the person on the screen. Jess had remained quiet most of the time back then as Jason explained happily wherever he was in the world. She hung onto his words, excitedly telling him about Doug getting married. The night she snuck out to finally meet him was one she never thought would happen.
"Ladies first," he had said as they stepped into his hotel that night. There by the large windows, Jess watched as he removed his jacket. Gathering her in his arms, he had kissed tenderly, running a finger down an arched back. Nimbly bites along her neck as clothes were removed in quick succession. His tall figure made her height difference obvious, but they cared for nothing but the other in their arms. Slowing and seductively, he inched the navy-blue dress off her body, and then found themselves on a bed large enough for five people. There something erupted within them, and the playful grin allowed them to commit to Sin City, knowing the stakes taken.
That navy-blue gown, which was abandoned at their San Diego home, and how they shared something so pure that it made her heart heavy inside. The people they had become meant knowing everything was okay. Knowing life was different meant understanding what they both lost in return for standing in Athens now.
"I wish there was something I could say or do to make everything I did okay. But it's not going to change what I did. I hurt you. I never got the chance to tell you that and I'm sorry."
Jess nodded and accepted his apology.
"You know you couldn't if you had wanted to. Because of your dad, you never lived for yourself."
"You made me see that, Jess. You alone made me see how important family was and what that meant to me was priceless.
It was nice to see smiles. Jess was safe with Phil and Jason was stable because of Kate. Slowly, he would have corrupted her into something like his own mother. After learning the truth about his mother's cancer, he hated everything his father had done. It was this hatred he learned how to be a better man for Kate and Henry. Jason stood there and for once smiled knowing he gave Jess everything she ever wanted.
Truly it was nice to see her and Jack. Turning slightly, he called for Henry and Gina, who finally came.
"I'm glad to have seen you Jess," he said as the teenagers walked up. "You're still very pretty."
"You're very handsome after all this time," she said closing her hands tightly.
Jason Marshall and Jess Wenneck smiled at one another one last time as they turned away with their sons who eyed their parents oddly. They knew that life didn't always bring you to the end where you expected. For them it meant standing at the crosshairs and realizing how one night could change everything.