A week ago
"Jack, have you seen it?" Jack raised his head and glanced towards his best friend, Robert Evans, that just entered his office.
"I am looking at it." words had a hard time coming off his mouth.
"Dude, it's her. That Maggie, your wife! What the hell?"
"I know!" Jack growled at Robert. "Apparently, her name is not Margaret Colt, and she's a murder victim in a casino in Las Vegas." Jack leaned back in his chair, took a deep breath, and sighed. "What the hell is happening here?" he was asking, but the question was more meant for himself rather than his friend.
"We have to contain this as much as possible. I'll call a PI that I trust, I've worked with him before. Maybe he'll find something that will clear this mess up." Robert offered. "Good thing that nobody actually saw you with her in public in the past month... ha. So listen, if the police come, call me? Don't do anything stupid."
Jack didn't answer. He was looking at the empty space in front of him, trying to collect his thoughts. He registered a clicking sound of the door closing, but he didn't react.
It was early Monday morning, the second week of July, and exactly a week since his newly wedded wife disappeared, leaving him alone with a month-old baby at home. Thank God his old nanny was still alive and ready to help with taking care of the baby, while he was at work that he could not leave unattended while trying to find his runaway wife.
"That's what you get for being stupid!" he cursed at himself out loud, remembering the events that led to this outcome.
Almost a year ago, after another successful deal that he signed with the French aircraft company, he and his best friend found themselves at the popular club celebrating his success. They managed to gather the whole crew from college, and they were enjoying the loud music, lots of alcohol, and all the beautiful women that came that night.
By accident, some girl slipped and almost fell next to him, but he caught her just on time. She looked a little too young to be there, and he remembers teasing her about it, but she showed him her ID just to prove that she was old enough to buy her own drinks. One thing led to another, and he ended up taking her to his place, where they spent the night. The next morning when he woke up, she was gone, so pretty soon, Jack forgot everything about it. It was just another one night stand, one amongst many others that he had before and after that. He was never really a type for relationships, so he never had an actual one with a woman before. He was good at finding those who wanted from him the same that he wanted from them, some good sex and no strings attached.
But when almost nine months later, a girl, a heavily pregnant girl, appeared in front of his villa, claiming that the child she was carrying was his, he had a hard time remembering her. She refreshed his memory, and he let her in where she stayed until the baby boy was born. As soon as that happened, Jack ordered a DNA test to be done, and true to her word, the test showed that he indeed was the father of the newborn.
With the help of his best friend, one of Chicago's finest lawyers, Jack managed to register his marriage with Margaret Colt without going to the City Administration Office. Margaret accepted his proposal without complaints or any requests.
They lived together in his villa for a month like roommates, sleeping in different rooms, not eating their meals together, leading completely separate lives. The only thing they had in common was the baby, and they both seemed completely fine with it.
A couple of times, Jack tried to talk with her, to find out something about her, about her life, about what she was doing and where she was for the most part of her pregnancy before she showed up at his door, but every time she would shut him out refusing to answer. He was planning to enlist the help of his friend to find out more about her if she continued to act like that, but before he had a chance to do anything, she fled. One day he woke up to find her gone, almost all of her things gone. What was left behind her too was a letter in which she begged him not to look for her, to take care of the baby... she said that she was never cut out to be a mother, that she loved the crazy life she'd been living too much and that everything was a mistake, and finally that she's sorry for all the mess she's made.
That was the last thing Jack had heard from her until this morning when he saw her picture in the news. A girl was found dead in the casino in Las Vegas, and what the reporters manage to find out until now was that she went around by many names, some of them were Julia Hendricks, Jennifer Lewis, Natasha Bright. There was no mention of Margaret Colt, and no reporter has connected his name with her for now.
Jack didn't know what to think about all of this. The only thing he knew for sure is that he will do anything he has to protect his child.
After staring at the documents in front of him for the rest of the morning, he realized that he won't be able to do anything while he's like this. He put on his jacket and headed out, stopping in front of his PA's desk on his way out.
"Simone, reschedule all of my meetings of this month for the next. I won't be coming in. Everything that the department directors can handle, direct to them. And if something that absolutely needs my attention comes up, call me on my personal cellphone. For the extra work that I'm putting on your hands, you'll be rewarded accordingly." Jack stated everything that he could think of at that moment.
From the city center where his office building was located, it took him more than half an hour to get to his villa, where his son waited for him. It was a strange thing, a love for the newborn. He doubted that the baby was his until the results came back positive, even though he had that tug in his heart every time he looked at the baby. Baby's eyes had the same depth to them as his own eyes and looking at him, was like he was looking at his reflection in the mirror. And he had this strange effect on the baby... whenever the little one was crying, and Jack came into the room, all the screaming would stop instantly. He was days old when he first smiled at Jack, and that smile... caused him to feel things that he never thought was possible to feel, the feelings that were unknown to him, the emotions that made his heart melt and eyes water.
Without even realizing it, he received a gift that gave him a reason to go back home every day and the urge to spend all of his waking hours with his son. Before this, everything he was doing with his life outside his job gave him no purpose, no meaning. He was living like an empty shell, working, drinking, having his way with every girl that was willing to spend the night with him, but all along he was feeling empty, nothing really felt right. He used to wonder so many times before what it was that he was doing wrong, what was he missing... why did he feel so lonely even when he was not alone and now he had his answer.
Jack spent that day and evening in his son's nursery, vowing to be everything he will ever need in life, a father, a friend, the biggest support, and even a mother. He will be everything that he could, and even everything that he couldn't... he will find a way to become what was necessary.When that night Marry came into the nursery, she found Jack standing beside Eric's crib just watching him. She came closer quietly, took Jack by a hand, and led him out. She didn't stop dragging him behind her until they reached the kitchen, where there was food served on the table."You have to eat something. It won't do you any good if you starve yourself. It will be less good for the little one up there." she made him sit. Jack knew Marry was right, and he was thankful for her mere presence here, taking care of him and his son. Marry was his nanny when he was little, she took care of him better than both of his overachieving parents ever did, and there was no time in his life when
In the next three days, Jack was working from his home office and taking care of his son. Marry was of great help, she was teaching him everything that she knew about babies. Marry had experience and was in his earliest childhood memories. She also cooked his favorite meals even though he objected, he didn't want her to exhaust herself.Robert came by again, bringing him everything that his PI managed to find. Hiram used to be an FBI agent, but he kept in touch with his old colleagues since he started his private practice hence had no trouble finding everything that concerned Margaret Colt and Jennifer Lewis. It turned out that was the real name of the girl he married. Jennifer had a few aliases, and Margaret's name was one of many that she used in her not that long life.Jack gave his instructions to Robert about everything that he needed him to prepare for tomorrow morning and after Robert left, Jack took the file his friend brought with him and went into his office
Jack walked around the town for a while, allowing a moment to himself to just not think about anything or anyone, to be alone. He couldn't even remember the last time when he could afford such a luxury. After more than an hour of aimless strolling around, he ended up on the city beach. By then, the sun was at its zenith, but the breeze coming from the sea made the hot day bearable. He took off his jacket and rolled the sleeves up to the elbows before he took a seat on one of the benches placed along the shore.Jack gave himself a few more moments of peace before he pulled his phone from the pocket and dialed the landline number in his home that he knew Marry is going to pick up. She refused to have anything to do with the cellphones for years now, and no one could make her use one.On the third ring, Marry picked up and informed him of every single detail about his son, from how much he ate to how long his nap lasted. After bidding goodbyes to her, he contacted his PA for
Maggie didn't know what to tell her mother about everything that happened yesterday. She couldn't tell her the truth because she knew Rebecca will be worried, and she couldn't lie to her either.Earlier that morning, Maggie gave her resignation to the restaurant manager and said goodbye to her colleagues, and did the same with the club. On her way to the hospital she was trying to think of what to say to her mother, and not make her worry too much.Maybe she should give a call to Jackson and ask him? But she didn't even have his number. He left last night after she agreed to his plan, saying just that he will send someone to pick her up from the airport. She was supposed to fly to Chicago tomorrow, and she had just enough time to pack a few things, quit her jobs, and talk to her mother.Rebecca was surprised to see Maggie again today. She didn't expect a visit before the next week."Mom, I need to tell you something..." Maggie said slowly, avoiding her mother's e
"You did what?" Robert was shocked, "Have you gone crazy?"It was Tuesday afternoon, and Jack had just arrived at his office when Robert came by. His friend was expecting him to bring signed divorce papers and the forms for full custody of Eric, but Jack had none of those.When Jack landed in Chicago, it was after midnight, so he went straight home. This morning he didn't rush to come to the office, he spent a morning with his son, and now when he had a load of paperwork to go through, his best friend was bugging him about something that even he did not understand."You do realize that you just made things a lot more complicated than they were?" Robert pressed further."I know." Jack sighed. "I know…""Then why did you do it?" Robert shook his head in disbelieve."I can't explain it because I don't even understand it myself. I just followed my instincts…""Your instincts?" Robert interrupted him, "What instincts? You don't even have them! You are the most ration
"Miss? Miss?" the flight attendant was trying to get Maggie's attention. After she called her a couple of times, she gave up and reached for Maggie's shoulder, which seemed to do the trick because Maggie snapped out from her deep thoughts and looked at the girl standing next to her."Miss, are you ok?" Maggie heard the girl's question and quickly nodded her head. "Would you like something to drink?" the girl asked again."Coffee, please." and she smiled a little. The flight attendant served her a cup of coffee and moved to the next passenger.Up until a second ago, Maggie was lost in her thoughts. No wonder that poor girl thought something was wrong because she knew she looked like hell. No matter the bottle of cheap wine she drank last night and how tired she was, Maggie didn't get much sleep, an hour maybe… She went to bed around midnight and tossed and turned until the break of dawn. When the sun was starting to show its first signs, restless sleep cre
Jack came home from the office around 6 p.m., and he went straight to the nursery. Eric was awake. Marry was holding him when Jack entered the room, and the joy painted the baby's face as soon as he saw his father. He smiled with his characteristic toothless smile and started to giggle and to move his little legs like he was trying to go to Jack.Jack's heart melted, and he immediately went to Marry and took the baby in his embrace. His one night stand with Jennifer was a mistake, the one he will forever be careful not to repeat. But Eric? Eric was a gift, and he was worth it. If Jennifer were alive, he would do anything to make it work with her for Eric's sake. Now? He will have to figure out things on his own..."Is she awake?" he asked Marry."No," she answered, not taking her eyes from the baby, "I checked on her maybe a half an hour ago, but she was still asleep, so I let her be."After Jack had dinner, he played with his son for a while, bathed him and fed him, and
Maggie and Jack spent the morning in Eric's nursery. Both of them were quite surprised by the baby's reaction when he locked his eyes with Maggie's. He wanted to jump from Jack's embrace to get to Maggie, he giggled and smiled and tried to reach her with his small hands.But Maggie never reached for him, she couldn't. Her heart clenched, and she swallowed hard. Her eyes filled with tears. For some reason, she felt trapped, like a bird in a cage. Her discomfort was evident on her face, and as soon as Jack noticed it, he turned the baby towards himself."New nanny is starting next week. She will be spending whole days here, and you won't have any obligations concerning Eric." Jack said.Maggie nodded her head. It's not like she didn't like babies, no. She always thought they all were cute. She just never had any experience with them and was scared of hurting them unintentionally."Speaking of obligations, I'm still waiting for you to explain