History Lessons (Read 4,811 times)

[DancingDays]

[sportsgirl]

Don't forget to add Andre & Slyn and all our wonderful authors..We would have so many wonderful ideas and stories!

[mae00]

You're right SG! We do have some exceptionally talented authors here. I didn't mean to exclude anyone!! Sorry for any hurt feelings!

[Kpatch]

SALEM INN

Jack tossed and turned and barely slept all night. Nothing was as it seemed. Nothing was the way he wanted it to be. He was dreadfully unhappy, mostly because Jennifer and Abigail’s lives were so unsettled. He got out of bed and went over to the desk. He took a piece of paper out of the desk drawer, along with a pen, and began writing notes to himself in longhand. When he finished writing, he showered and dressed and headed for the Horton House.


HORTON HOUSE

Jennifer: Jack, what are you doing here so early?
Jack: I’m sorry, I probably should have called.
Jennifer: Yes, you should have. I have a meeting to get to, so ...
Jack: I’ll be quick. I had an epiphany last night.
Jennifer: Oh brother. This doesn’t sound like it’s going to be a short story.
Jack: I’ll cut to the chase. In fact, I’ll cut right to the end of the story ... our story.
Jennifer; You lost me.
Jack: Exactly.
Jennifer: What? What are you doing? Are we playing “Who’s On First”?
Jack: Jennifer, I ... I finally realized that I lost you a long time ago. And trying to hold on to a shred of the feelings you have for me isn’t working. I keep waiting for that flicker of hope to turn into a flame, but it’s more like a dying ember.
Jennifer: Could you stop talking in metaphors? Please?
Jack: That! That right there is a perfect example. All I do is wear you out. You have no patience for me anymore. The things you used to find endearing, you now find annoying. So ... we’re history, Jennifer. Everything we had, everything we were, everything we felt, it’s all in the past. I wish it weren’t only in the past, but ... I’m a journalist. I deal in facts. And the fact is, you don’t love me anymore. I don’t think you even like me. So there you have it.
Jennifer: Jack, you can’t mean that.
Jack: What part of what I just said wasn’t true?
Jennifer: Um ... I don’t know.
Jack: Jennifer, you have to know ... I want you to know that I’ll always love you. But that’s not enough to base a relationship on. You would need to love me too. And you don’t.
Jennifer: Are you saying it’s over? We’re over?
Jack: No, that’s not what I’m saying. It’s what you’ve been saying for a long time. And last night, I finally heard you. If, someday, you change your mind, I hope you’ll let me know. In the meantime, I’m going to live my life. I’m going to become Jack without Jennifer. It’s going to feel strange, like a hand without a ... sorry, more metaphors. Take care of yourself, Miss Horton.

Jack turned and walked out the door, leaving Jennifer standing in the foyer with her mouth agape.


To be continued. Tune in tomorrow for the finale...

[André DiMera]

While I love Jack and Jennifer as a couple, I'm really glad that Jack said that to Jennifer. Hopefully, they'll both have time to figure things out now.

jkjpatch, I love this story! Thanks for the chapter!

[MrsM]

Go Jack!! It is time he realized he needs to learn to be him.

[DancingDays]

Yay Jack!! Yay Jack!!

[gapeach]

Now THAT is the Jack I want to see on the show! Way to go kpatch!! Can't wait for the conclusion.

[rockfordfosgate]

Jack stayed classy and calm. And I'm truly interested to seeing him become "Jack without Jennifer".

[djm]

Wow. Just love the way Jack handled Jen. He told her how it was without and stupid stunts. Can't wait till tomorrow to see what happens. Thanks for the great story Kpatch.

[fluffysmom]

I loved Jack going to Jennifer and being honest. She needed to hear the truth from him. I look forward to seeing how the story ends.

[krw627]

Awesome!! Just like Sami, Jennifer needs to stand on her own for a while and become her own person--not Jack and Jennifer, not Frankie and Jennifer, and not Jennifer and Daniel...just Jennifer! I am pretty sure she hasn't been without a man since high school. She needs to learn who she is just like Jack needs to find himself without Jennifer.

[Kpatch]

SALEM UNIVERSITY

Jack had a free hour this morning, so he sat in the teacher’s lounge and made a phonecall.
Jack: That’s great. I can’t wait to see you either, kiddo. I’ll meet you at the baggage claim tomorrow. Love you.
Jack smiled from ear to ear after hanging up the phone. He finished drinking his Starbucks latte while reading the Wall Street Journal. He used the Journal as a sort of textbook for teaching his class, and he was scouring today’s paper for good material. The lounge was fairly quiet and Jack became aware of someone’s presence in the room. He looked up to see a lovely but sad face.

Jack: Abigail!
Abby: Oh Daddy.
Abigail ran to her father sobbing. He stood up and took her into his comforting arms.
Jack: Abigail, what’s wrong? What happened?
Abigail: It’s over. It’s over.
Jack: I ... I didn’t think you’d be this broken up about me and your mother...
Abigail: No, not that. I’m talking about me and Aust ... Professor Reed. You were right.
Jack: Do you want to tell me what happened?
Abigail: I saw him with his wife. At the Horton Town Square. They were kissing.
Jack: I see.
Abigail: That’s when I realized that the whole thing ... it’s all been in my head. I mean, he was nice to me. Just nice. And I blew it up into something more.
Jack: Sometimes, when we have feelings for someone, we project those feelings onto the other person and we believe they feel the same way about us.
Abigail: I think you’ve been spending a little too much time in therapy with Dr. Evans.
Jack: Ha! That’s true. Oh, Abigail, you’re such an amazing young woman. Some young man is going to be very lucky to win your heart.
Abby: I hope he’s like you.
Jack: I hope he’s nothing like me.
Abby: Mom told me that you broke it off with her.
Jack raised an eyebrow.
Jack: Is that what she told you?
Abby: Uh huh.
Jack: Because I wouldn’t say I broke anything. I merely realized that we were beyond repair.
Abby: I’m sorry Daddy.
Jack: It’s okay.
Abby: Um ... There’s something you should know.
Jack: I’m all ears.
Abby: Mom knew about me and Austin. I mean, she knew how I felt about him ... before you did.
Jack: What??? She knew and ... she knew about the two of you and didn’t tell me, and yet she admonished me for not telling her?
Abby: I know. Not fair, right?

Jack: I’ll say.
Abby: Don’t be mad at her Daddy. That’s just how she is.
Jack: What do you mean?
Abby: Oh, she likes to feel superior.
Jack: Abigail! Don’t talk about your mother that way.
Abby: Why not? You always tell me to deal in facts, and that’s a fact. I love her and all, but I still see her faults. She’s really opinionated.
Jack: You’re right, she is ... which is ironic, considering I once taught her about the importance of being objective.
Abby: And she has this victim mentality. It makes her feel superior. It’s kind of sad.
Jack: Did anyone ever tell you what a wise young woman you are?
Abby laughed.
Abby: I take after my father.
Jack: That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me. Hey, JJ is coming home for winter break tomorrow, and he’ll be staying with me for the week.
Abby: I know.
Jack: I’ll be picking him up at the airport. Want to accompany me?
Abby: Sure!
Jack: Afterwards, the three of us can have dinner together. You, me, and JJ. My treat!
Abby: I’d love that Daddy.
Jack: Me too.


The End

[MrsM]

Awwww. Love their conversation. Glad that they can mend their fences and have a good relationship.

[rockfordfosgate]

Yay! Jack can concentrate on himself and the kids and Jennifer can just go jump off the Salem Pier (if that set still existed anyway!). Great story, kpatch.