The Journey Home

“Why? I mean, just the other day I watched him with Monica and Lily. Cale, I’ve never seen him look at her with so much love.”

I nodded. “I know, but…something’s happened and it’s thrown Jack for a loop. He doesn’t know what to do about it.”

“What could possibly make him say such a hurtful thing?”

I took a deep breath and glanced back outside to where Jack was sitting with his head in his hands. “Jack can’t have children.”

Maddie’s eyes widened. “What? Why? I mean…is he sure? Cale, oh my God. I don’t even know what to think or say right now.” Maddie turned and looked at Jack.

“Jack talked to his father right after the wedding about wanting to have kids right away,” I said. “His dad told him about how he and Jack’s mother had had a terrible time getting pregnant. I guess his father had a very low sperm count, but after a few years of trying they finally had Jack. So Jack had his sperm tested and they told him this morning his sperm count was too low to ever be able to have kids.” I shook my head and took another deep breath. “Jack said he and Monica had both decided they wanted to have a baby right away. Today, when Monica came home, Jack had already started drinking. She mentioned coming over for dinner to watch Lily, and how they should maybe get in some baby-making sessions, and Jack lost it. I guess he slammed his fist down and scared Monica. He’s feeling so guilty about not being able to give her a baby, Maddie. That was the only reason he said that about marrying her. He’s devastated. He’s been trying to call her and she won’t answer. He went back to the house and she was gone.”

Maddie quickly wiped a tear from her cheek and picked her phone back up. She hit a button and looked at me. “Monica, I think you need to come over right away.”

I waited to see how she was going to get Monica here after what Jack had said.

“No, listen to me. It’s not my place to say, so I need you let Jack talk to you. He’s been drinking, but Cale’s been giving him coffee. He’s more upset than anything.”

Maddie looked at me as she listened to Monica talking. “Do you trust me as your best friend? Then, yes, I think you need to come as soon as you can. Okay, we’ll see you in about ten minutes.”

Maddie hung up and smiled. “She’s on her way. She hadn’t gone far.”

I pulled her into my arms. “I’m so sorry our evening was ruined. This was supposed to be about us.”

She held me tighter. “Let’s get our friends back together. Then you can make love to me all night long.”

Maddie was always trying to help other people first and that was one of the things I loved so much about her. I leaned down and lightly kissed her on the lips. “I love you so very much, Maddie.”

She gave me that smile that makes me weak in the knees. “I love you too,” she said.

I glanced back out to see Jack pacing back and forth. “Should I tell him Monica’s on her way?”

Shaking her head, Maddie whispered, “No, lets just let things happen on their own.”

The doorbell rang and I let Maddie go so she could answer it. A few seconds later, Maddie was walking into the living room with a very upset Monica.

“Hey, Monica,” I said with a slight smile.

She smiled back weakly and said, “Hey, Cale.”

Monica looked outside at Jack. She looked so confused. When I turned to look, Jack was sitting with his head in his hands. It was pretty obvious that he was upset.

“Why did you have me come here, Maddie? Why?” Monica sat down and wiped her tears away. Maddie and I sat down with her, Maddie taking Monica’s hand.

Swallowing hard, Maddie blinked slowly and began talking. “Monica, the last thing you need to do is run away. Jack received some news earlier today that really upset him. He didn’t know how to process it. He started drinking this morning and, when you came home, he handled it all wrong.”

Monica eyes widened in horror. “Oh, God, is Jack okay?” She turned to me. “Cale…is he okay? What’s wrong with him? Oh, God.”

I held up my hands. “No, no. Monica, Jack is fine. I mean…he’s not fine, but he’s fine. I mean, he’s not sick or anything like that. He’s not gonna die.”

The moment the words came out of my mouth I wanted to punch myself. Fuck.

Poor Monica looked so confused. “Die? Wait, what is going on? Why is Jack crying? Why is he so upset?”

“Honey, one reason is he hurt you. He never meant to hurt you. What you need to do is go out there and talk to him. Please, just go out there.”

Monica began chewing nervously on her lip. “Um…”

“Monica, please. If you love Jack, go out there.” I said as I stood, holding out my hand.

She placed her hand in mine as she nodded, barely saying, “Okay.”

Maddie stood and smiled at Monica. “I’m going to make some more coffee.”

I guided Monica over to the sliding door and opened it.

“Jack?” I said. He still had his face buried in his hands and I could hear his sobs. Monica placed both hands over her mouth and tried to hold back her own tears.

“I hurt her…oh, God, the hurt in her eyes.”

“Jack?” Monica’s voice was shaky.

Jack dropped his hands and jumped, spinning to face her. “Monica.”

“Please tell me what’s wrong,” she said. “Please.”

Jack pulled Monica into his arms. “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so very sorry. I didn’t mean it. I swear to God, I didn’t mean it.”

I took a step back to give them privacy.

“Jack why did you say our marriage was a mistake?” Monica asked between her sobs. Jack closed his eyes and opened them again. Tears were streaming down his face.

“I can’t give you what you want. I’ll never be able to give you what you want.”

I watched as he fell apart again. But this time, his wife was there to catch him. As they both sank to the ground I walked back into the house, attempting to keep my own tears at bay.

CALE AND I sat in the formal living room together. My heart was breaking for both Jack and Monica, who were still talking on the porch. The moment I saw Jack drop to the ground¸ falling into Monica’s arms, I lost it.

I ran my fingers up and down Cale’s arm. “Cale?”

He was holding me close, and my head was buried in his neck. “Yeah, baby?”

“When are you thinking we should get married?” I asked, closing my eyes and dreamed about walking down the aisle to him. I knew that his marriage to Zoey had been rushed—not a whole lot of thought went into the process. They’d gone to a justice of the peace, getting married right before Cale went out of town for work.

“I’ll marry you tomorrow if you want,” He said, taking my hand in his.

I giggled. “I’d love to get married at Jack’s parents’ house, on the beach where we first met. Just us and a few close friends and family. Keep it low-key.”

“I think that sounds perfect,” he said. “Low-key. I like low-key.”

I smiled. “With Lily turning one in July, I don’t want to overshadow her birthday. What if we did it the week after her birthday? I would feel more comfortable leaving her with your mom or Monica while we went on our honeymoon.”

Cale smiled and I swear his

eyes were sparkling. “I think that sounds like an amazing plan. I say we talk to Jack’s parents, Craig and Diane, and see if that works for them.”

I snuggled back into his body. I couldn’t believe this was really happening. I looked at my engagement ring. I was going to marry Cale. We would officially be a family come July.

“Maddie? Cale?”

I sat up and saw Monica and Jack standing in the doorway. I jumped up and my heart began to beat faster. I silently prayed that they’d worked things out.

“Hey…” Cale and I both said at once.

Monica looked at Jack before telling us, “We talked. Everything’s going to be okay.”

I let out a small sob and made my way over to my best friend. We hugged, both of us in tears.

“Oh Monica,” I said. “I’m so glad you worked it out.”

I wasn’t sure how long we were hugging, but I heard Cale say something to Jack, too. Monica pulled away and smiled, wiping her tears away. Jack wrapped his arm around her and smiled. “We’re not going to give up hope on a miracle.”

Monica’s smile to Jack had my heart soaring. I firmly believed that love could do anything, and the kind of passionate love that Jack and Monica shared was capable of delivering a miracle.

Jack held out his hand and dangled our house key in front of Cale. I laughed as Cale grabbed the key and shoved it in his pocket.

“Thanks, guys, for letting me crash your…party.” Jack said, wiggling his eyebrows. I smiled and looked down, heat moving across my cheeks. Monica chuckled and hit Jack lightly. When I looked back up, I saw that Jack’s eyes were still red from being so upset.

“Come on,” Monica said. “Let’s leave and let these guys…resume.”

I grabbed Monica’s arm. “Wait. I have news.”

She tilted her head and smiled. “What kind of news?” she asked.

I held out my left hand. Jack and Monica both looked at my ring. Monica began jumping and so did I as we grabbed hands and squealed.