The Story of Veronica Sally Chapter 5

Chapter Five
"Will you be at group this week?" Jack asked.

"Yeah, I think so" Sally smiled. "It's so good to hear your voice again."

"I thought about you a lot."

"You did?"

"Yes."

"Oh... Good. Look hon, I gotta go... the kids and I are heading out to the movies. I'll see you tomorrow though"

Sally and the three kids walked around downtown, killing time before the movie when Todd turned the corner. She hadn't told them that he was coming, it was a surprise. They saw him at least once a week but since Todd started working, their visits had been cut short.

"DADDY!" all three of them yelled

"Hi guys!" Todd kneeled down to catch all three of them, they embraced him tightly.

"What are you doing here?" Anne asked.

"Mom told me you guys were going to the movies today and asked if I wanted to come with."

"Yay!" Conner yelled.

"Hey Sally, I was thinking... after the movie and since it's summer vacation.... Do you mind if I take the kids for a few days?"

"Please mom!" Anne started, then Jacob, and finally Conner... She couldn't help but smile.

"Yeah, I think that'd be a great idea!"

"Good" Todd smiled. He took a few steps closer to Sally and lowered his voice. "One of these days, I'd like for you and I to talk..." he paused "I never really let you finish and I'd like to apologize to you properly." Sally simply nodded before heading into the movie theatre.




Sally was sitting at home, no kids and no noise. It was so strange to her. She had picked up the living room, got the laundry caught up, and vacuumed. Now she was just aimlessly walking around the house, she wasn't sure what else to do. Then she remembered that Jack was going to be at group today and checked the clock. It started in ten minutes but she didn't want to miss it, she would just be late which threw her anxiety for a loop.

She was about fifteen minutes late, it would have only been five but she paced outside for ten minutes trying to convince herself that it was ok to walk in. She knew that everyone would turn to stare at her though and she hated that. Finally though, she walked to the door and caught a glimpse of Jack sitting there. Sally slowly opened the door and walked in, smiling shyly as they turned to her. Within no time, Jack was in front of Sally, pulling her into a full embrace. Her nerves calmed instantly.

After group Jack said his "see you later"'s but quickly followed Sally to her car. He looked nervous now, she didn't notice it before.

"Hi" his voice was uneven. Sally smiled at him, he looked adorable when he was nervous maybe mostly because she had never seen him like this.

"Hi there."

"You got a minute?"

"Actually, I have a lot of minutes" she laughed. "Kids are with their dad for a couple days."

"Wow, really?"

"Yup. What's up?"

"I just want to talk" he half smiled but avoiding eye contact.

"Do you want to come to my house, for a change?"

His eyes met hers for the first time, he didn't say anything he just nodded towards her.

"Ok, you can ride with me.... I'll bring you back to your car later, if you'd like?"

Again, he nodded but this time he did smile.

They walked into Sally's quiet house, the silence was almost deafening. She set her purse and keys down on the counter in the kitchen and smiled at Jack. She realized this was the first time they had ever been alone together, not in public. She wasn't sure why, but her stomach started to flip.

"Would you like some coffee?"

"Do you have beer?" he chuckled.

"I do actually" she smiled at Jack and pulled two beers out of the fridge.

"Thank you" he returned the smile, he looked more relaxed now.

"Do you mind if we sit outside? I've been stuck in this house for days."

"Whatever you like sweetheart."

They sat outside in the sun, talking and laughing. They had drank several beers and Sally was starting to feel the affects of it, just a little bit. Part of it might have also been that her heart was pounding so hard she thought Jack could hear it. It had been months since they had really talked and now here he was, at her house... Just the two of them. With a swig of her beer, she swallowed the emotions that were trying to come to the surface again. She could no longer sit down, she stood up and headed towards the house.

"I'm gonna go grab a couple more beers." Sally was playing with her fingers nervously walking towards the house when she heard Jack get up.

"This has been an amazing afternoon"

They were standing in the kitchen, he was no more than a foot away from her. Even though the house was cool, she was sweltering. As she went to hand him another beer, it slipped out of her hand and onto the floor.

"Shit, I'm sorry Jack."

"Nothing to be sorry for sweetheart." Jack bent down and picked up the beer, setting it on the counter and took a step closer to Sally. Her brain screamed at her to take a step back but instead she found herself taking a step forward. She couldn't break eye contact with him, her heart was thrashing against her chest. She wasn't drunk on alcohol, she was drunk on Jack.

"Sally..." he spoke low and now he was standing right in front of her. He bent his head down towards her. "I missed you" he admitted.

"I missed you too" Sally nodded, unsure of how she was able to respond. Jack placed his hand on the side of her face, his thumb running of her soft skin.

"Since I saw you this afternoon, there's only been one thing I wanted to say to you." He paused. Sally closed her eyes and let herself really feel this moment. The pounding of her heart, the heat on her skin, the butterflies in her belly. When she opened her sea green eyes, they locked with Jack's amber eyes. "Sally, I love you..."

And there it was. Those words had been said and not by her. She tried to wrap her head around it, what he had just said to her. She opened her mouth but nothing came out. Sally just stared at him, her heart fluttering and her mind swirling. His eyes were begging her to respond so she swallowed and tried again.

"I love you too Jack..."

"Really?" his expression softened and Sally couldn't help but smile. A small giggle escaped her lips when he bent down to kiss her, stopping him. A slow smile crossed his lips, he just looked at her. "God you're beautiful."

Sally's cheeks burned a deep scarlet, she was waiting for him to kiss her. She could feel the electricity between the two of them. He just stood there, looking at her. Sally stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.

They closed their eyes at the same time, Jack pulled her against his body and wrapped his arms around her. She melted into him, her arms around the back of his neck. Neither of them wanted this moment to end. Reluctantly, Jack pulled back just slightly. Just enough to break the kiss but not the embrace. He rested just forehead on hers.

"Can I say it again?" he whispered.

"Say it all you'd like." Sally beamed.

"I love you."

"I love you too..." He kissed her forehead slowly. "Can you stay tonight?" she asked timidly.

"I'm sorry sweetheart, I can't... Soon though."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

He kissed her, his mouth sweet and gentle on hers.

"You have no idea how amazing you are Sally. Also how relieved I am that you not only accept my love but return it."

"Jack, I've loved you for a long time." her cheeks burned again.

"Oh." he grinned. "I should probably go..." he frowned at the thought.

"Ok..."

"I'll call you when I get home."

Hand in hand, they headed towards Sally's car. When she dropped him off, they hugged for several minutes but before he let her go he whispered it to her again. "I love you". It rang in her ears the entire drive home.