The Family Simon: Jack Part 13

"The dog stays here. Last thing Brett needs is to have the little b.u.g.g.e.r creating havoc in his-"

But she was already out the door with Coco who looked happier than a pig in s.h.i.+t sitting in her arms. His scowl deepened. He'd like nothing more than to carry on with whatever this was, but he decided to take some of his mother's advice, something that had served him well many times in the political arena.

Pick your battles, and pick 'em well.

He followed Donovan down the walkway that led to the boathouse and the two of them walked in silence, following the well-worn path through the tall trees that led to Brett's cottage.

He'd talked to Brett off and on over the last few months, but not once had Brett ever indicated he was this sick. Jack knew that a tumor had been found but he'd a.s.sumed it was benign. Brett was like a brother to him, seemed as if he'd know the guy forever, but life had gotten in the way these past few years and he hadn't seen Brett since Christmas.

Now he wasn't sure what he was walking into. As they approached the large deck that ran the length of Sabrina and Brett's cottage, two kids came barreling down the path, screaming and yelling like holy terrors. Harry made a beeline past him, shouting something about juice and the boathouse fridge.

"Uncle Jack! Harry tolded me you were here." The second child, a little dark haired girl, launched herself at him like a missile and he barely managed to hold onto the wine as she wrapped her little arms around his legs. "Are you gonna drive the boat tomorrow?"

He glanced down at Morgan. Man the little sprite had grown. "Hey princess. What say we talk about that later?"

Her eyes were Brett's, a deep blue, but the rest of her was all Sabrina. She was as s.p.u.n.ky as her brother, but there'd always been a sweetness about her, and Jack felt something tighten inside him as he gazed down at her earnest face.

"But Daddy can't drive the boat, and Mommy doesn't know how," she pleaded. "Pretty please with pink and purple and blue sparkles on top?"

"We'll get you out on the water," he said gently, the tension along his shoulders increasing as he heard a door slam above them.

He gazed up at the deck and tried to keep the shock from his face, but he wasn't sure that he was able to.

Brett Campbell looked sick as h.e.l.l. His tall body was only a shadow of his former self, the long limbs covered in thick sweats, as if he needed them for comfort and heat. He was bald, though Jack wasn't sure if it was because he was sick or if he'd just gone ahead and shaved it. He moved slowly, taking his time to cross over to the railing and Sabrina appeared at his side, slipping her arms through his and kissing the side of his face.

Brett smiled down, and it was then that Jack finally saw a glimmer of his old buddy. He cleared his throat and offered a smile of his own, reaching for some kind of normalcy.

The two men stared at each other for several long moments, and then Jack shrugged. "You look like s.h.i.+t."

Brett laughed. A full-on laugh that lit up his wife's face. "You look as pretty as ever," Brett replied before his eyes moved past Jack to Donovan. "And keeping some interesting company. My wife insists we've met before, but I don't think I'd forget that. So nice to meet you Donovan."

"Likewise," Donovan answered softly.

Morgan tugged on his leg again. "Is she your girlfriend?" The little eyebrows were drawn together tight. "You tolded me at Christmas that I was your bestest girlfriend."

Donovan moved past Jack and took a moment to smile down at Morgan. "Don't worry darlin', Jack is all yours." She then marched up the steps with Coco and paused in front of Brett.

"Thanks so much for opening your home to us this evening. I hope you don't mind that we brought this little critter. He belongs to Jack you know, and Jack just can't go anywhere without him."

Brett laughed again. "You're full of s.h.i.+t."

"I am," Donovan answered with a big grin.

Morgan took that moment to tug on Jack's cargos. "That's a bad word, isn't it, Uncle Jack?"

"Sure is," he replied, eyes on the three adults above him.

"Mommy's gonna make Daddy put a fiver in the swear jar."

"Is she now," Jack said, scooping up his little friend before making his way to the stairs so that he could join everyone else on the deck.

Brett turned and offered his hand and the frailty of him hit Jack like a punch to the gut. He gave his wine to Sabrina, set down his favorite little girl and engulfed his buddy in a hug meant for men. It was quick and hard and jam packed with emotion.

"Glad you're here," Brett said, voice gruff.

"Yeah," Jack replied. "Me too. I would have come sooner if I'd known."

"Trust me, sooner wasn't good. I know it's hard to believe, but I look a h.e.l.l of a lot better now than I did a few weeks ago."

Jack tried to smile and knew he probably failed. "You look good."

"You're as full of s.h.i.+t as your girlfriend."

"Okaaay," Sabrina said, drawing out the word in a drawl. "If we could stop the man-love for a moment, maybe Jack could start the salmon on the grill? I've already got it seasoned and wrapped in foil. While you get that done, I'll grab us all a gla.s.s of wine?"

Jack nodded. "Sure thing."

"Good," Sabrina said lightly, her dark eyes touching each and every one of them. "It's a full moon tonight and that means all sorts of things can happen. Let's make some memories, shall we?"

Chapter Sixteen.

"Dinner was lovely," Donovan said as she brought in the last of the cutlery from outside.

Brett and Sabrina's cottage was a lot more rustic than the Simons', but it had a charm that was undeniable. Even the big old moose head above the fireplace somehow fit among the mish mash of furniture and throws. With the knotted oak cabinets painted a washed out white, worn hardwood floors, and shabby chic look, the place looked as if it was truly lived in.

Donovan loved it.

"Thank you," Sabrina said, stowing the last of the plates in the dishwasher. "The salmon is easy to make. Just a bit of brown sugar and lime zest-"

"Lime zest?"

Sabrina gave her a WTF look and Donovan burst out laughing. "Um I don't cook, so you might want to pa.s.s that info along to Jack."

Sabrina leaned against the counter and reached for her gla.s.s of wine. "You don't cook at all?"

"Nope," Donovan answered with a smile. "Let's just say cooking isn't my forte. I can make soup out of a can, and that's about it. Even then there's always the chance I could burn it because trust me, I've never met a kitchen that didn't somehow manage to make me look like a fool."

"Well, cooking's not for everyone, that's for sure." Sabrina drained the last of her wine and reached for the bottle on the counter. After pouring herself some more, she eyed Donovan in a way that made her nervous.

"You don't enjoy wine?" she asked.

s.h.i.+t. This woman didn't miss a thing.

"I do," Donovan answered. "Now and again." No point in denying anything.

"Uh huh," Sabrina said, a slow grin taking hold as she took another sip. "Just didn't feel like wine tonight?"

"Nope," Donovan answered lightly. "Not tonight."

Morgan had followed Donovan inside, and she pulled herself up onto the chair and set her elbows down on the counter. Her long dark hair was pulled back into two ponytails that hung in spirals down her shoulders, and those big eyes were settled on Donovan.

"Are you and Uncle Jack going to get married?" Morgan pouted, and Donovan had to hide a grin because the little girl was being so darn serious. Her crush on Jack wasn't hard to miss.

"Sweetie, that ain't happening."

"Ain't isn't a real word, you know. My kindie teacher taught me that because I used to say it all the time."

"Kindie?" Donovan glanced at Sabrina.

"Kindergarten."

Right.

"Are you his girlfriend then?" Morgan's blue eyes were wide as she stared up at Donovan. "You're pretty, and my daddy likes you. You made him smile when you started talking that funny way."

Donovan had laid on her Arkansas tw.a.n.g heavy, telling a few jokes that had Brett nearly in stiches.

"I'm glad your daddy found me funny."

"Me too," Morgan said, her expression serious, her voice softer. "He's sick you know."

Hot tears spiked the corners of Donovan's eyes, but she managed to keep them at bay and nod at the little girl. "I do," she answered simply, glancing over to Sabrina who was dabbing at her eyes and suddenly very busy pouring in the detergent so that she could run the dishwasher.

"Mommy, do I have to have a bath tonight?"

Sabrina cleared her throat. "You do and you might as well head in now. Do you want me to come and run it for you?"

"Nope. I'm a big girl, Mommy. I can do it. I know to only fill it to the line. Can I take Barbie in with me?"

"Sure honey. I'll be in to check on you in a bit."

Donovan watched Morgan skip across the room and disappear, those little spiral ponies bouncing behind her. She blew out a long breath, aware that in just a few minutes, things had changed. No longer were the vibes light and confortable. They were big and heavy and full of sad things. They broke Donovan's heart.

"He tries so hard you know? To act as if things are okay. As if they're going to be okay." Sabrina said, swirling the red wine in her gla.s.s and watching it as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. "Brett does it for the kids. For me. For him. I can't imagine being that strong all the time."

"He loves you guys so much. I think it's easier for him to be strong for you all then to dwell on...on his..." Donovan faltered, not knowing how to continue.

"He's terminal," Sabrina whispered, eyes s.h.i.+ny with unshed tears as she shuddered. "As of a month ago. They just can't do anything more."

"I'm so sorry." What else did you say when confronted with that sort of thing? I'm sorry didn't seem to be enough, but it was all she had.

"Thank you," Sabrina said softly. "I've had him for over ten years and..." She shrugged, her smile sweet and filled with sorrow. But there was something else there. Something strong and light and full of love. "I wouldn't trade ten years of wonderful for a lifetime of mediocre. I just wouldn't. Not even if back then I knew this was coming at me."

She blew out a long breath and took a sip of wine. "There are people that will never know or experience what I've had with my husband. They settle, you know? For money or comfort. Sometimes they settle because they're just too d.a.m.n lazy or they're scared of being alone. None of them will ever know what it feels like to experience the kind of love that you can't describe, because there're no words for it. They won't know unless they take that chance, and I feel sorry for the ones that don't. The ones that settle or the ones that don't even try."

Sabrina tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and smiled through her tears. "Sure I feel sorry for myself sometimes. I sink low, real low. But then I look at my children, and I know that I'll always have Brett with me. I'll always have our memories."

Donovan didn't bother to wipe away her tears. This woman, a woman she barely knew, had managed to burrow inside Donovan. To make her feel and think about things she didn't want to.

She was one of the ones Sabrina should feel sorry for.

"You're so strong," Donovan said softly.

"I'm blessed," Sabrina replied, giving her head a shake. "And apparently a total downer. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to spill all of that on you."

"Don't worry about it. The spilling. It's all good."

Sabrina glanced at the now empty bottle of wine and then drained her gla.s.s. "I guess we're out."

Just then the door swung open and Brett shuffled in with Jack a few paces behind. Harry ran past all of them, yelling something about his Spiderman. Brett looked tired, but that didn't diminish the power of his smile when he spied his wife.

Donovan's heart melted. It unraveled into a million pieces, and the hurt that replaced it was intense. She had that once. That love.

Jack's eyes were on her, and she swallowed hard at the look in them. They were empty. There was nothing there. At least nothing that he was willing to share with Donovan.

"We should go," Jack said, helping his buddy over to a chair.

Sabrina joined Brett, her hands automatically rubbing his shoulder as she bent low and kissed him on the cheek.

"I expect to hear you sing tomorrow," Brett said, his voice a little wobbly and weak.

Donovan nodded and walked over to Jack. "For sure. Sounds good."

"Okay," Brett said, his eyes on Jack. "You'll get my kids out on the water?"

"Got it covered." Jack's hand was on her elbow. "We'll see you guys in the morning."

Donovan let Jack lead her outside, and she turned her face to the sky, drinking in the moonlight and the millions of stars that blanketed it.

"Watch your step," Jack said gruffly when she stumbled over a knotted root from one of the trees that lined the path.

They trudged back to the boathouse and then up the steps that led to Jack's cottage in silence, Coco following in their steps, the dog unnaturally quiet. Donovan supposed the little creature sensed how somber the mood had gotten, and she was more than happy to settle into silence.

Once inside, Jack crossed over to the bar and scooped up a bottle of scotch and nothing else. He turned without a word and headed back into the night.

For the longest time, Donovan stood alone in the middle of the great room with Coco panting at her heels. She was so messed up. Sad and scared and, well, she was also mad as h.e.l.l.

She was mad at everything.

She glanced up at her room, the one that was farthest away from Jack's, the silence of the room weighing on her like a stone.