Today was the day that Jordan came home. Jacque was filled with excitement and anticipation. The road had been long and full of unexpected bumps but today was the day that Jordan’s life would actually begin. The last few weeks Jacque had done some research on Keegan and knew that he would be going into drug rehab. Jacque had already started to put his plan into full swing. After Jordan was safe and sound under his roof Jacque would go and see Keegan and tell him how things were going to be. Jacque would make him sign off all parental rights to Jordan.
All these thoughts zipped through Jacque’s mind as he sat and waited for Dianna to finish off all the discharge papers. Bella sat in her car seat in the chair next to Jacque as she cooed and smiled as if she knew today was the day she and her brother would be reunited. Jacque placed a hand on Bella’s stomach and she immediately grabbed it. Jacque beamed a smile toward her as she tried to pull his hand toward her mouth.
The sound of the double doors opening made Jacque jump to his feet. A look of surprise crossed his face as he saw Dianna struggling with the car seat and a portable breathing machine. Jacque immediately rushed to help her carry him.
“I didn’t know he was going to have to come home with that… that thing.” Jacque told her with disdain.
“It’s not something that was planned Jacque. It’s just a precautionary measure to make sure he doesn’t wind up back here.” Dianna told him meekly.
Jacque just nodded and quickly grabbed Bella’s car seat as well. When Dianna started to protest Jacque just put a hand up to silence her. Things had been going well between them lately. They had even begun to get back to the way they were before the whole Keegan incident. Jacque wasn’t sure if she actually still loved him or she was just pretending for his sake as well as the kids. For now Jacque would accept it either way. He loved Dianna and he probably always would. As far as trusting her went he had no choice but to. She never went anywhere with out him now and while he was out of town his brother Gerard and his wife were constantly checking up on her.
With the two bundles buckled safely into the backseat they headed towards home. They rode in silence except for the occasionally coo from either Bella or Jordan. They seemed to have their own way of communicating which made both Jacque and Dianna smile.
When they pulled up in front of the house the interior decorators were still there putting the finishing touches on the house that Dianna had wanted. Since things had been going well between them Jacque and Dianna had started sharing a room. The second bedroom Jacque had built was converted into a nursery for Bella and Jordan. When they were older another room would be added on to the house so each child had a room of their own.
When they entered the house Jacque immediately headed toward the nursery to make sure everything was in place. The shag burgundy carpet had just been shampooed. The walls were painted cream and airbrushed on them were all of the Winnie the Pooh characters as babies. On opposite walls were two solid oak cribs with mobiles attached to them. Between the two cribs was a changing table that held all the necessities. Next to each crib were matching cherry stained rocking chairs. Jacque stood there with a small smile on his face absorbed in thoughts of the future.
He saw himself holding and rocking one child as Dianna tended the other. Next he saw two toddlers chasing each other around the room squealing in delight. He was ripped back to reality as Dianna’s hand touched his shoulder.
“Both the babies seem kinda tired Jacque. I could use some help changing them and laying them down if you don’t mind.” Dianna says softly.
“No problem.” Jacque says simply.
After they fulfilled their parental duties they sat on the couch and tried to figure out how they were going to find out what rehabilitation facility Keegan was going to be in. A few minutes after they had sat down though Bella had begun to cry. Dianna immediately hopped up and went to her leaving Jacque to plot and plan for himself. His mind began chasing itself with everything that had to be done within the next week. In just a few short days he was to face off against Joshua Kosidlo, mentor and friend of Keegan O’Conner. He needed to focus but his mind spun like a top.
Jacque stood up and began to pace the floors. He reached for his keys on the end table and almost headed out the door. He stopped dead in his tracks when he realized things were different. There were two children here now. He had to keep his cool and his wits about him.
“No more trips to the local pub for me.” Jacque thought to himself.
He knew he needed something to slow down the pace of his mind and nothing did that like a double shot of rum with a splash of coke to take the edge off. Granted he hadn’t been drinking as much as he used to but he still craved the taste when his mind chased itself.
As Jacque stood there and tried to talk some sense into himself the phone rang. He nearly jumped out of his skin as he snatched the phone up to his ear.
“Hello?”
“Hi Jacque. It’s Keegan.” The voice responded.
Jacque didn’t know why the hell he called after all this time but he was actually glad that he didn’t have to track him down now.
“What do you want?” Jacque asked snidely.
“Listen I just wanted to call and tell you that I got Dianna’s message.” Keegan told him with defeat in his voice.
“Well now is a fine time to return her call you ass. Do you know what that kid went through?” Jacque exploded.
“No… I…”
“That’s right you don’t. I was the one that was there for him through everything. I am the one that sat with him for days to make sure he was going to be all right. Ya know man you don’t even deserve to be a father.” Jacque spat.
“Ya know Jacque. You’re right. I don’t deserve to be a father right now. Hell I can’t even take care of myself.” Keegan told him.
Jacque’s jaw dropped from the shock. “I… I… So does that mean if I brought you papers you would sign off all parental rights?”
“Hell no…. I never said that. I said I don’t deserve to be a father right now. That don’t mean I am just going to let you take my son from me you Canadian jackass.” Keegan retorted.
“If you don’t do as I want Keegan I will make your life a living hell. I know about your past Keegan. I know that you killed someone. If you think any judge is going to give a baby to a murdering drunken druggie then you are sadly mistaken.” Jacque told him sternly.
“How the hell did he find out about my past?” Keegan wondered aloud.
“It don’t matter how I found out. All that matters is that I know. I will use it to my advantage and you know I am just the vindictive bastard to do it. Jordan is MINE! You will never be anything more than a sperm donor.” Jacque told him bluntly.
“We’ll just see about that Jacque. I know Dianna will never let any of this happen.”
“HA! Dianna is the one that told me about your dirty deeds Keegan. She doesn’t want you anywhere near Jordan.”
“That can’t be true” Keegan murmured.
“It is the truth and nothing but the truth. If you know what is good for you, you will just sign the damn papers and leave things be. Because come hell or high water I will NEVER let you take Jordan from me. You have already destroyed my life once. You will not do it again.”
Before Keegan could respond Jacque slammed the phone down and Dianna came rushing out of the nursery.
“What the hell was that all about Jacque?” She asked concerned.
“It was Keegan and I told him how things were going to be whether he liked it or not.” Jacque told her through clenched teeth.
“Did you at least find out where he was?” She asked.
“No but the number is on the caller ID.”
“You have done enough Jacque. If he doesn’t call in the next day or two I will call him and I will straighten this all out.” She told him with fire in her eyes.
“I will not have him ruin my family again Dianna.” Jacque seethed.
“Don’t worry. I will handle this. Just trust me.” She said and spun on her heels heading back to the nursery.
Trust her. That would be a tough thing for him to do. He knew that if he wanted to make things work, to have an actual family, he would have to trust her. Jacque decided that he would let her do this her way now. He needed to focus on Kosidlo as hard as it was going to be. It was either focus or have his face beat in.
Jacque headed toward the nursery and poked his head in the door. “Dianna…”
She turned to look at him but didn’t say a word.
“Just do me one favor ok. Wait for me to get back from New York before you do anything. I don’t want you to have to do any of this on your own. Please promise me you wont go to see him with out me.”
“I promise Jacque.”
Hopefully within a weeks time Jordan would actually be his. Then they could all be one big happy family. A family that he had always longed for.