The reds, gold’s and oranges of the beautiful foliage caught Jacque’s attention. Jacque had been a lot of places in his life but to him no place was more beautiful than upstate New York in the fall. The early morning sun spilled through the leaves projecting a fiery glow into his hotel room. Today was the day that he would go and talk to Keegan about signing over parental rights of Jordan. Jacque knew that Dianna would be upset that he was going with out her but he wanted to keep her and the children as far away from Keegan as possible. Jacque was no saint but he looked that way compared to the horrid facts of Keegan’s past.

Jacque yawned and stretched as he sipped from his morning coffee. He had two and a half hours before he was to go meet with Keegan so he decided to shower and relax his still aching body from the match he had a few days ago with Joshua Kosidlo. It was a grueling match that tested his limits and also made him see that Kosidlo was not the farce he had once thought him to be.

As soon as he stepped out of the shower his cell phone began to ring. The front display revealed that it was Dianna. He dropped his towel-clad body down on the edge of the bed and flipped open the phone. When he did there was the sounds of cooing babies instead of Dianna’s voice. Jacque’s heart swelled with glee.

“Hi my baby. Do you miss your daddy?” Jacque purred.

“Hi Jacque. Bella just had to hear her daddies voice this morning.” Dianna explained, “I wanted to see when you’re coming home.”

“I have something I need to take care of. I should be home later on this evening.” Jacque told her.

“You’re not going to see Keegan without me are you?” Dianna questioned raising her voice an octave.

“It’ll be best if I do this myself. I don’t want you or the kids within ten feet of that psycho.”

“But…”

“There’s no but about it Dianna. I need to do this for my own piece of mind. I need to know that you and the kids are safe and sound there in Georgia while I talk to him.” Jacque told her firmly.

“I could get someone to watch the kids while we go together.” Dianna said trying to reason with him

“This is a battle you’re not gonna win Di. Just let me do this and I will be home with the signed paper by tonight.” Jacque stated. “Don’t worry about it. I will get that paper signed. Give the kids a kiss for me and I will see you all tonight.

Jacque hung up the phone before she could respond or put up any more of a fight on the matter. He dressed quickly in a pair of dark blue jeans and a plain white T-shirt. He pulled the strap of his overnight bag over his shoulder, grabbed his keys and was on his way. He slipped into the driver’s seat of his rental car and headed in the direction of the rehab facility that Keegan was in. Jacque had spent half the night driving so he could get as close to Hutchings Psychiatric Center in Syracuse as he could.

When Jacque first heard the name of the facility he thought it was fitting that he was in a psychiatric center. With all the things that Jacque had knew about his past that, in his opinion, it was the best place for him to be.

After an hour and a half of driving Jacque pulled up along side of a brick building that was surrounded by fencing. The grounds were neatly cared for but despite the beautiful weather there was no one roaming the grounds. Jacque entered the building and headed for the receptionists desk. Jacque was warmly greeted by an overly enthusiastic red head that headed him in the direction of where Keegan was waiting for him.

Jacque entered the lounge area where Keegan sat at a round oak looking table. There were a few others in the room with him. Some of them paced the floor and talked to themselves while the others just sat and rocked in their chairs like someone coming down from a bad drug binge.

Keegan looked like death warmed over. His hair was disheveled and his face was covered with a scraggly beard. Jacque pulled up a chair directly across from him but Keegan didn’t even notice he was there until Jacque spoke.

“Keegan?” Jacque asked feeling a little sorry for him.

Keegan jumped a mile and then shook the cobwebs from his mind. “Hi Jacque. I wanna make this as quick as possible. Just gimme the damn papers and I will sign them.”

Jacque’s jaw dropped in complete astonishment, “Are you sure? I mean I’m not knocking the fact but I thought you would put up more of a fight over this.”

Keegan just stared at him blankly, “Why fight Jacque? I know I am not capable or worthy of being a father. I know this is something that you wouldn’t expect from me but in a situation like this you’re more of a man than I am.”

Jacque stared at him blankly and pulled out the papers, “Are you actually… ya know… fit to sign these.”

“Damn man, I am not a whacko like most of these people. I am just here to clean up my act. I am completely aware of what I am about to sign.”

Jacque pulled out the papers and pushed them across the table to Keegan. Keegan signed them without a bit of hesitation. Jacque stood and so did Keegan, with a nod both men walked away from each other. Jacque looked back at him and seen that he was just the shell of a man he once knew. Fearing that Keegan might change his mind, Jacque folded the papers up and put them in his back pocket and almost ran for the front doors.

Jacque’s Home
Atlanta, GA
11:30 PM

Jacque busted through the front door and ran toward the bedroom. Dianna lie sleeping with a novel opened across her chest. Jacque walked up to her and placed a soft kiss on her right cheek. Her eyes slowly fluttered open and a smile spread across her full pink lips. She sat up in the bed and looked at Jacque intently. Jacque slowly pulled the papers from his back pocket and she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as tears rolled down her cheeks.

“How… how did you get him to sign them?” She asked through her joyous tears.

“He volunteered to do it. I don’t know how or why but I thank God that he did.” Jacque said pulling her back to kiss her softly.

After all the tears of happiness were shed Jacque headed toward the nursery. He slowly slipped in and seen his two little cherubs fast asleep. Both of their heads were now taking on their mother’s hair color and curls. Jacque first placed a kiss atop Bella’s head. She wiggled and a small smile played upon her lips. He then turned to Jordan, sweet, sweet Jordan. As much of a struggle as he had when he was born he turned out to be a very strong baby. His breathing machine was neatly tucked under his crib, as were the tubes. He hadn’t needed the machine in close to a week now but the doctors insisted that they kept in close by.

Jacque placed a hand on Jordan and leaned over the crib rail placing a kiss on his rose colored cheek. His eyes fluttered open and he locked eyes with Jacque letting out a small whimper. Jacque picked him up and sat in the nearby rocking chair. Jordan snuggled close to him and fought sleep.

“You’re my son now. Daddy made sure that no one would ever take you from mommy and me. You will be able to be with your sister for the rest of your life.” Jacque told him as a tear slid down his cheek.

Jordan just looked up at him with those wide innocent eyes and drifted back off to sleep. Jacque laid him back down and quietly left the nursery. As soon as the nursery door closed the telephone rang.

“Who the hell?” Jacque thought but the ringing stopped as soon as he reached the phone.

Dianna came barreling out of the bedroom with a terrified look in her eyes. Jacque knew that something was wrong and took the phone from her.

“I hate to call at this time of night Jacque, but something isn’t right with mom.” His younger brother Gerard told him.

“What the hell do you mean something isn’t right? Don’t you know if something is wrong? She is your mother too.” Jacque exclaimed.

“She has been talking to dad all day man. I keep telling her that dad isn’t here but she insists that he is.” Gerard told him.

“What the hell man. Did she have her medication?” Jacque asked as he raked his fingers through his hair.

“Yeah… she just doesn’t act right man. She’s been staying in her room all the time and sleeping a lot.”

“Give her one of her sleeping pills and call the doctor. I don’t care what the fuck time it is just do it. Tell him she needs to be seen first thing in the morning.” Jacque dictated, “I will be there first thing in the morning. There isn’t much we can do tonight.”

With that they both hung up and Jacque started to pace the floors. Jacque knew what was coming and he didn’t want to face the facts. He knew that his mother was dying but he needed her. She was always his strength. Jacque heard his father’s voice resonate inside his head. “Boy, you’re a man now. Deal with things like a man not like a child. Your mother’s time to come back to me is approaching and you need to make things right.”

“Make things right. What the hell was that supposed to mean,” Jacque thought. He had done everything that he was supposed to do. He did it all legally. “Ahhh the hell with it. I must just be over tired and mentally exhausted.” He rationalized.

Jacque undressed and climbed into bed next to Dianna who was already fast asleep again. Tomorrow he would deal with these new problems but for tonight he would sleep. Sleep slipped over Jacque like a thick black veil but it would not be a peaceful sleep. It would be a sleep invaded by his fathers words, “You need to make things right.”