Jack Who? (Book 1 Draft Version)

PART TWO~CHAPTER : 1

♪♫••═════ PART TWO~CHAPTER : 1  ═════••♬ ♭

 “Text me, the second you get there! And call me asap?” Olivia's eyes shimmered and I was sure mine were too as we stood on the tiny porch of my home hugging.

The new luggage Jack had surprised us with, strained at its seams and lined the hallway just inside the front door, Since Jack hadn't been able to find a set in any one of Tristan's favorite themes, Tristan had ended up with a variety; a rolling hotwheels duffel, a bandit backpack, and a rolling scooby backpack.

Jack appeared, bustling at high-speed, the mode he had been in all morning, and grabbed up all three of Tristan's bags before shouldering around Olivia and me with a grin. The smile had rarely been off his lips in the last hours, and I knew he was anxious to be back in LA, and just as anxious to have us there with him.

Us. A word I was still not used to, even though I had dreamed of it for so long. He bent, slightly shuffling his own bags in the trunk of the rental to make room for ours, and when I finally tore my eyes from the molded pockets of his jeans, I found a broad smile had joined Olivia's teary countenance.

“I'm so happy for you Rissa. Gosh what am I going to do without you guys, without my little guy?” Olivia had spent a quarter of an hour saying her goodbyes to Tristan, while showing him how to use the new drawing app she downloaded for him on his tablet.

“I will take good care of 'em,” Jack promised, having walked by in time to hear her mournful words, and he even paused to pull her into a light hug. Olivia actually blushed and had to rivet her own gaze from him as he bent for more luggage. This time I was the one who smiled knowingly. Liv might be married, but who could be immune to Jack?

“And you take care of my dog.” I told Olivia. Bally would be joining us in California within the next couple of weeks, but until then the dog was boarding with Liv. Tristan had spent a day with Olivia picking out new toys for Bally, and adding them to the rest of the lab's things at the home away from home.

Watching Tristan's face at the airport was as exhilarating as the upcoming trip. I had only flown once before, but this experience was vastly different from the get go. Jack turned off of the main terminal access road and almost immediately, small jets became visible on the tarmac and inside open hangers.

“Do you see hanger numbers?” He inquired, squinting through the windshield. “We are looking for forty-five, but I don't see numbers...”

“There!” I pointed to a metallic eleven glinting in the sunlight.

“Do you have a passport?” Jack inquired as we rolled closer to the designated number.

“Do I need one?!” Airport security was ever-changing and I panicked thinking requirements possibly had changed for domestic flights.

“You will need one.” He answered, stressing the 'will' with a curve of his lips. “And Tristan too. We have ten Europe dates on this next tour.”

Parking the car in front of hanger forty-five, he popped the trunk, and hopped out. Jack hoisted Tristan, piggy-back style, before grabbing as much luggage as he could carry. I followed suit and we headed to the tiny entrance in the back of the hanger.

Before we closed the distance, the door burst open and Jack's father, wearing a broad grin, advanced on us. Quick greetings were exchanged and he gallantly insisted on divesting me of my load, leaving only the messenger bag hanging on my shoulder. Inside, Jack deposited Tristan on a chair next to his mom, and the men went out for the rest of the things.

“Hi Marissa,” Jack's mother greeted, and pulled Tristan into a warm hug. “And hello Tristan. Are you ready to fly today in an airplane?”

Tristan was quickly sugared up with a kiss or two from this new grandmother, as well as powdered donuts and hot chocolate. Watching the two of them, I threw away the hot chocolate packages and filled myself a cup with the hot water, and dumped in a package of instant coffee.