Mending of the Heart: Jackie's Story

Chapter 15: A Trip Home

The first two year flew by in a blur for Jackie, she began courses in the fall and received good grades. Eric and her were so happy with school and life in general. They went home for the holidays as planned, but only stayed for a short period of time, due to their crazy course loads. She called home when she was able, had friends over when time allowed. But the summer going into their third year, a call came from home that brought reality crashing down on the happy couple...

As Eric hung up the phone, he had tears in his eyes. Jackie put her notebook and pen down on the coffee table and walked over to him. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him into a hug. "What's wrong love?" she asked.

When he got control of his sobbing, he looked up at her and said "my dad died."

"What? When?"

"They aren't sure yet. I guess he had another heart attack and my uncle went to visit today and found him. They are waiting for the official autopsy report, but it sounds like they will be having his funeral services sometime next week." Eric sighed.

"Then we will go home this weekend, to help with arrangements and what not."

"I can't believe he's gone." Eric said sitting down in an arm chair. "I talked to him on Sunday."

"It's going to be okay." Jackie replied rubbing his back. "Death can be so unexpected, but the important thing is we're in this together. You are not alone. I'm here for you like always." She knelt down in front of him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "We have finals the rest of this week, and then summer break starts. We can go home and take as long as we need to figure it out."

He looked up at her, she was so beautiful, always the level head in their relationship. He took a shaky breath, "What about our jobs?"

"A death in the family gives us both two weeks bereavement. Plus, we were planning a vacation anyways. We can go."

"Okay." He replied feeling the weight in his chest releasing a little. He visually relaxed as she reassured him that they could drop everything to help his family. "Thanks babe. What would I do without you?" He asked pulling her into a kiss.

"Just promise me one thing when we go back."

"What's that?"

"Keep talking to me. When you get upset, you tend to shut down, and we start fighting. I want to help you, not argue with you." Jackie stated.

"I will babe. We have both been under a lot of pressure this past month."

"It doesn't help that we are both suborn." Jackie smiled. "We got this like everything else. I will start packing Friday night after I get home from my exams. I know you'll be home later, so I'll order out for dinner."

"You are absolutely amazing." Eric replied pulling her onto his lap. "So, tell me, how was your day?"

"It was good. I joined a study group with some of my classmates, and feel more confident going into these finals." Jackie replied with a smile. "And an announcement was made that those with the highest final grade will be selected to join a firm on a case next semester."

"And if you do as good as you always do, you'll be selected, and next semester starts after the week of the fourth." Eric realized.

"I know, but going home and dealing with your father's affairs is more important to me. I need to be there for you in this time of need."

"We'll go do that and be back in time for you to participate. This is a huge deal." Eric insisted.

"Don't jinx it."

"I'm not, I know you, and I know your grades. We're in this together, babe." Eric kissed her lips for emphasis. "In the fall I start my third year, which means I'm going to be working in the hospital on crazy shifts."

"We have planned for this. Our third and fourth years are going to be tough, but we got this. Now, how about I order a pizza for dinner." Jackie explained standing up off his lap. He gave her a pouty face, and she just laughed. "We still need to continue studying, no distractions." She replied giving him a quick kiss on the lips.

"Oh, I think we can take a little break..." Eric gave her a smirk.

"Honey, give me like two more hours of study time and then I'll take a break with you." She promised going back to her seat on the couch. She picked up her phone and ordered them a pizza and got back to studying.

"Your right" Eric replied rubbing his face, "I spent enough time taking that call." With that he disappeared into the spare room where he has been studying for his test in the morning.

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On Saturday afternoon, they pulled up to Natalie's house. "Doesn't look like anyone is home," Eric observed. "Did you tell your mom we were coming today?"

"I told my dad." Jackie replied getting out of the car. "Come on, let's go get settled." They entered the empty house, and went upstairs to their old rooms.

"Babe, it looks like this is Jeffery's room now."

"Yeah, it looks like Sierra is in my room now." Jackie replied meeting him in the hall. "I guess the shed is where we'll be staying."

"Your dad didn't tell you that they moved rooms around?"

"I'm sure he figured my mom mentioned it. It's not a big deal. After all we haven't lived here in two years." Jackie explained giving him a quick kiss and taken his hand and leading toward the shed. "Besides, I really like having my man in the same room as me."

"Okay, once we get settled, we'll need to head to my dad's house. My uncle is meeting us there at three." Eric replied checking the time on his phone.

"Deal. We are here for your family and to help take care of your dad's affairs."

At three o'clock, Jackie and Eric headed toward town where he used to live. When they pulled into the driveway, a gold Toyota corolla was in front of the house. As they got out of Eric's car, and man came out of the house. He looked to be in his seventies with grey hair that was thinning on the top. "Hey, there's my nephew." The man said approaching Eric and giving him a hug.

"Hey uncle Bill. How are you holding up?" Eric asked.

"As good I as can be." Uncle Bill replied turning red in the face, "he was my baby brother. I told him he needed to stop drinking, but he was just so lost since your mom passed. When he had his first heart attack he started getting help for the drinking. But the damage to his heart was already done."

"I know. I'm here to help you." Eric comforted his uncle with a hug. "What can I do to help?"

"I've been cleaning up the house for now. I contacted his lawyer and life insurance policy companies. He's being transferred to the funeral home today. The memorial services will be on Monday and the funeral is on Wednesday. His lawyer has scheduled a meeting for Friday to read Phil's will." Bill recalled. "This is just, I can't believe he's gone. We were supposed to go to lunch that day. We planned it that Monday. I knew something was wrong when he didn't answer the phone when I called." Bill began to cry again.

"Neither of us can believe it." Eric whispered.

"I know he wasn't very nice to you when he was drinking, but it was the disease. He loved you so much, despite what he said when he was drunk. He was so proud that his boy was going to be a doctor." Bill continued.

"I know, we talked a couple times a week since he got sober." Eric replied. He was about to talk his uncle back into the house when he stopped. "I almost forgot." He turned around and grabbed Jackie's hand. "This is my girlfriend, Jackie. Jackie, this is my uncle Bill."

Jackie held her hand out, and Bill grabbed her into a bear hug. "Sorry, I'm a hugger." Bill said as she set Jackie back on her feet. "I hope my nephew is treating you well."

"Well enough." Jackie replied with a smile. "I keep him in line though."

Bill let out a hearty laugh. "Good to know. My brother told me his son got a good girl. It's nice to finally meet you."

"Like wise." Jackie said taking Eric's hand again. "Shall we go in?"

They went in and got to work cleaning what needed to be cleaned, and boxed up some of Phil's belongings. Bill asked them about how school was treating them, and about their plans for their future. He asked about their condo and how life was in Boston. By six o'clock, they headed out the door. "We will see you on Monday at the wake." Eric said as they exited. "Take care and don't hesitate to call if you need anything."

"You kids take care; I will see you on Monday." Bill said getting in his car.

Eric and Jackie got in their car and headed back to the old house. When they pulled in, Natalie's minivan was in the driveway as was Liam's car. They got out and headed into the house. The family was just about to sit down for dinner when the couple walked in the front door. Liam came out of the dining room, "there you two are. Your just in time for dinner. Come eat."

When they sat down at the table and enjoyed dinner. "Your dad forgot to tell you that we separated the kid's rooms since Christmas, so you'll have to stay in the man-cave. We put a spare bed up in the loft area so you guys won't need to sleep on the sofa." Natalie explained. "Hard to believe your going to be twenty-one this September."

"Time is truly flying by." Jackie smiled. "Eric's going to be twenty-two in August."

"How are you doing Eric? How's your uncle?" Natalie asked. "I'm glad you guys are home, but I'm sorry about the circumstances."

"I'm doing okay, my uncle Bill is dealing with it. He seems to have taken care of everything in my absents. I feel bad I couldn't make it home until now to help him." Eric replied. "I talked to him last Sunday, so it was a shock when I got the call on Wednesday."

"It happens so fast. Our loved ones always leave a hole, but time helps." Natalie soothed.

"I know, it was just sudden. He was doing well, got sober, and was going to the doctors as scheduled. I thought we had more time." Eric continued, emotions in his throat.

Jackie placed her hand on top of his. She gave his hand a squeeze in support. He smiled at her in response, and turned his hand over to hold hers. "That's the worst part of death... You never know when it's going to happen." Liam added.

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By the following Saturday, the services were complete, and the lawyer read off Phil's will. He left some money to Eric to put towards his schooling, and left his brother his house. Bill talked about selling the house and giving Eric the money for school as well. Jackie was there for moral support to help Eric through his tough time.

When they walked into the shed it was eight o'clock. Jackie was the first to sit down on the sofa and put her feet up. Eric followed suit. She turned on her computer and logged onto her school's website. She checked her grades and her email. Then she turned to Eric with a smile, "So, my grades were posted, and I got the offer to join the teacher's firm on a case."

"That's awesome, babe! I told you, you would get the offer." He said leaning over and giving her a kiss. "This is so exciting, and a wonderful opportunity for you."

"If I accept this offer, we begin the case in two weeks, and I will need to sign a confidentiality contract." Jackie explained.

"We'll head home sometime this week. Whenever you want to. This will help you get experience and potentially a job you want." Eric reassured her.

He took her laptop out of her hands and placed it on the end table behind her. He pulled her legs apart and moved closer. When he took her lips in his, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He slid his hands under her shirt and groped her breasts, causing her to moan in pleasure.

He moved his lips down her neck to her collar bone as he lifted her t-shirt off. "We need to take this to the bed." She whispered breathlessly in his ear. He moaned in agreement still kissing her neck. He stood up and pulled her to her feet. They climbed the stairs to the bedroom. She pulled him to her. "I love you," she said against his lips.

He pushed her onto the bed, causing her to giggle. He pulled off his shirt and covered her mouth with his. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He moved his hands up her legs under her skirt. In a quick movement, he pulled her panties off. He trailed his lips down her neck, gently grazing his teeth along her collar bone. Has his lips set fire to her skin, he moved his hands back up to her inner thigh kneading her muscles as he went. She let out a groan.

His fingers moved over her core and slipped inside her. "Damn, baby, your always so wet for me." He moaned against he breasts as he flicked her n****e with his tongue. He continued to please her until she was reaching her climax. "Are you going to come for me?" He whispered as he moved his thumb up and down her clit as her moans got louder.

"Eric!" she cried out as he pushed her into an orgasm. She pulled at a fistful of his hair as she came down from her climax.

"That's my girl. I want you to come again for me, with me." He sighed pulling his own pants off. She just nodded and pulled him back to her. He pushed into her causing her to moan in pleasure as she adjusted to his growth. He began to thrust into her with a need. He needed more; he wanted more of her. "You are so f*****g perfect... Tell me how it feels..." He said kissing her lips and pulling back so he can thrust deeper into her.

She cried out in pleasure as she thrusted deeper and harder. "You feel so good in me..." She whined as he picked up the speed.

Her moans grew louder, as she neared her climax again. "That's it baby, come for your man..." He groaned grabbing her hips firmly pulling her towards him as he pushed into her, "Come with me..." He said through his teeth as he pushed deeper into her. She cried out his name as reached her climax with him. She held onto him as the both came down from their height of pleasures.

He laid on his back and pulled her to him. She laid her head on his chest and he stroked her hair lost in thought. "I love you so much Jackie." He whispered. "Thank you for being here with me this week. You still remain a god send to me." He kissed the top of her head.

She just sighed with delight. "I love you. We support each other in everything. That's why we work so well." She said with a smile.

"Are you still planning on being with me forever?"

"Yes." She sighed.

"Even after everything?"

"Absolutely. We're in this together. Why are you asking now?" Jackie asked lifting her head off his chest and looking at him in the eyes. "Eric?"

"Things are going to be changing going into this year, and I worry. I know you've been doing a study group for classes, and I don't seem to have enough spare time for you. With my dad passing, I just worry I'm going to lose you." Eric answered. "I'm not going anywhere. We may have our ups and downs, but every couple has them. I told you before and I'll say it again, you are my past, present and future. You don't need to keep worrying that I'm going to leave you" Jackie said kissing him on the lips. "Besides, if I was going to leave you, I would have by now." She added with a chuckle.