Second Chances

Questionable faithfulness

Matthew walked into the house determined to demand answers, but once he saw Alanna’s worried face, he became scared of losing her. Matthew rushed to Alanna and hugged her. He could smell Jack on her. Matthew’s eyes filled with tears. He imagines Alanna in Jack’s hands and his heart can’t handle it.

Alanna saw how to destress Matthew was and decided that the best thing was to tell him the truth. Alanna said, “Matthew, I need to tell you something.” Matthew shushes her, “I don’t want to know what happened, just please don’t do it again.” Alanna caressed Matthew's face and told him, “we only kissed but nothing else.” Matthew looked into Alanna’s eyes and said, “promise me that you won’t kiss him again. Promise me that you won’t leave me.” Alanna felt guilty and, to make Matthew feel better, she promised him that she wouldn’t be unfaithful to him again.

Matthew kissed her desperately. He began to undress her. Alanna didn’t feel comfortable with his desperation to have her after finding out that she kissed Jack, but went along with it to help him feel better. Matthew made love to Alanna in the living room. Alanna let him finish and then went to the bathroom to take a shower. She felt dirty. She took a long shower and then went straight to bed. Matthew went to bed later. He lay next to her caressing her back and watching her sleep. Alanna woke up and saw Matthew looking at her. She felt weird. She couldn’t understand how he had been so nice after she messed up.

The next day, Alanna woke up earlier than normal and rushed to the basement to call Jack. She had missed his call while sleeping. Normally, Matthew stays in bed longer while she works out. He prefers to work out at night. Alanna called Jack and he answered immediately with a sleepy voice, “Hello my love. This is early.” Alanna apologized for missing his call last night. Jack whispered, “ It is okay. I saw how upset Matthew was.” Alanna didn’t want to talk about Matthew, so she changed the conversation, “How did the surgery go?” Jack continued whispering, “It went well. I have him on my chest right now.” Alanna sighed, “Hunter is one lucky baby.” Jack laughed quietly. Alanna took a deep breath, thinking about how much she liked lying on Jack’s chest. Jack didn’t hear anything and asked, “Are you there?” Alanna replied, “Yes I’m here. I was thinking.” Jack licked his lips and asked, “About what?” Alanna shook her head and said, “nothing. I’m happy that Hunter is doing well. I have two funerals to plan today, but I’ll try to pass by the hospital before I go to the funeral home.” Jack whispered softer, “ OK, thank you.”

Alanna worked out like she normally did. Then she made two milkshakes and went upstairs to say bye to Matthew. Matthew was in the shower, so she opened the bathroom door and blew him a kiss. Alanna calls the daycare and tells Daisy that she won’t be in today. Alanna asked Daisy to take care of things while she was out. Then she called Carol and told her that she would be in shortly to begin organizing the funerals. Carol informed her that one of the officer’s bodies had already arrived and the other should arrive in an hour or two. Alanna thanked her for her efficiency and told her, “what would I do without you?”

The services for the two officers that died in the Main Street crash were going to take place at Alanna’s funeral home. They wanted to do them in the same building because most of the people that would attend one would be attending the other. Alanna hadn’t had two simultaneous services since she arrived, so she was a little nervous, but she knew that she could count on Carol to help her get everything together.

Alanna arrived at the Hospital and rushed out drinking her milkshake. She held her milkshake in one hand and Jack's milkshake in her other hand. A man saw her walking to the entrance and held the door for her. Alanna thanked him and continued to the front desk. The man that opened the door for her got in line behind her. When Alanna got in the elevator, the same man was there. The man asked Alanna who she was there to see? Alanna told him that she was there to see a friend’s baby. The man didn’t press any buttons on the elevator and came out of the elevator at the same time as Alanna.

Alanna noticed the man was looking at her, from top to bottom and was following her. She stopped and turned around outside Hunter’s room, and she told him, “Can I help you with something?” The man said, “I just wanted to know if you needed help.” Alanna then frowned and shouted, “I have been struggling the whole way here if you wanted to help you would have offered. Please go away and stop following women around.”

Jack opened the room door and peeked outside, “ Is everything okay, Alanna?” Alanna looked at him and smiled, “Some pervert is following me around.” Jack walked out of the door and took a look around angry, “Who was it?” Alanna pushed him inside the room with the cups in her hands and laugh, “I don’t need a guard dog.” Jack grabbed the cups off her hands and said, “who are you calling guard dog?” Alanna kept walking to Hunter’s crib. He was sleeping and all they could hear was the beeping of the vital machine and the air machine. Alanna caressed his feet and leaned closer to him. She whispered into Hunter’s ear, “You are a strong little guy. I’m so proud of you.” Jack stood still looking at Alanna. Alanna turned her face towards Jack and asked, “Can I kiss his forehead?” Jack smiled and said, “Go ahead but then you kiss me.” Alanna kissed the baby’s forehead and told him to stay strong. Then she turned toward Jack, grabbed her cup and told him, “Jack, what happened yesterday can never happen again. I promised Matthew that I would be faithful and I intend to do so.” Jack smiled and replied, “I was just playing. I feel bad for what happened yesterday. I would never want to do anything to mess with your relationship. I was in a dark place and kissing you helped me get through it.”

Alanna grabbed Jack's arm and said, “I’m happy to be here for you.” Jack placed his hand on top of Alanna’s and made the word thank you without a sound. Alanna then instructed him to drink his milkshake before it melted. Jack smiled and drank the milkshake.

Jack finished the milkshake and said, “God I miss this.” Alanna looked at him and took a deep breath. Jack continued talking, “I miss seeing you in the morning and drinking our milkshakes together after a good workout.” Alanna grabbed the cups and kissed the baby goodbye. Without saying a word, she walks towards Jack and places her hand on his chest. Alanna stared at him for a minute, then she said, “I miss you too, but now I’m with Matthew and he deserves my respect.” Jack stood still watching Alanna walk away quietly.

Alanna rushed to the funeral home. She had left her phone in the car. When she arrived at the funeral home and checked her phone, she found ten missed calls from Matthew. He left a message for each one. Alanna listened to all the ten messages. They all said the same thing, “Where are you? Call me back.”

Alanna called Matthew back and told him that she was going to be very busy today so she would call him later. Matthew apologized for all the messages and told her that he was just worried. Alanna ended the call and went straight to work.

The second officer’s body had arrived and the families were coming in half an hour. Alanna needed to prepare the books of samples to present them to the morning families. Planning a funeral was never easy. Alanna used her personal experience to ensure families were able to plan the perfect funeral for their loved ones.

Alanna was finishing getting everything together when the first family arrived. A young pregnant woman walked in by herself. Her eyes were bright red and swollen beyond what Alanna thought was possible. Alanna greeted the young lady and asked her if she was waiting for someone else.

The young woman slowly walked towards Alanna, holding her belly with one hand and cleaning her nose with a tissue with her other hand. Alanna helped her into her office and had her sit on one of the chairs in front of her desk. The young lady put her face down and began to cry, “No one else is coming. My husband's family never accepted me because of the color of my skin and I am an orphan. My husband is all I had.” The young woman began to cry louder. Alanna sat next to her and told her, “he is not all you had. He left you a little part of him.” Alanna rubbed the young woman’s belly and the young woman smiled, “We were planning to do a gender reveal party so he didn’t get to find out that we were having a baby boy.” Alanna grabbed the young woman’s hand and told her, “You will get through this for your baby boy.” The young woman grabbed Alanna’s hand and squeezed it. Then she said, “I don’t know what to do without him.” Alanna fixed the young woman’s hair behind her ear and told her, “ You carry on for your child. It will be hard at first, you will feel as if it will never stop hurting.” The young woman interrupted Alanna, “so this pain eventually goes away?” Alanna looked at the young woman’s eyes and told her, “It never goes away, but you learn to live with it, and eventually it just becomes part of you.” Alanna turned to the picture of her late husband and sight. Then she stood up, hugged the young woman and held her. Alanna held her while she cried.

After finishing with the young woman, Alanna felt drained. She began to think about Franco and how she thought that she wouldn’t be able to love again, but then she met Jack and everything changed. She realized that she was lucky enough to find love again and she was willing to let it go so easily. Alanna began to question her relationship with Matthew. She was with him only because she didn’t want to hurt him, but she was hurting him more by keeping him next to her instead of letting him go. Matthew deserved to find someone that loved him like she loved Franco and now loves Jack.

Alanna went home so late that Matthew was already sleeping. She quietly gets ready for bed. The next day, Alanna did as the day before but instead of going to see Hunter, she called Jack to check on the baby’s status. She knew that Jack never left his son's side, so she knew that he was stinky and hungry. He had Carol arrange for him a care package with clothes, hygiene products, and food. Then she arranges for his uniform to be picked up and taken to the dry cleaners.

In the middle of the day, Alanna received a call from Jack. His voice was cracking. Alanna became scared and asked him if everything was okay with Hunter. Jack told her, “Hunter is fine. He is breathing on his own today. Then Alanna asked him why he was sounding so sad then. Jack took a deep breath and tried to talk without crying, “Thank you, my love. You knew exactly what I needed.” Alanna smiled and told him, “You forget that I know you. I forgot how well I knew you for a while, but I realized that I was wrong.” Alanna could hear Jack sniffing as he tried to talk. Alanna told him, “I hope it helped.” Jack was able to put some words together, “You are amazing, I love you so much.” Alanna became quiet and Jack said, “I would let you work in peace now. Thank you.” Alanna responded, “Anytime.”

Late that afternoon, Alanna finished everything at work but didn’t want to go home. She looked at the computer. Jack's pictures were still on her screen. She stared at the pictures and an urge to hear his voice took over her. She grabbed her phone and, with no hesitation, she called Jack.

Jack answered the phone with a sleepy voice. Alanna apologized, “Did I wake you up?” Jack answered, whispering excitedly, “You can wake me up any time.” Alanna smiled and closed her eyes. She listened to Jack talk. Jack asked her, “Why are you still up?” Alanna responded it is not that late. I’m still at work.” Jack went to the bathroom and closed the door to be able to talk to Alanna without waking up Hunter. Then Jack asked, “Is everything okay?” Alanna sighed and answered honestly, “I just wanted to hear your voice.” Jack smiled. He didn’t know what to say. He had waited so long. She had told him that she loved him, but Alanna reaching out was a surprise for him.

Alanna took a deep breath and told Jack, “I was looking at the pictures on my computer, and felt like listening to your voice. I didn’t know how much I missed you until I saw you at the daycare that day.” Jack was in shock, “I can’t believe you still have me as your screensaver.” Alanna responded with a smile, “I haven’t been here in a while so… who am I lying to? I couldn’t erase your pictures. I love looking at those eyes and those delicious lips.” Jack laughed and asked, “be careful with what you say. Don’t get my poor heart excited, to then leave me hanging.” Alanna continued talking without paying any mind to Jack’s comment, “I miss your strong arms on my body and the smell of your skin, I miss your lips on my body.” Jack interrupted Alanna, “Oh baby don’t do this to me. I’m getting hard remembering your body naked on top of mine.” Alanna unzipped her pants and slid her hand inside. She took a deep breath as her fingers rubbed her wet warmth. Jack heard her breathing heavily and asked, “what are you doing, my love? Don’t play with yourself alone.” Alanna moans softly as she introduces two fingers inside herself. Jack rubbed himself over his pants. Then Alanna’s breathing became heavier and Jack asked her, “ Breathe on the phone, I want to hear you.” Alanna put the phone closer to her mouth as she rubbed herself faster. Jack exposed himself and began to rub his erection. Alanna heard Jack's breathing getting agitated, and she inserted the finger deeper inside. Alanna moans and Jack whispers, “come for me, baby.” Alanna rubs herself and moans into the phone until she tells Jack, “ Love, I’m coming. Come with me.” Jack strokes himself faster. They moan and grunt and suddenly they became quiet. All they could hear was their own heart. Jack asked, “are you still there my love.” Alanna moaned quietly, “yes!” Jack exclaimed, “I love you.” Alanna went quiet. Jack called out, “Alanna, Alanna are you there?” Alanna had hung up the phone.