Life would have to change quicker than any of them realised.
Not only would the household have to get used to having two extra adults under the roof, they now also had to cope with the pain of loss. Jack and Sarah were the first two awake, and they expected to find their father watching the TV as usual. Instead, there was just silence, the main room empty and devoid of life. They both crossed to the refrigerators and grabbed some leftovers for breakfast, eating in silence until Jack finally spoke up.
Jack: “You ok, sis?”
Sarah: “…yeah. Better than I expected, actually.”
Jack: “Those drinks Mom made really did help, didn’t they?”
Sarah: “Yep.”
Jack: “Listen. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”
Sarah: “It’s ok. I had my little outburst at university, remember? You needed to have yours… and besides, Kerry helped.”
Jack: “I’m glad. So I don’t have to worry about you going off the rails again then?”
Sarah: *chuckles* “Not this time. There will be crying, but no spray painting.”
Jack: “Cool. I don’t want to have to explain to Mom why you’re in jail.”
As for Anna, she’d woken up, snuck around the side of the house after seeing Sarah and Jack talking, and slipped upstairs to her room. She popped open the laptop and smiled very softly. Today, she was going to start on a new book, a romance book based entirely on her experiences with Wayne.
She felt it was a fitting memorial in a way. Sarah also started a new book, though she was opting to write Sci-Fi instead. People blowing up aliens with lasers and stuff seemed like a really good idea.
Jack went upstairs to work out a bit. He thought that throwing himself into something physical might help to take his mind off the grief... good thing he had the day off work!
As per usual, Kerry woke up later that everyone else. She didn’t know Wayne as well as them, so was less affected by the grief. While everyone else was doing things to keep their minds occupied, she worked on skills to help in her job. A tabcast was put on to help with her guitar skill, while she sat down at the piano and got some practice in.
Even with everyone doing their own things, they eventually ran into each other, though it was Jack and Anna whom met face to face first. Considering they hadn’t exactly parted on the best of terms, it was a bit of a tense situation.
Jack: “…mom?”
Anna: “What do you want?”
Jack: *sobs* “I’m sorry! I’m so, so, sorry.”
Anna: “Shhh. Come on, its okay.”
Jack: “No, it’s not! I shouldn’t have-“
Anna: “Jack. You apologised. It’s okay. Grief makes people do odd things… and I’m sorry for how I reacted as well.”
Jack: “…those drinks really helped, you know.”
Anna: “Sorrow Annihilators are good at that.”
Jack: “Where did you learn to make those?”
Anna: “Remember I told you my brother died?”
Jack: “Yeah.”
Anna: “Well… at the time we lived in a pretty big house, and it had a bar. That was a rough day. His wife, Lois, died and then he went within seconds after she did. I don’t think Grim even had time to leave the house.”
Jack: “That’s… pretty rough.”
Anna: “Yep. So I went to the bar and I drank juice until I passed out. At some point during that… I learnt to make Sorrow Annihilators.”
Jack: “They numb the pain without getting you juiced. It’s… odd.”
Anna: “Works though, doesn’t it? Look, right now I think you could do with a friendly face… someone outside the family. Why don’t you invite that girl over you keep chatting to?”
Jack: “Mika? You sure? I mean… everyone is still upset.”
Anna: “I’m sure. I think Sarah will understand and Kerry is doing fine from what I can hear.”
Jack: “Alright… thanks Mom.”
He really didn’t need much of a push to call up Mika and invite her over. Jack grabbed some food first so he wouldn’t be distracted by a rumbling stomach, and then got straight on his phone to see what she thought of the idea.
Mika: “Hey you! I didn’t expect you to call.”
Jack: “Why’s that?”
Mika: “With everything going on, I thought you’d be spending time with your family.”
Jack: “Everyone is dealing with their grief in their own ways. Anyway, this was Mom’s idea.”
Mika: “Sounds like your Mom knows you better than you think.”
Jack: “…she says you should come visit.”
Mika: “Oh! I can’t do that! Not right after you lost your Dad…”
Jack: “With how stubborn my Mom can be, I don’t think you want to be telling her no without good reason.”
Mika: “Well, if she’s sure, I’ll leave tonight and be there around 9 in the morning?”
Jack: “That works for me. I don’t have to be back in work for a couple of days.”
Mika: “Alright! I’ll see you then.” *click*
Meanwhile, Kerry got some late night requests for sing-a-grams, and came home to a really odd visitor.
Alien: “Greetings! Nice world you have here!”
Kerry: “Um… thanks?”
Since Mika was arriving the next day, Jack was up very early. He wanted to make sure the place was as clean as possible, and didn’t expect anyone else to do it. Sarah got up shortly after and simply ate her breakfast and then parked herself on the computer to carry on writing her book. Soon enough, 9am came and so did the expected visitor.
Jack: “Long time, no see.”
Mika: *giggles* “It’s only been 5 days, silly!”
Jack: “Well, it feels like longer.”
Mika: “Yeah, it does.”
Jack: “Go on in. I’m afraid both Mom and Sarah are waiting. I’ll get your bags.”
Normally, in this situation, it would be the mother waiting to greet her son’s girlfriend. Mika was actually quite lucky that she ran into Sarah first.
Sarah: “Hi there. You must be Mika.”
Mika: “Hi! I’m afraid I don’t know who you are, but I’d guess Sarah or Jack’s Mom.”
Sarah: “Well, you’re right there. I’m Sarah.”
Anna (from behind): “
I’m Jack’s Mom.”
Mika: “Wow! You look young enough for the pair of you to be sisters! Um… no offence.”
Anna: *chuckles* “None taken! Jack doesn’t shut up about you, y’know…”
Sarah: “By the watcher, if he uses his phone late at night once more while I’m trying to sleep, I
will flush it down the toilet.”
Mika: “Oh! I hope I haven’t caused any problems then.”
Jack *walks in, sees the group * “…aaaaaand I’m out. I’m so not getting involved with woman gossip.”
*all three chuckle or giggle*
Anna: “Be a gentleman and take Mika’s bags to your room… or the guest room… whichever you two would prefer.”
Mika: “Oh! I’m fine with his room if you and Jack are.”
Jack: “Alright Mom. I’ll take them up to my room then.”
The three chatted for a little while and seemed to get on quite well. Mika eventually went up to Jack’s room so they could catch up, while Anna went on one of the family PC’s to work on her book some more. Sarah decided to sit and watch TV, and Kerry eventually awoke and joined her.
Kerry: “Morning Sarah.”
Sarah: “…Kerry… it’s past mid-day.”
Kerry: “Only by 20 minutes!”
Sarah: “It’s still the afternoon!”
Kerry: “…that counts as morning for me…”
Sarah: “…you worry me sometimes.”
Kerry: “Only sometimes? Have you actually LIVED in this family? All of you worry me all the time!”
Anna *from computer* “Hey! I resent that remark!”
Kerry: “No, you
resemble that remark, Auntie Anna.”
Anna: “…shut up…”
Meanwhile, Jack and Mika were having fun! First stop was the Plumbob Pictures lot. They watched a lot of movies together while they were at university, and Jack thought it’d be nice for Mika to see where some of them were actually made.
And then the night was finished off with a trip to the bistro.
But it was when they got back to the house that things really got interesting.
Jack: “Looks like everyone is asleep.”
Mika: “Well, it is 1am. That’s… kinda to be expected.”
Jack: “Oh, in that case, Kerry will probably be coming home soon.”
Mika: “Party animal?”
Jack: “Really odd working hours.”
Mika: “…I think that’s an understatement.”
Jack: “Anyway, enough about Kerry. We won’t be disturbed… so…”
Jack: “Will you marry me?”
Mika: “What! When did you decide this?!”
Jack: “A couple of days ago. I was planning to invite you over soon, then intended to put it off because of Dad… so I guess you could say this is entirely my mother’s fault.”
Mika: “Well I hope she’ll be happy then, because my answer is yes!”
Unfortunately for the two love-birds, Jack had to go to work the next day, which let Mika have a little time to herself with Anna.
Mika: “Morning!”
Anna: “Hello Mika. Sleep well?”
Mika: “Yes, thank you. Did you?”
Anna: “Very well. Did you find breakfast alright?”
Mika: “I did… did you cook that?”
Anna: “Mmhmm. I’ve always done the cooking.”
Mika: “Wow! You’re good!”
Anna: “Thank you.”
Mika: “So… uh… I have something I need to tell you…”
Anna: “If it’s ‘I’m pregnant’ then now is a good time so I can have an extension built and dig out all the old baby stuff.”
Mika: “No! Well… not yet. Jack asked me to marry him and I said yes!”
Anna: “Ooooh! I’m getting a daughter-in-law!”
Mika: “Yep!”
Anna: “Well congratulations! Say… I’m thinking of going to the day spa with Sarah today. Do you want to come?”
Mika: “I think I’ll give it a miss, but do you mind if I read?”
Anna: “Not at all, go right ahead!”
And so that’s what happened. Anna and Sarah treated themselves to the most expensive day spa packages, since they’d been working hard on their books… or they would have if the staff didn’t recognise both of them and let them have the treatment on the house! Mika sat and read a handiness book, since she wanted to learn to fix things. Kerry was out working all day… again… and Jack eventually came home. Him and Mika chatted over food and then went outside to enjoy the night air.
Jack: “Let’s do it.”
Mika: “Uh… romance?”
Jack: “What? No! Not that! …not yet anyway. I mean get married.”
Mika: “What? Here?”
Jack: “Why not?”
Mika: “Wouldn’t your Mom be mad for not having a party and all?”
Jack: “Her and Dad got married at the winter festival. I don’t think she can really complain.”
Mika: “Well… alright then. Shouldn't we have vows or something though?”
Jack: “Do we need them? I love you and I never want to let you go… I don’t think I need to say it, I just need to prove it.”
Mika: “…and I feel the same. I never want to let you go again, Jack Watkins.”
Jack: “I think that passes for vows, don’t you?”
Mika: “Definitely!”
The two newlyweds were pretty tired, so they decided to have an early night. Anna, Sarah and Kerry all eventually came home to a quiet house and Jack knew he’d have some explaining to do in the morning…
…and a honeymoon to plan for.
