The Senator's Twin Daughters

Chapter 5

The next day Jack is sitting at his desk staring out the window. Over and over again he hears Jackie's voice confirming that he is indeed the father of her twin daughters. He can't believe it he has not one but two little girls. Two little girls who don't even know of his existence. According to Jackie, they know her ex-husband to be their father. A thought that angers him slightly.

Yes, Jack, Caroline, and Arabella are your daughters,"  she says so calmly as if she just told him her favorite color. 

Jesus Christ Jackie, how could you not tell me that you were pregnant? He asks incredulously looking at her.

I tried Jack! I called your office for two weeks straight when I first found out. I left I don't know how many messages with Mrs. Lincoln trying to tell you that you're about to become a father, and for some reason, my calls were never returned. Hell, I even came to your office a couple of times to be told you weren't there. So after two weeks, I gave up. I figured you didn't give a damn so why should I keep trying. Then when they were born I tried calling your office, again and again, I didn't hear from you. I wasn't about to sit around and wait for you to call. You made it clear when you left my apartment what it was all about.

He looks at her and doesn't say anything. If anything he feels horrible.

He remembered Mrs. Lincoln telling him that Jackie had been calling. Like the coward he was, he never returned her calls or bother calling her to see what she wanted. He figured she was calling trying to plead for them to get back together. If only he had called her back.

"Jackie I'm so sorry," he says finally, "I've should've returned your calls. Do they know that I'm their father?"

"No, they don't know. They only know John as their father."

Just then his heart sinks.

"Jackie, I'm so sorry," he says again.

"It is what it is Jack, we can't go back and change the past..."

Finding out that he has two daughters has him feeling bad. He wasn't there for them, and not being there for Jackie. He can only imagine what she had gone through while she was pregnant, then giving birth to his two daughters.

He wants to be a part of their lives and be there for them. If he wasn't such a coward seven years ago, he wouldn't be learning about them now. Of course, when he tells his father he's gonna explode.

His father has been working on having a Kennedy in the White House for over twenty years and for him to be this close, his father will not have anything interfere. If word got out that he got Jackie pregnant and left her, his career would be ruined along with the chances of him getting elected.

If anything, the old man is going to demand a paternity test and try to pay Jackie to stay quiet or worse go away. If Jackie was to come forward, his father would try to paint Jackie as a gold digger. He didn't care for some of the things his father did, but he would stand up to his father if he tried to hurt Jackie or his daughters. Besides Jackie wouldn't have a reason to lie, and the timeline of everything all adds up, especially considering Caroline looks like the feminine version of him.

Once he gets home he plans to call Jackie and talk to her. 

Just then there is a knock on his office door. 

"Come in," he says absentmindedly. In his mind, it's probably Mrs. Lincoln bringing in more papers. 

In comes his brothers Bobby, and Teddy discussing the campaign strategies. Since his date with Jackie last night he hasn't been able to think clearly, let alone sleep.

"Hey Earth to Jack," Teddy says waving his hand in front of Jack's face.

"What?" Jack snaps.

"The hell is wrong with you?" Teddy asks.

"Nothing," Jack replies running a hand through his hair.

"There must be something considering you haven't said anything since we've walked in. You have just been staring into space," Bobby says.

"I just got a lot on my mind," Jack says standing up walking towards the window.

"How did your date with Jackie go?" Bobby asks.

"Jackie? She sounds like she's a hot number," Teddy says smile.

Jack gives his brother a look causing Ted to drop the devilish smile.

"It was ok," Jack replies sounding melancholic.

"Damn, you didn't get to sleep with her?" Teddy asks.

"Teddy!" Bobby says shooting daggers at his younger brother.

"No, I just found out some news last night during dinner and I just don't know what to do. I do know what to do, but I feel terrible."

"What happened Jack?" Bobby asks concerned.

Jack turns from the window looking at both of his younger brothers. "What I am about to tell you can't leave this room. Both of you must swear you won't say anything to Dad until I talk to him."

"Of course Jack," Bobby says.

"I won't say anything," Teddy says.

He takes a deep breath, "Last night during dinner I found out that I fathered two little girls. Seven years ago, Jackie and I slept together and she became pregnant. She tried to tell me but I ignored her calls and I never reached out to her after that night. She gave up trying to get in contact with me and raised them by herself. I've met the girls and they look like smaller versions of Jackie and me."

Bobby and Teddy stare at their brother with their mouths open.

"Wait so let me get this straight?" Bobby says first, "you're telling me that you have two daughters with the woman you went out with last night and you're just now finding out about them?"

"Yes. Like I said Jackie tried to tell me that she was pregnant. She even tried to contact me after they were born but I never returned her phone calls or try to see her."

"Wow," Teddy says finally.

"That's intense Jack. What are you going to do?" Bobby asks.

"Take care of my daughters what else? I've already missed out on the first six years of their lives, I don't want to miss out on more.

"Well, you know Dad is going to demand that you get a paternity test," Teddy says.

"I know and I'm sure Jackie is willing to let me test the girls if need be. But the timeline adds up."

"Well I know it's seven years too late, but congratulations Jack," Bobby says.

"Yea, congratulations Jack."

"Thanks, I need to call Jackie," he says picking up the receiver to call Jackie.