THE CHOICE

FIVE

MADISON HAD SAT WITH JACK and talked and laughed about different things they had experienced that day-stupid things people had done or said at work, a funny meme one of her friends had shared that had sent her into hysterics (she pulled her phone out and showed Jack so he could have a good laugh as well), and when all of the ribs and potatoes were gone, Madison told Jack she was going to get a shower.

"Can I come with you?" Jack asked with a sly grin on his face.

"Absolutely not!" she clapped back at him. "I'm sweaty and disgusting!" She looked over at Connor still asleep on the couch. "You can go put your son to bed and then once I get cleaned up maybe I'll let you do something dirty to me." Madison offered Jack her own devious smile, biting her bottom lip in sensual anticipation. She got up and kissed Jack on the cheek then walked toward the bedroom.

Jack put his takeout containers in the trash and went into the living room. He looked down at Connor who was sleeping like an angel. An unconditional love for his son washed over Jack and he reminded himself for the millionth time that he'd do absolutely anything for this little boy. He gently lifted his son and took him to his bedroom. Connor rustled a bit when Jack put him in his bed but he nestled into his pillow and pulled the coverlet over his shoulders and was back out again.

Jack bent down and gave Connor the lightest peck on the cheek. "Sweet dreams, baby boy. Daddy loves you."

Several minutes later, Madison walked out of the bedroom in a pink silk nighty looking for Jack. Surely, he wasn't still looking at work emails. He should've had more than enough time to get Connor in bed and should've already been in the bathroom getting cleaned up for the little erotic soiree they had planned.

"Jack?" she called, not at full volume for fear of waking Connor, but loud enough to elicit a response.

There was none.

She peeked in Connor's room to make sure Jack wasn't in there.

He wasn't.

Further down the hall...

"Jack?"

No response.

He wasn't in the kitchen either. The table had been cleaned off and all the lights were off, which meant he wasn't out in the garage or in the laundry room.

"Jack? Where are you?" she asked, her volume elevated and a hint of desperation in her voice.

For some reason, she almost expected him to jump out from behind a corner and scare her like they were five years old again-a little innocent play before the real foreplay began.

But the house was quiet, and still.

Madison walked through the kitchen and into the living room. The television wasn't on, but she noticed a white glow coming from in front of Jack's recliner. A couple more steps and she saw socked feet propped up and Jack's head leaned over to one side. He was fast asleep with his phone still in his hand. On the screen were a list of emails he'd been going through when he passed out.

She smiled at him adoringly. He worked so hard to provide for them, put up with more bullshit at work then she could imagine, and it was obvious the long hours he'd put in that day had exhausted him. She grabbed the microfiber throw off the back of the couch and draped it over him, placed his phone on the side table, then kissed his forehead and went to bed.

Madison didn't know that it would be the last time her lips ever touched his skin.