black & white

trinity

jack had scarlett and henry for the weekend; they were twelve and eleven now.

scarlett was sitting in bed with me and flipping through one of her fashion magazines while henry helped his dad make lunch.
"when is the baby coming again?" she asked me.
"in two months. not long from now."
"I'm really glad it's a girl. I don't know if I could handle another brother," she shrugged. this made me laugh.

"scarlett, give me your hand." the baby was kicking and I thought I'd let her feel it. she put her hand in mine and I pressed it against my belly, and her eyes widened.
"does it hurt?" she asked.
"not at all. it feels like little taps. she does it all the time."

"have you decided on a name for her yet?" she asked.
"not yet. she probably won't have a name until after she's born," I said. "unless you have any ideas."

"well I had one, but I don't know if you'll like it."
"what is it? I bet you I will."
she hesitated. "trinity. because dad likes the number three. and it sounds pretty."
"I like that, scarlett."
"really?" her eyes lit up.
"yes. it's beautiful. I'll have to tell your dad."

♤

"I love that. and since this is my third child, it's special. but what about her middle name?"

"maybe we could ask henry to pick a middle name?" I suggested.
"that might not be a bad idea," jack said. he called henry into the bedroom where we were sitting. he hurried down the hall and shyly poked his head in the door.
"you can come in," jack said, smiling at his son. "how would you like to help us pick a middle name for your new baby sister?"
henry thought for a minute.

"how about jane?" he suggested.
"you want her middle name to be my name?" I asked him; I wasn't sure about this.
"yeah. I love you, jane."

I felt like I was going to cry. "henry, come here."
he walked over to me and I hugged him tight.
"well, what do you think, jack? trinity jane."
"I think that's her name," he said, smiling.

♤

the kids had gone back to their mother that evening.

"my back hurts," I whimpered. jack laid down on the bed beside me and gave me a massage, and I started to feel drowsy.
"jack."
"yes, babygirl?"
"hold me."

he pulled me closer to him and spooned me, his hands wandering all over my body.
"you're so beautiful," he said, his hand coming to rest on my hip. he kissed my neck and whispered sweet nothings in my ear until I fell asleep.

the phone rang, and jack hurried to answer it so the noise wouldn't wake me up.
"hello?"
"jack, it's ben."
"ben, it's 10pm. whatever it is, can it wait?"
"not really. someone broke into the offices. yours has been completely ransacked."

"well have you considered calling, oh, I don't know, the police?" jack was frustrated but he was trying to keep it down so he wouldn't wake me up.
"I did. but you really need to come down here," he said.
"ben, it's late. jane is asleep right beside me and I don't feel comfortable leaving her by herself. do I really need to be there?"
"yes. the sooner the better."
"fine. I'll be right there," jack said, irritated, and he hung up the phone.

he turned and looked at me for a minute; he didn't want to leave me.
"baby," he whispered, gently shaking me.
"what?" I muttered, yawning.
"someone broke into the office down at third man, and ben needs me to go down there for a little while. I'll be right back, okay?"

"do you really have to go? it's so late," I whimpered, reaching for his hand.
"ben said he needed me. I won't be gone long," he said, taking my hand and kissing it. "just go back to sleep, and when you wake up again, I'll be right here."
"okay. please be careful."
"I will. I love you."

♤

everything valuable in jack's office had been stolen. everything made of glass was smashed, including the picture frames on his desk that contained photos of the kids and of me; he salvaged the pictures and tucked them into his jacket pocket.

but he wasn't the slightest bit upset or angry about this; he just wanted to get back home to me.

he did what he had to do; talked to the police, filled out any reports or papers that he was asked to, then he simply got into his car and prepared to leave.
"hey," ben said, tapping on the window, and jack rolled it down.
"what?"
"are you seriously leaving? you weren't here but ten minutes."
"the police will handle it, ben. it was just a couple of offices. I'm not worried about it," jack said, starting the car. "it's late. jane is waiting for me."

ben shrugged. "how is she?"
"not that great. she's very tired and she's in a lot of pain right now."
"when's the baby due?"
"two months."
"tell her I said hello and that I wish her well."
"thanks."