1.55 Call the doctor

Jake threw his food on the floor, “I said I didn’t want food.” Kirsten hated seeing Jake like this, “I just thought…”
“Then you thought wrong, didn’t you? All I need is Kay.”

Kirsten ran from the room in tears and when Andrew saw her running upstairs he knew who was the cause and started to yell at Jake when he came into the room. “What the fuck do you think you are playing at? Upsetting your sister like that.”

Jake yelled back, “Butt the fuck out of my life. She made food that I didn’t ask for.”

“Remember who you are talking too Jake! We know you are missing Kay but stop snapping at everyone. It’s been 4 days and you won’t eat and all you do is check and recheck your phone. When was the last time you ate anyway?”

Jake stood there and replied calmer, “It’s been 4 days…” 

Andrew screamed upstairs for Kirsten. She ran down the stairs and found her brother in a heap on the floor. “Oh god please not, Jakey.” Andrew was on the phone to the doctor and explained what happened, while Kirsten was still trying to wake Jake up Andrew dialled Daniel’s mobile.

As the phone rang there were giggles coming from Laura, “Oh leave the phone alone.” He tried to reach for the phone but Laura grabbed his hand, “It can wait but I can’t.” Dan smiled at his wife while he planted a few more kisses on her and said, “You look hot tonight but it could be important.”

Laura kissed his neck as he glanced at the caller ID, “Laura stop, it’s Andrew calling. He only said he’d ring the mobile in an emergency. Laura moved out of the way while he answered the phone. 

He listened to Andrew and looked stoned faced as he looked at Laura, “We are on our way.”

“Is Kirsten ok?”

“It’s not Kirsten it is Jake. Get dressed and I’ll tell you in car.”

After the doctor finished examining Jake, he turned to Kirsten and said, “He needs plenty of fluids and food but little and often to build up his appetite. Has he been ill?”

Andrew added, “His girlfriend is going through a rough time and told Jake it’s over but he has taken it badly.”

Matt and Hazel were outside the room waiting for news about Jake. “It’s my fault Jake did this to himself.” Hazel looked at Matt and firmly said, “No it isn’t. Jake wants Kay to let him in but he has done a stupid thing.”

“But if I hadn’t told him then…” 

At that moment he saw Dan and Laura at the top of the stairs, “Told my son what?” Matt explained everything that had happened and how Jake was in this state. 

Dan kissed Laura and said, “Our son needs you. I will be right back.”

“Dan please don’t…”

“Laura everything will be fine. Matt, where does your parents live?”

Matt tried to argue with Dan but he knew why Dan wanted the address and gave it only on the condition that Matt went with him.

Dan looked at Spencer, “Where is your daughter?”

“I’ll get her just please stay calm.” Dan agreed and within a few minutes Kay appeared, “I’ve already told Jake it was over.”

Dan replied, “Over…in your dreams. The way you look at my son tells me you love him and every minute your together counts. You want to play this game then let me tell you something, my son is madly in love with you and the more I see you together I know you are well suited but the reason I’m here is because Jake is so upset, hurt and angry that you won’t let him help you that he hasn’t eaten in 4 days and as a trainee doctor you should know what that means.” Kay was in shock and looked at Matt and Spencer, “Dad please…”

“Kay I agree with Mr Decker here. You are really happy around Jake. I know you are hurting but don’t let that bastard ruin your life. Jake wants to be there and help. Tell him you will let him help you.” 

She looked at Matt, “Ummm I agree with everyone too sis. After all I thought he was bad news but seeing you together says it all. He has eyes for you and only you. I never thought that day would come, not for Jake anyway.” Suddenly Kay realised what was happening, “Shit what have I done? The stupid sod, what did he do that for?” She was now standing by the door, “I’ll talk to him.” Dan smiled at her and said, “I’ll drive you back.”

When they were alone Tracy hugged Spencer, “I’m glad she is going to see him.” Spencer kissed her, “Me too. Is that my shirt you are wearing?”

“Ummm yes it is. I tried to tell you the other night but Mathew walked in with Kay…I’m pregnant.”

Spencer picked her up before kissing her again, “This is great news, shit have you told Mathew and Kay yet?”

“Slow down Spenc, no I haven’t told them.”

Everyone cleared the room when Kay entered; she was heartbroken to see him like this. She sat beside him and started to talk, “I’m sorry that I shut you out, everyone thinks I need to talk to you. When I saw him and he said he was my Dad, I froze…” 

Jake tried to sit up when he heard her voice, “Jake don’t move you are too weak.”

“Then come and lie with me.”

“I can’t…”

“Do you believe I would hurt you?”

“No…”

“Lie with me, Kay and talk to me.” 

She reluctantly agreed and when Jake had her in his arms he said, “Now tell me what really happened.”

“I froze when I saw him then he pinned me against the wall, looked me up and down like I was a piece of meat and coldly said horrible things to me and then he touched me in places…”

“Kay what did he say?”

“I can’t say…”

“You need to Kay.”

“He said how he missed my mum and how I reminded him of her and wouldn’t it be good if we could relive those days…” Kay couldn’t continue as she cried to Jake.

“What about your studies, Kay?”

“The university thought it was in my interest to continue from home for the rest of the year and to use the local hospital facilities to keep up. Then I’m to return next year.” Jake was pleased but at the same time disappointed that this man could ruin her life. “Kay, where did he hurt you?”

“He didn’t get that far but touched…I can’t say this.” Jake knew he was pressing too hard so decided to back off. He was just happy that they were talking again. 
Kay got up and said, “I’ll be back in the morning to check on you.” Jake sat up ignoring Kay’s pleas not too and said, “If you’re a doctor and I’m a patient don’t I deserve some medical attention.” Kay let a smile appear and said, “Nothing can happen because…” The smile quickly disappeared.

Jake knew he was taking a risk pulling Kay towards him like he did but he didn’t care at that moment, “If you stay then you can keep an eye on me. You need to stay just as much as I want you too.”

“I can’t stay in this room with you but I will stay in the spare room across the hall.”

“Then if that’s what it takes for you and I to be under the same roof then I’ll take it.”

1.54 Trouble in Paradise

Two weeks later

Spencer was relaxing on the sofa when Tracy crept up behind him. He leant back and she kissed his forehead, “What are you thinking about?” Spencer pulled her around the sofa and sat her on his lap, “I was thinking how quiet it is around here.”

“Yes well I was thinking…” Then they heard Mathew’s voice, “Mum, Dad are you in?” They didn’t have to respond as he turned the corner seeing them sitting together on the sofa. They both got up when they saw Kay with Mathew.

Spencer looked at Kay who was looking at the floor and asked, “What’s happened?” Kay ran straight into Spencer’s arms, “He came back…” 

Spencer looked at Mathew and asked, “Who came back?”

Mathew looked angry as he tried to hold his temper so not to frighten Kay, “Her Dad came back.” Spencer’s eyes narrowed as his anger built up but quietly he asked, “Kay, sweetheart; did he do anything?” Kay sobbed into Spencer’s chest and shook her head then said, “He said who he was and I screamed.”

“It will be ok I promise.” 

He asked Tracy to take Kay to her room but half way down the hall she turned back to Spencer while Tracy was holding her and said, “This man is a stranger to me but I know he scares me. The only Dad I’ve ever known is you and I hope you don’t mind me asking but I would prefer calling you Dad than Spencer, if that is ok?”

Spencer suddenly had a lump in his throat and replied, “I would love that Kay. Do you want me to tell Jake you are here?”

Kay shook her head and replied, “We aren’t dating anymore.” 

Spencer looked at Mathew and asked, “What does she mean they aren’t dating?”

“Kay thinks that after what has happened that it is best for them to split up and I’m the one that has to tell him.”

“Jake is not going to take this well.”

Hazel met Matt outside the house and said, “Is Kay ok?” Matt put his arms around her and said, “She will be now she is here. I’m just not looking forward to telling Jake.”

“I know she is frightened but breaking up with Jake is not the answer.”

“Tell me about it.”

When Matt and Hazel walked in the house they found the boys having a pillow fight. When Andrew saw them he stopped and shouted, “Kirsten come in here Mr Virgin and Hazel are home.”

“Ha ha very funny Andy. That ship sailed a while back.” Jake looked around and asked, “Where’s Kay?” Kirsten had now come in hugging her best friend, “What are you doing back? I thought you weren’t back for another few weeks.” Hazel never could lie to Kirsten, “Something came up.” Matt touched Hazel’s arm, “I should say…”

Jake voice getting louder asked, “Say what?”

Matt didn’t want to tell Jake but Kay had begged him too, “Kay sent me to…to…to break up with you.” Jake screamed in a panic, “What.” 

He launched himself at Matt and as he punched him said, “You fucking bastard, you are sleeping with my girl while engaged to Hazel.” Kirsten was yelling at her brother to leave Matt alone and Hazel was screaming, “Jake it’s not what you think. Andy please…” Andrew pulled Jake off Matt and Jake asked, “What the fuck is it then because he comes here to tell me that I’ve lost my girl because she is too chicken to tell me herself?”

Matt looked at Jake straight in the eyes and said, “Kay loves you Jake but her real father turned up at the campus and freaked her out. She says it’s better for you if you are not together.”

“She said what?” By now Jake grabbed his keys and ran to his car as he knew exactly where she would be. 

He slammed the car door and walked up to the door and thumped it and screamed, “Kay open this door to me right now.” Spencer opened the door to let him in, “Are you trying to make a scene?” Jake was pacing the floor, “Kay sent Matt to…I can’t breathe.”

“Sit on the sofa and take deep breathes. Tracy get Jake a glass of water.” She ran to the kitchen leaving Spencer and Jake to talk.

“Kay is in a terrible state right now and you hitting hell out of the door isn’t going to help.”

Jake trying to get his breathe back replied, “I love her…How did the bastard find her?”

“I don’t know but I rang the police station and they said that he has been charged with breaking the restraining order and assault.” Jake yelled, “What assault?”

“Jake it’s not my place to say but if Kay wants to tell you then it is up to her.”

“Where is she? I need to talk to her.” 

He didn’t wait for the answer as he went from room to room to find her and it didn’t take him long. He walked in shut the door but stayed where he was and said, “How are you doing?” 

Still curled up in a ball she replied, “Ok I guess. I take it Matt told you my message?”

“He did and I’ve come to say I’m not accepting the message. Let me help you through this?”

“I’m damaged goods now after him. So I think it is better we call it a day.” 

Jake now wasn’t thinking straight as he went over to Kay. He wanted to hold her, telling her it was ok but he knew that wasn’t a good idea, “Baby, please let me help you. I can go at your pace just please…” Kay interrupted him, “We had a good run but I’m in a place right now that you can’t be a part of, so this is goodbye.” Jake looked her in the eye and holding back the tears said, “It can’t be goodbye.” 

He got up and made his way towards the door and added, “I know you Kay and you are strong. You once asked if I’d be there for you, well in answer to your question, I am here. If you need to be here with Spencer then I get that but I’m only a call away.”

1.53 Ava

Monte Vista

It was a dry, crisp day but cold as they all made their way to the grave where Ava was buried. Laura tried to turn away but Daniel wouldn’t let her. 

As he held her, he whispered in her ear, “I know this is hard but it will be good for us and the kids, we need to grieve together.” Laura couldn’t face him but in a weak voice replied, “I lost our baby and it’s my fault.” 

As they continued to walk to the grave where everyone was now waiting Dan firmly replied, “It was not your fault, it was one of those things. We lost our precious little girl and now she needs and we need to say our goodbyes.” Laura looked at her husband in the eye and said, “For our little Ava.”

Jake was holding onto Kay trying to hold back the tears but the harder he tried the worse he felt. The vicar was standing there saying his part as they all cried. Andrew was comforting Kirsten as the tears streamed down her face. Dan was crying with Laura and both Kirsten and Jake found that hard, seeing their Dad cry. Dan had never let his children see his vulnerable side because he thought it would show weakness but after he almost lost his entire family he learnt that he too needed to show he had feelings.

Then the vicar asked if anyone wanted to say anything, they all looked at the floor until the silence was broken by Laura. She stayed still looking at the grave and through her sobs said, “My beautiful Ava, I miss you so much. I fell in love with you from the first moment I held you in my arms. I love you more than you could possibly know and for the short time we shared you were my little angel. When your life was taken away, my heart broke in two. I was so wrapped up in my pain that I tried to block you out of my life. I pushed everyone away including your daddy because I believed I was the only one who was hurting. I’m here today to say I’m sorry for pretending you weren’t a part of my life because Ava you will always be in my heart. When you were in my arms I should have told you how much I loved you and always will.”

Dan held Laura close after she finished and then said, “Ava, I hope you are happy wherever you are. I always wonder what you would be doing if you were with us. I miss my baby girl and always have. I just hope you know that daddy will always love you and think of you every day, sweet dreams Ava.” Dan wanted to say more but was becoming chocked up with emotions.

The vicar asked Jake and Kirsten if they wanted to say anything but they both shook their heads. The vicar was about to say the final prayer when Jake found the courage to speak, “I held you in my arms once and you looked very pretty. I wish I had known you were my little sister but I didn’t for that I’m sorry. I would have liked to have known you because I would have loved to have been the big brother, teaching you things and taking you places. You may have even ganged up on me with Kirsten…the point is Ava I miss my little sister so I guess this is the only time I’ll get to say this…I love you Ava from your big brother Jake.”

Jake looked at Kirsten but she stayed silent because even though she was upset she wasn’t sure what to say. 

As they left one by one, they left flowers but Kirsten hung back for a minute and put a teddy bear by the grave and voiced, “Ava I don’t want you to be alone so here is my bear to keep you company, his name is Chocolate. Take care of each other and Ava I love you too.”

Andrew wrapped his arms around Kirsten as she looked out the window, “Did you speak to Ava?” Kirsten tugged on his arm tighter and replied, “I gave her my bear, I know it’s stupid…” Andrew cut her off, “I think that was a lovely thing you did she will like that.”

Jake lay on his old bed holding Kay and for a while they were silent until Jake asked, “Do you love me Kay?” Kay stayed still and replied, “I love you so much but why do you ask?”

“Today, at the funeral it just made me think that if you hadn’t been there…” Jake stopped talking for a few minutes then added, “I love you Kay and if you weren’t there I wouldn’t have coped like I had and I just wanted to say thanks.”

Kay moved to face Jake and smiled, “I would always be here for you, I mean you would do it for me.”

Jake wasn’t sure what to say other than, “I would be there for you. Here you are in this beautiful town and you haven’t seen any of it.”

“Maybe we can come back and you can show me around then.”

Dan found Laura upstairs, “Do you want to talk?”

“Did the doctors really do everything to save her?” Dan pulled her close to him, “They tried everything they could have, I asked that question a thousand times but the truth is we lost our daughter and nothing can ever bring her back.” Laura held on tight and said, “It really is goodbye isn’t it.”

“It is but one day we will be together again. However I want us to live the rest of our lives enjoying the children we have because one day they will have kids of their own and I don’t know about you but I don’t want to miss that.” Laura pulled away from Dan and said, “I will always miss Ava but I don’t want to miss seeing what Kirsten and Jake get up to and I can’t wait to be a grandparent because to have a newborn in the family would be wonderful.”

1.52 Family Breakfast

When Jake and Kay arrived for breakfast, Laura was pleased to see them, “Your Dad won’t be long, he is on a conference call.”

“I thought Dad was retiring?”

“He is but he wants you and Kirsten to help out so he can show you what to do and then he can retire.”

“Mum I’ll talk to Dad I promise, you remember Kay?” Laura looked at Kay and smiled, “We got off to a bad start, I hope you will see us in a better light from now on.” Kay smiled and replied, “I’d like that too.” 

Once they sat down for breakfast Dan joined them, “Morning, Kay it’s nice to see you again. Jake tells me that you are at medical school. Have you given up on your singing career?”

Kay wanted to get on with Dan and could see it would mean a lot to Jake if they did. “I love singing but I want to be a doctor more, if that makes sense.” Dan smiled and replied, “Well at least I know Jake will have the best doctor in town looking after him if he gets ill.” Kay laughed, “Well I don’t know about that.”

Jake looked at her and replied, “Oh thanks a lot, you’d let me suffer first.”

“Kay smiled at Jake, “It depends.” Dan added, “Jake always admit she is right and you are wrong and you will have a good relationship.” Jake rolled his eyes as Kay laughed while trying to eat her breakfast.

Laura asked after a few minutes, “Are you going to be a specialist?”

“I’m still thinking about it or I could be a GP at a local surgery.” 

Dan took Jake outside after breakfast and asked, “Have you thought about the business?”

“Dad I told you I like being a firefighter…”

“Yes I know but the business is important too. Look I am proud of you becoming the firefighter you always wanted but listen to what I have to say.”

“Ok.”

“What if I got the board to look after things but you and Kirsten made the final decisions. It is so Kirsten can have her marriage and children she wants so much and you your career.”

“And we get paid?”

“You will be the new owners. I would take drawings of $1.5 million from the company.” Jake was in shock, “How much and what are drawings?”

“When you own a company your salary is known as your drawings. It wasn’t your business to know how much I earned it was only your mother’s. I am only telling you now because I think you are sensible enough to understand plus I see the way you react to Kay.”

“I almost messed things up.”

“What did you do?”

“I hate her being at university, at first she was going to travel back and forth but now she is staying there. I hate her being away.”

“Jake, you are going to hate this advice but I’m giving it anyway. You have been dating Kay a short time but you are trying to rush this. I mean you were living together and that is too much pressure for a new couple. I think her staying at university is a good thing because absence makes the heart grow fonder. If you weren’t missing her then I’d question whether you cared for her at all.”

“Dad it’s hard.” Dan shook his head, “It’s meant to be at first. Your grandfather used to supervise my visits with your Mum.”

“You are kidding…”

“No I’m not and we weren’t allowed to live together until we were married plus no sex till the wedding night either.” Jake was shocked, “How did you cope?”

“It was difficult; I even tried to sneak in your mother’s bedroom window once and got caught. Try dating without the sex.” Jake laughed, “I don’t think so.”

“It would mean you get to know each other as people and for you especially get to understand Kay and stop the jealousy. I mean what do you know about Kay?”

“I know her mother died and Spencer is like the father she never had, Matt is like a brother to her and she has a great voice and wants to be a doctor.”

“Anything else?”

“Like what?”

“Her favourite colour, her favourite music and the list goes on. So what do you know?” Jake looked at the floor and replied, “I can’t answer that.”

“I believe you honestly love her but my point is try getting to know her so you can really trust her.” 

“Kay, are you ok?”

“I wish Jake would understand I hate being away at university as much as he does.” Laura looked concerned and said, “I think if you love each other enough you can work things out. I know Jake can be a pain but I know he misses you but when your home he is more relaxed. I think he is scared of losing you.”

“I’m not interested in other guys and I’ve told him.”

“He will get better over time plus you are the first girl he has ever brought home to meet us.” Kay was in shock that she was the first to be brought to the parents’ home, “He has had girlfriends before.”

“We know about most of them and he would say things like Mum I’ve met someone and then a few weeks later say it didn’t work out but for Jake to last this long and bring you to meet us is a big step. Kay, I really think you are good for Jake, just give him time to understand that there is nothing to worry about.” Kay felt comfortable knowing that she could talk to Laura and that she could be that open about her son.

Before Jake and Kay left, they asked if she would come again when she was next home. Kay agreed getting a warm hug of both Daniel and Laura. Jake enjoyed that his parents liked Kay and that they were getting on and he hoped it would continue.