Jack was the first to wake up that morning. She gently picked her way out of Darren’s grasp and stood up to stretch. Walking into the kitchen, she made herself a small breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon. The aroma soon filled the entire house, and all were woken by it. Darren was the first, followed by Ben, Lee, and Angi, then Leonie, Karl, Jen, and Elisa.
“What smells so good?” Ben asked.
“I don’t know,” Leonie replied.
“I don’t know either, but I intend to find out,” Darren said as he stood up and strode into the kitchen. He could see Jack facing the counter away from him reading a magazine. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her gently on the cheek as he placed his chin on her shoulder.
“Good morning,” Jack replied, smiling and looking up.
“Morning. What’s for breakfast?” Darren asked.
“I don’t know. What do you want?”
“Whatever you just had, minus the meat.”
“No problem,” Jack said as she pulled away from his grasp and headed for the fridge.
“Hey, we want some too!” Ben called from behind her.
Jack turned around to see all her friends lined up at the kitchen table waiting for food. “Oh, no,” she replied. “Someone’s either going to help me or nobody gets anything.”
“Girls,” Angi said as a smile crawled onto her face. Jen and Elisa followed her as Leonie stayed behind.
“I can’t cook!” she complained.
“Shut up, Leo. You’re not getting out of this one,” Elisa retorted. She and Angi took Leonie’s hands and pulled her to the kitchen sink.
“Who wants what?” Jack called over her shoulder.
The guys began to holler their orders, which neither of the girls understood. Finally getting frustrated, Angi yelled, “Shut up! Get out and we’ll make something. Shoo!” The men left the five women to do their best in the kitchen.
“So, Jack, what do you suggest?” Jen asked.
Jack quietly thought of ideas until her mind settled on one. It was something her mother used to make. “I know,” she said. Jack walked over to the fridge and pulled out a large tub.
“What is that?” Elisa asked when she pulled a chunk of white cheese out of it.
“French Feta,” Jack answered. “The absolute best cheese in the world.”
“Really? I gotta try this,” Leonie replied. Jack handed her a small piece. “Oh, this is good stuff,” she said after finishing it off. “What are we doing with it?”
“Omelets,” Jack said. The girls immediately began their work once they realized how long it would probably take to finish eight meals.
Out in the living room, they guys were sitting and relaxing on the couches watching TV. Darren lazily stood up and began walking around the room. His entire body was sore from the strange position he had slept in the night before. After giving his muscles time to stretch and readjust, he sat back down again only to hear the doorbell ring. He stood up and cautiously walked over to the door and peeked frosted glass window to see who was behind it.
“May I help you?” Darren asked after opening it up and seeing an officer standing there in front of him.
“I’m looking for Ms. Jacquelina Jones,” the officer replied.
“Hold on,” Darren said. “Jack!”
She came running in from the kitchen and asked, “What is it, honey?”
“Ms. Jones.” The officer handed her an envelope and added, “You have been served.”
Jack looked down at the letter in her hands wondering what it could be. She opened it and read its contents, gasping as she finished. “It’s a subpoena,” she whispered. “I’m being sued.”
“What?” Darren asked as he took the letter from her and read it himself. “When did this happen?”
“While you were in the hospital. Didn’t anyone tell you?”
“Apparently not.”
“I beat the shit out of a reporter during a press conference because he was asking too many questions about what happened to you. I just didn’t want the entire world to know what was going on and who I was. I didn’t want the awful attention,” Jack explained. “I know I sound selfish. I was back then, but now…”
Darren kissed her before she could get another word in. “It’s okay,” he said. “I’ve wanted to do that so many times, but I knew what it would cost me. Then all of a sudden you come along with nothing to lose and do the one thing that everyone in this band has ever wanted to do.”
“Yeah, nothing to lose,” she repeated.
“Jack, you’re not a bad person. So what, you beat up a reporter. He deserved it,” Darren continued. “One down, a million more to go.” Jack began to laugh at his comment as he hugged her tightly.
“Thanks, Daz,” Jack said as she began leaving the room. Even though on the outside she looked okay, her insides were doing flips. She felt a sharp pain in her abdomen and instantly put her hand over the area as her knees buckled. She let out a gasp prompting Darren to turn around and see her use the wall to stay upright.
“Jack, are you okay?” he asked, running to help her back up.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she replied. “I think the baby’s pissed off though. I’ve never felt such a strong kick.”
“That’s a good sign,” Darren said. “It means that the baby will be a good soccer player.”
“I hope you’re right,” Jack skeptically retorted as she started for the kitchen.
“Hey, what happened out there?” Leonie asked the moment she saw Jack walk into the room.
“I got slapped with a subpoena, that’s what happened,” Jack answered, sitting down on one of the chairs by the table. “That ass wipe reporter is suing me.”
“Jack, I’m sorry,” Angi sympathized.
“Get a hold of Dan,” Elisa suggested. “He’ll know what to do.” Jack, Leonie, and Angi all gave her a dirty look. “What?” she asked.
“The last time Dan confronted that little weasel wasn’t a good experience, especially for Jack,” Leonie recalled. “We won’t get into the details right now,” she added seeing the painful look that crept onto Jack’s face.
“So, what are we gonna do?” Jen questioned.
“I don’t know,” Jack sighed. “I hope we can settle this out of court.”