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Jack stood there staring at as once his father He didn’t speak or cry or even ave him a few minutes of silence before I eventually squeezed his hand in a silent gesture to ask if he was okay When he turned to look at ht he ed from stone to concern, when he took in ently wiped away my tears

Jack was still quiet as the three of us made our way out the front door of the hospital It felt odd to leave, knowing that ere leaving such a big part of Jack’s life inside that would forever be changed Jack had called Mateo to pick us up and offered Betty a ride hooodbye and Jack walked her to her waiting cab She stopped as she was about to get in and looked up at Jack "I know it’s not reat deal He just didn’t kno to show it I think Mrs St Claire was getting through to hi updates on how the two of you were doing"

The old wo taken its toll on her She smiled at me and reached up and kissed Jack on the cheek "I’m sorry for your loss, Jack Call me later when you feel up to it and I will help you ements"

I watched Jack close the door to Betty’s car, stunned at what I had just heard At first I wondered if I had even heard right, because Jack didn’t seem to react to what she had just said But then I replayed her words over and over in my head and realized that there was no way toin touch with my rippedup the bomb that Betty had just dropped, but the look on Jack’s face told ht tih the last day and he didn’t need s toward his father

I was growing more concerned about Jack when he was still quiet at home I made us breakfast since the two of us hadn’t really eaten much in the last twenty-four hours Jack ate, but was still uncharacteristically quiet Neither of us had slept in ht that perhaps a nap would make us both feel better I knee had to deal with funeral arrangements, but a few hours wouldn’t have made a difference

I drew the blinds in the bedroo out the beautiful day outside I crawled into bed and rested my head in the crook of Jack’s shoulder, where it fit like the spot was made for me Jack wrapped his arentle whisper "Are you okay?"

"Yeah"

"Do you want to talk?"

Jack was quiet for a moment before he spoke, "Not now, I just want to hold you, Syd"

"Okay"

Jack tightened his hold on otten up if I tried -- not that I wanted to be anywhere else His grip didn’t even let up as I listened as his breathing slowed and he finally fell into sleep

Later in the afternoon, I ements with Betty Jack was there too, but he stayed quiet, deferring any decisions to Betty and I I called , but I didn’t have a chance to askto Jack’s dad because Jack was always right next to me

Chapter 16

The first afternoon of the funeral was a blur of businessmen in suits and introductions to people whose nao of my hand the entire afternoon I was happy that he could lean on ive, but he was still keeping everything pent up and it concernedsession was different than the afternoon, and seeer crowd Many of Jack’s friends cauys I hadthe e’d spent in Hawaii Jack’s rateful that they could give hi to Tyler in the front rohen I saw my parents and Sienna walk in out of the corner ofthings, because I’d had no idea that they were coave me a small smile

Jack released my hand reluctantly "Go ahead, I’ll be there in a few minutes"

I kissed his cheek and walked briskly to the door

"I had no idea you were coed my parents and best friend

"Of course we came, Syd" My mom spoke first "You both should be around family at a time like this" Her words warmed my heart She spoke about Jack as if he was already part of our family

Sienna whispered in my ear "I ca, handso like Jack, that would be a bonus" Sienna winked at ; she would have come if the only people at the funeral were nuns

I felt Jack come up behind oosebumps all over when he came near me, I knew him when he stood nearin my personal space Not near my space, in it If any other person stood that close I would have hated it In high school I’d had a friend as a close talker and it drove me crazy; I’d constantly take a step back whenever he spoke to me But Jack’s invasion of my space had always been a turn on forWhen he invadedhis cub It was possessive and sexy and just oh so Jack

Jack extended his hand tome from my momentary lapse of consciousness caused by Jack’s stance behind me "Jack Heston, Mr St Claire Nice to meet you"

My father extended his hand "Please call ot tomy father’s condolences He leaned over and kissed "

Sienna extended her condolences and I watched as the two of thereeted Sienna with a kiss on the cheek Sienna and Tyler’s relationship was definitely interesting They could spend days in a hotel roo out their every fantasy, yet in public they looked like nothing more than old friends I had always envied Sienna’s ability to separate her relationships into different conize thenize Jenna when she approached Dressed in an appropriate black-fitted suit with her hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, it was the first time I’d seen her with so little skin exposed She sht her real smile falter when she finally let her eyes wander fro next to him

"Jack, honey, I’m so sorry about your father" Jenna kissed his cheek and held onto his areneric chatter that I had heard hi that his reaction to her condolences and touch gave him the same reaction as the dozens of ratification I noticed he quickly reclaiht Jenna’s eyes as she noticed too, which reeted each other

It was al first day of services when I excusedin the front rohile Jack was talking with the Vice President of the Heston Hotels, so it was a good opportunity for entleman, and I kissed him on the cheek as Iwith Sienna and Tyler in the back and figured I ht as well kill two birds at once

"Mom, want to take a walk to the ladies room with me?"

"Sure, sweetheart" I couldn’t help but notice my father immediately stood whenfor the first time that Jack had some of my father’s favorite qualities

Luckily, the bathrooet some much needed answers fro to Jack’s dad