7th of August, 2008
Michael is 49, Angela is 44, and Jake is 45

Angela: I woke up that morning with my head pounding. Glancing outside, it was still a little dark.

I decided to get up and take shower to wash the previous day away.

All I could think about was Jake. It's like he was now imprinted in my mind. I was so frustrated I could scream.

Michael and I were doing so well, our relationship was finally getting somewhere again and then Jake comes back from the dead. Was the universe trying to tell me something?

No, Angela. You love Michael. Do you even hear yourself?

"Fuck!" I screamed, hitting the shower wall with my fists. Tears streamed down my face. What am I gonna do?

"Angela?" Michael's groggy voice came from outside the door. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be right out." I said.

"Would you like some coffee?"

"Please."

He said he was going to wait for me in the kitchen once I was ready.

I took in a shaky breath before deciding to finish up.

~

"There you are," Michael smiled when he saw me. "How are you feeling?"

I tried to avoid his worried eyes because I knew that if I'd just glance into them, I wouldn't be able to hold it in anymore and tell him everything.

I shrugged, taking the coffee cup he offered. "My head hurts."

He put his palm against my forehead,
"You don't feel warm. That's a good sign."

"I guess..."

"So," my husband took a seat on one of the island stools. "What do you wanna do today?"

"I really don't know, Mike. I don't feel too well." I sighed.

"How about I make us a delicious breakfast?"

"That sounds great."

Michael got up and came closer to me. He gently pulled me into his arms by my hips and placed a kiss on my forehead. "Go ahead and take a seat, alright? I don't want you to do too much today."

"Thank you, Michael," I looked down so I would have to look in his eyes. "You're too good to me."

He put a finger under my chin, making me look at him, "I think it's the other way around."

Just that split second, that slight look into his eyes made me weak. Tears welled up in my eyes. I have to tell him.

"Michael, there's something I need to-"

But I was cut off by his ringing phone. I sighed in relief when he reached a hand into his to answer it.

"Oh, it's the kids," my husband grinned and pressed the green button. "Hello?"

I could hear a high-pitched voice saying 'daddy' in delight.

"Yeah, your mom's here, hold on. Angela, the kids want to talk to you."

He handed me the phone and I instantly heard Blanket's voice. "Mommy! I miss you..."

"Baby, I miss you too. Is everything okay back home?" I asked him.

"Yeah, we're having fun. But I want you to come back home!"

"We will, soon," I smiled slightly. "Are Lily and Eric there? I- I need to talk to them."

"Hang on, mommy, I'll call them."

I thanked him, waiting impatiently for my two kids.

"Hey, mom." Eric's voice came through. My heart broke even more. Just hearing his voice made me think of Jake again. How can I lie to them about their dad? It's not fair.

"Mom? Are you there?" Lily was next to talk.

"Oh, yeah, hey Lil... How are you guys doing?" I snapped out of my thoughts.

"We're good, mom. Are you okay? You sound worried."

I smiled to myself. My kids knew me so well.

I felt my eyes water again, "Mmhm, I'm alright. I just needed to hear your voices. I miss you so much."

"We miss you, mom... But you're coming back soon, so it's fine." Lily told me.

Michael looked at me with most worried look on his face. I sighed, telling the kids that we have to hang up and that we'll talk to them tomorrow.

"Here." I handed my husband his phone back.

He smiled, "Are you sure you're okay, Angela?"

Nodding, I took the cup of coffee from the counter. "I'll go drink this now."

"Alright, I'll make breakfast. But you promise you're good?"

I gave him a small smile and kissed his cheek to let him know I was grateful for him being so worried.

"I promise."

~

Michael: We spent most of the day lounging since Angela still wasn't feeling that great.

Even though we haven't talked much today, I enjoyed just having her next to me. It didn't feel weird or awkward, to sit in silence like that, but it felt right.

"I think I'm gonna head to bed," Angela yawned loudly, putting down the book she was reading. "Goodnight."

"Hey, wait for me." I said as she climbed upstairs.

After we got ready for bed, I shut the lights off and got in next to her. Angela's back was turned to me like it was the night before.

I need to talk to her. I know we already did talk, but she's been acting so weird since she went shopping yesterday.

"Angela..." I whispered. "Can we talk?"

My wife barely turned to me, "About what, Mike?"

"You haven't really been yourself today... And I know we already talked about this, but I'm your husband. I get that I'm not the same Michael I was before, but I'm here. So please, talk to me."

Angela was now fully turned to face me. She grabbed both my cheeks and planted a big kiss on my forehead.

"I know you're here, and I love you so much for being so concerned," she said but her eyes were closed. "But there's nothing going on. Okay?"

"Look me in the eyes and promise me that nothing is wrong." I told her.

She opened her eyes. Tears were clearly wanting to spill out of them, but she held back. "I promise, Michael."

Quickly, Angela let go of my face. She sniffled a bit, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. Once again, she turned her back to me and it didn't take long for her to fall asleep.

But I was up all night, still unconvinced.

~

14th of August, 2008
Michael is 49, Angela is 44, Jake is 45

Michael: "Enjoy your flight home, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson." the flight attendant bowed a little as Angela and I entered the plane.

I thanked her while my wife only nodded her way.

Let's just say, our little talk earlier this week wasn't really helpful. She barely talked to me, barely looked me in the eyes. I mean, she tried. But she was not her usual self.

We sat down. Angela glanced down at her phone, like she's been doing since we woke up this morning.

"Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson," the captain's voice was heard in the intercom above us. "We're about to take off, so please make yourselves comfortable and buckle up. Please turn off your cellphones and other devices if you have them. Thank you, enjoy your flight."

I immediately took out my phone and turned it off, but Angela just stared at hers.

"Angela, turn it off." I whispered in her ear.

"What if the kids call?" my wife asked.

"They know we're coming home today. Go ahead and text them that we're taking off, we'll call them when we land."

She sighed deeply, but did as I said. Why is she acting like this? Maybe I should ask her again.

"Angie," I made her look at me. "What's going on with you?"

Angela averted her eyes from mine. "Nothing, I'm perfectly fine."

"If you say so... You seem distracted lately."

"Michael, I swear, there's nothing you should worry about."

I leaned down to kiss her but instead of her lips I felt the soft skin of her cheek.

My wife sighed, leaning her head against the back of her seat.

I tried to convince myself nothing was wrong, like she told me. But it was obvious something was definitely wrong.

~

Angela: We got home just in time. It was 6:45 PM, and I had 15 minutes left before I could call Jake and talk to him again.

"Did you have fun, mommy?" Lily asked as she hugged me.

"Oh," I hugged her back, tighter than I've ever hugged someone before. "We did, baby."

I pulled Eric into a group hug with his twin sister. The tears threatened to spill again, but I couldn't let them see me cry. They'd know something's wrong.

How can I be so selfish and not tell them their father is alive? It's not fair to them, they deserve to know.

I looked at the time, seeing it was almost 7.

"Mike," I pulled back from my kids and turned to my husband. "I need some fresh air. Do you mind getting the babies ready for bed?"

"Of course not... Just don't take too long." he smiled.

I told the kids I'd see them later and almost sprinted out of the main house. I walked for a couple minutes, just wondering around the ranch but still getting a bit far from where anyone could hear me.

Sitting down at a bench on the lakeside, I took out my phone and the note Jake gave me. With a shaky breath, I dialed his number.

"Hello?" his smooth voice answered after a few rings.

"J- Jake, it's me." I said.

"Angie, hi... How are you?"

I burst into tears. He tried to calm me down over the phone, but this was a way for me letting out everything I've been keeping to myself the past week.

"We just got home," I explained as I calmed down a bit. "And I hugged Lily and Eric... And my heart broke because I couldn't tell them, Jake. You have no idea how hard it was..."

"Baby, you know I can't hear you cry like that. And believe me, I get how you feel. I've been hidden from you, from the kids all this time and wanted to go back, but I can't... Please, try to understand." he said.

"I do, but Michael knows somethings wrong. I don't think I could hide it any longer, Jakey. It's tearing me apart."

"I'm sorry, Angie. I never meant for you to find out and now you have to deal with all of this," he sighed loudly. "Let's change the subject, okay? How was your extra week on holiday with Mike?"

I chuckled, "You probably don't want to hear about that."

"But I do. Did you have fun?"

"I don't know, I was kinda stuck in my head all this time... All I could think about was you and the fact that you're alive."

"Gosh, Angela, I really am sorry."

"I know."

"Yo, Parker, where are you?!" I faintly heard from his end of the line. "Captain wants us in the meeting room in five!"

"Hey, I gotta go... I've kinda been hiding in the bathroom so we could talk. Call me next week, okay? Promise me, Angie." Jake's tone sounded serious.

"I promise." I said.

"Good. Bye, Angie. Don't think about me too much."

Jake hung up. He knew there was no way I wouldn't think about him.

I laughed to myself. He didn't change. He's still the same Jake I know and love.

Sighing deeply, I got up from the bench and started making my way back to the main house.