True Love Never Dies, Part 4

Porch of the cottage -- the next afternoon

Jake is sitting on the bench on the porch. He rubs his hands down the arms of the bench.
*****
J: “Play a game of truth or dare? Am I the first person you ever showed this stuff to?”

Vicky hesitates.

J: “What’s it gonna be?”

V: “Dare.”

Jake sets the scrapbook on the ground and turns to Vicky.

J: “You remember when I gave you that valentine? I dare you.”

Vicky slowly leans in, touches Jake’s face and they kiss passionately.

J: “Wow.”

V: “Wow.”

J: “That was real.”

V: “That was very real.”

J: “You know, excuse me for being a little gun shy here, but for the longest time I thought that Shane was going to be the man in your life.”

V: “Jake, I don’t know what the future holds anymore, but I really don’t think Shane’s a
part of it.”

J: “I’m telling you, if Lila was out of the picture--”

V: “But, that’s not an option anymore.”

J: “He’s divorcing her.”

V: “Jake. I think this is bigger than that.”

J: “So, what part does Shane play in your life?”

V: “He doesn’t. Not anymore. Shane taught me that I could love again.”

J: “I know that. Got the scars all over my heart to prove it.”

V: “We’ve both got scars.”

J: “What now?”

V: “Now, we see what the future brings.”

J: “Do you think you could be a little bit more specific?”

V: “Now we... we go on a date. We go on a date. A grownup date without the children.”

J: “A date?”

V: “Yep. A real date. A real grownup dancing date. Dancing.”

J: (tears form in his eyes) “I think I’m going to go now. I’m going to quit while I’m ahead.”

Jake gets up and starts to walk away.

V: “McKinnon.”

Jake turns around and faces Vicky. She tosses the bouquet to him and smiles. Jake catches it and sighs.
*****
Jake stands up and walks over to the porch swing next to the tree and sits down.
*****
Jake and Vicky are sitting on the swing, decorating each other with wildflowers.

V: “Do you think words have the same, you know, effect after you’ve said them the -- I don’t know -- thousandth or ten thousandth time?”

J: “Hmmm. Depends on the words.”

V: “Like ‘I love you’?”

J: “I was just thinking that that leaves 9,999.”

V: “I love you.”

J: “Love you.”

V: “I love you.”

J: “I love you.”

They kiss.
*****
Jake looks off into the distance.
*****
J: (laughs) “You mean, that you’ve been... you’ve been sick and tired and cranky lately
because of a--”

V: “Baby. A baby. Our baby.”

J: “These two kids from Lassiter who had nothing but each other--”

V: “Are going to finally have it all because... because we’re having a baby together. Live
happily ever after, and... are you happy?”

J: “I am so far past happy. I mean, I... I’m going to be somebody’s father.”

V: “Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, you’d better get ready, Daddy.”

J: “Daddy.”

V: “Because it’s just getting better from here. And better and better.”

J: “I love you.”

They hug.

V: “I love you. I love you.”
*****
Jake rubs the tears out of his eyes as the front door of the cottage opens and Donna comes outside.

D: “Jake, darling. What are you doing out here? It’s getting cold.”

J: (smiles) “I’m fine, Donna.”

D: “Well, the boys want you to come inside and play the new video game Nick bought them.”

Jake looks at Donna and then stands up.

J: “Um, you know what? I need to take a walk. Tell the boys I’ll play with them later.”

D: “Jake, are you sure you’re all right?”

J: “Yeah, I’m fine. I just need to get away for a little bit.”

Jake leaves.

D: “Oh, Jake. You haven’t been fine since Victoria died.”