Episode 9: "Setynt Valentynes day."
(Chaucer)

It had been two days since Jack and Jennifer had heard the devastating news, instead of getting all their money back, they only were able to get back less than a million dollars. Jack, with the help of Mickey, tried to track down the rest of their stolen money. He and Jennifer had gotten in contact with Desirée, who informed them that Howard had double crossed everyone, and ran off with the rest of the money. Resigned to the fact that they probably never will get their money back, they tried to figure out what their best financial options were. It was now early Valentine's Day morning, Jack and Jennifer were in bed sleeping. Jennifer woke up; she took a small bag from under her pillow. Smiling she reached across Jack and took his watch, trying not to wake him. She then crept into the bathroom, grinning.

The following song was playing in the background.

For the first time in my life, I'm not afraid of saying, How I really feel inside. We don't have to go on waiting. Just think about it, Together you and I. I could never try to write a better story, For the pages of my life, Most are written for me, Cause every night I waken to my heart. So we take it one day at a time, And leave all our worries behind, No matter which road that we choose, As long as we've got each other No way we can lose.

We can make it through life, Through the kiss of time. When you look back on the day, That you tried so hard to reach me, But I never saw the way, Till you took the time to teach me. Yeah I found out what it's all about. So we take it one day at a time, And leave all our worries behind, No matter which road that we choose, As long as we got each other No way we can lose.

A short time later, Jack was now awake, he sat on the bed in his pajamas, going over his check book, trying to work out how much money they had left in their savings. Just then Jennifer came out of the bathroom. Seeing her Jack asked, "Early call of nature."

"Ah, yes, you could say that," she had a big grin on her face, and seemed to be hiding something. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"Arithmetic," Jack was not happy.

"That's our bank book."

"Yes. After making our payments to the bank to cover my debts for the paper, I'm seeing what we can still afford in the way of food, clothing and shelter."

"And?"

 

A very somber Jack answered her, "We'll be lucky if we make two out of the three."

Nothing seemed to be able to ruin her good mood, "Well that's good enough for me. I mean I knew we couldn't afford to stay in this place Jack."

Jack was not at all sure that she meant this, he thought she was in denial, "It does bother you doesn't it?"

"No it doesn't bother me. It bothers you." "Well, there's no point in postponing the inevitable. It's time to get dressed and get out and start pounding that pavement."

"Ah, you know what, you're going to have to pound the pavement alone today."

Jennifer continued to act mysterious, "No, I have something important I need to take care of.

"More important than this?" Jack asked, he definitely did not like the idea of having to look for a new place on his own.

"Ah, yeah, sorry."

"Yes you'll be sorry alright when you end up in a roach infested rat trap with who knows what else. I mean that's what you're going to end up with if I'm in charge."

"Come on Jack, don't be so negative."

"I'm just being accurate. I don't know the difference between hearth and home especially your low rent variety." At that moment an idea came to her, "Well you know what, why don't you call a real estate agent, one that specializes in rentals and that would save you a lot of time."

 

It was obvious that Jack liked the idea, he had no desire to look around for a place, especially a cheap place -- that was too depressing for him, "You know they say that time is money, which I could be making a lot more of at the paper if someone else was doing the pavement pounding for me. Oh let me get to that phone." Jack was determined that their present situation was only temporary, "You know the sooner I pay back the bank, the sooner I get my newspaper back and I'll be able to start supporting you in the manner to which you've become accustomed."

Jennifer placed her finger on the phone to disconnect it, surprising Jack, "Why did you do that?"

Jennifer looked at him with great love and pride, "To get your attention because I have something to say. Number one, I can support myself. Number two, I can get accustomed to anything as long as we're together. And number three, I think it's wonderful that you're trying to get us back on our feet financially Jack, but there are more important things in life than the almighty dollar...." Jack was suspicious of her good mood. Jennifer continued to speak wistfully, "....much more."

Awhile later Jack was dressed. Jennifer entered the room dressed as well, as Jack got off the phone. He was completely dejected, "The deed is done," he told her soberly.

"What was that? Did you arrange for the sale?

"Oh yes.... yes. Friday at 5 PM."

"Jennifer was surprised that he arranged everything so quickly, "So soon?"

"Well they don't believe in wasting time. Actually they're sending someone out to give us the blue book values if you will. So we can set our own prices."

"Well I don't really know anything about all that.

"Well let me give you a little education. It doesn't matter that we're both working at jobs with the bank taking half your pay check and all of mine. We still have to liquidate all of our assets just keep afloat.

For Jennifer all that mattered was that they were together, "Well you know what Jack, we're going to do this together. For better, for worse, side by side."

"Rung by rung, steadily, surely going down the economic ladder and still you're saying that it doesn't matter." Jack still could not believe losing all their money and now their home was not bothering her.

"It doesn't matter. Not to me anyway."

Jack could not be as optimistic, "Well it matters to me. Let me tell you something, I'm going to pay back every single cent that you've had to put out on my account. I've got.... I've got a little book right here keeping track of everything and someday when I'm solvent again, I'm going to pay you back, your trust fund, with interest. Prime rate, of course."

 

"Alright, alright, whatever you say. Now can we just drop this? Money is the only thing we ever talk about anymore.

"Fine, fine. Consider it dropped." Despite what he said it was obvious that he could not take his mind off their financial problems."

Jennifer tried to change the subject, she was certain that Jack had forgotten that it was Valentine's Day. She teasingly asked, "I bet that you don't even know what today is."

"Well you're going to lose that bet. It's...." Jack took a peak at his check book, "....its the 14th, Friday."

"Yes that's right. It's Friday the 14th."

Jennifer teased him, she knew he did not remember that it was Valentine's Day, February 14th. Jack was clueless, he looked at her wondering what she was hinting at. Jennifer was amused, "It's Valentine's Day. I don't suppose that rings a bell."

Jack tried to save himself, "Well I.... I knew that. I knew it was Valentine's Day." Jennifer looked at him, she was not at all convinced, she knew him too well. Jack continued trying to worm his way out of it, "I did. I was just pretending I didn't know just to throw you off track."

Jennifer asked, "What track?"

"The one where you put two and two together and you figure out I have got something planned for later on."

"Oh, Oh, the same way you had something planned for me when it was my birthday, right?

"You won't let me live that down will you?"

"I'm just kidding, I'm just kidding." Jennifer smiled at him knowingly, "You know what, I don't want you to give me anything for Valentine's Day. I don't want a thing." Jack was completely confused, and leery of what she was talking about and had planned, "And why is that?"

Jennifer smiled, "Because there is nothing in the world I want. And besides, if everything works out the way I expect, my surprise for you is going to be a thousand times better than anything you could ever dream up for me." With that she gave him a kiss and bid him good-bye. She then ran out the room.

"Just what I need.... pressure!

While Jennifer was on her mysterious mission, Jack went to the hospital to see Vern. Vern was in his bath robe, sitting in a wheel chair. He looked as if he was healing nicely. Jack was Jack, and did not come out and say how he felt, but instead joked with Vern. It was obvious that he was glad to see that Vern was doing better.

Jack and he then discussed the type of news articles the paper would run. Jack was desperate, he told Vern that the bank was pressuring him, and that he would do anything to get the paper out of the financial "Black Hole of Calcutta" that it presently was in. Vern warned Jack about doing anything rash and writing sensationalistic journalistic articles to sell papers.

Walking around the wharf Jack felt bad that he had nothing special for Jennifer for Valentine's Day -- their first Valentine's Day as husband and wife. He did not have enough money to buy anything in any of the better stores. He then spotted a man tending a small cart. He chose some flowers and chocolate, and gave the man his credit card.

After a couple of minutes the shopkeeper turned to Jack, "Sorry, no sale. Your card's been rejected.

"Wait a .... listen, can you check it one more time. Just check it, please."

"I already did it three times already. Beat it. I've got to take care of the paying customers."

Jack pleaded, "Let me tell you something. I think the wife forgot to pay the bills. That's all. But come on, it's Valentine's Day. I gotta get her something. I tell you I.... I have some cash, right here." Jack was desperate, this was their first Valentine's Day together and he wanted to do something special for Jennifer. He looked into his wallet, but only had a few bills, "Right, what will that get me? "

The man was not at all sympathetic, "Probably a night on the living room sofa. HEHEHEHEH."

Jack continued to plead with the man, "Hahahah. Very funny. I have a serious cash flow problem here, alright. Give me a break. I got that and I got a little bit of change. Surely there is something here that I can afford."

"How about a piece of advice. Try the dandelion patch around the block. HEHEHEHEH."

"HEHEHEHEH. You know I'd say you should charge for those jokes but I hate to put a price on that wit of yours."

"Happy Valentine's Day," said the man sarcastically.

Jack was equally sarcastic, "Thank you sweetheart! And Chuckles?" The vendor wondered what Jack wanted. Jack replied, "Don't quit your day job." With that Jack walked off, "Alright, alright, alright. I can't give up yet." Jack felt miserable about not being able to give Jennifer a worthy surprise for Valentine's Day, but he was determined to find her something, anything.

JENNIFER: Jennifer returned to the Penthouse. She was carrying some shopping bags and was very excited. It was obvious that whatever her secret errand had been that it was successful. She called out, "Jack, Jack, are you here? When Jack did not answer she went over to the answering machine, she noticed that there was a message from Jack.

JACK: Jennifer, it's me. I want you to meet me at 27 Harbor Way, Apartment A, as soon as possible. You may consider this your Valentine's Day surprise.

Talking out loud, "Surprise, huh? Oh Jack you ain't seen nothing yet." With that, she hurried out to meet Jack.

 

CHAPTER SEVEN: AN APARTMENT BUILDING.

The hallway was noisy and dark. It obviously was very lower scale. She looked at the letters on each door and came upon "Apartment A." The "A" was poorly painted on the door; the door was slightly ajar. "Well this must be the place," she said to herself. She then pushed open the door. Inside Jack was reclining with his head lying on a tiny kitchen counter. He looked extremely depressed by their new living conditions. Jennifer was too excited by her news to have her spirits dampened by their new home. "Hi Jack," she said cheerfully.

"Take your shoes off. Make yourself at home," Jack replied.

"Jack what's wrong?"

"Oh nothing, nothing. Before I called you about a surprise I probably should have checked out the surprise myself. Look at the.... squalor that we've been reduced to."

Jennifer looked around the tiny, dark living room. It was small, the furniture was sad, but it had promise. "You know what, I think that we should try to be positive about this Jack."

"This is me being positive. Please pull up the floor. Sit down." Jack then proceeded to sit down, crossing his legs. She squatted down opposite him. On the floor he had set up a poor man's version of a romantic setting, there were two candles, a miniature bottle of cheap wine, and one of those small snack packets.

All that mattered to her was that they were together, "You know what, remember what I said before. I said it doesn't matter where we live as long as we're together." She paused and looked at the spread, "What's all this?" Jack was embarrassed and saddened that it could not be a more lavish and romantic spread, "That's your Valentine's house warming present. You've had the rich man, now enjoy the poor man version"

 

Jennifer loved it, "Wow." She picked up the small bottle of wine and the snack pack. Jokingly she said, "One good thing. Neither of us will get fat or drunk."

Jack replied, "Pity.... isn't it?" "No, it's very sweet. Just like you." She leaned over and kissed him. Jack noticed her parcels, "Right! And what is this?"

Jennifer was very excited, "This stuff is my Valentine's Day surprise for you. And I promise you Jack, it's going to knock your socks off."

Jack poured himself a glass of wine and then was about to pour her one too when she stopped him, "Oh no, no thanks. I can't.... have any."

Kidding around Jack sniffed the bottle as if it were a fine vintage of wine, then made a face, "Well I can't really blame you. Bad month."

Jennifer became more excited as she pulled out items from her shopping bag, first she pulled a baby bottle, then a rattle, next a pacifier; and finally some other baby items, including a teething ring. She hoped that these would clue Jack in on her surprise. It is now obvious what her news was -- she was pregnant.

Jack, however, remained dense, "And what is this? This is my surprise that I've been waiting all day for. It looks like you raided a discount store."

Jennifer laughed at Jack's inability to decipher the clues, "Heheheh. Jack don't you recognize clues when you see them? There's a common theme. They all have a connection."

Jack still had no idea what she was hinting at, "Huh, huh. Is this your oh so subtle way of telling me I'm dense?" Jennifer then began to spell it out for him, but she took a long time getting to the point. "No. Alright, I guess subtle isn't going to work for you so I'm just going to have to spell it out." She paused, "Okay, this is it. I started to suspect something when I was two weeks late so I went to the grocery store and I got one of those do-it-yourself things." Meanwhile, Jack was holding his wine glass and was looking as if he were totally bored by her chatter. Jennifer continued, "Well, I did myself this morning and for some reason you have to do it the morning. I have no idea why. But it came out positive and I was so excited but I didn't want to get to excited because sometimes when it comes out positive it can be a false positive. So I made an appointment with the doctor and I went to the hospital and he made me take a test and he told me that I'm absolutely positively without a doubt...."

"Jennifer, Jennifer."

Jennifer was nervous and excited, "What?"

At this point Jack was annoyed, "Would you stop beating around the bush. Just spit it out."

Jennifer was too excited; she had a huge smile on her face, "Okay, this is my surprise for you. (Beat) I'm pregnant!