Yep! Sue most certainly has. And it didn't take 100 years either!

I absolutely adore this story!

Thanks Ivory. I think I'll go dig up my niece's book...Sleeping Beauty-- the one that stars Princess Sue and Prince Jack ... and have a reread.


~Siti~

i love sleeping beauty.....now i adore it, it's my all time favorite now

i went from this to this to this

cath

Ditto. *whines* I want a Prince Charming!!!! Princesses and Sue get all the luck!!! *pout*

Jen

Charming Jack is irresistible! So very sweet!

maybe he'll take her home the following weekend and his mom can throw something special or they could just surprise his parents? i wonder what he planed to ask her. update soon!

PART SIX

"Today is definitely Friday," Myles Leland noted as he stood at the window near his desk in the Hoover building. He studied the activity going on outside the building. “Everyone in the bank building across the street is scrambling to get home. I am not sure I am in a rush to join them because Anne and I are going to entertain our parents for the weekend.”

“It looks like I should get to play in my team’s basketball game tomorrow night, “ Bobby added.”

“My son and I have an appointment to rake leaves and clean gutters,” D said.

“Jack, what do you and Sue plan to do to keep your little charge occupied and entertained this weekend?” Myles wanted to know.

“Sue invited the Matthew’s to come over for dinner tonight since they are already stopping by with Melissa. I think we may take her to the National Zoo for a while tomorrow. We figured she’d like the animals.”

“Well, good luck, mate. That little girl will probably have you wrapped around her little finger right from the get go,” Bobby quipped.

“I wonder if she will coax our fearless leader into playing house?” D wondered.

“Or dollies. You know, Sparky, I think we have just the thing that you need to survive this weekend,” Bobby smirked. He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a small gift bag. He handed the bag to Jack and instructed him to open it. He watched as Jack opened up the bag and pulled out a Barbie doll. “That’s for the little sheila, with our compliments.”

Jack laughed uncontrollably.

"There’s more," Bobby informed him.

Jack looked further in the box. He pulled out a box of Godiva chocolates. “For the grown-up sheila.”

“Thanks, guys,” Jack said sincerely.

The evening drew near and Sue felt like she was prepared for Melissa. Lucy had offered her bed for Melissa, but Sue opted instead to use an air mattress that she placed in her room.

“Honey, would you like for me to start setting the table?” Jack wanted to know as he came to stand beside her at the kitchen counter while she was preparing lasagna.

“That would be great, thanks,” she said as she hugged him. As a result, the dinner preparations ended up being put on hold for a time.

The Matthews arrived with little Melissa right on time. The lasagna that Sue made was a big hit. Even little Melissa had a big serving for someone her size. The Matthews left for their trip right after the meal. They were excited about the trip, but of course it was a bit hard saying good-bye to their little girl for the weekend. Before they went, they presented Sue with a gift certificate to the spa to show their appreciation. Melissa settled in well for the night and everything was off to a good start for the weekend. Jack was about ready to leave for the night when Sue asked him to wait a moment. She quickly returned with an envelope. “You will not believe what I have in here.” Her eyes danced merrily as she handed him the envelope. “I got this for you the other day to thank you for helping me. It looks like we will have a date to go to the spa together.” Their laughter filled the room and then he kissed her goodnight.

Jack returned in the morning to help with Mission Babysitting. It ended up raining all day Saturday, so they had to find indoor activities to do. Jack finally lost count of the number of games of Candy Land that he played. His favorite part was when they make chocolate chip cookies. He decided to draw the line, however, at the prospect of having a tea party, and offered to walk Levi instead.

The weekend flew by. Sunday evening, little Melissa, Sue and Jack were having a dish of her famous Oreo ice cream dessert that Jack had come to like so well. Melissa finished hers, proving that she thought it was great, too.

Later Melissa climbed up on Jack’s lap and watched while Sue signed a story. Jack found himself thinking how ready he was for his life to be like this. Soon Melissa was having trouble keeping her little eyes open, so Sue then took her to settle her in bed. The Matthews were arriving fairly late, and little girls tend to get grumpy if they are kept up past their bedtime.

love the way jack fell into the weekend & wants all the domestic bliss

cath

how sweet was that, i can totally see jack and sue with a little girl like that, love it ivory

Am really enjoying this Ivory, glad you have decided to enter the challenge.

The way you write Sue and Jack is great, both loyal to everyone else as well as each other.

Thanks

Soph

So sweet!

Em

Ah!!!!

A nice homey atmosphere.
thanks,
Terie

What a sweet picture of the future...Jack with his little girl curled on his lap while Sue tells their daughter a story. Wonderful, absolutely wonderful

Kim

The experience should give them food for thought about the future. And a spa date? Brilliant!

What a wonderful weekend they had...obviously, Jack is more then ready to play house...they could talk about it in the Jacuzzi...

Just got here Ivory and I love it! I especially loved Sue telling Jack, "I have definitely found my Prince Charming

Nice to see both Sue and Jack's Mom, know what it means to keep a promise!

Looking forward to more, especially with Jack thinking about the family life now!

they are just so cute....deliciously cute....

PART SEVEN

With Melissa settled and asleep, Sue and Jack settled in for the rest of the evening. The Matthews were expected back at about ten or ten-thirty.

About nine-thirty, as they were cuddled up together on the couch, there came an unexpected knock at the door. Sue looked through the peep hole and saw a face she recognized as belonging to Diana Grove, who was a detective with the DCPD and also a liaison for cases involving the FBI or their agents. Jack was right there with her as she opened the door to the pretty, blonde police lieutenant.

Diana cleared her throat and took a deep breath before she began to tell them why she was there. “I just came from the scene of an auto accident. I was called in because you are FBI and both of your addresses were listed as an emergency contact among the personal effects of Paul and Nancy Matthews. You must know them well. I am very sorry to say that they did not survive the accident. The Matthews’ car was struck earlier this evening by a driver under the influence of alcohol.”

Jack instinctively pulled Sue to him to offer support.

Diana continued. “We also discovered that the Matthews have a young daughter.”

Jack nodded, “Yes, Melissa…she’s here with us. Sue has been babysitting for the weekend while they were away celebrating their… anniversary.”

After a poignant moment where all three thought about that somber fact, Diana went on to tell them that the department had placed a call to Children’s Protective Services. They were sending a social worker right out.

Before she left a shocked and stunned Sue and Jack, Diana encouraged them to contact her if they needed anything,

Lucy arrived at the apartment about a half-hour later and was shocked to find out what had happened.

Soon after Lucy's arrival home, there was a second knock at the door. The door was opened this time to a middle-aged woman who had kindly eyes and a pleasant smile. Her credentials confirmed that she was Evelyn Cross, a social worker with CPS.

Evelyn got right to work and proceeded to interview Jack and Sue. When she had collected all of the background information, she set down her clipboard on her lap, leaned back on Sue’s couch, and looked at her intently. “I would normally call one of our emergency foster care parents; however, we do not have any parents in the system at the moment who have been identified as knowing ASL.” She kept focusing on Sue. “Would there be a possibility that you would consider serving as an emergency foster care parent for Melissa for a few days until we can work the system and check for relatives or get a permanent placement set up in the foster care program? With your FBI clearance, I would be able to leave her here without having to go through the usual background check. Since she knows you, this would be so much less traumatic for her than if she goes with some strangers, especially if they don’t know sign.”

Sue’s heart spoke out. “Yes, I will do it.” She looked at Jack. “I have some time coming at work.” She looked at Jack for confirmation and saw him nod yes.

Evelyn finished her visit telling Sue that she wished they had more in the foster care system just like her. She told Sue she would be in touch tomorrow and left.

Holding onto each other, Sue and Jack walked back to the bedroom and looked in on Melissa. She was blissfully asleep with Levi curled up beside her and totally unaware of how her little world had just drastically changed. Sue reached down and recovered Melissa with the blanket that had started to slip off. Sue retreated to the comfort and strength of Jack’s shoulder as she began to cry for the little girl who would grow up without her parents. He found himself crying as well.

Because it was so late, Lucy got Jack some sheets and a blanket so that he could bunk on the couch. Sue brought out a towel, a washcloth and an unopened toothbrush so that he could clean up.

Of course, no one was able to sleep that night. Jack lay on the couch wide awake when he heard a stirring in the living room.

All i can say is OMG!

poor melissa

cath

That is so sad Poor Melissa

Em

Wow! This story is good, and full of surprises. Keep it up.

That's just so sad. Didn't see that one coming.


~Siti~

Ditto. Ivory I'm blubbing!!

Jen

Poor Melissa. I know that Sue and Jack will do everything they can to help the little girl out. Two lives taken and a little girl's world shaken all because of a careless person.

This is a great story, Ivory. Can't wait for the next post
Kim

So sad,

Dianna

Oh my, wasn't expecting that So sad, but you have laid a firm foundation of hope, and I trust you for that in Melissa's future

Ivory, just caught up.

The story was going along so sweetly then bam! you let the angst in!

Please post again soon.

Sam

Wow! That caught me by surprise.
thanks,
Terie

poor melissa

I would never had guessed taht this was where it was going.... Wow.

I didn't anticipate this turn either! Guess this is where the drama part comes in, eh? I'm glad Sue and Jack are there for Melissa and I'm hoping.....

kav

Just catching up!

Poor Melissa!

Great writing Ivory!

That was both unexpected and incredibly tragic. I'm glad the little girl has Sue and Jack.

PART EIGHT

Jack saw that what he had heard was Sue making her way to the kitchen, so he went to join her. She sensed him coming. Putting down the water glass she was holding, she turned toward him.

“You okay?” he signed.

“No, but I will be,” she responded. “I can’t believe it, Jack. I feel numb.”

“Me, too.”

“Something woke Melissa and she wants a drink of water,” she explained.

“Has she asked for her parents?" he asked.

“Not yet.”

He took her in his arms and held her.

“I’m right here. Let me know if you need anything,” he signed.

Sue gave him a kiss on the cheek and then took the water back to the little girl.

The next morning Jack went into work. Lucy followed soon after. Before long everyone on the team had been told about what had happened.

It was mid-morning when Sue got a call from Evelyn Cross, the social worker, asking to come over. When she arrived she briefed Sue.

“Miss Thomas, we have learned that Paul Matthew’s next-of-kin are his parents, who happen to be on a trip to visit some of the family in England. We have just located them. They will get here as soon as they can. It may be tomorrow before they can get a flight. Nancy’s parents are deceased and she is an only child.”

“Thank you for the update. I will take responsibility for Melissa until her grandparents can get here,” Sue confirmed.

Melissa was playing nearby with the Barbie doll that Myles and Bobby had given her. She got up from the floor and walked over to where the two women were sitting. She tapped Sue on the shoulder with one hand and with the other hand she tapped her forehead and then stroked her chin making the signs for mother and father.

Sue felt her heart constrict in her chest. She looked at Evelyn. “She’s asking about her parents.” Turning back to Melissa, Sue spoke as she signed to Melissa telling her that her grandparents were coming to see her. The child’s face brightened and she clapped her hands. Sue’s heart unclenched just a little. At least it looked from Melissa’s reaction that she might have a good relationship with her grandparents.

“You handled that well,” Evelyn said with a quiver in her voice.

Meanwhile at work Jack received a call from Diana Grove telling him that the man who had hit the Matthew’s car had been brought in on charges of vehicular manslaughter and that his arrest was being processed.

how sweet of bobby and myles to give melissa a barbie doll

glad she has some next of kin

cath

Well, at least Melissa will still have a family to go to.

It will be heart-wrenching when she finally learns what happened to her parents.

~Siti~

I don't know what to say, except I'm glad that Melissa has Sue...and Jack. Can't wait to find out what happens.

kav

Me too Kav, me too!

Sam

Me three.

Just caught up on the last 3 posts - the first one started me crying and I continued thru the next 2 - sorry to hear about Melissa's parents but feel glad that she is with someone as caring as Sue and Jack. Write more soon.

The story turned out differently, which is great. i really didn't expect that car crash. I'm glad that things are turning out well. Now on to that promise sue made!!! Hope Jack pops the question soon! I wonder what he's going to ask! Update soon!

Me four.

Great writing Ivory!

what a wonderful but sad story,how big sues heart is
just hope jack ask her to marry him soon cant wait for the next.
chapter lin

I think I'm going to need another box of tissues for this one. Poor Sue. Seeing Melissa sign for her mother and father had to just tear Sue apart. I wonder how long she can hold off explaining what happened to the little girl.

PART NINE

Monday evening Tara and Lucy wanted to do something to help, so they decided to join forces to cook dinner. Sue and Lucy’s apartment was soon filled with the delicious smells of a meatloaf dinner. Tara, Lucy Sue, Jack and Melissa gathered around the table. When Melissa sat down she folded her hands in front of her like she was used to praying before a meal. “I think that may be our cue,” Jack said gently. He smiled at the little girl and nodded. Melissa signed a table grace that she had been taught. After supper they spent some time over in the park playing to get some exercise. Sue commented to Jack later that night that even though they were going through the motions of regular activities, it felt like they were functioning on autopilot.

Tuesday morning Amanda Duffman and Sue took Melissa to school. Evelyn Cross and Sue had contacted the school the day before and it was decided that it would be good for Melissa to keep to her routine. Amanda knew Melissa well from the Little Book Worm Club. When she learned about what happened she came over to help. Melissa had just started kindergarten a few weeks earlier at the same school that Amanda had gone to as a young child.

When Melissa was settled at school, Sue went into work. When Jack saw her enter the bull pen his heart went out to her because she looked so tired. He encouraged her to go home, but when she told him that it was easier to be there then at the empty apartment, he understood. He told her how proud he was of her.

That afternoon Sue got a call from Evelyn Cross. The Matthew’s had arrived and were anxious to see their granddaughter. She told Sue that by all indications the Matthews were outstanding people. It was arranged that they would all meet at the principal’s office at Melissa’s school just as soon as school let out. The grandparents had been interviewed by Children's Services were cleared to assume custody.

Jack was by her desk in an instant to ask her if she wanted company that afternoon. She did, particularly his company. They stopped by her apartment on the way to the school to pick up Melissa’s belongings.

The reunion between grandparents and granddaughter at the school that afternoon was heart warming. The Matthews proved to be very kind and loving. They obviously doted on their granddaughter. They had both been in ASL classes for some time, so they easily conversed with her. Melissa seemed to sense that something had happened. She threw her arms around the necks of her grandparents and clung to them. There was not a dry eye in the principal’s office that afternoon.

Her grandparents were the ones who gently helped their granddaughter to begin to understand what had happened to her parents.

The funeral for Paul and Nancy was held on Thursday. It was extremely hard to see the two closed caskets sitting side by side at the front of the church. Melissa was young to attend the funeral, so Amanda cared for her and three other children in one of the rooms that was used for the children on Sundays. It was a difficult day.

Saturday dawned clear and sunny which resulted in an impromptu gathering of Hudson’s team to put in some practice for the first official touch football game of the season which was coming up soon. Everyone came away tired and feeling much better emotionally.

Thankfully, much brighter days were on the way.

I'm too sad to come up with anything to say.

So I think I'm going to watch some FBI football practice (particularly one FBI person running and sweating) to cheer myself up.

~Siti~