Book Series: Trevor Family Saga (Book 3)
Publishing Date: 1998
Author: Anita Stansfield
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Category: LDS Contemporaray Romance
Point of View: Third Person, limited: Hilary and Jack
Chapter Count: 18
Page Count: 369
Point of View: Third Person, limited: Hilary and Jack
Chapter Count: 18
Page Count: 369
To my children: John,
Jake, Anna, and Steve. No matter the obstacles that come into your path,
remember who you are, and where you came from (Ether 12:27)
(Jake served in the London, England South mission with my youngest brother who was his district leader. Jake runs his own online clothing business)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to express my appreciation to those of you who
took the time to help me through this project. Especially to Art and Dallas,
and John and Stephanie. Your stories
inspired me and gave me faith. Also, to Dianne, for always having the right
answer at the right time. And to Jenny, for bringing Kenny into our lives. And
in loving memory, to my mother, for always being there for me.
Prologue: Mount Pleasant, Utah
Meet Hilary Smith. Brought up in a small farming community, just south of Provo, she is attending the funeral of her favorite older brother, Jeffery, who died very unexpectedly in a freak farming equipment accident out in the fields. Hilary is the youngest and has been living in Provo, taking classes at BYU for the last year. All her siblings are married, her parents are empty nesters. Her return missionary boyfriend, whom she waited faithfully and stayed true for two years, came home and dumped her for another girl. That rejection, along with the devastating loss is very discouraging as she is the only one at the gravesite with no shoulder to cry on. No husband to mourn with her. Then she sees Janna Trevor, her happily married friend with her husband Colin, in the crowd. The two women embrace. Hilary is very grateful to have a friend.
Chapter 1- Three months after the funeral, summer is nearly over. Hilary has spent it here, in her hometown, on her parent's farm and will be returning to Provo for another year at BYU.
She runs errands but the old farm truck is balky making Hilary curse in a very unladylike manner (is garbage a swear word?). She stops to get gas and check the oil. The attendant who helps her looks very familiar. He knows Hilary; been nursing a crush on her for years. Hilary is not flattered, if anything his carefree, positive attitude only reminds her of her deceased brother, the last subject she wants to talk about. Hilary informs him her brother is DEAD and drives off in a huff.
Jack Hayden stands in shock, watching Hilary drive away. He had no idea his best friend from high school died and he missed the funeral because he just got back from his mission. Jack decides to pay a visit to the Smith farmhouse that evening where he is warmly received by Hilary's parents and invited to stay for dinner. Hilary is not so welcoming. For her, Jack has always been that redneck with the annoying Texas drawl, toothpick dangling from his mouth and while he dresses like Larry the Cable Guy, he looks like Matthew McConaughey. He is the last person in the world she could ever go out with. Jack hangs around all evening. He even follows Hilary outside to help her weed the garden and tease her about her name, (Hilary S. equals Hilarious, get it?)
Chapter 2- Next day, Jack invited himself over to help the Smith family bale hay out in the field. Hilary drives the tractor (don't get gonorrhea!) and has to wear a bandanna over her face because she is highly allergic to alfalfa. Jack thinks this is, well, hilarious! Hilary scowls.
Jack stays for dinner. When he learns Hilary needs a ride to Provo next week, he offers her a lift in his truck since he's enrolled at BYU as well.
Hilary settles into her new apartment with three roommates who are nice but she's not close to any of them. Weeks pass and Hilary is starting to feel lonely and homesick when Jack comes knocking. He'd like to take her out. On an actual DATE (you know, planned, paid for, paired off) if she'll have him. Just as friends, if that's what she wants. Reluctantly Hilary agrees and, to her surprise, ends up enjoying the evening: casual dinner out, miniature golf afterwards. Jack is a perfect gentleman and doesn't even try to kiss her good night. Good thing, as he had that toothpick in his mouth the entire date.
Hilary finds herself calling Jack whenever she needs an emergency ride around Provo. Jack is always happy to oblige. She takes him a plate of cookies and is impressed to find him in Sunday dress about to leave to do his home teaching. He takes her home for the weekend and comes over for Sunday dinner. Hilary's ex-boyfriend's fianceé is throwing a bridal shower next weekend with the entire community, including Hilary's mom, invited and she wants Hilary to come. Jack offers to drive her. Hilary is angry. The last thing she wants is to attend a bridal shower for the woman who stole her ex. On the return trip to Provo, Jack tells Hilary, in all seriousness, she deserved better than that jerk, Leon. Jeffery would agree and would tell her to go to that silly shower to prove it doesn't bother her. Hilary won't do it.
Chapter 3- Hilary's roommates giggle and tease her about her new boyfriend which Hilary denies. She and Jack are just friends. As two of her slightly overweight, homely, roommates complain there are no good guys left, Hilary inwardly criticizes them for not making themselves more marketable while her third roommate overcompensates for her boy-crazy attitude by dressing like a fashionista. Hilary knows she's no prom queen herself (is the pot calling the kettle black?) and could stand to lose a few pounds. Deciding she needs to give herself a complete makeover, Hilary calls Janna who takes her shopping and out to lunch.
With total support from her family, and because she never earned a college degree, Janna is going back to school to major in nursing so she can help other battered women, like herself, to heal. Hilary confides her feelings about Jack. She's just not that into him, but no one else is asking. What can she do? Janna is a walking self-help book: make a diet and exercise plan, increase scripture study and prayer, buy new clothes and makeup, get something new done with her hair which is long, light brown and perfectly straight. Then go to that bridal shower and show everyone she doesn't give a flip about the engagement. Janna even buys one of Hillary's new outfits for her: a classy power suit that makes Hilary look five pounds thinner.
Hilary admits she's been contemplating getting a perm. Janna encourages her to do it. (No, don't do it Hilary! Perms for long hair are NEVER a good idea, I don't care what age you live in.) Janna recommends she pray about it. Hilary does and gets the impression that getting a perm is something God wants her to do (whatever). She is pleased with the result.
Jack pretends to faint when he arrives to pick her up, he's so overcome by The New Hilary who laughs and refuses to kiss him.
Chapter 4- The bridal shower is endured better than Hilary expected. Her feelings of bitterness toward her rival are gone, replaced by new confidence and hope that her soulmate is out there, somewhere, just waiting for her to come along.
During the drive back, Jack gets her talking about her hobbies and interests. Hilary loves to dance and enjoys her job teaching classes at the local dance studio in Provo. Dance is her major in school and she excels in all styles: ballet, tap, jazz, modern, you name it. Her goal is to make dancing her life's work.
A few weeks pass and Hilary starts going out with a young man named Robert, a return missionary and a student at BYU. He wants Hilary to spend Thanksgiving with him, meeting the family (which means this is serious). Jack is very quiet when Hilary announces she won't be needing a ride home tomorrow for Thanksgiving.
Hilary goes out with Robert that night who assaults her in the car, kissing her in a very disrespectful way; acting confused when she pushes him off and flees into her apartment. With all her roommates gone for the holiday weekend, Hilary paces, upset, feeling scared and vulnerable. She calls Jack who comes right over to take her in his arms and tell her everything is going to be okay while she cries on his shoulder. Hilary can't understand it. Leon acted like this too and she went along with it until they had to confess to their bishop. Is she some kind of target for sex-addicted men?
A knock at the door interrupts their soul-sharing. It's Robert, back for more. Hilary is giving him a piece of her mind when Jack steps out from his hiding place behind the door to tell Robert to take a hike before Hilary's "big brother" gives him what for. Looks like Hilary will be going home for Thanksgiving with Jack after all.
Jack spends all Thanksgiving weekend at the Smith farmhouse where he's practically part of the family now, taking the place of the son and brother they lost. Jack admits that was his intention. As he confesses to Hilary, her brother saved his life by keeping him on the straight and narrow with his example: being his friend at church and school when everyone else shunned him, encouraging him to go on a mission and keep his standards high. Growing up in a dysfunctional family with parents who drank, smoke and were basically inactive LDS members, Jack is the only member of his family who stayed strong, all thanks to the fellowship of Jeffery Smith and the example of her family.
Hilary is stunned, she had no idea of the personal struggles Jack kept hidden in his heart all these years. He drops her off at her apartment. As he watches her walk to her door, he wishes, for the hundredth time, he could just make her his.
Jack focuses his time and energy on his job and BYU classes. His boss, Ammon Mitchell (what a small world this is!) is a good man who owns his own construction business and is happily married with two kids. While Jack is pretty handy with a nail gun and hand plane, he's also good with computers. Ammon is very grateful when Jack is able to fix their network after it crashes. This could come in handy in the future. (Foreshadowing!)
Chapter 5- Hilary and Jack are officially friends. They go out almost every weekend and have a great time. One night, Jack decides to surprise Hilary at the dance studio where he finds her dancing alone, oblivious, lost in the music. She's good. She is beautiful. Leaping and twirling, dancing like she's never danced before (She's a maniac, maniac on the floor!) Just before she pulls the water cord, Hilary sees Jack and stops, breathing heavily. She's glad to see him. Happy to demonstrate some of her favorite ballet positions. Following her directions, Jack supports her as she pirouettes once, twice and extends into an arabesque.
Changing into jazz shoes, she pulls Jack into another song from the (1983) Flashdance soundtrack. Feeling like he's stepped into an erotic fantasy, Jack holds her tight in his arms as they sway and move around the studio. Hilary has never been this open or intimate with him.
He gives her a ride back to her apartment. Both reflect what a fun, impromptu, date this turned out to be.
It is April and Jack phones Hilary to inform her his dad died. Hilary makes arrangements to be there for the funeral. Jack is touched and glad for the company during the one hour drive south to their hometown. At the internment, Jack cries on her shoulder. Hilary knows exactly how he's feeling, she's been there.
Jack's mom isn't taking her husband's death well. Hilary offers to run into town to fill her tranquilizer prescription where the still single, very obese, woman from Hilary's class in high school is now working behind the counter who smirks and congratulates Hilary on catching the last, most eligible bachelor left in this town. Everyone was beginning to think Jack was gay, since none of the girls here were ever good enough for him. Offended, Hilary corrects her and leaves, infuriated. Stupid small town where everyone is always in each other's business. For the last time, she and Jack are JUST FRIENDS!
Before hitting the road, they visit the cemetery one last time where Jack shares his deepest feelings with Hilary. He wants so badly for them to take their relationship to the romantic level but Hilary just can't see herself marrying a man who shares the same standards and principles as her, spending eternity with him and having his babies; just because he's her best friend. (She's an idiot.) A platonic hug is all she can offer him.
Jack sobs all the way back to Provo while Hilary drives.
Summer arrives. Jack moves back to Mt. Pleasant while Hilary stays in Provo to continue her teaching job at the dance studio which, miraculously, pays enough for Hilary to purchase her very first car. Jack spends so much time at her parent's house, he practically lives there, as Hilary discovers when she drives home for a surprise weekend visit and finds Jack in the guest bedroom. She has big news. She's met someone and is getting married! She wants to serve a mission! She'll be turning twenty-one this fall and since she has no marriage prospects (excuse me?) it seems like the thing to do. (Would she have gone at nineteen?)
Her parents couldn't be more supportive. Jack is reticent but volunteers to donate a couple hundred dollars a month in support, since her family is both respectfully poor and humble.
Back in Provo, Hilary has brought Jack over to meet Janna and Colin and share her big news with them as they sit down to dinner together where Janna and Colin also pledge financial support.
Hilary puts in her papers and is called to Bulgaria (a small country in Eastern Europe bordering the Black Sea) The evening before she is to be set apart, Jack takes her on one last date to a nice restaurant. Hilary makes a long, affectionate, speech telling Jack that while she's gone, he really needs to meet a nice, cute, Mormon farm girl and settle down (Jack swipes right on his phone before looking up, "Sorry, you were saying?")
Before walking her all the way to the front door of her apartment, Jack takes Hilary in his arms, begging for just one kiss. Figuring it couldn't hurt, Hilary closes her eyes and is surprised at the fireworks his first kiss sets off inside her. Jack loves her. He says it. Out loud. Hilary calls her bishop and cancels her mission Are these two EVER going to get together? My apologizes for the length but this chapter was 28 pages long!
Chapter 6- Jack joins her parents for both the MTC and airport sendoffs. At first, he writes her faithfully every week. Hilary writes back about her growing attraction for one of the male converts she helped commit to baptism: an exotic gypsy, just her age and very single with a strong testimony of the gospel. Jack is very troubled.
Remembering what Hilary told him before she left, Jack is standing in line at a fast food place near BYU when the cute girl behind him starts chatting him up. He finds himself flirting back. She looks familiar. She is Lorie, Hilary's "fashionista" roommate who kissed all the boys and made them cry. Learning Hilary has taken an eighteen month leave, Lorie wastes no time making her move. They end up spending the entire day together where Jack finds himself confiding everything to Lorie: his hopes, dreams, life goals. Lorie insists she feels the same way he does, about everything that is most important to both of them. She especially loves the idea of settling down as a farmer's wife, embracing small town life and raising a passel of kids.
She squeals with laughter when he reveals to her (and the reader) that Jack is not his real name, he was born Jonathan Stewart Hayden. Not even Hilary knows this. Lorie is impressed and starts calling him Jon from that moment on. Jack is a little annoyed but decides he won't make an issue out of it.
Dropping Lorie off that night at her apartment, she invites him to kiss her and he does. Weeks pass and he and Lorie spend more and more time together. Before he realizes what's happening, Jack finds himself engaged to be married to Lorie who is merrily planning their wedding in the Provo temple and addressing invitations. At the same time she is also changing him in ways that make him uncomfortable: buying him new clothes, insisting he only listen to her music and watch movies he's never cared for. Their tastes are so different, but she's such a babe. With her type-A personality and physical attractiveness, he hasn't thought about Hilary or written to her in weeks. It's obvious Lorie is Jack, er, Jon's true eternal soulmate. It's too late to back out now.
Over in Bulgaria, Hilary opens her "Dear Jane" and bursts into tears. Jack didn't even mention the lucky girl's name. She's happy for her best friend but she'll have to really focus now on the work as her companion tactfully points out.
When the wedding announcement comes, Hilary sees the picture and hits the ceiling. Not Lorie! Anybody but HER! At her companion's suggestion, she writes Jack a letter of warning.
Two days before the wedding, Jack receives Hilary's letter, decides she's jealous, acting overly judgmental and marries Lorie anyway!Their wedding night is incredible, the honeymoon like something out of a dream, but the minute it's over, the problems begin: Lorie would rather work in Provo than keep house in Mt. Pleasant, she prefers spending time with her friends and begins keeping very late hours while Jack runs the farm all by himself. He's miserable. He's lonely. He sacrifices his dream by leasing his family's farm and following Lorie to Provo but it's obvious she doesn't want him around and lied about everything she promised to do after they were married. Oh, and she's never having kids. She hates babies, they ruin the figure.
Jack moves out, suggesting they just annul the marriage or get a no-fault divorce. They have nothing in common anymore. Lorie lets him go. Just like that, their temple marriage is over. Jack feels some degree of relief to get his name back. (Huh?) Now he can be "Jack" again but he feels like a failure. As well you should, Jack.
Hilary's parents phone inviting Jack to join the family for the traditional over-the-top Mormon missionary homecoming welcome at the airport. Hope surges in Jack's broken heart.
Chapter 7- Hilary is glad to see Jack amidst the crowd of family members. She suppresses the urge to shout "I told you so!" when she learns Jack left his new bride almost immediately following the honeymoon.
Weeks pass. Hilary resumes her old life in Provo and BYU, her old job, even her old apartment with two of her former roommates. She and Jack talk on the phone almost every week. One day he calls asking her to come over. He's very upset. Lorie just informed him she's pregnant. It turns out to be another of her lies but Jack's life is a mess.
On a hot night in June, Jack finds Hilary dancing alone at the studio again. Flashdance appears to be the only "mix tape" she ever listens to. Jack is turned on anyway. They slow dance together and Jack follows his impulse to kiss her. He wants to take her out on a date, just as friends.
The initial feelings of attraction Jack ignited in Hilary before her mission are back, stronger than ever. They spend an evening together at someone's wedding reception and Hilary can hardly stand it. How could she have been so blind? Jack is the perfect man. She was such a fool.
Just to be sure, Hilary fasts and prays for a confirmation and gets a resounding YES! She asks Jack to marry her (who says women can't propose?) and he accepts. But, Jack can't shake this foreboding feeling, a premonition, that something is going to happen to him. Hilary reassures him they're just suffering pre-wedding jitters. They love each other. What could go wrong?
Chapter 8- With absolutely no mention of meeting with their bishop to discuss that little problem regarding a temple sealing cancellation for Jack, a wedding date is set and Hilary's parent's (who knew about Jack's first marriage) don't even blink an eye. Lorie is indifferent.
Hilary and Jack make many trips to Mt. Pleasant so Jack can continue to help her family on the farm. It is hay baling time. One day, both Hilary's parents had to go to Provo for an appointment and Hilary needs to run errands. Jack is all alone out in the field, driving the faulty tractor with the inadequate lift. It is inevitable that one of the unsteady bales of hay would fall the wrong way. Jack is knocked off the tractor onto the ground which is where Hilary finds him; in pain, unable to move his legs. She calls 911 then has to return to the house to shower, change, and take an antihistamine for her severe allergy before driving to Provo to be with her fiancé in the hospital.
Jack suffered a serious spinal cord injury. He'll never walk again. Hilary thanks God she finally saw the light and fell in love with him just when he needed her most. She is a strong woman. She still wants to marry him so she can be there for him. They will face the biggest trial of their lives, together.
Chapter 9- But it's not going to be easy. Jack puts on a brave face for all his visitors but Hilary knows something has died inside her boyfriend. She excuses herself to the ladies room for a good cry. Jack is withdrawn and depressed while Hilary continues to cope by following her daily work routines when she's not at the hospital.
Janna finds Hilary at the studio, she just had a feeling. Hilary cries and spills everything. Now that she knows the story, Janna advises Hilary not to make the same mistake her husband did when she spiraled down into chronic depression: no coddling, set firm boundaries while giving full support so Jack can reach his goals at becoming self-sufficient while they continue to plan their wedding.
Sitting alone in his hospital room, brooding, Jack wonders if life couldn't get much worse when Lorie comes knocking. Jack calls her a hypocrite and tells her to get lost. He points out if she were to take her ex-husband back it would mean a drastic change in her lifestyle. Realizing she's not ready for that kind of commitment, Lorie exits without another word. We never see her again.
Hilary enters and tries to psych Jack up about their upcoming wedding but Jack isn't so sure he deserves that kind of happiness again. He doesn't want to be a burden to her or anybody.
Chapter 10- On the day they were to be married, Hilary decides to surprise Jack with a romantic candlelight dinner. Conspiring with their favorite nurse, Jack is wheeled into his hospital room but he's cynical. Nothing's going to change the fact he's a broken man in a wheelchair who will never be a true patriarch to his family. Hilary sobs and sobs as Jack reminds her of everything this accident took away from them. They can never have a normal life. Jack does appreciate her kind gesture this evening and he does apologize for his harsh words. Hilary forgives him and they part on amicable terms.
Filled with new hope, Hilary calls her female boss, the owner of the dance studio who once offered Hilary the business. The offer is still open and Hilary knows the time is now. She's also been taking care of all of Jack's bills and reading everything she can get her hands on about spinal cord injuries similar to Jack's. Since Jack's pretty much living at the hospital, she moves into his empty apartment. During one visit, she borrows a hospital wheelchair and spends hours experiencing life from a different point of view. She returns to Jack's room, humbled.
Janna talks Colin into taking Jack into their home after he's released from the hospital. Ammon is happy to help them with the necessary home remodeling (good thing Colin's a rich-ass lawyer). Jack is so touched by everyone's kindness, he hardly knows what to say.
Chapter 11- Jack settles into the Trevor home and is hanging out in the kitchen with Janna one afternoon when her two youngest girls return from school. Mallory is in first grade. She takes one look at their new house guest and begins pestering Jack with questions. She brings him her favorite stuffed animal to help him feel better but before she can grill him further on how he uses the potty, (he has a catheter) Hilary sends her off to play.
A few days later, Hilary takes Jack to see the newly vacated, handicap accessible apartment she just rented for their new life after the wedding. Not an easy feat as these apartments are in high demand. (The deposit alone probably set Hilary back quite a bit). Jack is hesitant but Hilary is anxious for them to get on with their lives. For her, this is an answer to her prayers.
Discouraged by Jack's attitude, Hilary talks to Janna who throws an informal party. Everyone's invited: Jack and Hilary, Ammon introduces his wife Allison to everyone for the first time, then the doorbell rings and Janna ushers in our favorite family counselor, Sean O'Hara and his wife Tara. Allison is delighted to see Sean after all these years. What small world this is! All tuck into the nice dinner Janna prepared and the pleasant evening is enjoyed by all.
Chapter 12- Their friends and family help Jack move into his new apartment but he's still depressed about the future. Jack believes because of his injury, he can never "get it up" again and enjoy a normal married life. It takes a lot of prying and coaxing but, at last, Hilary gets Jack to talk and straightens him out. Apparently, Jack's injury isn't as serious as we were told. He CAN be sexually active and they will have lots of babies. It's possible. Even without the Viagra. (um, I Googled this and...it's not) For Jack, this changes everything. The wedding is back on!
They spend Thanksgiving at the Smith farmhouse where Hilary's Dad clears his throat while Mom giggles, blushes and looks away as the happy couple announces they will be able to present them with lots of little grandbabies after all. Adoption won't be necessary (Oh, yes it will).
Chapter 13- Hilary and Jack are married in the Manti temple. The ceremony is truly beautiful with Colin and Ammon supporting Jack so he can kneel at the alter (for the second time) and be sealed to his (second) bride.
During all this time, no one from Jack's immediate family have been truly supportive. His mother stopped by the hospital once but practically ran away screaming. She did attend the reception of her son's first temple marriage to Lorie but was glaringly absent at this one. Jack's brothers make a brief appearance at this reception but don't stay long as they clearly don't fit in. As far as the Hayden family is concerned, Jack is a freak and they want nothing to do with him.
Before entering the honeymoon suite at the best hotel in Provo their limited budget can afford, Hilary plops herself down in Jack's lap so he can "carry" her over the threshold. Jack weeps at the wholesome, unravished, virginal beauty of his bride, eager to consummate their marriage. He is the luckiest man on earth.
They spend Christmas in Mt. Pleasant where Jack enjoys the best holiday of his life. He feels truly part of an eternal family now. As Jack and Hilary settle into their married life in their new ward, Hilary accepts a primary calling while Jack refuses his, blaming his physical limitations on his ability to serve in the church. Their new home teacher just happens to be married to a woman confined to a wheelchair. He offers his wheelchair accessible van to them anytime Jack needs a ride.
Because money is tight, Hilary takes a second job while Jack literally sits around the apartment all day
She visits Janna, pours her heart out and cries on her shoulder until Janna tells her the obvious. Give Jack the ultimate ultimatum. Shape up or she's moving out! Hilary dries her tears. She knows what she has to do.
Chapter 14- Hilary returns to the apartment and starts packing while Jack watches in consternation and disbelief, waiting to call her bluff, but Hilary walks out the door. Jack just sits there like an idiot until the room grows dark and he realizes she's not coming back.
Hilary fled back to Janna's where she spends the night. Next day, Jack calls his home teacher for a ride and finds Hilary curled into a fetal position on the dance studio floor. Jack apologizes, promises to start contributing more and Hilary takes him back.
Four months later, Jack has regressed back to his unproductive lifestyle, the apartment is a mess and Hilary is frustrated. She sits him down (pun intended) to discuss the issue but nothing changes. Realizing this calls for drastic measures, Hilary cuts the cable and refuses to pick up the remote for Jack when he drops it. (Wow) Hilary leaves for work the next morning ignoring Jack's whining that he's missing Gilligan. With no motivation to get up, Jack stays in bed, surrounded by a filthy apartment. Ammon comes knocking and lets himself in. Seeing Jack he gives him a pep talk about focusing on the positive which motivates him to get up and start cleaning.
Chapter 15- Hilary is very impressed when she returns home to find a relatively clean apartment and a hot dinner prepared by Jack waiting. From then on, Jack begins putting more effort into changing his attitude. With Hilary's encouragement, he reads his patriarchal blessing and realizes, with his past knowledge and experience working construction, he could work retail at a building supply store. He gets the job and Hilary is delighted. He'll take the bus at first but with the additional income, Hilary can quit her second job and he'd like to start shopping for a handicap accessible vehicle he can drive.
He goes back to school, back to church where he accepts a calling as young men's president over thirty-seven boys (wonder how many of them are active?) it's a bit overwhelming at first but Jack finds his new life rich and full. He gets together with Ammon, offering helpful advice on floorplan designs. Months pass. Hilary is still not pregnant. Jack is also discouraged and it doesn't help that Janna just popped out another baby. Jack and Hilary resolve themselves to having more faith.
One Sunday afternoon, Ammon and his family drop in to visit. Ammon wants to build Jack and Hilary a real home, specially designed to fit their needs. Jack argues they can never afford this but lucky for all of them, Allison just happens to have connections to an insanely rich financial backer who is always looking for a good cause. They can refinance and pay Allison's stepfather, Michael, back later, even though they've never met. The house is completed quickly. Everyone lends a hand to help them move in and Jack and Hilary are very grateful.
Then Janna is attacked. Her abusive, incarcerated, ex-husband Russell got out on another parole and, like any good psychopath, his first item of business? Kill Janna! Lucky for Janna, teenage Matthew just happened to be staying home from school that day and intervened, wrestling the gun away from his stepfather. Matthew was about to turn the weapon on the evil perpetrator but Janna talked him out of it. The police arrived (late as usual) and hauled Russell away, this time for life.
Jack and Hilary find everyone in the Trevor household shaken and in shock from the events of the previous night. Janna won't get out of bed. Jack helps Colin give her a blessing. Hilary has a heart to heart with her friend. Jack talks to Matthew about overcoming trials and challenges. Everyone feels better now. Jack learns his mother passed away but he doesn't seem too bothered by it.
Chapter 16- After what happened to Janna, Jack has become paranoid something similar might occur in their home with himself powerless to defend his family. Hilary and Janna both talk to Jack and calm his fears. Jack decides to try a little social psychology experiment by going out in public, sitting at the foot of a long flight of cement stairs outside an old government building, and waiting to see who might help him if requested. Two very rough-looking characters smelling of cigarette smoke turn out to be really nice and are happy to assist him. Everyone that day turns out to be diamonds in the rough. The experiment over, Jack in turn helps two LDS missionaries by giving them a lift to their next appointment. The Elders are impressed with his wheelchair accessible car. He returns home to report to Hilary who is very proud of him but also very depressed due to their struggle to get pregnant. She wants children so badly. Jack shares her frustration. He shares his trick, whenever he feels himself spiraling down, he goes to his happy place imagining the old days, remembering how it felt to stand, take Hilary in his arms and waltz her around a dance studio. They kiss and hope is rekindled.
Chapter 17- Degree in hand, Jack finds it challenging, stuck working retail, while job hunting for something better, where he can use his new knowledge effectively, but white collar jobs are slow in coming (join the club). He fast and prays. He talks to Ammon and realizes his career and place in life is back at his old job in the company office: manning the phones, moving paperwork, running the copy machine and picking up lunch for everyone. He has a knack for organization, efficiently matching contractors to suppliers (how did we ever survive without cell phones?) and using computer design software to create new, improved building plans. He's pretty much Ammon's new secretary and since Jack isn't female, Ammon offers him a partnership in the business, which is booming (at least until the housing bubble bursts) all thanks to Jack; Mitchell Construction is bringing in more money than ever before.
The Trevor family is also thriving as Matthew leaves to serve his mission and Janna continues to juggle homemaking life with volunteer work at a local crisis center for abused women.
Now Jack can focus on his church calling which becomes more significant when a new family moves in with their only son who is disabled and confined to a wheelchair. Bitter and angry at the world, cursing God for the disease he was born with, Jack makes it his responsibility to take the young man under his wing, mentor him, and get close to him without looking like a creepy pervert. Another boy in his group is sexually active with his girlfriend, drinks and smokes without shame. Jack gets him back on the straight and narrow by paring him up with the handicapped boy who'd like to pass the sacrament but can't maneuver his chair without help. Jack tells them how he overcame his rough start in life with his dysfunctional, inactive family. The other boy agrees to push the wheelchair so both can participate in fulfilling their priesthood duty during the meeting. He kicks his Word of Wisdom habits and is reactivated. Both boys benefit and set goals to serve missions. Problem solved.
One evening, Hilary can hardly eat her dinner, she feels so sick and nauseous. She runs to the bathroom to be sick. Realizing just how long it's been since her last period, she dusts off an old pregnancy test which shows positive. She visits the doctor who confirms it and Jack is just as happy and thrilled as his wife. At last, they're finally going to be parents.
Chapter 18- Hilary is four months pregnant when she runs into complications. Jack drives her to the hospital where the doctor declares Hilary will have to remain bedridden for the remainder of her pregnancy. Janna visits often to keep her company but Jack finds new self-worth as more of the household responsibilities fall to him and he does his best to take good care of his wife and make certain she has everything she needs; lots of VCR rentals, library books and magazines. Since he has complete understanding and empathy of her situation, Jack helps Hilary stay positive and their marriage becomes stronger than ever.
Hilary gives birth to a baby girl. They name her Erin Hilary Hayden. Janna throws her a baby shower. Matthew returns from his mission and stands in the circle for the baby blessing.
Reflecting on the number of years that have passed since his accident, Jack and Hilary are grateful for all they've learned and overcome. Jack has finally come to terms with his life and accepted himself. He's discovered he can do an awful lot, even in a wheelchair. Hilary calls him her hero. Jack returns the compliment. The baby lets out a loud burp and it's a happy
THE END
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