All Chapters of Decisions I made : Chapter 121 - Chapter 130

Later that evening, after they had made love, the suite was quiet once again.The only sounds were their steady breathing and the soft trickle of water from the fountain in the gardens below. Moonlight filtered through the large windows, casting a gentle glow across the room.Jack lay on his back for several moments, staring at the ceiling. His mind, however, wasn't on the beautiful hotel or the unforgettable birthday.It was on what had just happened.He turned toward Lela, who rested comfortably beside him, her head on his shoulder."Lela..."She looked up at him."Hmm?"His expression had grown more serious."We didn't use protection."She could hear the concern in his voice immediately."I think we should go to the store and get you Plan B."There was no panic in his tone—only genuine concern.He reached for her hand."I don't want us to ignore it."Lela gave his hand a reassuring squeeze."Jack...""It's okay."He searched her face."You aren't worried?"She smiled softly."Hones

Sunday afternoon arrived much sooner than either of them wanted.The weekend had somehow managed to feel both wonderfully long and far too short.After one last stroll through the gardens and a leisurely lunch on the terrace, they returned to their suite.Lela leaned against the door after they walked inside, looking around the room with a small smile."I don't want to pack."Jack laughed as he loosened the collar of his shirt."I was just thinking the same thing."She looked toward the windows overlooking the gardens."It feels like we just got here.""It does."Jack walked over and stood beside her.Below them, guests were checking in while others wandered the pathways they had spent the past two days exploring."You know..." he said quietly."I was nervous about this trip."She looked up at him."You were?"He nodded."I wanted it to live up to whatever you'd imagined."She smiled."It surpassed everything I imagined.""I don't mean the hotel.""I mean..."He slipped an arm around

Lela hadn't moved from the kitchen table in nearly an hour.The termination letter still lay unfolded in front of her.She had read it so many times the words had begun to blur together.She reached for her coffee.It had gone cold.Just like the rest of the day.The silence inside the house was overwhelming.Normally her parents' home was full of conversation.Her father humming while he worked on something in the garage.Her mother talking on the phone with friends.The television playing in the background.Today...Nothing.Just silence.She glanced at her phone.Still no response from Ron.Three missed calls from Jack.Two unanswered text messages.Her stomach twisted with guilt.She hated ignoring him.He hadn't done anything wrong.If anything, he was the one person she wanted to talk to.But she couldn't.Not yet.She wasn't ready to say the words out loud."I lost my job."Somehow saying them would make them real.She leaned back in her chair and covered her face with both han

The house was quiet.The digital clock on the nightstand read 6:12 a.m.Lela had barely slept.Every time she closed her eyes, she replayed the last twenty-four hours.The letter.Chris standing on the porch.Jack's truck pulling into the driveway.The hurt in his eyes.The argument.Then seeing him standing on the front porch hours later, looking exhausted and ashamed.She slowly sat up.The house felt unusually still.She slipped on one of her father's old sweatshirts, quietly opened her bedroom door, and walked toward the living room.Jack was asleep on the couch.Or at least he had been.The blanket had fallen onto the floor sometime during the night.One arm was draped across his eyes.The termination letter still rested on the coffee table beside him.Lela stood there for several seconds.Seeing him like this broke her heart.This wasn't how either of them had imagined ending such a perfect weekend.She quietly picked up the blanket and gently pulled it back over him.As she tur

The kitchen had finally been cleaned.The dishes were drying in the rack.The smell of coffee still lingered in the air.Lela stood at the sink looking out into the backyard while Jack quietly dried the last plate.It felt... normal.For the first time in days.Jack set the towel down."I've been thinking."Lela turned toward him."About?""I'm not going into work today."She blinked."You have to.""I don't.""Jack...""I've got meetings.""I've got reports.""But they'll survive one day without me."She frowned."You shouldn't miss work because of me."He walked over until he was standing in front of her."I'm not staying home because I think you're helpless.""I'm staying because I love you.""And because I know today isn't going to be easy."She looked down."I'll be okay.""I know you will."He smiled gently."But you don't have to be okay by yourself."She felt tears threaten again."You really don't have to do that.""I've already called."Her eyebrows shot up."You already wha