All Chapters of Decisions I made : Chapter 171 - Chapter 180

They were married.Actually married.Lela still couldn't quite believe it.Every time she looked down at her hand and saw the ring, she smiled.Jack had done the same thing at least a dozen times since the ceremony.He would glance at his own ring, shake his head, and then look at her.His wife.She was his wife.And tonight, they were celebrating.Everyone had been invited to dinner at Agostino's. It wasn't the huge Italian wedding reception they planned for next year. This was simply dinner with the people who mattered most—a chance to sit together, laugh, eat, and celebrate the beginning of their marriage.By the time they arrived, everyone was already talking.Lawrence was telling one of his stories.Sarah was laughing.Pamela was showing someone pictures from the ceremony.Frank was sitting back with a drink, looking unusually pleased with himself.Monica was sitting beside Lela, proudly telling everyone that she had been the flower girl."And I didn't drop any flowers!" she anno

By the time dinner finally ended, the mood had changed completely.What had started as a celebration of Jack and Lela's first night as husband and wife had turned into something neither of them had expected.Still, they tried to salvage what they could.They took pictures.They laughed when Lawrence insisted on making everyone pose for another photograph.Pamela hugged Lela.Frank shook Jack's hand and told him quietly,"Take care of my girl."Jack nodded."I will."Then Frank added,"And don't let this situation with Gin ruin your marriage."Jack looked at him seriously."I'm trying.""I know."Frank glanced at Lela."She's stronger than you think."Jack smiled."I know that too."When they finally arrived home, the house was quiet.Monica was already asleep.Jack stood in the hallway for a moment, staring at her bedroom door.Lela came up behind him."You okay?"He nodded."Yeah."He lowered his voice."I just hate that she has to be in the middle of all this."Lela slipped her hand

The next meeting with Jane was supposed to be simple.Jack wanted normal visitation.That was all.He wasn't asking for sole custody.He wasn't trying to take Monica away from Gin.He didn't want a courtroom battle.He wanted to be able to see his daughter without every visit becoming an argument.But the financial situation was crushing him.Between child support and spousal support, Jack felt as though he was working simply to hand nearly everything over.And now, with the Army and the move ahead of them, he was terrified that his life was becoming impossible to manage.Lela sat beside him in Jane's office while Jane reviewed the paperwork."I understand what you're asking for," Jane said. "You want a consistent visitation schedule. You want something enforceable. You want less conflict.""Exactly," Jack said."I don't want to keep fighting with Gin."Jane nodded."And you don't want Monica caught in the middle.""Never."Lela reached for his hand beneath the table.Jane looked at b

The doctor came back into the room with a much different expression than the one Jack had feared."Well," she said, looking at the results, "we have an answer."Lela immediately grabbed Jack's hand."What is it?""The flu."Lela blinked."The flu?""Yes. Your tests show a viral infection, and you're also dehydrated."Jack let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.The doctor smiled."And since you've recently moved to Georgia, the change in environment, water, food, and general routine can sometimes make people feel pretty miserable while their bodies adjust."Lela closed her eyes."What a relief."Jack laughed quietly."You have no idea."The doctor gave them instructions for fluids, rest, and monitoring her symptoms.By the time they left the hospital, Lela was exhausted.Jack opened the passenger door for her."Home."She nodded."And you're going to bed.""Yes, Sergeant."He laughed."That's right."Jack Becomes the CaretakerJack stayed home from work.He made sure Lel

The drive back to Pennsylvania seemed longer than usual.Lela was exhausted, but her mind wouldn't slow down.The wedding was tomorrow.Her dress was packed.The rings were packed.The pregnancy tests were safely tucked away where nobody would find them.And now she had one more thing to worry about.Her father.Jack drove most of the way while Lela stared out the window."You okay?" he asked."Yeah.""You've been quiet.""I'm tired."He glanced at her."Get some sleep.""I can't.""You've been saying that for an hour.""I know."He smiled."You're nervous.""Maybe.""About the wedding?""Mostly."She wasn't going to tell him that she was also nervous about hiding the pregnancy from her father.Especially when her father had a way of knowing when something was wrong.They finally arrived at her parents' house late that evening.The house was still buzzing with wedding preparations.People were coming and going.Phones were ringing.Boxes were stacked everywhere.Flowers were being del