Jack's visit from old man Nick
Jack read the last text from Doug, “Hey babe, I’m running late, plane delay, I likely won’t get in until after midnight. I’m calling you.” He’d sent via text. He had called a few minutes later and they’d talked for about 30 minutes before they’d said good night and he promised he’d wake Jack up when he got home, with a kiss. Jack was disappointed, of course, but he understood, travel on Christmas Eve is never fun and coming from the northeast, where winter storms are a common occurrence, he gets that planes can be delayed. Still, he’s not happy with it. He grabs a beer and sits in front of the tree, the dinner he’d planned and cooked before Doug’s call, sits uneaten on the island. He’s got a fire going in the fireplace and the house is dim, lit only by the light of the Christmas tree. He’s wearing grey sweats with wool socks and a tee, the fire is warm, though and he starts to shed clothes. First go the socks, then the tee and finally the sweats hit...