~Port Charles, Summer, 1980~

Jax, on his bike, turned the corner of the dirt path in record time as he raced over to the tree house. Once there, he saw Chloe sitting in the tree swing, dressed in her little white sundress, barefoot, as usual, and playing with the petals of a flower. Something though, didn't seem right. She was always a cheerful person, but today, she seemed sad.

"Hey, Chloe." He said as he threw his bike to the ground.

Chloe looked up and smiled halfheartedly. "Hi, Jax."

Jax definitely knew that something was bothering her now. He could tell that she had been crying. "Chloe, what's wrong?" Jax sat down on the ground beside her.

Chloe was silent for a moment or so, but then, she finally spoke. "My parents. They're getting a divorce."

"What? Are you sure?"

Chloe shook her head. "Mom told me this morning. And Daddy took me out to lunch today. He said that he couldn't live with us anymore."

"Is that why your dad was away? I thought you said he was away for work."

"That's what I thought, but I don't think so anymore. I think he had already moved out by then."

"Gee, I'm sorry, Chloe. I would just hate it if my parents got a divorce."

"I just don't understand. Why doesn't he want to live with us anymore? Mom doesn't want him to leave, but Daddy doesn't want to stay. I mean, he must have loved living with us at some point, otherwise he wouldn't have stayed with us for this long. Why does he suddenly want to leave us now?"

Jax didn't know what to say, so he just continued to listen.

"I'm never getting married. What's the point? I mean, it's just going to end up in divorce anyway."

"Well, my parents are still married. I don't think they're going to get a divorce anytime soon"

"I know, but you see, that's my point. It always seems to happen when you least expect it. I didn't think my parents would ever get a divorce. How would you feel if your dad suddenly said tomorrow that he was leaving you and your mother and Jerry and that he was going to move back to Australia?"

"I would hate that. But, Chloe, you can't not get married. You have to get married sometime."

"My Aunt Eleanor never got married."

"Yeah, but what happens when you get really old? What if you die all by yourself?"

"Aunt Eleanor wasn't alone. She had me, and Mom, and Daddy, and Cousin Lila, and Uncle Herbert…"

"But what if she didn't have her family? What would happen if you never married and you didn't have anyone else left? You would die all alone."

"I didn't think of that. But, Jax, I still have the same problem. If I get married, my husband will divorce me!"

"No he won't, Chloe. I don't think he would divorce you. You're really nice, and sweet, and you're really pretty."

"But so is my Mom, and Daddy is divorcing her."

"Oh, oh yeah."

"And, Jax, it could happen to you too! What if you marry some pretty girl and she leaves you? What would you do?"

"I don't know. Gee, I don't want to die alone either." The two children sighed. Then, Jax suddenly lit up. "Hey, I know! I got an idea! Let's make a pact."

"What's a pact?"

"Well, it's sorta like a deal, or a promise."

"Okay. What's the pact?"

"Well, how about this? If neither one of us is married by the time we are 30, then-we'll marry each other!"

A smile suddenly crept up on Chloe's face, which Jax was very happy to see, and Chloe let out a small giggle. "But, Jax, you're my best friend!"

"So? There's not a law that says best friends can't get married. And if you think about it, it's a good thing that we are friends. We already have fun together, and we'll always be friends, so we'll never want to get a divorce because we can't stand each other. So, what do you say?"

"You would really want to marry me?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I, Chloe? You're my best friend. Would you want to marry me?"

Chloe smiled. "I'd love to marry you, Jax." Chloe then got out of the swing and kissed Jax on the cheek.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"For cheering me up. Look, I gotta go." Chloe picked her bike up from the ground. "Mom will probably have dinner ready in a few, and well, she was crying earlier, so I don't want her to worry about me. She's got enough to deal with already."

"Hey, Chloe."

"Yeah?"

"I'm really sorry about your parents."

"Thanks, Jax. And thanks for understanding." Chloe smiled. "See ya."

"See ya."

~Port Charles, Fall, 19 years later

Jasper Jacks stepped out of the elevator and took out his key. The penthouse was completely dark when he opened the door. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something didn't seem right.

"Brenda?" He called out as he turned on the light. "Brenda, you here?" There was still no answer. Jax put his briefcase on the desk, and as he did, he saw a piece of paper with his name on it in Brenda's handwriting.

Jax,

By the time you read this, I will be gone. I have tried and tried for weeks, months even, to deny what I was feeling in my heart, but I cannot deny it any longer. I’m still in love with Sonny, and he still has feelings for me. I don’t want to hurt you, but I feel that this is the best thing I can do for the both of us. This is why I moved out while you were away. It was easier that way. I’m really sorry that I had to break the news to you this way, but I can’t live with you anymore, and I can’t marry you, Jax, not when my heart is still with another man. I hope you take care of yourself, and please know that I will always treasure the memories that we had.

Brenda

It took Jax a few moments to recover from the shock that he felt. He couldn’t believe that it was true. He couldn’t believe that Brenda would just move out! Jax picked up the diamond engagement ring beside the note. The ring he had placed on her finger just a matter of weeks ago.

Jax ran into the bedroom and opened the closet. Sure enough, all of her clothes were gone. On the dresser, Brenda had left no jewelry behind. He then looked inside the bathroom. All of her cosmetics, all of her special moisturizers, and even all of her fancy soaps-gone. There was not a trace of Brenda left in that penthouse.

Jax went back to the living room and reread her letter. Brenda was gone. It was in that moment that it had finally hit him. It was truly over.

Not knowing what else to do, Jax picked up the phone and made a call. “Hey, it’s me…yeah, I just got back. Look, can you come over? I need to talk to you….”

To be continued...