Jack. What can I say about him? He is my anchor character and he and Stephanie are my anchor couple. It always comes back to them.
When I created Jack, I had a few concerns. I didn’t want to go along the obvious route. Hotshot arrogant surgeon with looks to match his abilities. Sleeps with anything that walks and cares about nothing until one woman gets to his heart.
Ugh. I had to make him different. I needed the persona to be different from the man and I needed the readers to know that right away.
Jack is handsome and he knows it. He is also arrogant and proud of it. He likes women and that’s no secret. The difference came with his back story.
He had raised Julie with his best friend and was a grounded, caring, fiercely loyal man with a heart of gold. He felt abandoned by his father and never got over the loss of his mother.
Making Jack a cardiac surgeon was never a choice. I couldn’t see him as anything else.
It’s funny. When I teach my students a small unit on character development, I always give them a few paragraphs from the beginning of Nothing Matters. I don’t tell them anything and I ask them what we know about the main character. What do they think will happen and where is the story going.
I get a lot of interesting responses…
He’s a jerk, but it’s an act.
He’s handsome and lots of women want him.
He deletes the messages from the women, so he wants something more.
He’s in love with his friend Tommy. (I always smile at that one).
They also ask if the woman he finds on the ledge jumps. They want to know if it’s going to be like a CSI episode.
I have also gotten interesting reviews for the book. One even called Jack a “man whore”. That bothered me. We don’t call them women whores, so what’s with the man title? 🙂
One also said he cries too much. Sensitivity in a man isn’t so bad, but to each his or her own.
Anyway, I love hearing what people think about my characters because it lets me know what’s working and what isn’t. One of the most crushing things a beta reader ever told me after reading a little of “If Only” was that they didn’t like Brittany and didn’t care what happened to her. I had to take a break after that one- I was really hurt.
It did make me realize that what was in my head obviously wasn’t coming out on paper and I needed to fix that. I did. I think a few more people care about her now.
Back to Jack.
Finding Stephanie on the ledge was important because it was a jarring moment. He couldn’t walk away. He was inexplicably drawn to her and it was so “unJack like” but so true to who I knew was inside of him.
What I loved, was that Stephanie didn’t care who he was or what he did. She didn’t care that he was handsome or accomplished. She wasn’t playing hard to get, she was deep within her own pain and that allowed Jack to show her his true self. He wasn’t trying to impress her because she wasn’t interested. He simply had to be honest and bare because that’s the only thing that would help her.
One of my favorites parts from the beginning of Jack’s story:
Jack rubbed his eyes and sat back down. “Do you want me to leave you alone? I mean; I don’t know why I am here. You haven’t said a word to me, except that you already died, which is not true, and you don’t respond to anything I say or do. I should be home enjoying my day off, and here I am, sitting in a room with a person I don’t know, for reasons I can’t figure out,” Jack stood up and walked to the window and turned to look at her. “You know, this isn’t my style. I don’t have to work to get women to talk to me. You should be fawning over the fact that I am devoting so much attention to you,” he smiled. “Didn’t work, huh? The arrogance usually gets a response,” he sighed. “Okay, I’ll see you around,” he waited a minute and walked out, feeling utterly helpless.
He was in trouble and he knew it. The issue was that he couldn’t help her and it killed him. He needed a way in, but he didn’t know why.
Jack, to me, was a unique character. I never wanted him to lose his edge as a surgeon or his arrogance about life when he found Stephanie. I love both of those things and to be honest, they make Jack, well, Jack.
Stephanie
I have the hardest time with Stephanie because much of her life comes from personal experience. I have never been on a ledge and thankfully, I have never watched my best friend die, but I have been around people like Josh. I think we all have. Whenever someone is diagnosed with a disease like MS, the questions never stop. It is a disease that can only be described as unpredictable. One day a person may have one symptom and the next day it may be something else. The idea that you wake up feeling a certain way and suddenly something changes is a feeling that can cause anxiety and it’s hard for others to understand because you “look” fine. You don’t “look” sick. (I HATE when people say that.)
What Josh did to Stephanie while in Paris was cruel, of course, but it hit on her worst fears. What if he was right. Was she selfish living with Nikki? Was she selfish to want a career when she may not be able to work? Was she holding others back? Being an orthopedic specialist required a lot of physical effort and she was a tiny woman, already. Was she ridiculous in pursuing this career?
Hearing those things over and over, even by an asshole like Josh, doesn’t mean you don’t start believing them.
When I was diagnosed, I wasn’t sure I would ever work again. I thought every ache or strange feeling was a worsening of my condition. I figured I would be wheelchair bound in no time and life as I imagined it was over. Forget teaching. Forget everything.
I relate to Stephanie in so many ways because she just didn’t know.
Losing Nikki confirmed her worst fears.
She brought nothing but sadness to those she loved.
Seeing Jack come on the ledge with her wasn’t something she could comprehend. It didn’t matter who he was or what he said. She was set on a path of self destruction and no white knight could save her.
Like Stephanie, I needed time. I needed to realize that who I was with the diagnosis wasn’t different from who I was before. In fact, I probably had MS much longer than we knew and I had lived a pretty productive life up until then. I needed to believe in myself and get out of my own head.
So did Stephanie.
When she began to let Jack in, slowly, she began to feel again. She saw a new Stephanie in how he looked at her and when he found everything out, he didn’t run. He stayed and he cared.
That was everything.
I received a review once that said the person was incredibly disappointed in how I write Stephanie’s MS. It was obvious I had no idea what I was talking about and it was insulting. I filed that away and kept writing.
Everyone’s experiences are different.
One of my favorite moments when they were first together was when Jack poured his heart out.
Jack took a deep breath, not quite sure of how to proceed. He walked over to the couch and sat down. “I have listened to your self loathing long enough to know a few things. Nobody is perfect. We all have flaws and imperfections in our character and our actions. I am a womanizer who has been with more women than I care to remember. I treat affection like it is my right to receive and I can’t remember the last time I ever thought of another person with any regard other than what they could do for me. I have missed everything about living while I have just existed. When I found you on the roof, something snapped in me. It was like I saw myself on the ledge and if you gave up, well it would just mean that the kind of life I was living was all there was. I needed to help you, to make you feel safe, to make my existence more than just a pretty face. I can’t believe I’m telling you any of this, I have never had a conversation with anyone that has been this revealing, but there is just something about you,” Jack felt very uncomfortable and self-conscious suddenly and stood up. “I’ll be back, I just need a, something,” he walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.
I loved this because Jack was suddenly real. Jack, the strong arrogant amazing man was so affected by her, that he couldn’t deal with it. It showed him, that no matter what, he needed her.
A major part of Nothing Matters was also the introduction of Ron and Jenny.
Jenny came first, helping Stephanie with her burns and giving Jack a context to his life growing up. Bringing Ron back was completely selfish on my part.
Ron had liver cancer like my dad. Unlike my dad, Ron survived.
Having them find Ron in a Paris café during a robbery was a way to add more drama (I know, I have enough) but it enabled the shock of seeing him to sink in before any confrontation happened. Stephanie was integral when it came to Jack allowing his father to be a part of his life and it has allowed an amazing relationship to grow. Putting him with Jenny helped Jack see his father in a new light. He loved and respected Jenny, and she loved and respected Ron, so perhaps he needed to look harder.
I also loved the scene where Tommy met Stephanie for the first time.
“Excuse me, am I interrupting?” Tommy stood at the doorway.
Jack grinned. “No, come on in,” he looked at Stephanie. “This is Tommy, my best friend. He is a Pediatric Surgeon at U of M, but I am trying to get him to apply to head up the new Mott’s Children’s Hospital Surgical Wing.
“Jack is a bit relentless when it comes to that,” the handsome doctor walked over and shook Stephanie’s hand. “It is very nice to meet you.”
Stephanie smiled and looked between the two men. They looked like brothers, Jack a touch taller than Tommy. “It’s great to meet you, too. How long have you known each other?” she relished learning something of Jack’s past.
“We met when we were 6 and Jack stole my girlfriend,” Tommy smirked.
Jack laughed. “Right, she was my girlfriend and you stole her.”
“No, I just let you have her because she kept eating my cookies,” Tommy looked at Stephanie. “You should never steal a man’s cookies.”
She laughed for the first time in a long time. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she liked Tommy. He was warm and funny and she could see the respect the two men had for each other.
“I don’t like to say it often, but Tommy suffers from delusions. I have tried to get him help,” Jack ducked as Tommy went to smack him.
“Whatever man,” he grinned and looked out into the hallway. “There’s that nurse from earlier. I am going to ask if she’s single,” he smiled as he walked out.
Jack shook his head. “That’s Tommy for you.”
Stephanie grinned. “I like him. He is funny and cute.”
“Cute?” Jack pretended to be hurt. “He isn’t cute.”
She smiled as she closed her eyes. “He is cute, but you are handsome. There is a difference.”
So much of Jack and Stephanie’s story after book 1 turned into being the strong bond that guided the rest of the couples. I adore that about them because it’s true.
And then this happened:
Jack walked into the room and smiled at the sight before him. Stephanie was sitting up in bed with their daughter and she was examining the little baby. He walked up to the bed. “What are you doing?”
“Checking her, making sure she has 10 fingers and 10 toes. She has 15 hairs on the top of her head and if you watch her closely, I think she has a dimple. Come here,” Stephanie smiled at her husband.
Jack sat on the bed as Stephanie moved over a little to make room. He leaned his head next to Stephanie’s and they looked at their daughter. He was choked up, as he had been numerous times in the past few hours. He still couldn’t believe she was real. Stephanie looked at him. “Why don’t you take her for a bit?”
He swallowed and gently took her in his arms. He sat back and looked at his sleeping baby. “She looks like a doll,” he whispered.
Stephanie leaned her head on his shoulder. “She is the best of both of us.” The baby yawned and both parents marveled at her.
“Was that her first yawn?” Jack asked. “Should we write it down?”
Stephanie laughed and held her stomach. “No and no. She has yawned about a million times. Apparently being born really wipes you out. So, don’t you think she needs a name? Baby girl Stephens just doesn’t do her justice.”
He nodded. “I agree. Are you set on what we talked about?”
She smiled. “I am, but I think we should ask her.”
He smiled. “I agree,” he looked at his baby girl. “Sabrina Amanda Stephens. Is that a name worthy of such a beautiful girl?”
Stephanie smiled. “What do you think, little Bee? Is that okay with you?”
“Bee?” Jack smiled. “Cute. I think it’s perfect,” he looked at little Sabrina and his heart swelled. “I hope you know how excited we are to meet you. Your mommy and I have been so anxious for you to arrive. Apparently you were, too, because you got here a little early. But we’re ready and we are so excited. I can’t wait to show you off.”
Introducing Bee was a game changer. She is feisty and opinionated and just like her dad. I had such fun writing her as a baby, being attached to every man and causing Jack so many gray hairs. The thing I loved about writing Sabrina as a baby is that she added an element to the series that was light and fun in the midst of the tragedies. Her love affair with David is my favorite.
In “Red” you will see a different side to Sabrina and David. I’m curious what you will think.
Not to be outdone, we have this:
Evan ran to them and motioned for them to follow. He led them to the darkened area and Jack saw Stephanie in the bed. He dropped the bag and ran to her. “Stephanie? Baby are you okay?” he cried as he looked at her. She was lying with the oxygen on her face and in her arms was a perfect tiny little girl. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she said softly. “Look what we did,” her face beamed as she handed him their daughter. Jack was overcome with emotion when he took his daughter in his arms. She was beautiful and perfect and she blinked as she looked at her father.
“We would like to introduce you to Tessa Blair Stephens. Tessa after her uncle Tommy who has already proven to be her protector. She will learn strength and honor from you and she will always know there is a safe place for her to go.” Jack said and his chin quivered. “Blair after her Uncle Bill. She will know the true meaning of family by watching how you and Julie love each other. She will know how important it is to be honest and honorable. She will learn the value of trust and the importance of laughter. She will always be safe and loved and there will never be a time where she will feel alone because of her Uncle Bill and Uncle Tommy.”
Giving birth in a mall during a storm was perfect. For some reason, I always knew Tommy would deliver Tessa. I don’t know why, but I had that scene in my head long before Tessa was born.
She is all Stephanie and Bee is all Jack. Both girls have beautiful hearts and strong personalities and I can’t wait to watch them grow up.
Another of my favorites…
“Well your daughter is deciding that what she wants to eat and what I want her to eat are not the same thing,” she smiled at Bee who giggled and slammed her hands on the highchair table.
Jack laughed. “I see, so what does she want to eat?”
Stephanie sighed. “Bananas and carrots and nothing else,” she looked at her husband and her eyes twinkled. “Do you know what I just realized?”
He sat down. “What’s that?”
“Both of those foods are very distinctly shaped,” Stephanie said with a grin.
Jack choked on his water and held his middle.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Stephanie laughed and rubbed his back.
“That wasn’t funny.”
She glanced at him. “It kind of was.”
I also adore writing how Tessa loves Mike.
So, there you have it. Some insight on Jack and Stephanie. Who should I write next?
Comments?
I just adore jack and Stephanie didn’t you know that
So much like my own love story thank you for writing them