Oct. 3, 2024
Back To School (Part 4) - "New Beginnings"
In "New Beginnings," the heartwarming finale of the "Back to School" series, Sarah and Jack stand on the precipice of a new chapter in their lives. As winter melts into spring, our favorite couple faces their biggest challenge yet: taking the leap...
In "New Beginnings," the heartwarming finale of the "Back to School" series, Sarah and Jack stand on the precipice of a new chapter in their lives. As winter melts into spring, our favorite couple faces their biggest challenge yet: taking the leap from single parents to a true blended family. With Valentine's Day on the horizon, emotions run high and long-held fears resurface.
Will Sarah and Jack find the courage to open their hearts fully? And how will Lily and Ethan adjust to the changing family dynamic? Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions as this beloved series comes to a close, proving that sometimes the greatest lessons in love and life happen long after the school bell rings. Don't miss this touching conclusion that will have you laughing, crying, and believing in second chances!
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WEBVTT
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This show, along with hundreds of others from Caloroga Shark Media,
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is available commercial free on any player.
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Just look for the link in the episode or show
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notes Caloroga Shark Media.
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Hello and welcome to Romance Weekly. This episode is titled
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Back to School, Part four, New Beginnings.
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The January chill hung in the air as Sarah stood
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in the school parking lot watching Lily bounce excitedly towards
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her classroom. The holiday break was over and a new
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year stretched before them, full of possibilities and uncertainties. Penny
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for your thoughts, Jack's warm voice broke through her reverie.
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Sarah turned a smile spreading across her face at the
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sight of him, just thinking about how much has changed
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since last year's back to school day. Jack nodded his eyes, twinkling.
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Who would have thought a dropped hair ribbon could lead
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to all this? They shared a laugh, the ease of
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their connection a stark contrast to the nervous energy of
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their first meeting. As they walked towards their cars, Jack
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cleared his throat, So I've been thinking, he began, a
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hint of nervousness in his voice. Valentine's Day is coming up,
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and I know it's not everyone's favorite holiday, but I
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was wondering if maybe you'd like to do something special
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just the two of us. Sarah felt a flutter in
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her stomach. They'd been dating for a few months now,
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but they'd yet to have a real grown up date
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without the kids. That sounds wonderful, she said, trying to
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keep the excitement out of her voice. What did you
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have in mind? Jack's face lit up. Well. I thought
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maybe we could drive up to that little bed and
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breakfast in the mountains, the one with the amazing view
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of the life. We could spend the weekend there, just relaxing,
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and he trailed off, a blush creeping up his neck.
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Sarah felt her own cheeks heat up as she realized
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the implication they hadn't taken that step in their relationship yet,
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both of them cautious about moving too fast. I'd love that,
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Sarah said, softly, reaching out to squeeze his hand. As
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she drove to work. Sarah's mind was a whirlwind of emotions,
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excitement about the upcoming trip mixed with anxiety about taking
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this next step with Jack, and underneath it all and
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nagging guilt about leaving Lily for a whole weekend. Her
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phone buzzed with a text from Megan Spilett Johnson. I
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saw that goofy smile on your face this morning. What's
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Jack got planned? Sarah chuckled, quickly typing back, dinner tonight.
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I'll tell you everything that evening. Over glasses of wine
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and plates of passes, Sarah filled Megan in on Jack's
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Valentine's Day plans. It's about time, Megan exclaimed. You two
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have been dancing around this for months. But Sarah, honey,
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are you sure you're ready? Sarah sighed, twirling past her
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around her fork. I think so. I mean, I care
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about Jack a lot, and I trust him. It's just
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it's been so long, you know, and there's Lily to
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think about. Meghan reached across the table, squeezing Sarah's hand.
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Lily adores Jack and you know it. And as for
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the rest, you deserve to be happy, Sarah, to feel
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loved and desired. Don't let fear hold you back. Sarah nodded,
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feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. Meghan was right.
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It was time to embrace this new chapter in her life.
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The weeks leading up to Valentine's Day flew by in
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a blur of work, school activities, and preparations for the trip.
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Sarah arranged for Lily to stay with her grandparents, trying
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to quell the guilt with promises of a special mother
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daughter day when she returned. Finally, the day arrived. As
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Jack loaded their bags into his car, Sarah felt a
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mix of nervousness and excitement bubbling up inside her. Ready
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for an adventure, Jack asked, his smile, warm and reassuring.
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Sarah took a deep breath and nodded, Ready as I'll
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ever be. The drive up to the mountains was beautiful,
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the winter landscape gradually giving way to snow capped peaks
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and pristine forests. They chatted easily, singing along to the
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radio and sharing stories from their week. As they pulled
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up to the charming bed and breakfast, Sarah felt her
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nerves return full force. Jack must have sensed her tension
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because he reached over and took her hand. Hey, he said, softly,
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We don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with.
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This weekend is about us spending time together, nothing more.
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Sarah felt a rush of her affection for this man
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who seemed to always know exactly what she needed to hear.
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Thank you, she said, leaning over to kiss him softly.
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The weekend was magical. They went for long walks in
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the snow, had romantic dinners by candlelight, and spent hours
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talking by the fireplace in their cozy room. Sarah found
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herself opening up to Jack in ways she hadn't with
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anyone since her divorce, sharing her hopes, fears, and dreams
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for the future. On their last night, as they slow
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danced in their room to the soft strains of an
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old love song, Sarah felt something shift inside her. The
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last of her reservations melted away as she looked into
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Jack's eyes and saw the love and devotion reflected there. Jack,
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she whispered, her heart pounding, I'm ready. Their love making
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was tender and passionate, a beautiful culmination of the connection
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they'd been building for months. Afterwards, as they lay tangled
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in each other's arms, Sarah felt a sense of peace
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she hadn't experienced in years. I love you, Jack murmured,
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pressing a kiss to her forehead, Sarah's heart's sword. I
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love you too, she replied, the words coming easily and
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naturally as they drove back home the next day, Sarah
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felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
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She was excited to see Lily, to hug her daughter
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and hear about her weekend, but she was also excited
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about the future stretching out before her, a future that
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now included Jack. When they pulled up to Sarah's house,
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they were surprised to see Lily and Ethan playing in
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the front yard, supervised by Sarah's parents mom Jack. Lily
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called out, running to greet them. Did you have a
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good trip? Ethan and I had the best time? Can
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we have a sleep over next weekend? Sarah laughed, hugging
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her daughter close. Slow down, sweetie, Let's get inside and
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you can tell us all about your weekend. As they
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all piled into the house, Sarah caught Jack's eye over
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the kid's excited chatter. He was smiling at her, his
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eyes full of love and promise. Later that night, after
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the kids were in bed and Jack had gone home,
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Sarah sat on her porch reflecting on the whirlwind of
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the past year. She thought about that first day of school,
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about the nervous single mum she'd been then. So much
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had changed, but the most important things her love for Lily,
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her strength, her capacity for joy had only grown stronger.
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Her phone buzzed with a text from Jack. Thank you
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for an amazing weekend. I can't wait to see what
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adventures we'll have next. Sweet dreams, my love. Sarah smiled,
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her heart full. The future was still uncertain. There would
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be challenges to face, obstacles to overcome, but for the
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first time in a long time, she was excited about
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what lay ahead. As she headed to bed, Sarah paused
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to look at the family photos lining the hallway. There
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was space there, she realized, for new pictures, new memories,
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new beginnings, and with Jack and Ethan in their lives,
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she and Lily were ready to start creating them.
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Romance Weekly is a production of Calaroga Shark Media executive
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producers Mark Francis and John McDermott. Portions of this podcast
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may have been created with the assistance of
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AI Calaroga Shark Media
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