CHAPTER TWENTY
Again Rose found herself up at the break of dawn and on the porch staring out at the sunrise. Her emotions were swirling out of control. All through the night she thought about the fact that her mother was in Chippewa Falls and things were in danger of going back to the way they were and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
"Rose?" Nancy steps out onto the porch. She had gotten up to start breakfast and had spotted Rose standing out on the porch. "Dear why are you up so early? Not even the men wake up this early."
"I couldn’t sleep. My mind keeps wandering back to this afternoon. I keep wondering the real reason my mother came here. I know she wants me to go back to Cal."
"Do you want to?"
Rose vehemently shook her head. "No way. I never want to see
that snake again. Besides, I’m legally married to Jack now.
Going back to Cal is not an option. But my mother sure knows how
to make my life miserable when she doesn’t get what she
wants. All her guilt trips…they’re endless."
"Rose…I don’t know your mother very well…and I’m sure you’re speaking from experience here. But…the woman seemed to be genuinely remorseful yesterday. Even when you and Jack went inside she was still crying. Maybe the sinking has changed her. Maybe she’s not the same woman anymore."
"Ruth Dewitt Bukater doesn’t know the meaning of the word change."
"Rose dear…aren’t you being a bit hard on the woman? It wouldn’t hurt to give her a chance."
"I don’t know," Rose stared at the ground. "She is so strong-willed."
"Honey, Jack and the rest of us are your family now. We’re stand right by your side through all of it…as a family. We’ll face your mother together. Whatever your mother does, she can’t get away with it, not with the rest of us standing with you."
Rose turned and smiled weakly at her mother in law. "How did I get so blessed to be accepted into this family? You’re everything I wish my mother could be and more."
"Oh how sweet," Nancy takes the young woman into her arms. "It’ll be alright Rose. Just remember that Jack and the rest of us love you. Ok."
Rose nods, wiping the tears from her eyes. Jack wasn’t the only gift from god it seemed. He also gave her a loving mother too.
"Rose!" Jack called coming through the door, desparation shine in his eyes. He had woken up to find Rose’s place empty. With her mother in town he automatically assumed the worse. Ruth had come and somehow forced Rose to leave him. "Rose!"
"I’m right here darling," Rose went to her husband.
His eyes soften with relief. He pulled her into a warm embrace. "Oh good. I woke up and found you gone. I thought your mother had somehow changed your mind and you were gone"
"Oh Jack no. I’d never change my mind about us. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I’m never going to give that up," Rose glanced behind Jack to see Richie frowning. He would think she was lying. She stared right at him. "No one can convince me otherwise."
Jack pulled away from Rose and forced a smiled. "I knew that Rose…it’s just that…with your mother in town…I don’t know. I guess I lost confidence for a second there. I forgot just how stubborn you can be."
Rose smiled. "Well next time don’t forget ok? I’m sorry I scared you. If it makes you feel better, I’ll wake you and let you know if I step outside. Ok?"
"That’ll work," Jack nodded, kissing her again.
"Come on boys. The fields aren’t going to plow themselves," Charles heads out for the morning work.
"Yeah Jack. You have all night to fool around with Rose," Richie snorted.
Jack rolled his eyes and kissed Rose again. "I’ll see you later sweetie."
"I’ll be waiting she kissed him again before letting him go join his father and brother.
Nancy just laughed and shook her head. "My son sure does love you Rose. I’ve never seen him so gentle with anyone before. And the way he keeps kissing you…it reminds me of Charles and I after we got married."
"I hope we’re just as happy as you two when fifty years down the line," Rose sighed.
"Oh you will be. Believe me, you will be."
*
Rose and Jaclyn are setting on the porch sewing when Ruth arrives in the Conway’s car. After tipping the driver she steps onto the porch.
"Rose? What are you doing?" Ruth stared at her daughter.
"What does it look like mother? I’m sewing. You may want to join us. You’re going to need the practice," Rose snorted, not looking up.
"Rose we have a lot to talk about…alone."
"Jaclyn is family mother. Anything you have to say to me can be said in front of her, or don’t bother saying it at all."
"Ok. The house in Philadelphia is ready. You can even bring Jack along too if you want. Just please come home."
Rose laughed. "Mother, I am home. Don’t you understand? I don’t belong in Philadelphia anymore, I never did. All the galas and cortillions…that’s not me. Small town picnic’s and simple parties, that’s who I am. No mother I cannot and will not go back to that superficial life ever again. I know that hurts you, but that’s the way it has to be."
"But Rose you weren’t raised for this type of lifestyle. I feel that you are, but you’re not. What are you going to do when you need new clothes huh? Make them yourself? What about medical supplies…"
"We may be small town Mrs. Dewitt Bukater, but we do have doctors and stores. Anything else we need that’s not in town we order," Jaclyn answers for Rose.
"And you expect my daughter to order from those useless catalogs when she’s used to shopping at stores like bloomingdales and macy’s?"
"That’s what I’ll do if I have to mother. This may not be your idea of a good life, but it’s the life I want! Not a life as some high-society trophy wife who’s get punched senseless whenever she opens her mouth to state an opinion!"
"Rose Cal never raised a hand to you," Ruth gasped.
"Oh mother, how clueless can you be? Cal raised his hand to me whenever I opened my mouth. If it wasn’t that he’d put down my opinions in front of strangers and make it look as if I was stupid. Remember that time at dinner when I told the group about Jack’s art and Cal just had to make it look as if I didn’t know what I talked about? How he’d call be stupid or just a woman…"
"Rose you mostly spoke out of line and done things that were improper for an engaged woman," Ruth shook her head.
"That’s no excuse for hitting her and emotionally abusing her," Jaclyn crossed her arms. "Pa always says to treat ladies with respect, no matter what they may do to annoy us men. In Pa’s words of course."
"It looks like Cal and his father can take a couple of lessons from Mr. Dawson mother. So can you."
"Rose…I’m not here to argue with you about Cal. I’m here to beg and plead with you to come home."
"Is My husband welcomed to come with me?" Rose asked.
"Why of course," Ruth stammered. "I’d never ask you to leave your husband Rose."
"You might want to talk this over with Jack. I mean…you two haven’t been back all that long. Plus Jack’s been gone for five years…" Jaclyn whispered to her sister in law that just nodds.
"Mother, I’d prefer to talk this over with Jack. He’s been away from home for five years and now would probably be too soon to pick up and leave again," Rose stared her mother straight on, making it clear that it was her that was calling the shots this time. Ruth was not going to bulldoze her way back into her life. If Ruth was going to be a part of her life at all it’d be on her terms.
"If you must," Ruth nodded. "But Rose…I do hope you join me back in Philadelphia in the near future. With what happened on Titanic…it’s put a lot of things into perspective for me."
Rose didn’t answer. She just stared down at her sewing, determined not to let her mother get to her this time.
"Rose Jaclyn, will you go out and tell the men that lunch is ready?" Nancy stuck her head out the door. "Oh hello Mrs. Dewitt Bukater. Will you be joining us for lunch?"
"She was just…" Rose began.
"I’d love too. Thank you," Ruth smiled, realizing a chance to show Rose that she really has changed.
"We’ll go get Jack," Rose got to her feet and started out for the fields.
"I’ll come too," Jaclyn followed her sister in law.
"Come Mrs. Dewitt Bukater. I’ll get you all settled," Nancy smiled, reaching out a hand for the woman.
"Oh thank you. And please, call me Ruth."
*
Jack , Charles, and Richie have just finished that section of the field when Rose and Jaclyn find them.
"Lunch’s ready!" Jaclyn called.
"Coming!" Richie called, running to lift his sister off her feet and twirl her around.
"Hello Rosie," Jack kissed her tenderly. "I’m surprised to see you out here."
"Let’s just say I couldn’t wait to see you. My darling husband," Rose smiled, kissing his nose.
"Newlyweds," Charles groaned playfully. "Come on. I’m sure your ma had lunch piping hot on the table."
"Oh Jack…my mother’s joining us. Your mother invited her," Rose flatly replied. "And of course my mother accepted."
"The polite thing huh?" Jack smiled and laughed at the look of dread in Rose’s eyes. "Oh come on Rose. It won’t be all that bad. For what it’s worth, I think she’s sincere when she apologized. I think she’s really sorry."
"Maybe you’re right. But I’m still not trusting her. Not completely anyway. After all she’s done too me…I can’t."
"That’s understandable. Just remember you’re not alone anymore. You have me now and I’ll stand by you all the way."
"How did I get so lucky to
have found you Jack?"
"It’s I that got lucky Rose. I can’t picture my
life without you in it and I don’t want to. You’re the
love of my life and the mother of my future children," Jack
kissed her. "Don’t worry. Everything will be
alright."
"Why is it when you say that…I believe you and it’s true. On the Titanic you said it’d be alright and it was. In New York you said the same thing and now…you’re saying it again and I believe it will be."
"Because I speak the truth," Jack squeezed her hand as they step onto the porch.
"There you are. We’ve been waiting a good fifteen minutes for you," Nancy scolded her husband.
"Oh quiet woman. We’re here now aren’t we?" Charles kissed his wife before entering.
"Jack you’re a mess. I suggest you go get cleaned up before we set down for lunch," Nancy looked over her son. "Rose can help set the table while you’re up there."
Jack had to laugh. Nancy had learned from experience that when Jack and Rose disappeared upstairs together, it was a while before they reappeared. "Ok ma. If you say so," Jack grinned. "I’ll be back Rose. Behave until I get back ok?"
"I promise," Rose kissed him before letting him go upstairs to change.
"That son of mine," Nancy shook her head with a slight smile. "I’m glad he’s found you Rose. He’s so happy now."
"Not happier than I am," Rose sighed, staring up the stairs where Jack had disappeared, knowing with a certainty that her mother could do her worse, but everything will still be alright because Rose had Jack now and he always made everything alright again.