18
It was a sunny and bright morning when Rose returned home from the hospital, Jack at her side. Right now they set in his car, thinking about their current situation. There was no more baby of course, but they were still husband and wife. What were they going to do about that?
"Jack? What’s going to happen now? With our marriage and all?" Rose asked, twisting her hands nervously. She really didn’t want to end the marriage. It made her feel closer to Jack…like she was a part of him.
"What do you want to do?" Jack gently brushed a red curl away from her eyes. He didn’t want to push her into anything, but he really wanted them to remain married. No one could break them up if they remained united like they were.
"Well…I…I rather we stay married. I mean…we do love each other. Right?"
"Of course we do. So we remain married. But Rose…are you sure this is what you want? I mean…you will be the only cheerleader with a husband."
Rose nodded, relieved that he still loved her enough to spend the rest of his life with her. That he still wanted to be together for all eternity. But there was one more issue for her. There was still an apology that she needed to make. "Jack…I’m sorry…about the baby. I know you loved it from the very start and I went and lost it," Rose wiped away a tear. "I’m so sorry."
Jack wrapped strong arms around her shivering frame, rubbing her back gently. He wished he could make the pain of the miscarriage go away for them both. But especially Rose. He wished that she would just let go of all the blame and guilt. Just let it go. "It wasn’t your fault Rose. It was just one of those things that happen. We’ll have more children someday. But until then, just remember that I love you and will never leave your side."
"But Jack…what about Chloe? What if she tries to keep us apart?"
Jack pressed a finger to Rose’s lips, silencing her worries. He couldn’t believe that he had forgotten the conversation in the waiting room. How Rose must have worried over nothing. "I’ve talked to Chloe. She promised not to get in the way of us ever again. So we’re free and clear to be together now."
Rose smiled, wiping more tears away. She was so sick and tired of crying. It seemed that crying was all she ever did anymore. "Do you care to walk me to my door?"
"Ok," he smiled, kissing her tenderly.
Soon, they were approaching her doorstep, hand in hand. He took her into his arms and held her tight. "I promise to stop by tomorrow morning. Sweet dreams Rosie."
"Sweet dreams," she smiled, watching him dunk back into his car and drive away. Smiling happily, and humming herself, Rose disappeared inside her apartment building. Happy and secure in Jack’s love for her.
~*~
Ruth sat in the living room, waiting for Rose’s return. It was time that they had a long talk about her recent behavior. She readied herself as Rose slipped into the house.
"We need to talk Rose," Ruth looked at her daughter, as Rose headed for her room. "We need to talk about secrets and consequences."
Rose sighed and bowed her head. She knew that her mother wasn’t happy with her. But that hadn’t stopped her from hoping that the confrontation wouldn’t happen when she got home .
"Mother, please. I can’t. Not right now."
"You can and you will. Rose, why didn’t you tell me about the baby? Why didn’t you come to me when you first found out you were with child?" Ruth asked.
Rose laughed sarcastically, glaring at her mother. "Because mother. You threatened to throw me out if I ever ‘disgraced’ the family name in such a manner. Remember? When cousin Nina got pregnant? How angry both you and Aunt Gertrude was? You turned to me and said exactly that."
"And then running off and marrying that boy…"
"His name is Jack mother. And like
I said, we got married because we loved each other. Believe it or
not, some people actually marry for love."
"Well regardless, because of this recent behavior, I’ve
made a very important decision."
Rose frowned. She didn’t like the sound of this. Not at all. "What decision?"
"I’m transferring you to a private boarding school in South Carolina. It’s an all girls school. Perhaps there, you will learn manners and discretion."
"You’re sending me away?" Rose asked, blinking away tears of hurt and betrayal. She had no idea that her mother hated her that much…that she wanted her gone. "Just like that?"
"It’s for the best Rose," Ruth got to her feet, avoiding her daughter’s eyes. "It’ll keep you out of trouble."
"And away from Jack!" Rose practically screamed, not knowing what else to do. She had thought that the obstacles to be with Jack were out of the way. Obviously not.
"Jack has nothing to do with this Rose. This has been in the works for quite a while."
"So you were planning to get rid of me all along?" Rose tearfully glared at her mother, betrayal burning in her eyes and heart.
"I thought it for the best, yes. If things go as planned, you’ll be heading for South Carolina in just a couple of weeks."
"A couple of weeks?" Rose gasped. That didn’t give very much time. Not enough time to be with Jack, to look into his blue eyes and get lost, or feel his strong arms around her. "Why mother? Why are you doing this to me? I’ve gone out with Caledon Hockley, I’ve done everything you’ve asked me to do. I haven’t refused one thing, not one. So why are you taking my home away?"
Ruth sighed, almost feeling guilty for sending her daughter away, but she knew it was for the best. "It’s for the best Rose. That’s all I can say. Besides, you need to be some place where the doors of opportunity are open to you."
"I’m not going. I’ll run away," Rose backed away from her mother, wanting to escape the notion of leaving Chicago…of leaving Jack!
"Rose, don’t be childish."
"I hate you!" Rose ran upstairs, to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. She just wanted to block out the world for a while and think of what she was going to do. She couldn’t leave Chicago. She just couldn’t! How can she make her mother see that. There had to be a way. Because leaving Jack right now was just impossible for h er to even think about. She had to think of a solution and quickly. She had to find a way to remain with Jack forever. Because without him…she just wouldn’t be living at all.
~*~
The Dawson house sat quiet and serene. The elderly woman stepped out of her Mercedes and looked the tiny house up and down. She couldn’t believe that her grandchildren have been living like this for the past four years. She really should have came sooner to check on them. But things have been so hectic…she really didn’t have that much time at all anymore. But it was time to correct things. She had an appointment in a few hours, so this will have to be quick. She’ll go into the house, collect the children, leave the twins with their brother. Surely Jack was old enough to keep a eye on them while she was at her meeting. Holding her head up high, she rang the bell.
It’s Chloe that opened the door. Carter was out looking for work and Jack was dropping Rose off at her house.
"Grandmother," Chloe gasped when she opened the door.
"Chloe. I’ll make this quick since I have an appointment for a new student at my school. I’m here for the children," Irene coldly replied. "Where are they? Why I haven’t laid eyes on them for four whole years. Jack! Lily! Paul! Get your things!"
"Grandmother, be quiet. The twins are asleep as well as Grandpa. And Jack’s not here.
"Humph! Tell me, why wasn’t I informed that Mae had died? I would have came sooner."
"Because I have everything under control. There was no need for you here. There still isn’t."
Irene’s laughter was sarcastic and a bit cruel. "No need for me to come? I beg to differ. Chloe, you are my granddaughter and I love you. But your brothers and sisters belong with me. You just can’t handle them by yourself."
"I’m not by myself…."
"Oh yes, I almost forgot. The hoodlum boyfriend. Well, he’s definitely not suitable to raise the twins and a terrible role model for Jack…"
"Jack is just fine!"
"I do not call running off and marrying your pregnant girlfriend fine!"
Chloe fought back tears. She couldn’t lose custody. Her siblings were all she had left in the world besides Carter. Plus they had just begun to accept her back into their lives. She couldn’t let her grandmother take them away. "No grandmother. You are not taking them from me. I refuse!"
Irene’s face grew cold, her voice was like the iceberg that had sunk the Titanic. "Very well then Chloe. I was hoping to avoid a nasty court battle. But I see that is impossible now. So you’ll be hearing from my lawyers. I’ll see you in court," Irene lifted her head and marched out, leaving Chloe to sink to the floor in an emotional mess.
That was where Jack found her as he returned from dropping Rose off.
"Chloe?" He approached her slowly, not wanting to scare her. "Chloe what’s wrong? Did Carter do something to hurt you?"
Chloe shook her head and looked at her brother, wanting to cry even more. She didn’t want him to hate her anymore. If grandmother won…she knew he would probably think it was another way to keep him away from Rose. "Grandmother Irene is here Jack. Somehow, she had found out about Grandma Mae’s death and knew about you running off to marry Rose. She wants you and the twins to go live with her."
"…what did you say?"
"I told her no. That she couldn’t take custody away from me. So she told me that her lawyers will be in touch. That she’ll see me in court. Jack…what am I going to do?" She broke into fresh tears.
Jack knelt down next to his sister and held her tightly, reminded of the time when they were kids and his fear of thunderstorms. How she would crawl out of her own bed and comfort him. How could he ever had hated her; treated her the way he had? Plus this news came as a serious blow to him too. Chloe couldn’t afford a lengthy court cost.
He had thought that all obstacles were gone for Rose and himself. But he was wrong. They were only beginning. "It’s ok Chloe. Everything will be fine. We’ll fight this," Jack didn’t believe any of this. Grandmother Irene was rich and powerful. Chloe and Carter weren’t. It as a sure bet that Chloe will lose and he would have to leave not only Chicago, but his whole world behind too.
How can they expect him to leave Rose when she meant so much to him? Most importantly, how was he ever going to tell her? That was the first most difficult part of all.