26
Jack was staring out the window, daydreaming of a life with Rose. He still couldn’t believe that she was with him and not some filthy rich like Caledon Hockley. Leaning back, he remembered the day Rose had came home with Mae. He had been so nervous and so eager to impress. He had never dreamed that later on down the road that they’d so deeply in love and married.
"Jack?" Her voice disrupted his thoughts. Jack looked up and smiled his love for her clear in his blue eyes. She held back her tears, thinking of what she had to do. It was so unfair. Why couldn’t fate let her have the one perfect thing in her life right now? Why did it see fit that her life remain void of any joy, love and happiness. Maybe it was a curse. A curse that made sure that she’d never be happy…not for very long anyway. "Did I wake you?"
"No," Jack shook his head, looking over Rose’s tear-stained face. It was obvious that she had been crying and by the look of it, more tears were on the way. Frowning, he wondered what had happened to cause her tears. "Rose…something’s bothering you. Come, set. Tell me what’s going on. Why are you crying?"
Rose, did what she was told, as she took a deep breath, preparing herself to do what she had to do. Preparing herself to break not only Jack’s heart, but her own as well. She took one more look into his eyes, knowing that it’ll be the last time she’ll see them so bright and full of happiness, love and concern…. all for her. The next time she’ll look into his eyes, she’ll probably find tears of heartbreak and perhaps hatred. No…not hatred…but confusion and anger. She choked on her tears, hating that she’d be the cause of the pain of his broken heart. That she was the one to sap the happiness out of his eyes.
"Jack…this…this isn’t going to work out," She looked away from his eyes, not wanting to see the evidence of what she was about to do to him.
Jack’s frown deepened. He had a bad feeling about all of this. What did she mean? "Rose, sweetie…what are you talking about? What’s not going to work? Why are you crying?"
Rose stood up and walked to the door, turning her back to him. She couldn’t be near him and he couldn’t see her face, or he would know that she was lying. "Because, you’ve been so good to me and I can’t keep doing this. But I can’t pretend any longer Jack. I don’t love you…I tried…I really did. But I don’t."
"What?" The bright concern of Jack’s voice faded, replaced by hurt. "Rose…I don’t understand…what do you mean?"
"I mean that I don’t love you anymore. I’m leaving you Jack. I’m leaving you for Caledon Hockley. He’s handsome, rich, and can buy me expensive gifts. He wants to be with me and I want to be with him."
"…How long have you felt like this? Hmmm? I mean is this just coming on, or was this before we were taken hostage?"
"After," Rose closed her eyes against the lie, hoping that she was convincing enough.
Silence filled the room. Neither knew what to say to the other. Jack wanted to beg her to change her mind and to look at him while she was breaking up with him. She was lying. She had to be. Why all the tears? Why didn’t she look at him? "Rose…look at me. Look at me and tell me that it’s over. Because right now…I’m having a hard time believing you."
"Jack…please. Just let it go…" Her voice was desperate. She couldn’t look him in the eye and repeat what she had said, because it was a lie. She didn’t want to break up with him. That was the last thing she wanted to do! All she wanted to do was run into his arms and beg for his forgiveness…to confess everything. She almost did just that….but then she remembered Irene’s threat. Not against her, but her mother. She would take away their livelihood and make sure that it’d stay gone if Rose followed through with her instincts and told Jack the truth. She couldn’t let that happen! So she turned around, looked Jack in the eye, ignoring the painful breaking of her heart and put on the performance of a lifetime.
"It’s over Jack. I don’t love you anymore. I’m leaving you for al. I love Cal. Really. Just have a nice life and maybe someday we can…be friends."
"Friends?" Jack looked her in disbelief, hurt, and anger. Friends?! How could she even think that they could ever be friends?
"Good-bye Jack," Rose rushed out, not able to lie to him anymore. Not able to stay and see his pain. She stood at the elevator, wiping away her falling tears.
"You did a good job Rose," Irene stood behind her, her eyes shining with approval. "He fell for your act and now your mother’s job is safe."
Rose turned around and glared at Irene, unable to believe that the hateful old woman could be related to someone as wonderful as Jack. She was nothing like Mae. Mae was warm, sweet, loving. Irene was none of those things. "I don’t want your praise. Just stay away from me and my mother."
"Very well," Irene stepped back and watched Rose step into the elevator. With a satisfied smile, she watched the elevator carry Rose out of Jack’s life.
~*~
Two hours later, after walking along the wharf and an endless rid on the L, Rose returned home. She was both exhausted and miserable. All she wanted to do was be alone and wallow in her misery. Sink into the despair that losing Jack had caused.
"Sweetpea! You’ve finally returned!" Cal’s voice greeted Rose as she entered the apartment.
Rose couldn’t keep her frown from deepening. "What are you doing here?" Her tone was annoyed and weary. She was not in the mood to deal with Cal at the moment. She just wanted to disappear into her room and wallow in her misery.
"Cal came by to see how you were feeling, Rose. Wasn’t that nice of him?" Ruth beamed. She had always liked the Hockley boy and hoped that the visit would turn into a love match.
"I guess," Rose shrugged, not wanting to say what she really thought about Cal’s dropping by. Sighing, she headed for the stairs, but Cal rushed into her path.
"That’s not the only reason I stopped by Sweetpea," Cal folded his arms, determined not to let Rose get away. "There’s another gala at the country club and I want you to be my date, once again. They loved you at the last one."
Rose looked at Cal as if he had two heads. Was he serious? Didn’t he remember their last date? Normally, there’d be no way that Rose would ever go out with Cal again. But things were different. She no longer had the one person that she truly cared about, and she no longer cared what she did or with whom.
"Rose, I advise you to say yes," Ruth sternly looked at her daughter. "Since you’re no longer with that Dawson boy, there’s no reason to say no."
Rose frowned at her mother. How did she know about her break up with Jack?
"What? You’re no longer with Dawson?" Cal’s eyes lit up with delight and a bit of surprise. Why this was even better then head hoped. Now he really did have a chance to win Rose for himself and with Mrs. Dewitt Bukater backing him…he couldn’t lose. "Go to the gala with me Rose. It’ll take your mind off Jack. Stepping out and having fun will do you good," Cal grinned.
"He’s right Rose," Ruth nodded. "Go to the gala. Have some fun that you havn’t had all month. Be happy."
Rose sighed. She had been happy, that very morning when Jack had opened his eyes and looked at her with love and trust burning in his eyes. But that happiness was gone now. Destroyed by Irene Devereau’s need to control anyone who had the misfortune of becoming a part of her life, as well as Rose’s own love for her mother. There was to be no more happiness for Rose. Never again. So why not go to the gala with Cal? Heck, maybe it would take her mind off Jack and her heartache. She doubted it, but there was no harm in trying.
Rose’s voice was flat and void of emotion. "Ok. Fine. I’ll go to the gala." Sighing one last time, letting Ruth take over the details for the date, Rose went to her room and closed the door, wanting to be alone with happier memories of Jack.