CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Rose and Jack were the first to come home. Jack unlocks the door and ushers Rose inside. "I’ll be back Rose. I’m going to make sure the shed is locked."
"Hurry back," Rose smiled, watching Jack disappear into the garden. She turns around and enters the kitchen for a glass of water. She doesn’t see the dark figure slipping down the stairs and up behind her. She turns on the water and takes down a glass. She turns around and screams when she comes face to face with a strange man. Even though he looked slightly familiar, she had never seen him before in her life.
"W-who are you?"
"The question is who are you and why are you in my house?" The stranger asked, crossing his arms.
"Your house?"
"Everything’s fine," Jack enters the room and stops when he sees the man. "I can’t believe it’s you."
The man turns around and his eyes widen. "Jackie? Is that you? Why look at you…you’re all grown up. The last time I saw you you were still a little boy."
"That was twelve years ago Richie," Jack crosses his arms. "I was eight years old then. I’m twenty now."
"I thought that was how old you were," The stranger laughs. "I was just asking this stranger what she was doing in our house…"
"That’s no stranger. She’s my wife. Rose. Rose this is my long lost brother Richard. But we all call him Richie."
"Wife? Why Jack…you really have grown up," The man laughs. "And I must say you have great taste in women."
"Does dad know you’re here?" Jack asked, coming over to Rose’s side and taking her hand.
"Are you kidding? The old man wouldn’t let me in the house if he knew I was coming," Richie replied.
"True," Jack nods. From what I remember you two didn’t leave on good terms. "Why did you come back Richie? Why now?"
"Because I want to be with my family. Near my brother and sister. Near my mother. Father…I don’t care what he wants or says. I’m staying."
"Like hell you are!" Charles Dawson stands in the kitchen doorway.
"Hello father," Richard grins. "It’s good to see you after all these years."
"Get out Richard. You’re not wanted here," Charles Dawson points to the door.
"Rose, you must be tired. Why don’t we go on up to our room," Jack takes Rose’s hand .
"Richie?" Nancy and Jacklyn appear in the door. "Is that really you?"
"Hey mom. And Jacklyn! Jack’s not the only one who grew up!" Richard dashes past his steaming father and embraces his mother and sister.
"Jack why did you let your good for nothing brother in this house?" Charles turned to his youngest son.
"I didn’t. He was here when we arrived," Jack defended himself. "Mom and Jacklyn are happy to see him."
"That’s besides the point. I do not want him in my house."
"Well pa, it looks as if you’re overruled," Jack nods to the small reunion.
"No I’m not. You two will side with me right?"
"Rose and I are staying out of it," Jack squeezes her wife’s hand. "You’re on your own here."
"It’s been so long since we’ve seen you last, we were starting to think we’ve lost you forever!" Jacklyn hugs her big brother tightly. Her and Jack were only eight years old. She had loved her oldest brother dearly and it broke her heart when he had left. "Now I have both my brothers back!"
"This is a happy day," Nancy laughed.
"Jack you left?" Richard looked over at Jack and Rose. "when did that happen?"
"Five years ago. I took off," Jack said. "Rose and I had just returned last week."
"Man, out seeing the world too huh."
Jack only smiles and nods.
"Man it’s good to be home."
"You can share my room Richie since Jack and Rose has your old room. Just as well because they’re doing all that newly-wed stuff and I think they rather be alone for that."
"Jacklyn!" Nancy warns.
"Sorry," Jacklyn clears her throat. "Besides mother, Jack knows I’m teasing."
"He’s not staying," Charles speaks up and clears his throat.
Nancy turns around, her blue eyes spitting fire, her voice cold. "Oh yes he is staying too Charles Dawson. We’ve lost our first son because of your blasted pride, then our second thanks to the Smiths. We have them both back now and I’m not letting you ruin this. Now will you and Jack please help move his bags to Jacklyn’s room. And that wasn’t a request."
Charles opens his mouth to protest, but the fire in his wife’s eyes tell him to think better of crossing her. "Come along Jack."
"I’ll be back Rose," Jack turns to his wife and joins his father in grabbing some bags.
"Wow. I didn’t know Jack had a older brother," Rose blinks.
"The things you find out huh Rose? Don’t worry, you’re going to love Richie. He is so much fun."
"You really love him don’t you?"
"Don’t tell Jack, but he’s my favorite brother. I mean Jack’s fun, but when I need someone to really talk to…Richie was always there…up til he left of course. Then I only had Jack then he left…"
"Losing two brothers. I was a only child, but just observing you three, it must have been devastating."
"It was."
"But why did he leave and why doesn’t your father want him here?" Rose is curious.
"Richie didn’t want to follow in dad’s footprints. Plus he began hanging out with a bad crowd and doing bad things. Dad had enough and told him to pack his things. He didn’t want him to be a bad influence on Jack and me."
"All done!" Richie bounces down the stairs, Jack right behind him. "now let me get to know my family."
"We have time tomorrow to catch up," Jack grabs Rose’s hand and pulls her to the stairs. "It’s been a long day for both rose and me. I think we’ll be getting to bed now."
"Ok then. I’ll just catch up with my little sister. See you tomorrow Jack."
Jack only smiles and leads Rose up to their room.
"He seems nice," Rose sighed as Jack turns on the light.
"I guess," Jack shruggs, taking her in his arms and undoing the sash on her dress.
"Jack what are you doing? Really this can wait…"
"I’ve been wanting to do this all day Rose," Jack whispers sedutively in her ear. It was useless for Rose to resist, so she just melted into his embrace and letted Jack take her on a return visit to the stars.