22

Richie and Jolene stepped off the train from New Orleans and stood in middle of the station, situating their bags. Jolene looked around at the bustling station, her fears rising to the surface again. What if Richie’s family didn’t like her and refused to accept her and the baby? What then? Would Richie still want her?

"Hey, it’s going to be ok. You’ll like my family I promise," Richie squeezed her hand. "Come on. We’re going to want to be there before dinner."

Thirty minutes later they’re just a block from the Dawson house and not too far from Lake Wissota. Jolene had began feeling nauseated again, so Richie had ran into a nearby general store for crackers to calm her stomach down. Hearing nearby splashing and laughter, she stepped nearer to the trees shading the lake.

"Jack you’re horrible! Someone’s going to see us! The general store is just a couple of feet away," a beautiful red-head laughed, her eyes sparkling at the blond young man who seemed slightly familiar.

The man known as Jack held up some kind of book in front of his face.

"I just want to replace the drawing we lost, and what’s more perfect than a drawing of my wife skinny-dipping in the lake? Don’t worry. No one comes down here at this time of day. We’re completely alone."

"That’s what you say now," The red head snorted.

"Rose stop being a first class brat and do it," Jack laughed. "Or are you chicken?"

Rose’s eyes narrowed. "Ok. Fine Mr. Big artiste. We’ll do it your way. But if anyone comes down here, I’m killing you."

The young man only laughed and watched as to Jolene’s surprise, the girl began taking her clothes off. She had heard of such boldness in the city of New Orleans, but was surprised to find such behavior in a small town like Chippewa Falls.

"Ready?" Richie appeared behind her, thankfully, the scene hidden from view.

Jolene nodded, remembering her nervousness, her attention going from the young couple to the task of meeting Richie’s family.

*

Jacklyn sat on the porch with her mother breaking beans while Charles sat on the porch smoking a pipe. He had decided to take the day off from working in the fields. With Richie gone, it had left more work for him and Jack, leaving the men little time for their wives so he decided to give both him and Jack a day off to spend with their signifcant others.

"Oh my god," Nancy slowly stood up from her chair as she saw the couple coming up the path. "It can’t be…"
"Richie! He’s come back!" Jacklyn happily announced.

"What in the blazes is he doing here? He messed up leaving like he did if he thinks…"

"Charles please…I’m sure he had a good reason. Let’s hear him out," Nancy tried to calm her husband.

"Yeah daddy. Look he has someone with him…and it looks like she’s with child," Jacklyn gasped.

Finally Richie and Jolene reach the porch, tightly grasping the other’s hand.

"You’re back!" Jacklyn went to hug her brother.

"Yes I’m back and I’m sorry I left so abruptly, but I had no choice," Richie hugged his sister trying to ignore his father’s heated glare. Hopefully his father could wait until Jolene was out of sight to blow up at him. "I something important to take care of."

"So I see," Nancy nodded towards Jolene, noticing her slight bulging stomach. The girl was with child. "And who is this?"

Richie swallowed, and pulled Jolene closer to him. "Mom, dad, this is Jolene Dawson. My wife and our unborn child here, who has yet to be named."

Poor Nancy could have fainted right there. It was bad enough that Jack had gotten married with none of them present, but Richie too? Wasn’t she meant to see any of her kids say their vows. "Married?"

"Yes. We got married a couple of days ago. I know what you’re thinking, I’m a cad for impregnating a girl outside marriage, but I was forced to leave her. I had left this address for a mutual friend to notify me if anything changed and they had, resulting in my leaving. When I got down there and learned Jolene’s condition, I immediately married her."

"Oh wow," Jacklyn gasped. She stuck her hand out to the girl. "Well welcome to the family."

"Thank you," Jolene smiled at the only friendly face beside’s Richie’s on the porch.

"Couldn’t you have waited until you got home to marry?" Nancy weakly asked.

"I’m sorry mom, but no I couldn’t. I had to get Jolene away from there as soon as possible and I knew the only way to do that was marry her as soon as possible. I know you’re disappointed not to have seen me get married but it couldn’t be helped," Richie looked at his father who’s face was red with anger at his eldest son. "Dad…say something."

Before anything could be said, Jack and Rose returned from the lake, and stopped on the steps when they noticed the new couple on the porch and the tension in the air.

Jolene gasped in surprise when she noticed the young couple from the lake.

"Richie you’re back," the blond man replied in surprise.

"Yes I am," Richie nodded. "Jolene this is my little brother Jack, Jacklyn’s twin brother. And this here is his wife Rose."

"Hello," Rose smiled, surprising Jolene with her philadelphian accent. It was obvious the girl was a northerner and a upper-crust one at that.

"Nice to meet ya," Richie’s brother’s eyes lit up with a genuine smile as he shook her hand.

"Don’t plan on staying Richie," Charles finally growled.

"What?"

"Charles don’t be rash," Nancy tried to intervene.

"Stay out of this Nancy. I gave this boy six months to straighten out. If he screwed up he was out. Well he just screw up, big time!"
"Father you don’t understand…" Richie began.

"I understand that you impregnated this poor girl and forced her into a life she may not be ready for. You disappear without no notice…I’m not having it Richie!"

"Oh of course not, I’m not the golden boy now am I!" Richie snapped. He had enough of his father’s favoritism. "If this was Jack you wouldn’t throw him out…wait a minute this was Jack as I do recall, except that Rose wasn’t pregnant!"

"Uh…girls why don’t you take Jolene to the room her and Richie will be staying," Nancy turned to Rose and Jacklyn. She wanted to get Jolene and Rose out of the line of fire here.

"Yes mother," Jacklyn nodded.

Charles waited until the women were out of earshot and fired back. "That was different!"

"How?! I mean at least I knew Jolene a year before tying the knot! But like I said Jack has always been your favorite!"

"Think what you will boy. But you will not be bringing your problems back into this house!"

"Dad stop, you can’t just throw them out into the streets, she’s pregnant with your grandchild," Jack intervened. "Let them stay. Rose and I can get a room somewhere else if there’s no room."

"Oh there’s room," Richie growled. "He just doesn’t want to use it."

"Jack we had a deal six months…"

"Well the six months are not over yet. And as far as I can see Richie didn’t screw up. In fact, he took responsibility. Something you were always harping on him about," Jack pointed out.

Charles opened his mouth and closed it again. He knew Jack had a point. All in all Richie didn’t really screw up. He did take care of his responsibility to the girl, plus there was the fact that the child the girl was carrying was his grandchild. He didn’t really want to throw his grandchild out in the street. "You’re so jealous of your brother Richie, but it seems like he’s always saving your hide from being thrown in the street. This is your last chance. You screw up, Jolene may stay but you’ll have to leave."

"Fair enough," Richie nodded.

"I’ll go and make sure they’re getting everything set up ok," Nancy disappeared into the house.

"And I have some things to get from the general store," Charles snorted, stepping off the porch leaving Jack and Richie by themselves.

"I guess I should thank you," Richie sighed.

"It was nothing. It looks like Ma’s a bit sore about not seeing you get married."

"It couldn’t be helped," Richie replied.

"She’ll get over it," Jack smiled. "Come on, let’s see what the girls are doing."

They walk in to see Rose, Nancy, Jolene and Jacklyn setting in the living room.

"What are you doing?" Jack asked.

"Trying to figure out where Richie and Jolene will be staying," Jacklyn answered. "I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to share my room with a married couple."

"We just don’t have many options…I guess I can always put a bed down here in the living room…"

"Why can’t Jack and Rose share their room? I mean they’re both married...," Jacklyn suggested.

"I don’t know about that Jacklyn…I mean they may want their privacy…," Nancy sighed.

"I think it’s a great idea," Jack nodded.

"What do you think Rose? Jolene?" Nancy asked.

"Whatever Jack wants to do," Rose smiled at her husband.

"I think it’s a good idea for now," Richie nodded.

"Ok then. Let’s go upstairs and get everything ready," Nancy clapped her hands excitedly.

*

Nancy stood between the two beds, one a full size and the other a twin. "I’ve been thinking, in her condition, it’d be wise to give Jolene and Richie the full and Jack and Rose the twin. You don’t mind do you Rose?"

"I guess not," Rose shrugged. "Anything to be closer to my husband here," She couldn’t help but giggle.

Jack just rolled his eyes. That’ll be fine."

"Nancy! Where’s dinner!" Charles grumpily yelled up the stairs.

"In a minute!" Nancy called back down. "I’ll leave you two up here to get things settled. Dinner will be done shortly."

"I’ll be down to set the table momma," Jacklyn called after her mother.

"I guess it’s a good thing mom likes me best huh?" Gregory snorted.

"I guess it is," Jack shrugged, "Well Rose, I guess we better go down help mom. We’ll see you downstairs," Jack led his wife down the stairs.

"Must you always do that Richie? I guess I’m the twin with the hot temper because if I was Jack I would have laid you out by now," Jacklyn stared at her older brother. "Why do you hate Jack so much?"
Richie stared at his sister in utter shock. "Jacklyn…you know I don’t hate Jack. I love him just like I love you. He’s my little brother. It’s just that…dad…his attitude tends to bring out the worse in me. I guess I really did hurt him with that comment didn’t I?"

"Yes you did. He may not say anything, but I saw it in his face," Jacklyn crossed his arms. "What confuses me is how much Jack stands up for you with father. Especially in the past two weeks when you weren’t here. It was always Jack explaining your absence. But with you and mom…you seem to relish her favor."

Richie didn’t answer, he just glared down at the ground, not knowing how to answer his sister.

"And one would think you would be nicer to Jack since we had almost lost him for good in April. If it wasn’t for Rose we would have and then where would you be? Not here that’s for sure."

"I’ll apologize later ok," Richie looked at his sister. "Right now I want to get Jolene settled. It was a long trip."

"Ok. Welcome to the family Jolene. I hope you don’t regret being related to the bunch of us."

"I doubt I will. You’ve all been so nice to me," Jolene smiled as her sister in law left. "Why don’t you like your brother?"

Richie sighed. "It’s like I told Jacklyn Jolene. I do love Jack. But…it’s just that everyone loves him. Mom, dad, Jacklyn, Rose…the town but everyone seems to detest me except for my mom."

"Well if you haven’t noticed…Jack doesn’t detest you. In fact, I think he greatly admires you. But yet…you treat him like your enemy."
"I have been terrible. And he’s not the only one. I also have to apologize to Rose as well. I kind of accused her of using Jack. Of not really loving him a couple of weeks ago. That was rude and mean of me. You see that’s why I need you so much. You bring out the best in me."

"And you me," Jolene smiled, twirling a blond curl around her finger. "I love you Richie Dawson. Don’t ever forget that."

"Don’t worry. I won’t," Richie smiled and pulled her in for a kiss.

*

It was five minutes before dinner and Jack stood outside, looking out towards the field, his mind full of the current events. He couldn’t believe Richie was now married. He felt nothing but pure happiness for his brother. He just wished Richie would forgive him for their father’s favoritism. Jack had tried his hardest to avoid any special treatment his father was prone to giving and made sure to point out all the good things Richie has done. But nothing helped. To Charles Dawson, Jack was the good son and Richie was the black sheep.

"Jack?" Rose stepped out onto the porch, placing a gentle hand on Jack’s shoulder. "Are you alright? You’ve been pretty quiet since we came downstairs."
"I’m fine Rose."

Rose sighed and turned Jack to face her. She gave him the same look that he gave her that day in the gymnasium when she said she loved Cal. "Really?"

Jack hesitated. It was so hard to lie to Rose when she was so close that he could smell the scent of strawberry perfume that she used in her hair and her eyes examining him so intensely.

"Ok, maybe I’m not. I just wish pa would stop berating Richie and pointing out my good points. He’s not being fair to either of us."

"Richie’s not being fair to you either. It’s not your fault that your father treats you better. I’ve sat back and watched you continuously stand up for Richie and make your father recognize Richie’s accomplishments. But yet, Richie treats you like dirt. Jack…I don’t understand that."
"Well I do. I can understand it really well actually."

"Whatever the cause….I wish he’d stop. It’s really hurting you and you’ve seen enough pain and heartache to last two lifetimes," She tenderly touched his face, placing a sweet tender kiss on his mouth.

"You know, you’re the only one that keeps me sane. I love you so much Rose," Jack sighed, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"I love you too."

"Ahem," Jolene cleared her throat as she pulled Richie out onto the porch. "Are we interrupting?"
"Oh no. Not at all," Rose smiled pulling away from Jack. "So what can we do for you?"

"Well…Richie has something to say to Jack really," Jolene pulled him forward. "Go ahead Richie. Tell Jack about what’s been bothering you."

"Ok, Jack. First I want to apologize for the horrible way I’ve been treating you. It was unfair and uncalled for. You’ve done nothing but showed me kindness and unconditional love. But what’s been bothering me Jack is that you’re everyone’s favorite person. Even the rich people like you. Don’t say that’s not true because look at Rose. She’s as high class as they come and I can see it just by looking at her that she’s crazy about you. You’re the golden boy of Chippewa Falls. Father’s favorite son. And that irks me to no end. I can have the cure for cancer or pneumonia and he’d still think I was no good."

"Richie…" Jack sighed but was interrupted.

"Don’t say that’s not true Jack, because we both know better. To Pa you can do no wrong and I can do nothing but wrong. SO I guess when ma was doing her thing upstairs, and even though you have never done that to me, I had to rub it in. I knew I hurt you but I couldn’t help myself until Jolene called me on how I was treating you and she’s right. It’s unfair and unbrotherlike. Instead of competing with you I should be spending more time with you because of what happened last April. Do you forgive me for my horrible behavior?"

Jack nods. "Of course," Jack gave his brother a hug. "Really there’s nothing to forgive."

"And Rose…I need to apologize to you too. About how I treated you a couple of weeks ago. I know you love my brother…you wouldn’t have done all you did if you didn’t. I’m sorry that I treated you like you were using him," Richie pulled away to address Rose, who’s face revealed her shock.

"Uh…thank you Richie. I forgive you," Rose nodded.

"So are we all friends again?" Jack smiled, placing a arm around Rose’s shoulder.

"Of course," Richie laughed.

"You four, dinner’s ready," Jacklyn stuck her head through the door.

"Interrigation time?" Jolene fearfully looked towards Richie.

"Oh Jolene don’t worry. Mr. And Mrs. Dawson aren’t all that bad. Take it from someone who was in your place a couple of months ago," Rose took Jolene’s hand and led her into the house.

"I have a feeling that Rose just made a new friend," Jack looked at his brother, laughter in his eyes.

"Well I’m glad. Jolene needs all the friends she can get. Especially after Pa gets done with her."

"Don’t worry. One thing about pa is that he’s always a gentleman," Jack reassured his brother. "Come on. Let’s get in there before ma sends out a search party.

*

The table was sit and everyone were seated around the table as bowls and plates of food were passed around. Jolene tightly held Richie’s hand under the table, trying to stiffle her nervousness.

"So Jolene," Charles cleared his throat. "Tell us about yourself. Where are you from? How did you meet Richie?"

"I’m from the Bayou of New Orleans," Jolene cleared her throat. "Richie had gotten lost and I helped him find his way back to town."

"What about your family dear? What are they like?" Nancy asked.

"My family aren’t social people Mrs. Dawson," Jolene began.

"Call me Nancy. Like I told Rose, We’re both Mrs. Dawson now," Nancy warmly smiled at the girl, hoping to make the girl feel at home.

"Uh…ok…Nancy," Jolene nodded. "My folks…they’re not socialable folk. In fact, it’s best if they stay down there in New Orleans."

"So what are you and my son planning to do now that you’re married and with child? Surely you can’t stay here when the child is born. There’s no room," Charles bit into his drumstick.

"We’re cross that bridge when we come to it," Richie replied. "But for right now, the Dawson farm will be just fine."

"Uh…Jolene…Aren’t you worried? Worried that your family might show up and try to drag you back?" Rose asked, remembering her own fears of Cal showing up in Chippewa Falls to drag her back to her old life in Philadelphia.

"There’s no need to worry about that because I’ll protect her," Richie placed an protective arm around her shoulders.

Rose couldn’t help but smile. Richie must realize how alike him and Jack were.

"I always wanted to go to New Orleans," Jacklyn smiled.

"I have family down there," Rose shyly smiled. "Distant cousins on my mother’s side. The Dewitts…do you know them."

Jolene’s eyes widen. "Of course I know them. Well…I don’t actually know them, but I’ve heard of them. Everyone has really, they’re one of the richest families in New Orleans."

"How interesting," Nancy smiled.

Rose smiled when she suddenly began to feel a bit queasy. Excusing herself, she rushed to the restroom.

"It must have been something she ate," Jack gets up. "I better go check on her."

"Hurry back," Charles nodded.

"Rose sweetie? Are you ok?" Jack entered the restroom to find his wife, leaning against the wall, pale and exhausted. Jack immediately went to her side to check for a fever, but found none. "Honey what’s wrong?"

"I just felt a bit nauseous. I’m sorry for worrying you," Rose sighed, leaning into Jack’s comforting embrace. "Maybe I should lie down."

"Yes, and I’ll call the doctor first thing in the morning. I want to make sure you’re not getting sick."

"Oh Jack I’m not getting sick. I just got a little nauseated. It happens. I’m fine."

"we’ll let the doctor decide that…in fact I’ll call him now. I want to get this fixed tonight," Jack lifted his wife up into his arms and carried her to their room. Sighing with contentment at being in her husband’s arms, Rose leaned her head against his shoulder.

"I love you Jack. You’re so warm, sweet, handsome…"
Jack laughed. "I love you too Rosebud. I promise you’ll feel better soon." He layed her down on their bed and covered her up to her chin. "There you go. Nice, warm and comfy."

"I’m always warm and comfy when I’m with you," Rose sighed, her eyes growing heavy. The day had tired her immensely, but she didn’t really want to go to sleep. She wanted to stay awake and stare into Jack’s beautiful eyes. Run her hands through his silken blond hair. "I love you."

"I love you too sweetie. Now go to sleep. You’re tired. I’ll be right here when you wake up."

"What are you going to do?"

"Call the doctor and then come back here and set by your side," Jack takes her hand.

"Ok," Rose drifts off to sleep and Jack got up to call the doctor to come check on his ailing wife.

*

Rose stood on the porch, watching the waves of the ocean come in. On the sandy beach were two children. One a boy and one a girl. The boy had ebony hair and blue eyes and the girl had blond hair and the same blue eyes. Both children were five years old and best friends. Rose smiled at the sight of the girl happily drawing a picture of a castle in the sand. For some reason, Rose couldn’t take her eyes off of her.

"Molly. Molly Nancy Dawson," Rose sighed to herself.

"Rose," She heard Jack’s voice calling her, but she chose to ignore it, too absorbed in the little girl.

"Rose," The voice called again. Only louder. "Rose!"

Rose’s bolted awake, the remains of the dreams still with her. She turned her head to find Jack and a older gentleman with graying black hair stareing down at her. "Jack?"

"Rose the doctor is here and he wants to check you out. I’ll be right outside that door if you need anything," Jack backed out of the room, leaving Rose and the doctor alone.

"Well?" Jacklyn appeared behind her brother.

"He don’t know yet," Jack shrugged. "We’ll just have to wait patiently for his answer."

"I hope she’s ok," Jacklyn layed a supportive hand on her brother’s shoulder. "I know how much she means to you."

"She’s everything to me Jacklyn…she’s my whole life. I thought what I had with Kim was true love, but it doesn’t come close to this. What Rose and I have…it’s so consuming…I don’t know where she ends and I begin anymore. I love her so much…I can’t lose her."

"You won’t Jack. You won’t lose her. It’s probably a twenty-four hour bug or something," Jacklyn pulled her brother into a comforting hug. Both are unaware of Jolene and Richie standing not too far away.

"He really loves her doesn’t he?" Jolene looked up at Richie.

"That’s one thing about us Dawson men. When we fall in love it’s completely and fully. There’s never an in-between with us," Richie placed a arm around her shoulder.

"Mr. Dawson?" The doctor steps out of the room, bringing Jack to attention just as Charles and Nancy come up.

"How is she doc? Will my Rose be okay?" Jack asked, hope filling his eyes.

The doctor had to smile. He had only seen such devotion before and that was the boy’s father to his mother.

"Your wife will be fine. She just needs some bed rest and to take it easy for the next nine months."
"What?" Jack asked, the color beginning to drain from his face as the implication of what the doctor said sinks in.

"Congratulations Jack. Your wife is pregnant. I’ve sat up an appointment for next week. Make sure she comes in. From there, we’ll set up more appointments. This is her first child and I’d like to keep a close eye on it."

"Y-yes sir," Jack swallowed, now in shock. A father. He, Jack free-spirit, no worries Dawson was going to be a father. Swallowing he looked at Charles and wondered how he did it. How did he manage to raise two sons and a daughter without completely freaking out.

"Good day Jack. I’ll see you and Rose next week. And Richie, you may bring your wife as well. I’d like to keep watch on her condition also," The doctor turned to the eldest Dawson brother.

"Yes sir," Richie nodded as the man went downstairs to leave.

"This is so exciting," Nancy gasped with excitement. "Two Dawson babies this time next year!"

"I’m going to be a father," Jack replied, still in shock.

"And a great father you’ll be son. Now I suggest you go in and be with your wife. I think she may need you right now," Charles clapped his son on the back.

Jack just nodded, and disappeared into the room, where Rose was patiently, yet nervously waiting for him.

"So you’ve heard?" She asked, noticing the shock in his eyes.

"Uh huh. How did this happen Rose?" Jack asked, taking her hand as he sat on the side of the bed.

"Well…do I really have to explain it to you?" She smiled, trying to lighten the situation with a joke.

Jack laughed lightly. "No. But it’s such a surprise…I guess Jacklyn was right when she was warning mom and dad about a grandchild huh?"

Rose giggled. "I hope it looks like you Jack. Your fair looks…"

"Your beautiful hair and sparkling eyes," Jack tenderly touched her face. "Have I told you how much I love you lately?"

Rose laughed again. "All the time."

"Well let me tell you again. I love you more than anything Rose. You complete me like no one else ever has and I’m so blessed to have you and our baby in my life now."

Tears spring in her eyes, totally touched by Jack’s declaration. "Oh Jack…that was so beautiful…I love you so much," She hugged him tightly, thanking God for giving her Jack and their baby. "Promise you’ll never leave me."

"I promise Rose. No matter what, I’ll be with you forever," Jack kissed her passionately, leaning her down onto the bed. Together they once again go to the stars basking in their all consuming love for one another, the outside world forgotten.

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