Chapter Thirteen
Rose sat on her bed placing another dress into her suitcase. Gretchen stands in the door way, her eyes revealing just how unhappy she was with Jack and Rose’s decision to leave Chippewa Falls.
"Rose…are you sure this is wise? I mean, it hasn’t been that long since Jack got out of the hospital, plus you’re with child…"
"This is the right thing to do Gretchen. I
know you’re unhappy with this being the holidays and all,
but I have to get Jack away from Maggie some how and this is the
only way. I’m sorry to be leaving you like this."
Gretchen sighed. "I understand I guess. I mean if it was
Will I’d be doing the same thing. But I’m still going
to miss you."
"It’s only going to be three months," Rose laughed. "And I’m going to write you everyday and let you know just how well we’re doing in Santa Monica."
"So what are you two going to do there again?"
"We’re going to the pier. Jack’s going to take me on the roller coaster and then he’s going to teach me how to ride like a man. We’re saving the drinking cheap beer for later…after the baby’s born," Rose giggled. "Oh Gretchen this trip is just what Jack and I need. Just me and him and the ocean."
"All packed?" Jack appeared behind Gretchen.
"Just about," Rose smiled up at him.
"You better take good care of her. Or you’re going to have to answer to me," Gretchen stood toe to toe with Jack.
"Yes mam," Jack saluted, his blue eyes laughing.
"Have you said good-bye to Maggie Jack?" Rose asked.
"uh….no. In fact, I didn’t exactly tell her we were leaving."
"Jack…"
"She’ll know soon enough," Jack quickly replied. "Don’t worry. I have all night tonight."
"I could tell her," Rose offered.
"It’d be my pleasure."
"That’s why you’re not telling her," Jack
shook his head.
Rose sighed. "Sometimes Jack, I think you love her more than me."
"Rose, you know that’s impossible," Jack wrapped his arm around his wife and kissed her forehead. "You’re my heart. You’re everything to me."
"Going somewhere?" Maggie stands next to Gretchen looking at the packed bags.
"Well…now is the time," Rose looked at her husband.
"Rose and I are going on our honeymoon. We’ll be gone for a while," Jack cleared his throat.
"In the dead of winter?" Maggie looked at them skeptically.
"It’s warm where we’re going," Rose returned to her packing. "We’ll be gone for three months actually. Just Jack, me, and the horizon."
"Where am I going to stay?"
"Here with the Blooms and my mother. There’s plenty of room," Rose shrugged. "Or not. Don’t feel obligated to stay and wait for us to return."
"You’d like that wouldn’t you," Maggie glared at Rose.
"Now girls, let’s not fight. Not today. This is our last day here. Let’s make it a quiet one," Jack stepped in before a argument could start.
"So may I ask where Rose is whisking my
cousin off to?"
"Jack’s going to show me some of the places he’s
been on his travels," Rose definitely didn’t want
Maggie showing up in Santa Monica. The purpose of this vacation
would be ruined.
"We’ll write and send postcards," Jack nodded. "Come on girls, let’s leave Rose to her packing," Jack ushered Gretchen and Maggie out the door, leaving Rose to her duties.
*
The next morning
Eau Claire Trainstation
"You take good care of my daughter and grandchild Jack," Ruth scolded, very unhappy about the fact that Rose was going to be traveling in her condition, but knew that the couple needed this time to themselves and away from all the tension at home.
"Don’t worry Ruth. I’m going to guard them with my life," Jack smiled, kissing Rose tenderly. Ruth noted how gentle he was with Rose which made her feel even more at ease.
"Don’t forget to write and send us
some pictures," Gretchen hugged her friend. "And be
sure to make it back before my wedding. You are my maid of honor
you know."
"And I need my best man," William laughed.
"Carl can take my place," Jack laughed.
"No way. Carl’s my friend but he’s not at all for my marriage. I’m the last single friend he has and once I’ve tied the knot, Clarice will be nagging him to place a ring on her finger," William laughed.
"Don’t worry. We’ll be back way before then," Rose reassured her friend, giving her one last hug.
"I’m going to miss you,"
Gretchen hugged Rose tightly. "Both of you."
"We’ll miss you too Gretchen. Take care of yourself
ok?" Jack hugged her when she was finished with Rose.
"Where’s Maggie? Didn’t she want to say
good-bye?" Rose winced at the hurt in Jack’s voice. He
was so positive she would want to be there to send them off. If
she ever got that girl alone, she’d make her regret
continuously hurting her husband.
"Guess not," Gretchen regretfully shook her head. She was going to have some choice words for Maggie when she got back. "Don’t worry about it Jack. I’m sure she got held up."
"Come on darling. That’s the boarding call there," Rose pulled on her husband’s hand at the blare of the train’s whistle.
"Take care you two!" Gretchen waved as Jack and Rose boarded the train. The trio stood and watched the train disappear into the horizon, hoping that Jack and Rose find what they’re looking for in Santa Monica.
*
It’s been two hours since their departure from Eau Claire and both Jack and Rose were silent. Rose held Jack’s hand and gently stroked her swollen abdomen wondering what the future held for them. Jack’s thoughts were back in Chippewa Falls. He deeply regretted not saying good-bye to Maggie. He wondered what it would take for his cousin to open up and allow herself to love and be loved and how much more time would Rose allow. He knew she had enough of Maggie’s attitude and that if she haven’t changed when they returned to Chippewa Falls, he was going to have to ask Maggie to leave. Something he didn’t want to do, but for Rose he would. He’d do anything for Rose.
"You’re quiet," Rose leaned her head against his shoulder.
"I…I just was wishing that I got to say good-bye to Maggie. She is the only family I have left from my father’s side," Jack sighed.
"Oh Jack, even now when she’s nowhere around she still hurts you," Rose stroked his cheek. "I wish I could make her change for you."
"But you can’t and neither can I. I don’t know what can. But if she doesn’t change by time we get back…as much as I hate to do it…I’m going to tell her to leave. I don’t want that type of negativity around our baby," Jack squeezed Rose’s hand. "I’m sorry I made you put up with what you had."
"I’d do anything you want me to Jack. You know that. I was kind of hoping you were right and she would change too, for your sake if nothing else. She still has three months. Maybe the time away will make her see reason."
Jack shrugged. "I wouldn’t count on it. I don’t even care that much anymore. Just as long as I have you and our child, I’ll be alright. Life’s too precious to spend trying to change someone that doesn’t want to."
"You’ve got that right," Rose
sighed contently. "Jack…tell me about the first time
you went to Santa Monica. What was it like for you?"
"Why do you want to know about that?" Jack asked.
"Because it was a part of your past that changed your life," Rose looked up into his beautiful blue eyes.
Jack sighed. He didn’t really want to revisit that part of his past, but since Rose asked about it, he’ll tell her. He really couldn’t refuse her anything.
"Ok. I was fifteen years old and still mourning the loss of my parents. As you know, I was dating Christine at the time. I guess I was more serious than she was because when we arrived she became smitten with this wealthy gentleman and left me for him."
"I would say I’m sorry, but I’m not. If she had stayed, we would never have met," Rose kissed his hand.
"That’s true. I guess that was fate taking things in her own hands," Jack laughed. "But anyway, after Chris left, I began drawing pictures on the pier."
"Were there any other girlfriends?" Rose asked.
"A couple, but none too serious. They were
all rebound relationships," Jack laughed. "All except
for Julia."
"Julia?" Rose arched a eyebrow. "Who was
Julia?"
"…does it matter?"
"Yes. May I remind you of the ex-girlfriend that burned down our house not so long ago?"
Jack sighed. This was just what he wanted to avoid. He didn’t even mean to bring Julia up, but it was too late to back down now. "Well, I was seventeen years old and working for the manager of the pier. He’d let me draw portraits for a cut of the profits. Julia was his daughter. She was seventeen, with brown hair and hazel eyes. She was quiet and shy around strangers, but when we were together she came out of her shell."
"What happened to her?" Rose asked.
"Well…as you might have already guessed, it was a forbidden relationship. Her father didn’t like the possibility of his precious daughter marrying a starving artist. You see most of the guys on the pier are unsavory characters and even though her father knew me, he thought I was putting on airs or something. When he found out about us, he put a end to our relationship."
"You gave up? Just like that?" Rose asked in disbelief. She couldn’t picture her brave determined Jack giving up on anything.
"Not exactly. We saw each other again whenever we could. But then her father found out and had one of his sons have a conversation with me. Either leave Santa Monica or Julia would have to go live with her cousins in Los Angelas. I couldn’t let that happen. Julia loved Santa Monica from the sunsets on the pier to the smell of salt water in the morning. I could live without those things, but she couldn’t."
"So you left?"
"Headed for Europe. I wanted to try my luck at the galleries of Paris. That didn’t pan out so me and my friend Fabrizio headed for SouthHampton where we won a third class ticket on the Titanic where I met my soulmate. A beautiful first class girl who had flaming red hair and eyes as green as the rolling hills of ireland."
Rose smiled happily. "Oh Jack, I can’t wait until we get to Santa Monica. I want to do all the things we’ve talked about. Ride the roller coaster, ride in the surf…everything," Rose stiffled a yawn.
"We will Rose. I promise. But for now let’s go to sleep. We still have a ways to go," Jack tightend his arms around her and rested his head on top of hers. Rose snuggled deeper into his embrace and drifted off to sleep, dreaming of her and Jack riding two white horses into the warm ocean, a rising sun illuminating the beautiful blue water.