CHAPTER TWELVE

Day of the quilting bee...

Rose and Jack arrived right on time for the quilting bee. The party was on it's way. All they were waiting for now was for the volunteers to take their seats.
"You're going to do great," Jack smiled at his wife who was growing more and more nervous by the minute.
"Jack...I don't know....what if I do mess up? What if Brianna's right?"
"She's not right Rose. You know that and I know that. Besides, when you start to feel nervous or like you can't do this...just look over at me and regain that courage. Ok?"
Rose just smiled and nods. "I love you Jack."
"I love you too Rose, and don't worry. You'll be alright."
"Rose are you ready?" Mrs. Nancy asked, taking a seat in one of the chairs.
"Yes mam," Rose nods.
"Good luck Rose. Remember, look at me when you need courage," Jack kissed his wife before she took her place between Brianna and Susan.
"You do know the movements don't you?" Brianna asked Rose.
"Yes I do," Rose nods.
"And what's your pattern going to be dear?" Mrs. Nancy asked, looking over her granddaughter.
"A rose," Rose smiled. "That was Jack's idea."
"How cliche," Brianna rolls her eyes.
"And how about you Bri?" Susan asked. "Hopefully it'll be a lot better than that awful bird you quilted last year."
"I'm drawing a ship. To commemorate the Titanic sinking," Brianna snorted.

"Well let's stop discussing the quilt and get to working on it," Mrs. Nancy nods, sticking her needle into the material.
Rose looks over at Jack, who seems to be deep in conversation with an elderly gentleman. Feeling her eyes on him, Jack turns and glances at the stage and smiles encouragely at her. Courage and determination courseing through her viens, Rose begins knitting her design.
At first everything's going great. The green stem of the was rose was coming along quite nicely. It was just when she got to the part to knit the petals that Rose had trouble. No matter what she did, she couldn't get the needle to go right.
"Having trouble?" Brianna glances over at Rose, a spiteful smirk on her facce. "Quilting just isn't your foray now is it?"
Rose ignored her.
"Leave her alone Brianna," Susan worned.
"I just don't want to see the quilt ruined, that's all. Let's face it Rose. I was right the first time. You're just a snotty debutante that doesn't know how to do anything and never will."
Something snaps in Rose. The thin thread of self confidence and control of her emotions finally snaps. Rose just bursts into tears and darts out of the building. She doesn't stop running until she's reached the house and collapses on the front porch. Wiping away her tears, Rose realizes that she's home and immediately went into the house and upto her room. She slips into bed and buries her head under the cover, shielding herself from the outside world.

Five minutes later Jack enters the room and sets beside her still sobbing form.
"Rose?" Jack tentatively touches her shoulder. "What happened? Why did you run out like that?"
"I can't do this Jack. I can't. Everyone's right about me. The only thing I know how to do is shop and go to fancy parties. I can socialize with the snobbiest of high society, but I can't handle myself in a small town quilting bee. I'm a fool for even thinking I can fit in here," Rose sobbed, burying her face in the pillow.
"Rose...do you mind telling me what happened?"
"I kept messing up on the Rose Jack. I tried and tried but the needle wouldn't go right. Then Brianna said what she said the other day and I couldn't hold it together anymore. I tried ignoring her but I couldn't anymore," Rose sobbed.
Jack sighed sadly and pulled Rose into a hug. "I'm going to have a long talk with Brianna. She's going to learn that she can't treat you like that and get away with it."
"Jack no. Don't say anything. She was just speaking the truth."
"No Rose. She wasn't. She was being mean, spiteful, and jealous and I'm not going to take it from her nor anyone else in this town," Jack holds her closer. "Besides, you can do a lot more than hob nob with the rich folks up in Philadelphia. You can cook. That lunch you made the other day was absolutely delicious."
"You really think so?" Rose looks up at Jack.
"I know so," Jack grinned, kissing her forehead. "Now are you ready to go back to that quilting bee?"
Rose's face pales and she immediately shakes her head. "No Jack. I don't. I already gave her the satisfaction of seeing me cry. I'm not going to give her another humiliation."
"Rose...Okay. If that's what you want."
"But if you want to go back to the party you can. There's no need for you to miss out on seeing your friends again because of me," Rose pulls out of the hug. "In fact, I insist that you go. I want you to have fun."
"Rose, how can I have fun when you're here miserable?" Jack asked., stroking her hair.
"Because it's what I want. Please Jack. I feel bad enough already. Your missing this party will only make me feel worse," Rose sniffed and wipes away the few remaining tears. "Please."
Jack sighed in defeat. He couldn't argue with her. "Okay. If that's what you want. But I'm not going to have fun and I'll be home in two more hours."
"Ok," Rose nods. "I love you Jack."
"I love you too Rose. You just try to feel better. Ok?"
"Ok," Rose smiled. She waves to him as he leaves than sinks back down onto the bed, her depression returning. What was she going to do? How was she going to survive when Jack learned just how useless she was and leave her? Sighing deeply one last time, Rose falls into a troubled sleep.

"There you are!" Susan runs up to Jack as he reenters the party. "Where's Rose?"
"At home. She refuses to come back," Jack sighed. Then his blue eyes darken with anger. "Where's Brianna? I have a few choice words for her."
"Jack don't," Susan blocks him from going any further. "Confronting her now, especially in front of her friends will only make things worse for Rose."
"She went too far Susan."
"I know. I know she did, but confronting her will not help anything. Just let it go. For now anyway. What all did Rose say anyway?"
"She's a mess Susan. I never saw her like this before and I don't know what to do. I would've stayed home with her if she hadn't insisted that I come back."
"You want me to stop by and talk to her on the way home?" Susan asked.
"Would you?" Jack asked hopefully. "Maybe you can cheer her up."
"Where's your young wife?" Mrs. Nancy appears behind Susan. "Were you able to bring her back?"
Jack shakes his head. "She's really upset thanks to your granddaughter."
"Don't worry. I scolded Brianna for her harsh words. I sincerely apologize for my granddaughter," the elderly woman shakes her head. "Tell Rose I'm sorry and I hope she feels better soon. I'd like to ask her to be on the committe for t he annual picnic. She's such a lovely girl."
"I'll tell her that," Jack smiled thankfully.
"See. She's fitting in already," Susan smiled up at Jack.
"Yes she is. But only to make her see that."
"Don't worry Jack. We will. We will," Susan squeezes his shoulder

The house is dark when Susan and Jack arrive at the Dawson house. Jack goes upstairs to find Rose standing at the window looking out over the fields.
"Rose I'm home," Jack comes up behind her and wraps his arms around her waist. She sighs with pleasure and lays her head back on his shoulder.
"I missed you Jack," Rose sighed.
"Not as much as I missed you. Susan's here. She wanted to check on how you're doing," Jack said. "You feel like talking to her?"
Rose wanted to say no and she would've if it wasn't for the pleading tone in Jack's voice. He was worried for her and it was up to her to put his mind at rest. "Ok," Rose leaves his arms and heads downstairs where Susan's lighting a lantern.
"Susan? Jack said you wanted to talk to me?" Rose appears at the bottom of the stairs.
"Yes. I wanted to make sure you were okay. Jack said you were really upset. I was concerned," Susan smiled.
"I'm fine. I don't know why I broke down like that. It's really not like me. I've been like that for the past couple of weeks. One minute I'm incredibly happy and then I'm an emotional wreck."
"Really? Rose...when was your last monthly?" Susan asked, motioning for them both to set on the couch.
"It was supposed to be three weeks ago but it didn't...oh my god. You don't think I could be..."
"It's possible. It's too early for you to get sick in the morninggs, but those mood swings could be the perfect sign. I suggest you go visit Dr. Calvert right away. Jack could be a papa this time next year," Susan laughed happily hugging Rose. "Oh Rose how wonderful if my suspicions are true. A baby is always a cause of celebration here in Chippewa Falls and a Dawson baby...that alone is a cause for celebration. We all thought we'd never see another Dawson baby again."
"A baby," Rose's voice is full of wonder. Oh if it was true...it'd be wonderful. The she gets an idea. "Susan...I don't want Jack to know yet. If I am pregnant, I want it to be a surprise, but I don't want to go to the doctors alone. Will you go with me?"
"Sure. If you like. Oh wow Rose. This is so much fun!" Susan hugs Rose again. "Don't worry. I won't say a word to Jack."
Rose grinned happily, hoping against hope that she was with child...Jack's child.

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