CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

It’s been a month since Fabrizio and Kate had come to Chippewa Falls, but no one expected the next arrival in their small town. Not even Jack and Rose, but when it did arrive, it brought Rose and her two best friends to attention.

Rose is setting in her rocking chair on the porch talking to Kate and brushing Becky’s blond curls when Susan runs up the path, a yellow paper in her hand.

"Rose! Kate! Look at this!" She excitedly pushes the paper in Rose’s face.

"What is it?" Rose asked, looking up at her friend as she takes the paper from his face.

"Read it," Susan insists, her face flushed from running.

"Attention all women, come join our leader Carrie Chapman Catt at the rally in the town square next Saturday. There will be a parade and a rally accompanied by a nice lunch during her speech. Who is she?" Rose looks up at her friend who is now looking at her like she’s lost her mind.

"Gee for a high society girl Rose, you sure are behind on the times. Carrie Chapman Catt is the leader of the American Women suffrage. You know…the organization that’s fighting four a woman’s right to vote in this country!" Susan explains. "She’s coming here to Chippewa Falls next Saturday. In fact, she’s staying in the boarding house with us. Mother just reserved her room!"

"Oh my God!" Rose gasped, finally remembering who the woman was, she had heard a lot about her and the women’s suffrage movement in finishing school, but with all the twists and turns her life had taken in the past year or so she had totally forgotten about the movement.

"It says next Saturday there’s a parade and speech," Kate reads.

"Let’s do it you two. Let’s march in that parade and join in on that rally. Let’s show our support for the cause," Susan excitedly laughs.

"Ok," Rose nods her agreement. "I’ll do it."

"I don’t know you two…I’ll have to ask Fabri if he’d want me too and you two should do the same. I mean Rose, Jack might not want you to march and Cal may have a problem with Susan’s marching too," Kate shakes her head.

Rose’s eyes widen in shock at what she just heard.

"Is she for real?" Susan asked Rose.

"Kate…Fabri doesn’t own you. You have your own mind. And as for Jack, he’s already assured me that he’d stand behind my decisions no matter what. And Cal…he won’t approve, but I think he’s learned his lesson about treating women as property," Rose laughed. "I’m sure Fabri won’t mind."

"I don’t know…" Kate’s still unsure.

"Ok, how about this. I’ll cook dinner tonight and Susan can bring Cal over. All six of us can sit down and discuss this. Would that make you feel better?" Rose asked.

Kate readily nods, she always looked forward to the times all of them get together. It made her less homesick for Ireland and feel more at home. They were one happy family.

"Ok then. That’s what we’ll do. I’ll bring the flyer so the boys can see it," Susan takes the flyer back from Rose and prepares to leave.

Four hours later…

Dinner is finished and Becky is sleeping peacefully in her bed upstairs. The six adults are in the living room enjoying each other’s company when Susan brings out the flyer about the women’s suffrage parade.

"I already showed this to Rose and Kate, but they wanted to run it past you guys first to reach our final decision rather to join in or not," Sarah first gives Jack the flyer, knowing he was a lot more likely to agree than the other two.

"Interesting," Jack arches his eyebrow.

"I don’t know…" Fabri replied as the flyer is passed to him.

"This is nonsense! Pure nonsense!" Cal snorts as the flyer is handed to him. "I hope you’re not getting involved with this rubbish Susan."

"What?" Susan turns to her fiancee.

"Here we go," Rose whispers to Kate. "Now you’re going to see one of the reasons why I left him."

"Woman’s right to vote. Who does this woman think she is? If women were meant to vote, then they would have already had it. They’re just not capable of thinking as clearly as a man," Cal throws the flyer back on the table.

"Just like Cal to say that," Rose rolled her eyes.

"I agree with Cal," Fabrizio speaks up. All eyes turn to him. "I’m from Italy and in Italy women don’t speak unless spoken to. You all have a lot more freedom here in America than in my old country. You should be happy with that."

"And how about Jack? Does he agree with the chauvinist in the room?" Susan turns to him. He immediately pales at the question.

"…Well…I agree with the cause. I mean a woman should have the right to vote," Jack carefully replied.

"There’s a but in there somewhere," Susan holds back laughter.

"You’re right. There is a but in there," Jack sighed and takes Rose’s hand and looks her in the eyes. "I don’t want Rose to march in it."

"What?" Rose asked, her voice low, confusion in her eyes. He just said he believed in the cause. What does he mean he doesn’t want her marching in it? "I don’t understand."

"Rose…this isn’t New York City or even Philadelphia. It’s a small town that doesn’t take well to change. Especially change of the way of life and this is dealing with that. What I’m saying is things could get ugly and I don’t want you in a situation where you could get hurt. That’s all. "

"Jack I won’t get hurt," Rose sighed.

"I can’t take that chance. I mean, we’re talking about men just like those two that attacked you in Southampton Rose. I don’t want you in that situation again."

"For once Jack’s talking like he’s making sense," Cal nods.

"Cal shut up! This all your fault you know!" Rose turns on her ex-fiancee who’s smiling smugly.

"And how do you figure that Sweetpea?" Cal asked, his eyebrow arched.

"You poisoned his mind! I knew it wasn’t good for him to be hanging around you," Rose growled.

"Rose calm down. Let me finish," Jack sighed, pulling her back down to the couch. "I don’t want you marching in the parade. But I know from experience that once you have your mind made up there’s no stopping you. So what ever you decide to do…I’ll stand behind your decision, rather I approve or not."

Rose smiled and hugged her husband tightly. "Thank you Jack. You don’t know how much hearing you say that meant to me."
"I think I do," Jack smiled hugging her back. "Just promise me that if you do this that you’ll be careful. At the first sign of trouble come home."

"I promise," Rose kissed his ear.

"I suppose you two are going to want to march too now that Dawson gave his ok?" Cal turned to Susan and Kate.

"Fabri? Please? Jack is letting Rose go…why can’t I go too?"

"…Because you with bambino and should remain in the house. Not in some parade," Fabrizio crosses his arm.

"Fabri’s right Kate," Rose turns to her friend. "There’s no use endangering the baby’s welfare."

"And Cal…what about you? I know you think this is all nonsense but it’s important to me. Are you going to be a man like Jack and support me anyway…or are you going to do to me what you did to Rose before she left you. Treat me like what I want doesn’t matter?" Susan turns back to Cal.

Cal looks back and forth between Susan and Rose. His present and his past. His decision of the past could affect his future and he couldn’t have that. If he wanted to keep Susan in his life he had no choice. "Even though I do not believe in this radical thinking…I won’t try to stop you from going since it is important to you. Like Jack…I’ll stand behind you in your decision."

"Goodness gracious Susan. How did you do it?" Rose asked, her face betraying her surprise. "You have absolutely changed the great and powerful Caledon Hockley."

"All it took was a lot of patience and a lot of love," Susan grins and kisses his cheek. "I knew he’d come up with the right answer. So Rose, the decision is down to us two. Are we going to march or aren’t we?"

"We are!" Rose stands and hugs her friend. "This is going to be the grandest parade this town has ever seen!"

All that week in getting ready for the parade, Rose and Susan and a few other women stood outside the general store and handed out flyers for the parade. They were answered with a few looks of interest, smiles, and mostly from the men glares. Jack and Cal stopped by every hour to make sure that no one tried anything. Jack even decided to set and sketch the scene. Another memento of their life together he had said.

It was Friday, day before the big event when threat of trouble finally showed up. It was the afternoon and they haven’t been having much luck in handing out the flyers. People were either too scared or weren’t interested to even take a look about their cause. Rose is about to suggest that they call it the day when two young men approach. Both had the look of farmer boys dressed in overall’s and were quite unshaven. Chewing tobacco juice stained their teeth and Rose grimaced in revulsion as one spat juice right in front of her.

"Like a flyer sir?" Susan confidently holds a flyer out the the man.

"Let me see," the man grabs the flyer away from her. "Wo-men’s suff-rage," the man read. "Pa-rade. What’s that?"

"It’s a parade for the woman’s right to vote," Rose answered.

"Why lookie here Harv! We got us a perty one here," The man with dirty blonde hair looks her up and down the way Sal did in Southampton. Rose swallows as she feels a shiver go up and down her spine. She can’t help taking a step back.

"This one ain’t bad niether!" Harv look’s Susan up and down. "One for me and one for you."

"Hate to tell ya this fellas but we’re already taken," Susan steps in front of Rose, who is as pale as a ghost and frozen in her spot. "Now if you don’t mind, please take a flyer and leave, or just leave. Your choice."

"What an uppity one," Harv snorts. "I like her. But not this suff-rage stuff. Voting belongs to us men alone and that’s the way it oughta be. Damn woman, what ever her name coming down here and messing with our way of life."
"We ought to make her pay," Harv’s friend nods. "Like take her two gals here. No one would know that it was us."

"Leave us alone!" Susan demands. "I warn you I’m engaged to a very powerful man and…"

Harv grabs her and slaps her hard across the face. "That’s for talking back!"

"Let me go! Rose do something!" Susan turns to her friend who stares at her in utter pure terror. She had never seen Rose like this before. She had to not only save herself but save her friend as well. Get her back to the house before anything bad happened.

"I’ll get the red head Harv!"

"Fine by me Lyle!"

Lyle sounded so much like Sal and this is what made Rose retreat even more deeper into herself, knowing this time that there was no escape, no Jack to appear out of no where and save her.

"Come here little missie…" Lyle grinned advancing on her but is suddenly stopped by an all too familiar voice.

"Get away from my wife or you’ll be sorry," Jack appears behind the two men, Fabrizio and Cal are with him.

"And take you dirty hands off my fiancee you filth," Cal glares at Harv.

"Why isn’t it Jack Dawson. Haven’t seen you since elementary school," The man known as Lyle turns to face Jack. "Why look Harv it’s Jack Dawson. You remember him don’t ya?"

"Yeah. Used to pick on him all the time. The only one gutsy enough to stand up to us," Harv laughed. "The rest of the pipsqueaks were too chicken."

"So this perty lady’s your wife huh Jack? Well don’t be selfish share a little," Lyle laughed turning back to Rose. Suddenly he’s grabbed from behind a flying fist connects with his face, sending him reeling back against the stone wall of the general store.

"Sharing was never my strong suit," Jack angrily glares at the punk who wipes blood from his nose.

"Too bad Lyle, looks like you lose!" Harv laughs until he’s grabbed by the back of his neck and turns to face Cal’s furious brown eyes.

"And I said get your filthy hands off my fiancee!" Cal throws him up against a tree. "If I ever catch any of you near these two ladies again, I promise you I’ll make your life a living hell and you wouldn’t want that now would you?"

By the sound of Cal’s upper-crust voice, and the dark blackness in his eyes, both of the men shook their heads. "Now you have the count of three to get out of here and don’t let me see your faces here again!"

"Yes sir," Both men nod and take off running in the other direction.

"Cal thank goodness you came in time…" Susan began.

"You see Susan? You see now why I’m against you marching in this parade?" Cal turns to her.

Susan nods. "But I still have to do it Cal. I have to do it for not only other women, but for myself as well."

"This is absurd," cal rolls his eyes

Susan turns to Jack and Rose and gasps. Jack had his arm around his wife, who was now in tears, her face was still pale and she was shivering.

"It’s okay Rose. I’m here. I’m not going to let anything happen to ya," Jack soothed, stroking her hair. She just clung to him and cried. He looks up at Susan and Cal. "I’m going to get her home now. She needs to get some rest."

"What’s wrong with her?" Cal is immediately concerned. For as long as he’s known Rose, he’s never seen her like this…not even when he was at his worst.

"Something similar to this happened in Southampton. That’s how we met. Two men were trying to assault her and I stopped them," Jack pull’s Rose close to him. "Shhh Rose. It’s alright now. They’re gone. You’re safe."

"Let’s get her back," Susan sighs, already heading away from the general store, followed by the rest of her friends.

That night Rose lays cuddled in Jack’s arms. Neither of them are asleep. They’re both absorbed in their own thoughts.

Rose can’t help but think back to Southampton. What would have happened to her if Jack hadn’t shown up? Where would she be right now? What would’ve happened this afternoon? History seemed to be repeating itself.

"Jack?" Rose finally turns to him. "I just wanted to tell you that this afternoon hasn’t changed my mind. I’m still going to march in that parade."

"What?"

"I’m still marching in that parade. I can’t let what happened this afternoon stop me. If I do then that means they’ve won," Rose sighed.

"Rose…I wish you wouldn’t. I mean…I just don’t want you marching anymore," Jack bites his lip, knowing he was about to make his wife angry with him.

"Jack…"

"Rose please…you’re not only my wife…you’re my entire life. If anything should happen to you…I’d die. I really would."

"But Jack…this is something I really want to do. I mean, I understand your concern, but it’s groundless…"

"No Rose no. I don’t want you marching in that parade anymore and that’s final. End of discussion."

"End of discussion? Jack this isn’t your decision. It’s mine. I’m going to march in this parade rather you like it or not!" Rose sets up angrily.

"No Rose, this is not just your decision. It’s our decision and I don’t want you marching anymore. It’s too dangerous. That march isn’t worth our family…I’m sorry."

"You sound just like Cal did when we were engaged…and that’s why I left him!"

"So is that what you’re going to do if I standfast with my decision? Leave me? Is this cause worth more to you than our marriage?"

Rose is silent. She didn’t know what to say to that. All she knew was that she couldn’t let the men like Sal and Ed back in Southampton win and they would if she didn’t march in that parade. Why couldn’t Jack understand that?

"I’m not some little porcelain doll for you to lock away Jack. I’m a human being with my own mind and wants and I want to march in this parade…and if you can’t understand that…then I’m sorry, but I’m going to march in this parade rather you like it or not."

"Well I don’t like and I will not have you marching in that parade just for some drunk men to take advantage of you!" Jack gets up.

"I can take care of myself!" Rose gets up too, wanting to face him head on. "I’m marching in this parade!"

"No you’re not and that’s final!" Jack grabs her arm roughly, causing her to gasp in pain. He instantly lets go, realizing that he was hurting her. "…Rose…"

Rose backs away from him, shaking her head, a hint of fear in her eyes. "You hurt my arm," She looks down where there’s already a bruise.

"Oh God Rose…I’m sorry …I didn’t mean…"

"You’re just like Cal…" Rose sobbed, grabbing her coat.

"Where are you going? It’s the middle of the night!"

"I’ll be back for Becky and my things," Rose heads for the stairs.

"Rose wait! We can talk this over, I know we can. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you."

"No Jack no. Just leave me alone," Rose heads for the door.

Jack goes after her when Fabrizio steps in his path.

"What’s going on here?" Fabri asked confused. He had never seen Jack and Rose like this before. They seemed so far apart now.

"I’m leaving Jack," Rose silently replied. "I’ll be back for my things later…after the march."

"Rose no! Fabri stop her!" Jack demands, trying to move past his friend. "Rose we can work things out! We have a baby together for goodness sake! We love each other! Don’t you remember that?"

"Good-bye Jack," Rose looks at him one more time, tears in her eyes. She did love him still, more than anything. But he had acted in a way she had never seen him act before and it scared her. She couldn’t be with him right now. She had to get away. Sighing she slams the door behind her as she leaves.

"Rose no!" Jack yells, once more trying to push past his friend, but Fabrizio is strong and stops him from going in further.

"Let her go Jack. She needs time to think," Fabri said. "She’ll be back."

Jack just shakes his head, tears in his eyes. "I didn’t mean it Fabri…" He sobbed, collapsing onto the floor.

Fabri didn’t know what to do or say to comfort his friend. So he just stood there, sympathy in his eyes. He knew this would happen when Jack and Rose had first gotten together. Somehow she would break Jack’s heart, and Jack being Jack, being able to feel ten times the way other men do would be devastated.

"It’ll be okay Jack. She’ll be back," Fabri attempts to comfort his friend, staring at the door Rose had gone out of.

Susan stretches and yawns as she gets up to answer the door. She gasps when she opens it to Rose, tears staining her face. "Rose? What are you doing here?"

"…I left Jack…" Rose bursts into tears

"What? Why? Here, come in and set down. Tell me all about it," Susan leads her into the house.

Rose follows her friend and sighs in relief as she sets down. "We had a fight about the march tomorrow…He grabbed me roughly and bruised my arm," Rose sobbed, showing the bruise to Susan.

"Oh my God. Jack did that?" Susan’s eyes widen. This wasn’t like Jack, what had gotten into him?

"He begged me not to leave, but I couldn’t stay. I never saw him like that before and it scared me. I just had to get away from him."

"Oh Rose," Susan embraced her sobbing friend.

"You were right Susan. When we first met and you said I hardly knew Jack…you were right. I hardly know him."

"Oh no Rose. I was wrong. You do know Jack…you know him more than any one of us has. You know his heart. You know he’s a good person…he’s just…going through a rough time right now," Susan sighed. "In fact, I totally forgot what day today was."

"What? What do you mean?" Rose asked confused.

"Five years ago today, Jack’s parents died in a forest fire. It really hit him hard when they died…no matter what he’s acting so weird."

"Oh no Jack," Rose gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. She’s immediately on her feet and heading for the door.

"Rose where are you going," Susan stands up. "It’s pitch black out there!"

"Home to Jack! He needs me!" Rose mentally kicks herself. Jack had been selflessly been there for her all this time and the one time he needed her…she walks out on him. How selfish could she be? Her mother was right about her all along. She didn’t deserve Jack nor their daughter.

"Wait a minute Rose. I’ll get Cal and we’ll go with you. It’s not good walking down that path at night…especially alone," Susan heads for the stairs.

Jack sets in the living room in the dark, thinking about that nights events. Why did he do that? Why did he grab Rose so roughly. He never wanted to hurt her…he had sworn to himself that he never would, but he did and now she was gone. Another person he loved more than anything gone out of his life.

"Jack?" Fabrizio comes back down the stairs. "Are you going to bed anytime soon?"

"I’ll be up in a minute Fabri," Jack shrugged.

"Ok," Fabri nods and heads upstairs.

Jack watches his friend disappear up the stairs and then collapses back against the couch, lost in his thoughts of Rose.

Rose stands outside the door, poised to knock, but she can’t do it. What if he never wanted to see her again? What if he already had her things packed and ready to go back to Philadelphia? What would she do then? How would she be able to live without him?

"Rose what are you waiting for? Go on in," Susan comes up behind her. "He’s probably worried about you."

"He probably hates me," Rose sniffs. "Susan, how could I have been so selfish. The one time he needed me most and I run away from him…after all he’s done for me."

"Rose…you’re not selfish at all. There’s no way you could’ve known. I mean, Jack hardly ever talks about his parents. There’s no way you could have known when he never talked about it," Susan comforts her friend. "Now go in there and make up. You two love each other. You should be together, especially tonight."

Rose nods in agreement. "I’m going in right now."

"And I’ll go back to Cal. You tell Jack I said hi and give him a big hug for me."

"I will," Rose smiles, hating to see her friend leave.

After Susan is gone, Rose turns back to the door and takes a deep breath before entering to find Jack about to head upstairs.

"Rose?" Jack stops in mid-stride.

"Jack…Oh Jack I’m sorry…I…I didn’t mean…," Before she could finish she was in his arms. He held her tightly, as if he let her go she’d disappear.

"No Rose I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have grabbed you like that. I never meant to hurt you…I’d never want to intentionally hurt you. I love you so much," Jack sobbed, burying his face in her hair.

"I love you Jack," Rose whispered, litely kissing his cheek.

"I love you too Rose. Let’s not fight again."

"Okay."

Fabrizio stands at the top of the stairs, a smile on his face. He knew Rose would come back. She wouldn’t be able to stay away from Jack that long and he was right. Rose back where she belonged, with Jack.

A hour later, Rose and Jack lay in each other’s arms. Neither had spoken a word since Rose returned. They just layed in the afterglow of their lovemaking and enjoyed the comfortable silence. It’s Rose who speaks first.

"Jack…Susan told me what today was…"

"Rose…"

"I just want to say I’m sorry. You needed me and I let you down. You’ve been such a rock for me and when it was my turn to be a rock for you…I turn and run away. I know you must think I’m selfish. I’m surprised you even took me back."

"Don’t say that Rose. You have been my rock, for quite a while now. You know how hard it’s been for me to live in this house again? All my memories of my parents are here. At one time, I thought I’d never have the strength to step in this place again. But then you came into my life and you gave me strength…just by being in the same room with me. All I had to do was look at you and visions of the past are replaced by the visions of our future together. You’re not selfish at all Rose, and no matter what, I’ll always love you. Nothing you do can ever change that. You can leave me a thousand and one times and I’ll still take you back."

"Oh Jack," Rose sighed kissing him tenderly. "I love you too."

"Now love, tell me what you’re going to wear to that march tomorrow," Jack smiled, kissing her forhead.

"Nothing. If you don’t want me to go, then I won’t. It’s that simple," Rose lays her on his chest, so he couldn’t see her face full of disappointment in not marching.

"…But I want you to Rose."

"What?" Rose looks up at him.

"I know how much it means to you and I was wrong to try to stop you just because I was afraid of something happening. Doing this march is something you want to do and you should do it."

"But Jack…"

"No buts Rose. Remember what my parents said, make each day count? Well…that’s what I want you to do tomorrow. Make it count."

"Oh Jack," Rose hugs him tightly. "How did I ever end up with the most wonderful husband in the world?"

"Just lucky I guess," Jack laughed, hugging her back twice as hard. "Now let’s get to sleep. You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow."

Rose just cuddled up closer to him and closed her eyes, slipping into a sweet dream about their future together.

The next day was bright and sunny for the march. It all began at noon. Tons of women showed up and marched from one end of town to the other. Two hours later everyone was gathered in the park, waiting for Mrs. Catt’s speech.

"Oh Rose this is so exciting," Susan grins. "I think this is the most excitement Chippewa Falls has had in years.

Rose just smiled, caught up in her own world. All through the march, all she could think of was Jack. She knew he still wasn’t over the death of his parents. She wanted to stay home with him, but he had insisted that he was fine and to go on to the march.

"Stop worrying Rose," Susan catches the worried expression on Rose’s face. "Jack’s fine. In fact, he’s probably at the factory right now working."

"I know I’m being silly Susan. It’s just that he’s not talking about it again and that worries me," Rose sighed. "He’s so open with everything else…why can’t he be that way about his parents death? Why won’t he let me comfort him?"

"Because that’s Jack. He likes to keep that locked up away from others…no matter how painful it is. Don’t push him on it Rose. Just let him be."

"Rose nods her agreement. She had no intention of forcing Jack to face up to his parents death.

"I just want him to be at peace Susan. I just want him to be happy."

"He is happy Rose. I never seen him as happy as he is when you two are together."

Rose smiled at this. She hoped Susan was right.

"Ladies, may I have your attention please!" Susan’s mother is at the podium now. "I’d like to introduce to you our guest speaker and the woman who had organized this event, Mrs. Catt!"

Applause thunders throughout the park and a couple of jeers from a few of the men who had gotten curious about the march and speech.

"Hello ladies!" A woman appears on the podium. "May I say I’m glad to be here in your lovely town on such a beautiful day! I have thouroughly enjoyed my stay here in Chippewa Falls. Now I was planning on giving a long drawn out speech about why women deserve the right to vote, but instead I’ve decided that it’d be good for the men in attendance today hear what their women think about the movement and why they should have the right to vote. Don’t you think that’s a better idea than listening to a speech?"

A thunderous applause.

"Good. Now who wants to go first," She looks around the crowd and spots a beautiful red head who seemed to have a lot of spirit in her. Someone who had strong opinions. "What’s her name?" She leans over to Susan’s mother.

"Rose Dawson. Not a native of Chippewa Falls. From Philadelphia society really. But she’s a sweet girl. Very opinionated."

"Good," Mrs. Catt points at Rose. "Hey you over there in the yellow dress talking to the blond! Come up here and give us your opinion."

Rose’s eyes widen in surprise. Not in a million years did she think she would be called up there.

"Go on Rose. Just tell them your opinion," Susan urges her friend upon to the stage.

"Mrs. Dawson I do believe," Mrs. Catt nods. Tell the men in this town why you think you deserve to vote."

Rose turns to the crowd and immediately loses her voice. She had never really stood up before a crowd to speak before. She looks out among the crowd of glaring men and cheering women. She didn’t want to be up there. She wanted to be back home with Jack and Becky…away from all these eyes. Rose takes a deep breath and looks down to where she was standing before to see Jack holding their daughter. His eyes full of love and encouragement, giving her strength to speak.

"We deserve the right to vote because, unlike what some of you may think, we’re not little porcelain dolls. We’re human beings who have our own opinions and have a right to voice those opinions just as much as you men do." Rose feels herself losing her nerve and looks at Jack again, who nods his head in encouragement, urging her to go on.

"And it’s time that you men stopped living in the nineteenth century and join us in the twentieth. And it’s time for us women to stand up and be heard." Rose finishes, a loud applause thunders throughout the women in attendance.

"Thankyou," Rose smiled, stepping off the stage and going to Susan and Jack.

"You were wonderful," Jack kissed her tenderly.

"Thanks to you. If you hadn’t shown up like this and lent me some of your strength, I would have lost my nerve," Rose smiled.

"That was a grand speech Rose. You hit the nail on the head," Susan nods her approval. "Jack what are you doing here anyway?"

"Oh the factory let out early because everyone wanted to attend this speech. I knew you’d be here so I went to pick up Becky and came on down. I thought I could take you out to lunch afterwards or something," Jack smiled.

"That’s a great idea. Do you want to join us Susan?" Rose turned to her friend.

"I can’t. I told Cal I’ll be home right after the speech," Susan sighed and catches the strange expression on Rose’s face. "Hey I had to compromise somehow," She laughed.

"Mrs. Dawson!" Mrs. Catt steps off the stage and runs up to Rose before she got a chance to leave with Jack. "Mrs. Dawson wait. I just want to congratulate you on that wonderful speech. I couldn’t have said it better myself."

"Oh thank you," Rose shyly smiled. "I was terrified really. If it wasn’t for my husband showing up I think I would have fainted," Rose smiled lovingly up at Jack.

"Well thank goodness he came or we would have missed out on such a wonderful opinion," Mrs. Catt smiled. "I better get back up on the podium. I just wanted to tell you what I thought of that speech. Good day Mrs. Dawson."

"Wow Rose. She came right up and talked to you," Susan watched Mrs. Catt climb back up on the podium.

"People are just drawn to my Rose," Jack kissed her forehead.

"Shall we go?" Rose asked Jack, wanting some alone time with her family for a while.

"Sure. We’ll see you later Susan," Jack turns to his friend, before leading Rose through the crowd.

Susan watched them leave with a happy expression on her face. Jack and Rose were the happiest couple she’s ever seen. They just completed each other. She was so happy that her best friend had found someone that he fitted together so well with. She hoped people saw her and Cal in that way as well. Jack and Rose gave her hope for the future.

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