4
It’s been two months since Jack and Rose had disembarked the ship of Dreams. Finally they had enough money to leave New York, but they hated leaving Tommy and the place they had come to think of as home. But they b both knew that there wasn’t any choice. Cal was still in the city, still looking for his runaway bride. So it was for the best that they leave as soon as possible.
It was Rose’s last day at work when Cal caught up with her. She had just gotten through serving another customer when he entered. Spotting Rose, Cal decided to be direct and refuse to take no for an answer. He wanted his bride back and no one was going to stop him from getting what he wanted.
"There you are Sweetpea. We’ve been looking all over for you. Your mother is beside herself with worry," Cal placed a hard hand on Rose’s shoulder.
She stiffened at his touch, closing her eyes and wishing that this was just a nightmare. That she’d wake up safe and warm in Jack’s arms, not here, facing off with her ex-fiancée.
"Cal," she turned around, forcing herself to be brave and to stand up to him. "What a surprise to see you here."
"Oh I bet it is. What did you think, Rose? That I’d let you run off with your poor artist? Leaving me to look like a fool? I told you before Rose. I will not be made a fool of. Now come on. Your mother is waiting. Thanks to your carelessness, we had to delay the marriage," Cal grabbed his arm roughly, trying to pull her away from the counter.
"No Cal! I’m not going anywhere with you. I’m not marrying you, in fact I never want to see you again! Let me go!" She finally jerked her arm out of his tight grasp. She winced as she noticed the reddening bruise on her arm. "It’s over Cal. I don’t love you…I can never love you. You’re harsh, arrogant…I can never marry anyone like that."
"So you rather be with a gutter rat?" Cal looked at her as if she had grown a second head. "Be his whore?"
"I rather be his whore then your wife," Rose glared at Cal, hating him more and more, with each passing second. Why couldn’t he just leave her alone?
"This is absurd. I’ve had enough of this little game of yours. Come on, it’s time to go home," Cal grabbed her more tightly then before, wanting to make sure that she couldn’t escape .
"No!" The sound of Rose’s hand slapping Cal’s face resounded throughout the restaurant, catching the attention of everyone in the establishment. "I’m not going anywhere with you!"
"What’s going on over here?!" Mr. Knots, Rose’s boss made his way over to the Cal and Rose.
"What kind of establishment are you running here?!" Cal turned his evil gaze on the confused man. "I come in for a decent cup of coffee and the waitress here slaps me! Is this the way you run all your businesses?"
"No sir. Rose! What are you doing slapping a customer?" Mr. Knots frowned, confused by Rose’s behavior. She had always been polite and eager to please with the customers. In fact, she was a favorite among the people who dined there.
"Sir, he’s lying. Yes I did slap him, but he’s not a customer. He’s my ex-fiancée. He just came in here to harass me! He didn’t even order anything!"
Knots sighed regretfully. He hated to fire Rose. He knew she needed the money and with her lack of experience, jobs were hard to come by. But he couldn’t keep on a waitress who had slapped a potential customer. "Rose…I’m sorry…but I have no choice but to fire ya. I can’t keep on an employee who slapped a potential customer."
Rose sighed, she wasn’t too upset over losing the job. She was going to quit the next day anyway. But it hurt that a man she had admired for his strong work ethics and kind hearted nature, believed Cal over her.
"I understand. I’m sorry for any trouble this may have caused. Cal, I hope to never see you again. Follow me or try to contact me again, and I’ll call the police," that said, Rose gave her former employer her apron and left the building, leaving Cal to glare after her as she turned the corner.
"I’ll get you back Rose," Cal grumbled to himself, oblivious to the man standing next to him. "I swear it."
~*~
Rose had went home and stayed in her room, shaken by her showdown with Cal. Sure she had been brave and stood up to him, but inside she was shaking like a leaf. She remembered all those times that he had hit her. The times he had even knocked her unconscious. Finding Jack had been the answer to her prayers. He’d never know what an angel he was to her.
But now she was frightened that Cal had followed her and would drag her back to her old life. A life of false smiles and lame excuses. A life of pain and misery. No! She couldn’t go back! She wouldn’t! She’d kill Cal first, before ever going back to him.
"Rose?" Jack stuck his head into the room, his blue eyes dark with worry. Tommy had told him how Rose had come home early from work and locked herself away in their room.
"She didn’t even greet us like she normally does. Jack, something’s seriously wrong with the lass," Tommy informed him as he came into the door.
"Hey, Tommy said that you came home early and seemed upset about something. Do you want to talk about it?" He wrapped a warm arm around his shoulder, surprised when her arms came around him in a tight embrace. "Rose?"
"Cal showed up at the dinner. He tried to force me to go back with him and I slapped him. He complained to my boss and he fired me," Rose sighed, pulling out of Jack’s embrace. "I took off right after that."
"Are you ok? Did he hurt you?" Jack asked, checking her for any bruises Cal may have inflicted. If Hockley had harmed her in any way…
"I’m fine," Rose cut into his thoughts. "I slapped him good, though. Jack…I’m beginning to get scared. Cal won’t give up. Who knows when he’ll show up again…or with who."
Jack nodded, also feeling antsy about Cal’s intentions. If Hockley decided to kidnap Rose, it’d be next to impossible to get her back…not that he wouldn’t try. "I think it’s time to leave New York, for good. First thing tomorrow. I’ll go get tickets now. Where do you want to go?"
"Anywhere away from Cal. But Jack…we barely have enough money for train tickets. Where are we going to stay?" Rose frowned. Everything had seemed so perfect and clear a few weeks ago. Now uncertainty was creeping back into their lives.
Chippewa Falls. The house is still standing, so we can stay there," Jack laughed at the way Jack’s eyes lit up about the prospect of going to his home town. She looked forward to learning about Jack’s childhood adventures.
"That is a wonderful idea," Rose smiled, hugging him once again.
"Great, I’ll go get the tickets now," Jack happily grinned, kissing her one last time before heading for the station to buy their tickets.
~*~
Fabrizio and Tommy were on the stairs of the building, playing poker when Jack returned. Fabrizio was the first to notice the train tickets in Jack’s hand.
"You going somewhere?" Fabrizio frowned. If Jack was planning to leave New York, there was a good chance that he was expecting Fabrizio to go with him. But Fabrizio didn't really want to leave New York. He loved it there. Plus he was so close to the Statue of Liberty. He could see it anytime he wanted.
"Chippewa Falls," Jack grinned in excitement. He couldn’t wait to show the people closest to him around his hometown. "I thought that you and Rose would like to see where I grew up," Jack sat on the bottom stair, oblivious to his friend’s inner turmoil. "You’ll like it there Fabri."
Fabrizio sighed. He was going to have to tell Jack that their days of traveling together were over. Their lives were now taking a different path. Besides, Jack had Rose now. Fabrizio didn’t want to be a third wheel.
"…Jack…I not go to Chippewa Falls with you. I am staying here in New York with Tommy. Make life for myself here," Fabrizio explained, hoping that his friend would understand. It had been a long, fun journey with Jack. But now it was time to settle down. He knew it, and in a way, so did Jack.
Jack looked at his friend in surprise. He wasn’t expecting Fabrizio to stay in New York. But he didn’t blame him. New York was really the heart of America. It was definitely more interesting then ole Chippewa Falls. "Are you sure about this?" Jack asked.
Fabrizio nodded. He wanted to live in New York City. Stop wandering and star preparing himself for a wife and family.
Jack smiled sadly, already missing his traveling companion. Their friendship had certainly been an adventure. "I must say that I’m going to miss you Fabri. You too Tommy. I couldn’t have asked for better friends."
"You just take good care of that Rose," Tommy smiled, also sad to see the couple go. Jack and Rose had renewed Tommy’s faith in true love.
"I will," Jack laughed, definitely missing the two men that were his best friends. "Well…our train leaves first thing in the morning. I better go up and tell Rose."
As Jack disappeared into the building, Fabrizio and Tommy shared their sadness at seeing the couple leave.