6
Jack sat in the empty room in stunned silence. Rose leaving him like this was the last thing he had expected to happen. He should go after her, but what could he have said to change her mind? He had begged and begged her not to leave already and she left anyway. He didn’t want to lose Rose; he loved her so much. But there was nothing else he could say to convince her that she belonged with him. He wanted to show her, but she wouldn’t allow it. She bolted before he had a chance. Getting off the couch, he headed for the kitchen, when the doorbell chimed, disturbing his troubled thoughts.
Sighing irritably, Jack opened the door to Mabel Forrester. "Mrs. Forrester…hi," Jack forced a smile. "What can I do for you?"
"I was looking for your young wife," the woman nervously wrung her hands. She had came to apologize to the young woman. She had seen Rose leave the store and assumed that Rose had overheard the conversation Mabel and a few of the other women were holding. Nothing but gossip. Mabel had felt horrible and had come to right her wrong.
"Oh," Jack sighed, not bothering to correct Mabel’s assumption that he and Rose were married. It was easier for people to think that. It was still 1912 and people seriously looked down on a man and woman living together out of the confines of marriage. "Well…you’re too late. She left."
"Oh…when will she be back?"
Jack shook his head, unable to accept that Rose had left for good, but also unable to deny the truth. "She’s not coming back. She left me for good," his voice cracked with his devastation. "She said that I deserved someone better. Someone that knew how to be a proper wife. Have you ever heard anything so preposterous? If anyone was deserving of something better, it’s her."
Mabel gasped, her guilt caving in on her. The boy was so heartbroken over his love’s departure and it was all her fault. Why did they chose today of all days and the Dawson’s return to town to gossip about? Why couldn’t they have talked about someone else. Like the suspected affair of Edna Rice and Richard Lemming? Why did they talk about anyone at all? Mabel would do anything to take the conversation back. Herself and the ladies had no right to do this to sweet Jack.
"I just don’t know where she got that idea from. I mean, she was so happy and optimistic this morning. What happened to change that?"
Mabel bowed her head in shame. "…Jack…the blame for Rose’s departure lays with myself and a few other ladies at the grocers today."
Jack frowned, not liking the sound of this. What was Mrs. Mabel talking about?
"You see…well you know how us women like to gossip when we’re together, never paying attention to who we’re talking about and how it’d affect them. Well…Rose was the subject of today’s gossip session at the grocers and she must have overheard us. I came over to apologize to her. But it looks like I need to apologize to you as well. I am so sorry Jack. We had no right to say the things we said. I wish that we could take them back."
Anger took the place of devastation. Anger at the woman before him, anger at the people of this town, who sought pleasure in talking about things they knew nothing about, and anger at himself for bringing Rose here in the first place. He should have known that something like this would happen. He witnessed the gossip first hand when he was a kid, going to town with his mother. He knew the damage that they could do. He should have had the sense to warn Rose. But he didn’t and now she was gone.
He wanted to tell the elderly woman off and throw her out of his house, but his mother’s upbringing prevented him from doing such a thing. All he could do was glare at Mabel, keeping his anger at bay. "Please leave. I don’t think you’re welcomed here anymore."
Mabel could only nod, knowing that she deserved Jack’s anger and so much more. She wished that she could reverse the damage she’s caused, but knew that was impossible. "I understand Jack. I hope that you get the young lady back and that you can forgive the lot of us for what we've done."
Jack didn’t say anything. He couldn’t. If Jack couldn’t get Rose back…forgiveness was definitely out of the question.
"Good-bye Jack," Mabel turned away from the glowering young man, feeling even more ashamed of herself then she did before.
Jack closed the door, closing his eyes against the red haze of anger enveloping him. He needed to calm down before heading out to find Rose. If he remained angry like this…he didn’t know what he was capable of doing to anyone who said the wrong thing. He needed to hit something. He need to scream and yell.
Keeping his eyes shut, Jack counted to ten, feeling a bit of the anger leaving him, but not by much. Knowing that he should wait, but not wanting to waste anymore time, Jack stormed out of the door, determined to find Rose and bring her home.
~*~
The station was loud and crowded, but Jack kept his attention on the signs stating the destination of each train. Rose had to be there somewhere. He had checked at the desk and the train Rose was to catch hadn’t left yet. He had ten minutes to find her and convince her that her place was at his side, nowhere else.
"Philadelphia…," Jack’s eyes roamed the station, hoping to quickly find his target. Relief swept through him when he caught sight of not only the train, but of her as well. She was at the edge of the baggage compartment and by the looks of things, she was talking to someone standing out of Jack’s line of vision. Running a hand through his hair, Jackj approached her, hoping not to startle her. His heart stopped when he saw who it was she was talking to. Caledon Hockley. The bastard was standing there, leering down at Rose. Looking rather smug and victorious. No Way! She couldn’t be going back to him! Jack wouldn’t let her!
"Rose," Jack stepped up behind her, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder.
Rose turned and looked at Jack in surprise. She hadn’t been expecting him to come after her. She hadn’t even expected to see him again, really. Rather, she hoped she wouldn’t. But that’s how it’s been all day. Jack’s unexpected early return to the apartment, Cal’s unexpected arrival at the train station just as she brought her ticket, and now Jack’s unexpected arrival at the train station, finding her ready to leave with Cal.
"Why look who it is," Cal crossed his arms, an arrogant smile twisting his lips. "The street rat who thought that he could steal my fiancée."
"Cal, please," Rose held up a hand to silence him. She turned to Jack, hoping that she’d have the strength to leave. It was so much harder with him standing there, his eyes full of pleas for a second chance. A plea for Rose to have a change of heart. "Jack…what are you doing here? We’ve talked already. My decision’s been made. I’m leaving."
"Rose, I know the reason you feel like you have to leave. The real reason. Mrs. Mabel stopped by and told me about the gossip at the store earlier today. She wanted to apologize. Rose, please…don’t leave with Hockley. Stay with me. I love you Rose. Whether you can cook and clean or not. Those type of things mean nothing to me."
Rose looked into his blue eyes, wanting to say yes. Wanting to run into his arms and bury herself there, forgetting about the town gossips. But she couldn’t. That wouldn’t’ be the best thing to do for Jack. She would ruin any chances he had at finding a more suitable bride. She couldn’t do that to him. But he wasn’t going to let her go. Not without a fight, anyway. Not unless she made him hate her. She had to lie for that, but could she do that? She closed her eyes and opened them, trying to make them appear as cold as she could. "You’re giving me no choice Jack. I was trying to be nice. I was trying to to hurt you too much, because you have been rather good to me. But you refuse to accept my explanation, so I’ll tell you the truth. You’re beneath me. You mean absolutely nothing to me Jack. You were only a bad case of pre-wedding jitters. You see, I was using you, Jack. I was using you in an attempt to get out of my duties. But I’m tired of playing house now. It’s time for me to return to my real life…to the real man I love. Cal," She looked up at the smirking Cal and was taken by surprise when his lips descended down on hers. She hid the surprise and wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to forget the fact that she was ripping the heart out of the only man she had ever truly loved.
To all bystanders, Cal and Rose looked like two lovers who had been separated for far too long.
"Come sweetpea. It’s time we were on our way," Cal ushered Rose to the boarding entrance of the train. Rose took one more look at Jack, who looked as if his heart had been ripped in two. She quickly looked away, not able to bear it any longer. She was leaving Jack in shambles and she hated herself for it, but he had given her no other choice. She had to get him to let go some how.
"You’ve made a wise decision to return to us Sweetpea," Cal’s arms tightened around her. "You’ve saved what’s left of your family name"
"I didn’t do it for you," Rose glared at her newly reinstated fiancée. "I did it for Jack. Only for Jack."