CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Rose
smiled as she appeared at the top of the stairway to see Jack waiting patiently
beside her father, both dressed in a coat and tie. Jack looked especially handsome with his blond hair smoothed
back. When she reached the bottom he
took her hand and kissed it.
“I saw
that in a movie once and I always wanted to do it,” He grinned, Rose only
giggled in reply.
“Don’t
keep her out too late George,” Ruth appeared in the living room doorway. “She has a test to study for Monday.”
“Don’t
worry Ruth. She’ll be back at a
suitable hour,” George nodded to his ex-wife.
“Now Rose, Jack, let’s be on our way.”
*
They were right on
time with the reservations. After
glancing at the menu and ordering, a uncomfortable silence fell between them.
“So Jack, tell me about
yourself,” George broke the silence.
“Uh…what do you want to know,”
Jack nervously swallowed. This after
all was the father of the woman he
adored. He wanted to make a good
impression.
“Where do you go to school?”
“Titan High. My grades aren’t the best, but they’re not
the worse either,” Jack smiled. “My
cousin Heather though, she’s in the advanced classes. We all think she’ll be graduating this year instead of next
year.”
“Jack’s a wonderful artist
daddy. You should see some of his
work. It’s like he captures your soul
and puts it on paper,” Rose smiled.
“Oh really? You have to show me some of your work
Jack. I have a friend at the New York
Art Academy who may be interested in you.”
“Really?” Jack’s eyes
widened. It was his dream to go to the
New York Art Academy and if there was any chance that Rose’s father could get
him in, that would be great.
“I have a couple of his drawings
at home if you want to see them later,” Rose offered. “They’re all of me of course.
That’s all he seems to like to draw lately.”
“That’s because you’re beautiful
inspiration,” Jack grinned. “Plus
you’re easy to draw. In fact my art
teacher was curious about the lovely girl in all my drawings lately. I told him she was my soul mate.”
“Jack,” Rose blushed.
George
had to smile. Jack was a great young
man by the looks of it and he adored Rose.
Someone his daughter needed with his busy schedule and Ruth’s
callousness. “Well Jack, I look forward
to seeing your artwork. Maybe you can
do a portrait of my lovely daughter for me.”
“Daddy!”
“Sir,
it’d be a pleasure to do a portrait of Rose for you,” Jack smiled sincerely.
“Jack…”
Rose blushed, causing George to laugh.
“So
Jack…tell me more about yourself.”
So for the rest of the night Jack, Rose and her father talked about their schools and jobs and lives. At the end of the evening, George dropped both Jack and Rose off and after saying a good-night to Rose, Jack drove his car back home.