10
They slowly walked home, hand in hand. Totally oblivious to the world around them. Rose clung to Jack’s free arm, as if he’d disappear if she let go. She thought back to just an hour earlier. When she had noticed that Jack was gone. She hand been frantic then, knowing what his intentions must have been. She had wanted to run after him. Go to Gloria and scratch her eyes out for trying to take Jack away from her. But then Molly had stepped in and reasoned with Rose. Got her to call the police and tell them what had happened. Now walking with Jack, their son in his arms, Rose wanted to know why he had been so quick to give himself to Gloria. Why he hadn’t waited for them to come up with another plan?
"Jack. Why? Why were you so eager to give yourself up like that and not even tell me. Why? She looked up at him.
Jack sighed. He had asked himself the same thing over and over again. Why had he been so ready to throw himself to the wolves? "I felt responsible for it all I guess. Rose…you were better off without me. You didn’t have anyone wanting to kidnap Robbie. I wanted to make things right for you again."
"But Jack, things weren’t
right. Yes, I had Robbie, but I didn’t have you. That was
very, very wrong. I was so sad and miserable…a shadow of my
former self really. Robbie was the only thing I had to live for.
He was the only thing that kept me from breaking the promise I
made to you that night, so long ago."
Jack stopped walking and looked into her eyes. So clear and full
of love. "Oh Rose, I’m so sorry that I wasn’t
there for you. I should have been. You should never have had to
go through that," he hugged her close with his free arm.
"You’re here now. That’s what matters," Rose sighed, her love for him seeming to grow even more. "What happened to Robbie wasn’t your fault Jack. It could have just as well been my mother, or Cal."
"But it wasn’t."
"It could have been. Just…next time you feel like sacrificing yourself for the greater good…talk to me first. Ok?"
He laughed, feeling relieved that she wasn’t angry or hurt by his rash decisions. "Ok. I promise."
They stood like that for a minute. Two people and their son, in love and comforting each other. Slowly, they parted. Keeping their hands tightly clasped together and knowing that they were forever, Jack and Rose headed for home.