Made To Be Broken
Chapter Three
Rose looked up at the big brown house with wonder in her eyes. Maybe things would be okay. The house still looked beautiful...and it was just so big. She always had loved it.
Cal came over to her car door and opened it for her. "Now you're back where you belong," he said with a smile. "Everything is going to be fine."
Rose smiled back at him, hoping that he was right.
When she got inside she said hello to the butler.
"Hello Mrs. Hockley," he said back smoothly. Rose had never liked him. He was old, mean, and just cold-hearted. It was the way Cal acted sometimes...sometimes. But, the old Cal was gone now. Now...it was the Cal she fell in love with. The man of her dreams.
"Lovejoy, will you get the rest of her things from the car?" Cal asked before Lovejoy nodded and headed out the front door.
"Never mind that," Cal said, picking up Rose into his arms. "I know what I want. I know you want it to."
Rose's heart began to race. She didn't really want to make love at the moment, but then realized that they were married and it was only expected. Besides, she did enjoy it most of the time.
After they got to the bedroom, Cal slowly undressed Rose, studying her body at every chance. Rose got a rush of coldness and didn't know what it was about. She should be happy right now.
Cal began to kiss her neck, and she couldn't figure out why it wasn't like it used to be. Maybe things could never be the same again. She sighed, and Cal noticed.
"What's wrong, darling?"
Rose sighed, again. "I'm just not in the mood to do this right now. Maybe if we did it later, we..."
"No...no...no...you always say later." Cal glared. "We never get to later though, do we, Rose?" Rose shyly shrugged her shoulders. "So...we have to do it now. No matter what."
Something inside Rose just snapped. What gave him the right to demand sex from her whenever he wanted it? She just wasn't in the mood! Couldn't he take a hint? "No, Cal. I'm afraid I'm just not up for it at the present time."
"I don't care," Cal said simply, taking off her blouse completely.
"Well, I do."
Cal ignored her, like she didn't even exist, but she had finally had enough. "Stop it!"
Then it happened. He hadn't changed. He slapped her, hard, across the face...like he always did. Rose began to cry and slowly walk backward, away from him. She hated it when he got like this. He couldn't control his anger.
But, she knew she had to be brave. She slowly walked to the stairs.
"Where are you going?" He called, chasing after her.
"Home."
"This is your home."
"No, it isn't."
"I am your husband and you will do as I say!"
She didn't let her independent face fall. "You won't be for long."
That's when he crossed the line. He pushed her as hard as he could, making her body tumble down the long staircase.
That smell. She hated that smell. The smell of hospitals always had freaked Rose out. She glanced up at the clock. It was almost ten. She opened the shades near her and let the morning sunlight shine through.
Then, she noticed a small vase of flowers on her table. She leaned over and picked it up. There was no card. She wondered who they were from. Probably Cal. She let out a long sigh, knowing she was right. At least he had the decency to leave last night after he had brought her here. He had told the doctors that she had fell on a roller skate and then fell down the stairs. She didn't think the doctors believed one word of it, though.
"You wondering who those flowers are from?" A nurse said, coming through the door. She was a big, black, woman with a friendly smile on her face.
"Probably my husband," Rose said with a sad grin.
The nurse shook her head. "Nope. Jack gave 'em to ya."
"Jack?" Rose wondered who she was talking about.
"You don't know him?" The nurse asked.
"Well...no...I don't know any Jack's," I replied truthfully.
"I'll go get him," the nurse said, leaving the room.
Go get him? Rose didn't know what she meant. Was he a doctor or something? Her wondering thoughts would soon come to an end when he walked in the door. She couldn't believe who it was.
"You're Jack?" Rose asked, remembering him from the other day.
The blonde haired guy she had ran into when she had been stupidly looking up at the sky. "Yeah. I'm hoping you remember me from the other day..."
Rose smiled. "Uh, yeah, of course I do. I'm still sorry about that."
"It was totally my fault," he replied kindly. That's when Rose noticed he was in a hospital gown. He had been coming from the hospital when she had run into him. What was wrong with him? He looked so healthy. "So, what happened to you?" Jack asked. "You look pretty banged up."
"I...fell down the stairs." She replied quietly.
"Ouch! That sucks."
"Yeah..." Rose smiled at him. "Thanks for the flowers, though. How did you know..."
"I saw that man bring you in yesterday. I'm guessing that was your boyfriend."
When Rose was about to correct him, she remembered that he wouldn't be her husband for long so it didn't really matter. "He was just helping me to the hospital..." Rose muttered, looking at Jack thoughtfully. "I guess I got hurt pretty badly."
Jack looked at her with a sad look on his face. "I hope you get better," he said.
"What are you here for?" Rose asked him. "If you don't mind me asking."
"No, not at all," Jack said, sitting down on the end of her bed. "I have a condition called Cystic Fibrosis."
Rose knew nothing about it. "Oh."
Jack continued. "It's a disease you're born with. My parents didn't realize I had CF until I was about three." He sighed.
"Can it be cured?" I asked.
"No, it's always fatal." He smiled. "Unless medical science comes up with some cure." Rose's heart went out to him. "They're actually surprised that I've lived this long. Every year is a blessing."
"You don't look sick," Rose mentioned.
"I know. I don't let CF run my life. I do what I want."
"That's very brave," Rose said, starring out the window. She didn't know how a person could live knowing any day could be their last. But, then she began to think about it. Isn't that how everyone lived, anyway? Of course, his chances were greater, but the same idea applied.
"Well, Rose, I better get going," Jack said, getting up to leave. When he got to the door, he turned around and said, "Look at the bottom of the vase."
After he had left, Rose picked up the flowers and looked at the bottom.
I hope we can be friends. Call me. 543-0272.
The next day Rose was released from the hospital, and Cal took her home. She knew she had to break it off with Cal, but she was just so scared. Scared of what he might do. He would kill her if he wasn't careful.
"It will never happen again, Rose. I swear."
Rose went up to one of the guestrooms once she was inside and fell asleep, hoping Cal wouldn't bother her for the rest of the night.
"Rose?" He said, coming in.
"What is it Cal? I want to be left alone." She snuggled more into the covers.
"I just wanted to ask you where you got these flowers from?"
Rose thought quickly. "A nurse."
He nodded, excepting her answer. "I see." He came in closer. "I just wanted to say that I am truly sorry for what happened. It won't happen again."
"That's what you said the last time," Rose replied.
"Next time...don't argue with me...then this won't happen."
Rose sarcastically laughed. "So...I'm supposed to do whatever you want...as long as you're happy?" Cal showed no sign of reply. "That's ridiculous! I want to live my life, Cal. I don't want to spend my years making sure you're happy and content. I need to do what is best for me."
Rose got up from the bed, but Cal grabbed her arm lightly. "Please, Rose...don't leave."
"I have to. Goodbye, Cal."
She packed up most of her things in about 15 minutes and was headed out the door. Cal stayed upstairs. Maybe he really did love her...and that was why he was letting her go. Maybe he finally realized that letting her go was the best thing for her. She left the Hockley mansion with a small smile on her face.
Rose put on her sunglasses to block the afternoon sun. "I'm going home."