FROM NOW UNTIL ETERNITY
Chapter Twenty
Jack sat on the bench, looking
out at the lake, still wondering how to tell Rose about his grandmother.
Sighing, he rubbed his hands over his face. He hoped that, by some miracle, he
wouldn’t have to leave. But thanks to his earlier behavior, he knew that
chances were good that he would have to go.
"Jack?" Rose came upon
him, her eyes void of emotion. She was there for the truth, and she couldn’t
let him see how much keeping this from her was killing her emotionally.
"We need to talk."
Jack looked up at her and
frowned. He didn’t like this. Normally, her face was an open book. Her green
eyes were normally full of life and expression. But now she was totally blank.
He couldn’t read anything from her. Something must have happened to make her
like this, but what?
"Rose?" he asked, a bit
uncertain. "What do we need to talk about?"
Rose sat next to him, resisting
the urge to bury herself in his arms. She needed to keep her head right now. If
she instigated a make-out session, she’d never get down to the truth.
"I met the owner of the
school my mother wants to send me to. An Irene Devereau. Sound familiar?"
Jack sighed and leaned back
against the bench. She knew. Of course, why hadn’t he put two and two together
when Rose had told him about the boarding school? Looking at Rose, he finally
saw her pain. Pain he had caused by trying to protect her from the inevitable.
"Rose…"
"Why, Jack? Why didn’t you
tell me? I thought we trusted one another."
"We do." Jack’s heart
ached at the pain in her voice. "I do trust you, sweetie. I…I just wanted
to wait until things calmed down for you. I didn’t want to upset you more then
you already were."
"You should have told me,
Jack." A tear slid from her eye. She looked away and got to her feet.
"Jack, I think it’s best if you left now. There’s no point in pretending
that everything is all right when it isn’t. You’re leaving, and most likely, so
am I."
"Rose, no, please. Just
listen…"
"No, Jack! No…I can’t see
you right now. So please…just leave."
"Rose…please…just listen. I
love you. I just wanted to protect you from anymore pain. Please listen…"
Rose didn’t. She just looked
away. She was too angry to talk to him at the moment. She just wanted to be
alone to stew in her anger. Maybe tomorrow they could work it out, but not now.
"Okay, Rose. I’ll go. But
we’re talking about this later." Kissing her cheek, Jack turned to leave,
just to come face to face with the barrel of a gun.
"Jack Dawson, I
presume?" The gunman grinned. "Brother of Chloe Dawson, girlfriend of
Carter Jones?"
"Jack?" Rose got to her
feet, wondering who the man talking to Jack was. She gasped when she saw the
gun. This was bad. It was very bad.
"Jones owes me some money
and hasn’t paid me. Maybe he will if I take his girlfriend’s brother
hostage." The gunman also waved the gun at Rose. "Her brother and
brother’s girlfriend."
"Listen, if you want me to
come with you, fine. I will. But just leave Rose out of this. Please."
Jack stepped in front of Rose. She had already been through so much. She
shouldn’t have to go through this, too. Besides, this had to do with his
family. Rose had no part in it.
"Sorry. I can’t do that.
She’ll go to the police. I can’t have that."
"Well, then, don’t do this!
Neither one of us are related to Carter!" Rose snapped. This was absurd,
as far as she was concerned. Taking her and Jack hostage was a complete waste
of time.
"You got a big mouth for
such a pretty girl," the kidnapper growled, tightening his hold on the gun
as he pointed it at Rose. "Best to keep it shut. It’d be a real shame if
it got you killed."
"Leave her alone!" Jack
made a move like he was going to punch the man. No one threatened his
girlfriend like that. But a frightened gasp from Rose and the re-aiming of the
gun stopped him from going any further.
"Go ahead, kid. I’m just
waiting to shoot someone today," the gunman growled. "Now, we’re
going to my car and we’re getting out of here. I don’t want any trouble out of
either of you. Is this in any way unclear?"
Joining hands, Jack and Rose
followed the gunman to a black car. Neither of them dared to even talk to one
another as the car carried them into the unknown.
*****
Irene and Ruth were at the
Dawsons, making the final arrangements for Rose’s transfer. Chloe just stood in
the doorway, thinking of the mess her family was now in.
"Ruth, I am so grateful for
your call. It gave me a chance to check on my grandchildren. I am so glad I
did." Irene sighed, taking a sip of coffee.
All three women looked up as
Carter came in, looking as if he’d been run over by a train.
"Look who finally returned."
Irene glared disdainfully at the seemingly broken man. "Whatever happened
to you?"
Carter ignored Irene and looked
at Ruth. Guilt was clear in his eyes. "Mrs. DeWitt-Bukater, you’re here. I
must say I’m glad you are." He turned to face Chloe, hoping that she
wouldn’t throw him out after hearing what he had to tell her.
"Chloe…sweetie. I have some news. It’s about your brother and Rose."
Chloe’s heart sank. Jack had
promised to be on his best behavior. He had seemed so sincere, and she truly
had believed him. "What did he do now?"
"Nothing. It has more to do
with what I did. You remember Butch, don’t you? The loan shark?"
"Oh, dear Lord." Irene
paled. She had heard things about loan sharks. If you didn’t pay them on time,
you could end up dead. What did her grandson have to do with such people?
"Yes. He was the reason we
left New York in the first place. He wasn’t supposed to find us here, Carter.
What’s going on?"
"Yes. What’s happened to my
daughter?" Ruth demanded.
"He found us, babe. He did
his research. He just called me at the job. He’s taken Jack and Rose hostage
and won’t return them until he gets all his money, with interest."
Chloe gasped in fright. Her
brother and Rose, who had nothing to do with their New York troubles, were now
in serious trouble and would pay for Carter’s debts if they didn’t do anything.
"When does he want the money?"
"By the end of the week. Or
else the kids are dead."
"My God! Rose!" Ruth
gasped. "W-we have to call the police!"
"No. That will only get them
killed." Carter shook his head.
"No, Mr. Jones. You and my
granddaughter will get them killed!" Irene yelled. "If anything
happens to them, I’m holding the both of you completely responsible!"
Irene grabbed her purse.
"Where are you going?"
Chloe asked, feeling like the world was closing in on her. She could feel her
parents and Grandma Mae’s eyes bearing down on her in disappointment.
"To the police station.
Chloe, expect to hear from my lawyer about the twins!" Irene stormed out,
followed by Ruth, whose mind was full of fear for her daughter’s well-being.