FROM NOW UNTIL ETERNITY
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jack was staring out the window,
daydreaming of a life with Rose. He still couldn’t believe that she was with
him and not some filthy rich guy like Caledon Hockley. Leaning back, he
remembered the day Rose had came home with Mae. He had been so nervous, and so
eager to impress. He had never dreamed that later on down the road they’d so
deeply in love and married.
"Jack?" Her voice
interrupted his thoughts. Jack looked up and smiled, his love for her clear in
his blue eyes. She held back her tears, thinking of what she had to do. It was
so unfair. Why couldn’t fate let her have the one perfect thing in her life
right now? Why did it see fit that her life remain void of any joy, love, and
happiness? Maybe it was a curse. A curse that made sure that she’d never be
happy…not for very long, anyway. "Did I wake you?"
"No." Jack shook his
head, looking over Rose’s tear-stained face. It was obvious that she had been
crying, and by the look of it, more tears were on the way. Frowning, he
wondered what had happened to cause her tears. "Rose…something’s bothering
you. Come, sit. Tell me what’s going on. Why are you crying?"
Rose did what she was told as she
took a deep breath, preparing herself to do what she had to do. Preparing
herself to break not only Jack’s heart, but her own as well. She took one more
look at his eyes, knowing that it’d be the last time she’d see them so bright
and full of happiness, love, and concern…all for her. The next time she’d look
into his eyes, she’d probably find tears of heartbreak and perhaps hatred.
No…not hatred…but confusion and anger. She choked on her tears, hating the fact
that she’d be the cause of the pain of his broken heart. That she was the one
to sap the happiness out of his eyes.
"Jack…this…this isn’t going
to work out." She looked away from his eyes, not wanting to see the
evidence of what she was about to do to him.
Jack’s frown deepened. He had a
bad feeling about all of this. What did she mean? "Rose, sweetie…what are
you talking about? What’s not going to work? Why are you crying?"
Rose stood up and walked to the
door, turning her back on him. She couldn’t be near him, and he couldn’t see
her face, or he would know that she was lying. "Because you’ve been so
good to me and I can’t keep doing this. But I can’t pretend any longer, Jack. I
don’t love you…I tried…I really did. But I don’t."
"What?" The bright
concern in Jack’s voice faded, replaced by hurt. "Rose…I don’t
understand…what do you mean?"
"I mean that I don’t love
you anymore. I’m leaving you, Jack. I’m leaving you for Caledon Hockley. He’s
handsome, rich, and can buy me expensive gifts. He wants to be with me, and I
want to be with him."
"How long have you felt like
this? Hmm? I mean, is this just coming on, or was this before we were taken
hostage?"
"After." Rose closed
her eyes against the lie, hoping that she was convincing enough.
Silence filled the room. Neither
knew what to say to the other. Jack wanted to beg her to change her mind and to
look at him while she was breaking up with him. She was lying. She had to be.
Why all the tears? Why didn’t she look at him? "Rose…look at me. Look at
me and tell me that it’s over. Because right now…I’m having a hard time
believing you."
"Jack…please. Just let it
go…" Her voice was desperate. She couldn’t look him in the eye and repeat
what she had said, because it was a lie. She didn’t want to break up with him.
That was the last thing she wanted to do! All she wanted to do was run into his
arms and beg for his forgiveness…to confess everything. She almost did just
that….but then she remembered Irene’s threat. Not against her, but her mother. She
would take away their livelihood and make sure that it’d stay gone if Rose
followed through with her instincts and told Jack the truth. She couldn’t let
that happen! So she turned around, looked Jack in the eyes, ignoring the
painful breaking of her heart, and put on the performance of a lifetime.
"It’s over, Jack. I don’t
love you anymore. I’m leaving you for Cal. I love Cal. Really. Just have a nice
life and maybe someday we can…be friends."
"Friends?" Jack looked
at her in disbelief, hurt, and anger. Friends? How could she even think that
they could ever be friends?
"Good-bye, Jack." Rose
rushed out, not able to lie to him anymore. Not able to stay and see his pain.
She stood at the elevator, wiping away her falling tears.
"You did a good job,
Rose." Irene stood behind her, her eyes shining with approval. "He
fell for your act, and now your mother’s job is safe."
Rose turned around and glared at
Irene, unable to believe that the hateful old woman could be related to someone
as wonderful as Jack. She was nothing like Mae. Mae had been warm, sweet, and
loving. Irene was none of those things. "I don’t want your praise. Just
stay away from me and my mother."
"Very well." Irene
stepped back and watched Rose step into the elevator. With a satisfied smile,
she watched the elevator carry Rose out of Jack’s life.
*****
Two hours later, after walking
along the wharf and an endless ride on the L, Rose returned home. She was both
exhausted and miserable. All she wanted to do was be alone and wallow in her
misery. Sink into the despair that losing Jack had caused.
"Sweetpea! You’ve finally
returned!" Cal’s voice greeted Rose as she entered the apartment.
Rose couldn’t keep her frown from
deepening. "What are you doing here?" Her tone was annoyed and weary.
She was not in the mood to deal with Cal at the moment. She just wanted to
disappear into her room and wallow in her misery.
"Cal came by to see how you
were feeling, Rose. Wasn’t that nice of him?" Ruth beamed. She had always
liked the Hockley boy, and hoped that the visit would turn into a love match.
"I guess." Rose
shrugged, not wanting to say what she really thought about Cal’s dropping by.
Sighing, she headed for the stairs, but Cal rushed into her path.
"That’s not the only reason
I stopped by, sweetpea." Cal folded his arms, determined not to let Rose
get away. "There’s another gala at the country club, and I want you to be
my date once again. They loved you at the last one."
Rose looked at Cal as if he had
two heads. Was he serious? Didn’t he remember their last date? Normally,
there’d be no way that Rose would ever go out with Cal again. But things were
different. She no longer had the person that she truly cared about, and she no
longer cared what she did or with whom.
"Rose, I advise you to say
yes." Ruth sternly looked at her daughter. "Since you’re no longer
with that Dawson boy, there’s no reason to say no."
Rose frowned at her mother. How
did she know about her break-up with Jack?
"What? You’re no longer with
Dawson?" Cal’s eyes lit up with delight and a bit of surprise. Why, this
was even better than he’d hoped. Now he really did have a chance to win Rose
for himself, and with Mrs. DeWitt-Bukater backing him…he couldn’t lose.
"Go to the gala with me, Rose. It’ll take your mind off Jack. Stepping out
and having fun will do you good." Cal grinned.
"He’s right, Rose."
Ruth nodded. "Go to the gala. Have some fun that you haven’t had all
month. Be happy."
Rose sighed. She had been happy
that very morning when Jack had opened his eyes and looked at her with love and
trust. But that happiness was gone now. Destroyed by Irene Devereau’s need to
control anyone who had the misfortune of becoming a part of her life, as well
as Rose’s own love for her mother. There was to be no more happiness for Rose.
Never again. So why not go to the gala with Cal? Heck, maybe it would take her
mind off Jack and her heartache. She doubted it, but there was no harm in
trying.
Rose’s voice was flat and void of
emotion. "Okay. Fine. I’ll go to the gala." Sighing one last time,
letting Ruth take over the details of the date, Rose went to her room and
closed the door, wanting to be alone with happier memories of Jack.