JACK AND ROSE: PRESENT TIME
Chapter
Sixty-Four
Jack starred in
complete disbelief. It was Rose. She smiled at him and took his face in her
hands and looked into his eyes. She had wanted to see those eyes for weeks.
Jack smiled and pulled her closer.
"It's really
you," Jack said as he nervously laughed. He then moved his head an inch
closer for their lips to meet again.
Jack smiled when
the kiss was over. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. He never
wanted to let go. Rose had tears in her eyes. She was so happy. Just then, the
rest of the group came into the kitchen and opened the closet door.
"Were you
surprised?" Tommy asked.
Jack nodded, still
holding Rose. "I love you, Rose."
Rose smiled.
"I love you more."
Dominique started
to cry. "That is so sweet."
Rose looked back at
her friend and smiled. Rose and Jack walked out of the closet, hand in hand.
"This calls for a group hug," Alexia said.
The six friends all
hugged, happy to be back together. "Rose," Fabrizio said. "Have
you decided what you're gonna do about your mom?"
Rose sighed.
"Not yet." She looked into Jack's eyes and he smiled at her.
"Don't worry,
Rose," Jack said. "If we can't live together here, we'll leave."
"You have got
to talk Ruth into letting you stay," Dominique said to Jack. "You two
both can't leave!"
They all went into
Dominique's living room and sat down to talk. "What is the plan for you
two?" Alexia asked.
"All I know
is," Jack spoke up. "That Rose and I have to be together. I know that
I can't live without her."
Rose smiled and
kissed him again. She was wrapped up in his arms sitting in a chair. She didn't
care what happened, as long as she was with Jack. That was all that mattered to
her.
"Where you
gonna go tonight Rose?" Alexia asked.
"I
dunno," Rose said.
"Rose,"
Dominique said. "You're staying here. I'm not letting you go home to your
mother."
Rose smiled.
"Thanks Dom." Rose knew that Dominique knew how Rose felt.
Dominique's mother and Ruth had been friends since high school. They always had
tea at the country club, went golfing, anything that rich people did. They were
both alike.
"When are your
parents getting back?" Rose asked.
"Not for
another week," Dominique said. "But I'm used to being alone."
"What about
Lucy?" Rose asked. Lucy was their housekeeper. She was in her mid fifties
and a very nice women.
"Her daughter,
that lives in Wisconsin, is having a baby."
"Bummer,"
Rose said. "Well, we'll have fun tonight."
Rose wanted to have
fun, but she really wanted to be with Jack tonight. "We could have
everyone spend the night," Dominique said.
"Jack
too?" Rose asked with excitement.
"Wait, wait,
wait," Tommy said. "Don't get your hopes up, Rose. Jack's curfew is
eleven."
"Curfew?"
Rose asked, looking at Jack.
"Yep,"
Jack said with a sigh. "Your mother told me if I'm not back by eleven
every night, then I'm grounded for life."
Rose frowned.
"She can't tell you what to do. She's not your mother."
Jack shrugged his
shoulders. "John doesn't help," Jack said. "All he does is read
the newspaper and watch Ruth take charge."
Fabrizio made a
whipping noise. "Wchchc"
Jack rolled his
eyes and looked into Rose's sad eyes. "But, I don't care," Jack said.
"I wanna be with you tonight."
"Wait,"
Fabrizio said. "Then Ruth will get suspicious."
"He's
right," Dominique agreed.
"I don't give
a damn about Ruth," Jack said. "All I care is being with Rose."
"Then don't
blow it," Tommy said.
"Fine,"
Jack said. "I have to leave soon, then."
"So,"
Alexia said. "We should really tell Rose all that's happened since she's
been gone."
"First thing's
first," Dominique said. "Katie got knocked up by Cal!"
Rose's face went
into shock. "You're kidding!"
"Dom,"
Tommy said. "That's just a rumor."
Dominique rolled
her eyes. "I heard it from Melanie."
"Then it must
be true," Tommy replied sarcasticly.
About fifteen
minutes later, Jack got up to leave. Alexia and Rose were going to stay at
Dominique's. Tommy, Fabrizio, and Jack were going home. Rose walked Jack to the
door.
"I love you,
sweetie," Jack whispered in her ear. "Don't worry about your mom,
she'll come around."
"I hope
so," Rose said back. "I love you, Jack."
Jack smiled and
kissed her goodbye.