JACK AND ROSE: PRESENT TIME
Chapter
Seventy-Four
Ruth, Jack, and
Rose sat next to the phone as they played cards and talked about what they we
going to do. The doctor said he would call with the final results today. Jack
was probably more nervous than Rose. He wished he could give his life to Rose.
Nothing about him mattered anymore, it was all about Rose.
"We'll get
through it Rose," Jack said, out of know where.
Rose smiled, even
though she knew they probably wouldn't.
"At least me
have the money for your needs," Ruth said, trying to help. Rose knew money
didn't matter at a time like this. What mattered was what God wanted to do with
Rose's life. Was he going to end it early? They would soon find out.
Ruth could barely
concentrate on her hand. All she thought about was Rose. How were they going to
deal with AIDS? Ruth knew that she had to be there for her daughter. Now, she
felt really bad for never being there for her when Rose was a child.
"I'm going
down for four," Rose said as she laid down her cards.
The phone rang and they
all jumped. Rose picked up the phone slowly. "Hello?" Rose put her
hand over her mouth as the doctor began to speak...speak the words that would
determine her life.
Jack watched
closely. He prayed so much that everything was going to be okay, even thought
it was a long shot.
Rose started
crying. But, not because she was sad. She was happy. She was thrilled.
"Rose, you don't have HIV." The words rang in Rose's ears. As she
handed the phone to her mother and looked into Jack's eyes with a smile.
"I don't have it."
Jack let out a
'woohoo', and started to shower Rose with kisses. Rose was hysterical, and so
was Jack. This was the news that they were wanting to hear, more than anything.
"Thank God,
Rosey," Jack said. "Thank God."
Rose just kept
smiling and watched as her mother hung up the phone. Ruth came over and joined
in the hugging. Her daughter was going to get to live her life.
"The hospital
made a horrible mistake," Ruth said. "You don't have HIV, and you
aren't pregnant. Nothing is wrong."
And nothing was
wrong. Everything was now perfect. Rose was safe, Jack was safe, and Tony was
dead. They could now get back to their normal lives. The lives that they always
wanted to live.
"Everything's
going to be okay," Jack whispered into Rose's ear. "I know it will
be."
The End.