JUST WHEN I NEEDED YOU
Chapter Four
Caledon Hockley sat on a chair in the
DeWitt-Bukater parlor. Rose had been gone for six hours and he was getting
antsy. Why did she insist on being alone? It was her birthday, for God's sake,
and she went off to think about that damned Bohemian artist. Even after three
years that damned Dawson plagued him. Growing up, he'd always had his eye on
Rose, but she would never give him the time of day. Cal had thought that once
she and Jack had gotten together, he'd never stand a chance. Then Jack had
left, leaving Rose alone and vulnerable. So Cal swept in and after a year,
finally got her. Now, he was engaged to the girl he'd wanted all his life, and
all she did was think about Jack. Cal cursed under his breath and checked his
watch. 6:15.
"Did Rose say what time she'd be
returning?" Cal asked Ruth politely.
Ruth shook her head. "She never does on
these days. More often then not, she doesn't return until well after
nine."
"You really ought to give her a curfew,"
Cal muttered.
Ruth looked at him in surprise. "Rose is
more than capable of taking care of herself, Mr. Hockley."
"I'm sorry, Ruth. I was just hoping to
escort her out tonight, in honor of her birthday."
Ruth nodded, beaming. "She usually
spends her time down by the lake, if you'd like to go get her. I can't promise
she'll be there, but that's your best bet."
Cal smiled. "Thank you, Ruth. I'll go
and see if I can find her." He stood up and shook her hand.
"Good night, Caledon," Ruth said,
walking him to the door.
"Good night, Ruth."
Cal walked down the steps to his car. Rose
better be there, he thought. I'm going to put an end to these thoughts
of him for good.
*****
Jack and Rose stood side by side, washing the
dinner dishes.
"Well, that's the last of 'em,"
Jack announced, drying his hands off on a towel. "How'd you like your
dinner?"
Rose smiled. "It was delicious. Thank
you."
Jack bent over and kissed her. "It was
my pleasure."
Rose sighed happily. "I do believe this
is the best birthday I've ever had. No party, no people. Just me and the man I
love."
Jack grinned. "Hopefully, it'll go on
past just your birthday."
"Oh, it will. It will. I'm just not sure
how often I'll be able to come over here. Ever since Cal proposed, she's been
so overprotective."
"Can't you just tell her you're going to
Katie's or something? And have Katie call here if she calls?"
Rose shook her head. "It might work once
in awhile, but my mom will get suspicious if every time she calls me over
there, I'm in the bathroom. Besides, Cal will want to come pick me up from
there...he doesn't like me walking all that way alone."
Jack sighed. "All the way from where?
Katie lives around the block from you. But anyway, don't worry. We'll figure
something out."
Rose laughed slightly. "That's what I
keep asking him. But he insists that one block is far enough for me to get
mugged or raped. He acts like we live in the middle of New York City or
something, instead of a small farming community."
"Dang. Control freak?"
Rose nodded. "Oh, yeah. You have no
idea. He also doesn't take being rejected real well, which is why ending this
is going to be difficult."
Jack draped an arm around her shoulders.
"Don't worry about it, Rosie. We'll get through this. Even if we have to
pack up and leave. There's still well over five hundred grand in the account,
so money isn't a concern."
Rose leaned back into his embrace. "I'd
be lost without you, Jack."
*****
Cal glanced around the open area surrounding
the lake. "Rose! Rose! Come on! It's time to go!" he yelled. Still,
there was no sign of her. Where the hell could she possibly be? Cal
thought, his mind racing. Off somewhere thinking about that gutter trash, no
doubt. Why couldn't he gain an upper hand over her? Must she be so difficult
all the time? Giving up for the time being, Cal stomped off towards his car.
*****
Rose pried herself from Jack's lips long
enough to catch the time. Groaning, she unlocked herself from his arms. "I
should head home."
Jack sat up and ran a hand through his now
unruly hair. "Don't tell me she gave you a curfew."
Rose tiredly redid her ponytail. "No,
but it's kind of a rule that I be home by nine on my alone days. I think she's
afraid if I stay away too long, I'll think too much, and become depressed
again. And then injure myself."
Jack wrapped an arm around her waist and
pulled her closer. "But I don't want you to leave," he said, pouting.
Rose giggled. "I don't want to, either.
But if I don't, she'll know something's up."
"We have so much lost time to make up
for, though."
Rose kissed him, something that was meant to
be a light kiss, but he immediately deepened, pushing them both into an ocean
of passion.
Rose finally broke the spell. "Ugh. The
things you do to me, Dawson," she teased. "We'll have plenty of time
to make up for that later. But I have to get home."
Jack didn't reply. He only let his mouth
dance over the back of her neck. Unable to resist, she leaned her head back as
Jack took possession over her mouth again. After a few minutes, Jack pulled
away, gasping for air.
Rose took that time to stand up. "You,
mister, are going to get me in trouble."
Jack gave her a lopsided grin. "Isn't
that my job?"
Rose laughed. "Yeah, but not tonight.
I'm leaving before we end up back in your bed."
Chuckling, Jack stood up. "At least let
me walk you to the door."
The two of them chatted aimlessly during the
short journey to the front door.
Rose turned to face him, tears in her eyes.
"Thank you for making this the best night of my life. More importantly,
thank you for coming home."
Jack brushed a stray tear off her cheek.
"I should be thanking you. I haven't felt this complete since before I
left. No more tears, though. Okay? I'm here and everything is going to be
fine."
Rose nodded. "I'll dream of you
tonight."
Jack smiled at the familiar saying. They used
to say that when they went their separate ways at night. "I'll dream of
you, too, Rosie."
Rose leaned in for one last good night kiss.
"I love you."
Jack echoed her after they parted. "I
love you, too. Be careful, okay?"
"I will. Mother will be gone tomorrow
morning, if you wanna call."
Jack nodded. "I will. Night,
Rosie."
"Night, Jack."