STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT
Chapter Five
When Jack came downstairs, Rose was still in
the kitchen.
"What are you doing, Rose?"
"Making us something to eat, but you
didn’t have much. So I made us sandwiches."
"Sorry, but I mostly eat out. That’s why
there’s hardly any food."
"Jack, you need a woman badly in this
house."
"Are you asking for the job?"
"Yes. I would like to, if you don’t
mind."
"Mind, Rose? I would love to spend every
night with you."
"Really, Jack?"
"Yes, Rose."
"Then we must go to my house and
pack."
"All right. Want to do it today?"
"Yes. The faster, the better."
"All right. I’ll order the U-Haul."
"Thanks, Jack. I love you."
"I love you, too."
"But first, let’s eat. I need
energy."
"Okay."
As soon as they finished eating, they ran
upstairs to shower. Then, they got dressed and were out of the house.
*****
Luckily, Cal wasn’t home. Rose and Jack were
in the bedroom.
"Rose, do you have a lot of stuff?"
"Hardly, Jack. Just my mementos, books,
my computer, clothes, and stuff like that."
"Okay. Let’s get started. What’s
first?"
"My clothes."
"Got boxes?"
"Yep. They're in the cellar. It’s
downstairs, to the right. You shouldn’t miss it."
"All right. I’ll go get them."
*****
Cal had came home and found a U-Haul parked
in the driveway. He knew Rose was moving out. When he opened the front door, he
saw a man, and thought he must be the moving man. He had muscles, so he thought
nothing of it.
Rose was upstairs, emptying her dresser.
"Rose?"
"Cal?"
"Rose, you moving?"
"Yes, Cal. Jack’s helping me."
"Okay, but before you leave, remember
this. No matter what you thought about us, just remember I’ll always love
you."
"I will, Cal. I feel like such a fool. I
like you, but I love Jack."
"You mean he’s not the moving man?"
"No."
"I’ll kill him."
Jack was coming up the stairs with boxes.
As Jack came down the hall, Cal punched him.
Jack fell back with the boxes.
Jack quickly got up and saw a man with black
hair. He knew he was Cal.
Jack put up his fists in front of him. Cal
continued to punch. Jack shifted and Cal fell to the floor. Jack got on top of
him and knocked him out. Rose came rushing to Cal.
"Jack, what did you do to him?"
"I knocked him out."
"Jack, you didn’t have to do that."
"Yes, I did. He started it. Wait. Do you
love him or me?"
"I love you."
"Then why are you attending to
him?"
"I don’t know. I feel bad, Jack,
because…"
"Don’t say it."
"I care about him."
"Call me when you make up your mind.
Until then, don’t bother."
Jack felt hurt. He thought Rose would come to
his aid, and instead she went to Cal's. It was obvious he felt used. He got in
the U-Haul truck and went to find Sam.
*****
Sam was at her house. Jack had just come into
the driveway she came out.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came for you, Sam."
"But I thought you had Rose."
"Never mind her. Come here."
Sam went into Jack’s arms and he kissed her.
"I promise, Sam, I’ll never leave you.
Sam, even though we have been through a lot, I want you back."
"Really, Jack?"
"Yes, Sam."
"I love you, Jack. I’ll never cheat on
you again."
"But first, we have to take care of
something I should have given you a long time ago."
They went inside her house and joined
together as they should have so long ago.
*****
Rose thought about Jack as she slept in her
room. It had been a month, and she was pregnant. From who, was the question?
Cal or Jack?
Rose pondered about the paternity test, and
she couldn’t sleep.
What would Cal do? Would he take Jack’s child
as his own, or tell her to leave?
*****
Jack thought about Rose often. She never
called him. He knew it was over, and he told Sam to move in.
*****
Rose decided to call Jack.
The phone rang. A female answered.
"Hello."
"Is Jack home?"
"Yes. Who’s this?"
"Rose."
"Jack, sweetheart. It’s for you."
"All right. Hold on."
Jack had been fixing their bed. They had worn
out the old one, so he bought a new one the day before.
"Hello."
"Jack."
"Rose. What do you want, Rose?"
"I have to tell you something, but not
on the phone. Okay?"
"All right. So where do you want me to
meet you?"
"How about the café on Fourth
Street?"
"All right. I’ll be there in ten
minutes."
Jack hung up.
"What did she want, Jack?" Sam
wondered.
"I don’t know, but I will be right back,
love."
"Okay. Take care, love."
Jack got in his truck and left.