TEARS IN HEAVEN
Chapter Four
Rose awoke the next morning with a broken
heart. She was genuinely surprised to see all three of her kids snuggled up
next to her. Her, rather, their kids were her only reason for living. Had it
not been for them, she'd gladly let herself die. She just wanted to be with
Jack. Sighing, she carefully climbed over the sleeping toddlers and went to
shower.
After she was clean, she went to start
breakfast, knowing the kids wouldn't be sleeping for very much longer. And she
was right. Five minutes later, a sleepy Josh wandered into the kitchen,
followed shortly by the twins. "Good morning, Mommy," Josh greeted
politely, making Rose's heart lurch. What she would give to hear Josh come in
during the morning and greet a good morning to his father.
"Pananacake?" Colin asked.
Rose smiled as she lifted the twins into
their high chairs. "Yes, pancakes. You want pancakes or eggs, Josh?"
"Sausage."
"You want sausage?"
Josh nodded as he greedily drank the milk
Rose had given him. "Okay, sausage it is. Give your brother and sister
their plates, would you, sweetie?"
"Kay, Mommy."
*****
"Rose, you here?" Teddy called,
opening the back door of his sister's house. Hearing no tiny pitter-patter of
his niece and nephews' feet, he stepped into the house. "Rose?" She
had to be there. It wasn't like her to leave the doors unlocked. Suddenly, there
was a low cry, something that sounded more like a wounded animal than human,
but he instantly knew it was his sister. Rushing into the living room, he saw
the TV was on, showing a wedding. At a closer glance, he saw it was the tape of
Rose and Jack's wedding. Shaking his head, he switched it off and headed down
the hall to Rose's room. "Rose?"
From behind the closed door, she shakily
replied, "Go away, Teddy."
Teddy sighed. "Come on, Rosie. Open the
door." Silence. Then the door flew open, and he couldn't help but gasp at
the sight. He'd never seen his sister so distraught, not even at Jack's
memorial service. "What's wrong?"
Rose's shoulders sagged, and she motioned for
him to come in. As they sat down on the bed, Rose exhaled. "Someone's
fucking with me. Either that, or I'm losing my mind. Don't rule out the
possibility of that completely."
"What are you talking about?"
Rose handed him an envelope.
"This."
Teddy eyed her and reluctantly opened the
letter.
September 16, 2004
My Dearest Rose,
I'm not sure how to go about writing this
letter, as it's been more then a year since I've been in contact. I know you've
probably been worried sick and a part of you probably hates me for making you
worry so, but please believe me when I say there were reasons beyond my
control. Those reasons, however, are not something I want to discuss with you
on paper, but face to face.
Now that I've gotten that out of the way,
how are you? I hope you and the kids are good. My heart aches to be with you.
Every night, I dream of nothing but you, my beautiful Rose. Please don't think
I'm not coming home--I am. There is no way I could stand to be away from you
for another anniversary. This past one was absolutely horrible. The only thing
that kept me going was knowing you're out there, waiting for me. I think once I
come home, the two of us should take a vacation--just us. A second honeymoon,
if you will. I can hardly believe we've been married three years. It seems as
surreal now as it did then. When I get home...I swear to you, with every breath
in my body, I'm never letting you go again. Never.
I bet the kids are huge now. Josh is
nearly three and I haven't even see a picture of him since last summer. And the
twins! I've missed every step of their lives so far. Something that breaks my
heart continually.
God, Rose. I need to hold you. How I long
to kiss you, feel you, make love to you. More than that, I need to see your
face when I tell you I love you. Because I do. I swear I do.
Although I hate to say it, I must be
going. Take care of yourself and give the kids my love. Write back soon.
Love Always,
Your Husband,
Jack
Teddy looked up in complete shock and
confusion. "What the hell?"
"I don't know! Why the hell would
someone do something so mean? Someone out there likes seeing me suffer."
Teddy hugged her. "Some people are just
sick, Rosie."
Rose nodded, somewhat numbly. What she didn't
voice, something that confused and scared her, was the writing. The
handwriting, while a little shaky and rushed, was Jack's. There was no
mistaking the achingly familiar JD signed on the envelope. But part of her
wondered if that was just her imagination. She so desperately wanted the letter
to be from him, she literally imagined the writing to be his. Sadly, she
supposed, that was the case.
Rome, Italy
October 23, 2004
"You got mail, buddy," Rasheed
announced, waving an envelope around as he came in to visit.
Jack's eyes lit up. "Finally! Give it to
me!"
Rasheed chuckled and tossed the letter to his
friend. Quickly, he tore into it, expecting a long, relief-filled letter and
maybe a few pictures of the kids. Instead there was a single sheet of paper,
one that was barely half written on. The hopeful expression that he wore
vanished immediately as he read the letter over.
To Whom It May Concern,
I do not know who you are, or why you
would do such a cruel thing as to impersonate my husband. My husband, who in
actuality, has been dead for over a year. I'm deeply sorry that your life is so
pathetic that you have to go to such lengths to drive a poor widow such as
myself to the brink of a nervous breakdown. I beg for you to not reply to this
note, as I have three young children who need me. I cannot lose it because of
an immoral, vicious bastard such as yourself.
Rose Dawson
Stunned, Jack let the paper slip through his
fingers and fall to the floor. Dead? Rose thought he was dead? What could
possibly have possessed her to think that? She hasn't heard from you in a
year. What the hell do you expect her to think? his mind screamed.
Unknowingly, a few tears escaped from his eyes. God damn, what she must be
going through. Then, as though a light bulb went on in his head, he knew what
he had to do. Besides going home, there was only one way to let her know he was
really alive.