THESE ARE THE TIMES
Chapter Thirteen
Rose smiled as she appeared at
the top of the stairway to see Jack waiting patiently beside her father, both
dressed in coats and ties. Jack looked especially handsome with his blond hair
smoothed back. When she reached the bottom, he took her hand and kissed it.
"I saw that in a movie once
and I always wanted to do it." He grinned. Rose only giggled in reply.
"Don’t keep her out too
late, George." Ruth appeared in the living room doorway. "She has a
test to study for Monday."
"Don’t worry, Ruth. She’ll
be back at a suitable hour." George nodded to his ex-wife. "Now,
Rose, Jack, let’s be on our way."
*****
They were right on time with the
reservation. After glancing at the menu and ordering, an uncomfortable silence
fell between them.
"So, Jack, tell me about
yourself." George broke the silence.
"Uh…what do you want to
know?" Jack swallowed nervously. This, after all, was the father of the
woman he adored. He wanted to make a good impression.
"Where do you go to
school?"
"Titan High School. My
grades aren’t the best, but they’re not the worst, either." Jack smiled.
"My cousin, Heather, though--she’s in the advanced classes. We all think
she’ll be graduating this year instead of next year."
"Jack’s a wonderful artist,
Daddy. You should see some of his work. It’s like he captures your soul and
puts it on paper." Rose smiled.
"Oh, really? You have to
show me some of your work, Jack. I have a friend at the New York Art Academy
who may be interested in you."
"Really?" Jack’s eyes
widened. It was his dream to go to the New York Art Academy, and if there was
any chance that Rose’s father could get him in, that would be great.
"I have a couple of his
drawings at home if you want to see them later," Rose offered.
"They’re all of me, of course. That’s all he seems to like to draw
lately."
"That’s because you’re
beautiful inspiration." Jack grinned. "Plus, you’re easy to draw. In
fact, my art teacher was curious about the lovely girl in all my drawings
lately. I told him she was my soulmate."
"Jack." Rose blushed.
George had to smile. Jack was a
great young man by the looks of it, and he adored Rose. Someone his daughter
needed with his busy schedule and Ruth’s callousness. "Well, Jack, I look
forward to seeing your artwork. Maybe you can do a portrait of my lovely
daughter for me."
"Daddy!"
"Sir, it’d be a pleasure to
do a portrait of Rose for you." Jack smiled sincerely.
"Jack…" Rose blushed,
causing George to laugh.
"So, Jack…tell me more about
yourself."
So, for the rest of the night,
Jack, Rose, and her father talked about their schools and jobs and lives. At
the end of the evening, George dropped both Jack and Rose off, and after saying
good night to Rose, Jack drove his car back home.