The Next Morning
Rose woke up in the embrace of Jack. She smiled and studied his face thoroughly. He was still asleep, with a grin on his face. I wonder what he is dreaming about, Rose said to herself. She just lay there in the arms of her lover, her soulmate, just thinking that she could and would, if given the chance, stay there forever.
About Twenty Minutes Later
Jack's eyes blinked a bit and opened. He looked at Rose, and before she could say anything, he kissed her passionately. When the kiss ended, Rose said, "You took my breath away on that one!"
Jack smiled, and said, "I love you."
"I love you, too, Jack. I wonder what your friends and relatives thought when we left the party."
"Oh, I don't care about anything but you, and Cora, of course, after last night!" said Jack.
Rose smiled.
"Well, Rose, we'd better get up."
"Do we have to? I love just staying like this."
"So do I. Ah, what the hell. You need the rest after your faint last night." Jack laughed.
So they just sat there staring lovingly into each other's eyes. They fell asleep in each other's arms. That's where they wanted to spend eternity, in each other's arms, knowing each other's thoughts.
*****
Jack and Rose woke up right about the same time.
"Hey, honey...as much as I would like to stay here, I think we should get up now," said Jack.
"Oh, all right...I suppose."
"Rose, you take a shower, while I cook breakfast."
"All right."
They kissed, and Jack went downstairs to cook. They ate, got ready, and went to Liz and Brian's house.
"Good morning, Jack, Rose," Liz said as they walked in. "Are you all right, Rose?"
"Yes, I'm fine...I am sorry if I frightened you a bit. I don't know what happened. I just got very dizzy."
Jack elbowed her in the arm gently, and she giggled.
"Hey, Cora," Jack said.
"Hi, Jack. Hi, Rose," Cora said.
"Did you have fun at the party, Cora?" Rose asked.
"Yeah. Me and Lizzie played with the toys she gave to me."
"That's good. I'm glad you had fun," said Rose.
"So, Mom, did anyone seem disappointed when we left?" Jack wondered.
"Not that I know of," said Liz.
Thirty Minutes Later
Sitting Room
"Well, when are you two going to get married?" Liz asked.
"Well, we are thinking about July fifth," Rose said.
"Well, it's April twenty-third, so that gives you enough time to plan for the wedding," Brian said.
"Yeah. We are getting married at the Little Rock Church on Strawberry Blvd."
"Oh, dear, that's a nice little church. You made a good choice," Liz said.
"Thanks, Mom. Cora, do you want to be the flower girl?" Jack asked.
"Yeah! I was a flower girl at my aunt's wedding."
"All right, then," said Jack.
"We need to get wedding bands, Jack," Rose said.
"Yeah...I think we should think about the wedding in a few weeks."
"Yeah, maybe you're right," Rose said.
"Rose, wanna go take a walk?" Jack asked.
"Sure. Cora, do you want to go?"
"No, I'm tired."
"Okay--we'll see y'all later, then."
*****
When they first started walking, they didn't talk. Rose broke the silence.
"Jack?" she asked.
"Yes, Rose?"
"Well, I'm not pregnant," she said.
"Hmm, well, that's all right. I mean, we do need to get settled. And we have Cora to look after," Jack said.
"That's true. And everything happens for a reason," Rose said.
"I love you, Rose."
"I love you, too, Jack."
Jack had his arm around her waist, and she had her head on his shoulder. They just walked on in silence, enjoying each other's company.