ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Chapter Twenty-Eight

The whole time after Rose lost one of her babies, Jack didn't let Rose out of his sight.

"I'm gonna get some water," Rose said.

"Let me help you." Jack got up.

"Jack, I can get to the kitchen by myself. I'll be fine," Rose said, very annoyed.

"I just don't want anything to happen to you," he said.

"I know, Jack. But I assure you, I'm fine."

Later, Around 6:30 PM
In the Parlor

"Jack, can we go to the beach?" Rose asked.

"Are you well enough?"

"Jack, you're too paranoid. I'm fine."

"I'm just concerned about my wife and children."

"I know, dear, but I just want to go to the beach before we leave tomorrow."

"All right. Come on."

He led her out the door.

The walk to the beach was about five minutes long.

They sat in the sand and watched the waves for a while.

The next day they'd be leaving to Chippewa Falls.

Later that night, while they were sitting on the couch, Jack asked, "Rose?"

"Yes, dear?"

"I never told you this, but the night before our wedding, I had a dream."

"Of what?"

"Well, we were at the altar, and it became your turn to say I do. And then Cal burst through the door, and told you that he loved you and stuff like that. And you went with him. I called after you, but you just told me that you were sorry. Well, then, it was the next day, our wedding day, because I thought it was just a dream. Well, I was at my parents' house, and Oscar was still there. I went into the kitchen, and they told me they thought I'd never get up again, because of what happened at the altar. Well, I told them I would go back to sleep and as I was leaving, Oscar said that he couldn't believe you did that."

"Well, Jack, that did happen."

"Huh?"

"No, I'm just kidding." Rose laughed and continued. "That's weird."

"Yeah. I'm just lucky Cal's an arrogant bastard. I have you."

Rose smiled. "I love you, Jack."

"I love you, too, Rose."

A few minutes went by with silence.

"Rose? Do you want to have more children?"

"Yeah. If these twins are boys, I want a girl. And if the twins are girls, I want a boy."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Jack. I'm sure."

A while later, Rose fell asleep in Jack's arms.

He noticed this, and he carried her to the bedroom, where he eventually fell asleep also.

Chapter Twenty-Nine
Stories