November 27, 1914
"Jack, are you sure about this?"
"Yes. Santa Monica will be a good place to live."
"Well, when will we leave?"
"I want to leave after my dad's fiftieth birthday, which is January sixth. We can leave in February."
"Do we have enough money?"
"Of course we do. The kids will love it. And we can be here for Cora's birthday, also. February fifteenth. We'll leave around the twenty-fifth."
"I hope you're sure about this."
"I am, really. We can stop in Denver on the way."
"I hope Mother won't be upset with us. I'm sure she won't want to come to California."
"Yeah, you're probably right."
They heard Alexander cry.
"I'll be right back," Rose said, and went upstairs to the nursery.
She came back with Alexander in her arms.
"Where'd the girls go? I didn't hear or see them."
"They went to Mom and Dad's house."
"Oh...want to hold him?"
"Sure."
He took his son.
Alex, being one month old, had his father's looks.
He had the same mop of hair, the same gorgeous blue eyes.
Lizzy was starting to get more of Rose's features, though she still looked almost identical to Jack.
Alex giggled at Jack.
Rose stared at them in awe.
"Well, I'm glad there's another man around the house. I was out numbered by you girls," Jack said.
She smiled. "Well, just as long as he doesn't have the running off inheritance, everything will be fine," Rose said.
"Yeah...Lizzy still doing that?"
"Oh, yeah. But now she goes to the creek. All by herself."
"Reminds me of myself at that age. I wonder if she has found my old tree house. It's still there."
"I never knew you had one. Will you show me?"
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"It's a secret between me and Oscar."
"Oh, Jack."
He smiled, and they continued to play with their son.