April, 1923
Santa Monica
"Mom? Dad? We need to talk about something," Cora, now seventeen, said nervously.
Rose was twenty-eight and Jack was thirty-one.
"Yes, dear?" Rose asked.
"Well, you know I'll be graduating high school in a month?" They nodded.
"Well, I was wondering, can I go to college? I want to be a physical therapist."
"I think it's great!" Jack said.
"Really?" Cora asked, hopefully.
"Yeah. What do you think, Rose?" he asked.
"Um...where is this college located?" Rose asked.
"New York. But it's a really good school."
"You want to go to a school that far away?"
"It's only for four years...besides, I'll be here for every holiday. Like you've always told me, make my life count. This is how I want to make it count," Cora explained.
"You have a point, but I'll miss you terribly," said Rose.
"You'll probably move to Chippewa Falls anyway. We'll be closer."
Rose nodded.
The phone rang, and Jack answered it.
"Hello? Oh, my God! Is he all right? We'll leave as soon as possible. Love you. Bye."
He hung the phone up.
"Honey, what happened?" Rose asked.
"It's Dad. He had a heart attack. He may die," he said, with tears in his eyes.
*****
Jack and Rose got to Chippewa Falls about four days later.
They put their things in their old house, and went to Liz and Brian's house.
"Mom? Mom, where are you?" Jack frantically searched the house.
"Jack? Oh, you're finally here," Liz said, coming down the stairs.
"Kids, wait down here. We're going to check on Pawpaw," said Rose.
Jack took her hand, and led her upstairs.
"Dad..." Jack gasped at his father's weak appearance.
Rose silently began to cry, as did Jack.
"I love you, son...you, too, Rose. Can I see my grandchildren?" he asked.
"Sure, Dad. Rose, will you go get them?" Jack asked.
"Yes," she said, and went to get her children.
A few minutes later, she was back with their four kids.
"Go give your grandfather hugs and kisses," said Rose.
When it was Alex's turn to hug his grandfather, he asked, "Are you going to die, Pawpaw?"
"I don't know yet. But if I do, don't be sad. Okay?"
Alex nodded.
Alex was nine years old, and the twins were ten.
Jack stayed with his father all night.
He eventually lay down on the bed, next to his father, and fell asleep.
He woke up a few hours later.
His mother was at the foot of the bed, crying.
Rose was sitting next to her, trying to soothe her.
"What happened?" he asked.
Then, he looked at his father.
He had no warmth left, and he wasn't breathing.
"Oh, God!" Jack cried.
He started to cry.
"He can't be gone. He can't be!" he exclaimed, over and over.
Rose put her arms around him.
He cried on her shoulder.
"Why'd he have to leave? Why?"
"I don't know, honey. I don't know."