October 2, 1927
Dear Jack,
The heat out here is unbearable. I miss you and the children so much, but in just three short weeks, I will be returning to London. How are the children? Tell them all I love them. I hope Charlie is being good like he promised. I booked my passage home yesterday on the Dresden for October the twenty-first. The voyage will be something I will not look forward to, especially alone, but within the week I will be home to you all. How is the decorating at the new house coming along? How are the children at school? Please write back soon and let me know. I hate being here alone. It’s such a lonely place without the children.
With love,
Rose
Receiving the letter made Jack smile. Daily, he and Rose wrote letters to each other. Since Rose's return to Hollywood in July, Jack had moved himself and the kids into a larger house in Cambridge, just outside of London. It was three stories high with five bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dining room, kitchen, and living room. The garden was huge, covering a few acres, and Jack had been assigned the task of decorating. Using money which he had saved, he had hired three local men to help, and after school the children would pitch in. He hoped to finish the house by the time Rose returned in three weeks’ time, including furnishings. After a long debate, Rose had decided it was best for the children to stay in London while she was filming her picture, not wishing to disturb their education. She had ended the lease on her apartment in Los Angeles and was putting the money she saved towards their wedding, which would take place around Christmas.
October 6, 1927
Rose,
The house is coming along really well. I cannot wait for you to return so we can be together as a family once again. The children miss you so much, and Lilly asks for you. The children and I went to see your movie the other evening. It was amazing. We are so proud of you, Rose. Just seeing you up on that big screen made me so happy to call you my fiancée. The children are doing well at school. Charlie came home with an A report card two days ago. I was so proud of him, Rose. I wish you weren't alone for so long, but just think—soon you will return home to us. I know the crossing will not be easy, but do not think too much of it, darling.
I love you, Rose.
Love,
Jack
Finishing the letter, Jack licked the envelope before scribbling Rose's address on the back. Leaning backwards in his chair, he placed his arms behind his head and stretched slightly. Looking around the half-furnished room, he smiled to himself. Soon, Rose would be home.
“Daddy!” Lilly cried a little and Jack turned to see his daughter crying in the hallway, holding her favorite toy rabbit by the ears.
“What's wrong, darling?” He smiled as he walked toward her before scooping her up in his arms. “You think the monsters are up there again?”
Nodding, Lilly burst into tears and Jack kissed her soft, blonde curls. “Darling, there are no such things as monsters.”
Lilly shook her head. “That’s not what Charlie said,” she whimpered. Not even being in her father’s strong arms brought her comfort when her brother Charlie told her horror stories of the ghosts and monsters which lived under her bed.
“Charlie is being silly.” Jack laughed. He would have to have a word with his son for telling Lilly such scary things. For weeks, she had awakened in the night scared of the monsters beneath her bed. “You want to sleep in Daddy's bed tonight?”
Lilly nodded her head silently and yawned heavily. Her father’s bed was big and comfortable and she believed no monsters to be in that room.
As Jack reached the top of the stairs, he heard laughter from his son’s room. He had told Charlie to go to sleep over an hour ago. After placing a sleeping Lilly on his bed, he went to see what the fuss in Charlie's room was all about. Peeking into the bedroom, he saw Charlie playing with Olivia's long, blonde curls. He guessed he was attempting to plait it.
“I thought I told you two to go to sleep.” Jack shook his head.
“But, Dad, we're not tired. It's a Friday, so no school tomorrow, either.” Charlie gave a big smile to his father.
“No, no, no. You can't do it right!” Olivia cried, pulling her hair away from her brother’s hands. “You just made my hair all tangled now.” Charlie laughed.
“Olivia, what are you doing?” Jack asked his daughter as she came to him to show him her hair.
“I want my hair in rags just like Mom used to do it, but Charlie messed it all up and now it hurts.”
“Come on downstairs, sweetheart. We'll sort this out before bed. Charlie, I want you in bed now. You've already scared Lilly to death.”
Charlie smiled until he saw the serious look on his father’s face. “All right.” He lowered his head, slightly ashamed, but it was still fun tangling his sister’s hair.
“I think we need a brush, Olivia. Come on. We'll sort your hair out.” Grabbing a hairbrush from her room, Olivia followed her father down the spiral staircase, going steadily so she didn't hurt her feet on the wooden floor. Seating herself on a chair in the kitchen, she yawned, feeling tired.
“So, how did Charlie end up doing this to your hair?” Jack asked as he tried carefully to comb the knots from his daughter’s hair.
“I asked him to plait my hair, but he hurt me instead.” Olivia crossed her arms, obviously upset with her brother, who had only found it funny. Jack combed carefully through her hair and she cried when her hair snagged. “Ouch!” she moaned loudly. Jack apologized, feeling bad for hurting his daughter in an attempt to correct the mess of her hair.
Olivia's eyes looked around the large, half-decorated room, and she shivered slightly, dressed just in her white nightdress. She crossed her legs and pulled her nightdress further over her legs. “Why is it so cold in here?”
“Because it’s only half-full, sweetheart. When everything is sorted and decorated, we will be warmer.” Jack smiled. Removing his sweater, he offered it to Olivia. When she sat forward, Jack put the sweater over her head before she stood and pulled it over her body. The sweater almost touching the floor and the arms were way too big for her small ones. Laughing, Jack began to roll the sleeves up. “I'd love for your mother to see this.” He laughed, picturing Rose's face upon seeing their daughter in his sweater, which was overly large for her. When Jack had finished rolling the sleeves up, he noticed Olivia's grim expression.
“What's wrong, darling?” he asked, pulling her back onto the chair and pulling up another chair beside her.
“I just miss Mom. I wish she was here.” Olivia's face lowered and Jack heart ached.
“I know. So do I. But she will be home in a few weeks, and then she won’t be going away ever again. We're all going to stay here as a family.” Jack stroked Olivia's hair.
Nodding, she smiled slightly. “I just miss her.” She cried softly, and Jack indicated to her to stand. He knelt down in front of her. Her eyes were the same deep blue as her father’s. He could see a lot of himself as a child in his children, but Olivia had Rose's full lips, which always curved into a pout. Taking Olivia's small hands in his, he gently kissed her forehead. Immediately, Olivia's arms flew around her father’s neck and she cried softly for her mother. It was something Jack had never experienced before with Olivia. She had never openly wept in front of him, nor had she hugged him in such a way, but Jack felt his heart break for his daughter and he thought of Rose. He couldn't wait for her to return so they could finally start their lives together as a family.
“It's going to be all right,” Jack soothed, and Olivia pulled away from her father, her eyes blurry. She shivered again, and Jack rubbed her small body before scooping her up into his arms. “Come on. Let’s get you into bed where its warm.”
Tiredly, she rubbed her eyes as her father carried her up the stairs. Placing her in bed, he pulled the covers back over her body and turned on the little lamp on her bedside table. Tucking her loose covers in, he knelt beside the bed, gently kissing Olivia's forehead as she yawned loudly.
“Good night, darling.” Jack stroked some of her loose curls.
“Good night, Dad.” Olivia smiled, and Jack felt his heart soar. Olivia had called him Dad. With a small smile on his face, he watched as her eyes flickered closed. He watched her fall asleep, watched the rise and fall of her chest. Her lips parted slightly as she slept. She was perfect, and he gently stroked her small hand, still in awe of the fact she was his and Rose's daughter. A child they had created of their love eleven years ago. Memories of that first night together came back to Jack and he couldn't believe the path they had followed to get to where they were now. They were lucky to have found each other and realized their feelings before it was too late, but nothing would come between them again. They were meant for each other. He knew that.