IN THE ARMS OF A STRANGER
Chapter Ten
Two Days Later
Jack and Rose were in the parlor.
Rose was making an attempt at knitting Jack a sweater, and Jack was reading the
local paper.
"Hey, Jack," Rose replied,
a conversation she had overheard the day before coming to her mind.
"Yes, Rose?" Jack
didn't look up from the paper.
"Word has it that there's a
quilting bee going on next weekend, and they're asking all the Chippewa Falls
women to volunteer."
"So?"
"So, should I volunteer? I
mean, I'm getting pretty good with this knitting thing, and this event could
show every one of your friends that I'm not some snotty debutante trying to
play house."
"Rose, where did you hear
that from?" Jack put down the paper and looked meaningfully at his wife.
"One of those girls who came
over with Susan said that. Brianna, I think. She didn't know I was nearby when
she said it."
"Oh, Rose..." Jack
immediately went to her side. "I know you're not that. Don't listen to
Brianna. She's a mean, spiteful girl, and that's why I never really paid that
much attention to her."
"But, Jack...it's not her I
have to prove this to. I have to prove it to myself. I have to prove that I am
capable of doing something useful, other than making my husband happy. That
there's more to me than just looks."
"Rose..."
"Jack, I'm going to do this.
This is what I want." Rose took his hand. "I just wanted to know that
I had your support."
Jack placed a gentle hand on her
cheek. "You'll always have my support, Rose. Always. You never have to
worry about that." Jack kissed her gently.
"Thank you, Jack." Rose
smiled. "That means a lot to me. First thing tomorrow, I'm going down to
that country store and tell Mrs. Nancy that I want to volunteer."
"You go for it, Rose. You
can do it." Jack grinned. "And remember, I'll be behind you the whole
time."
Rose and Jack stared at each
other, love shining in their eyes. At that moment, another trip to the stars
was inevitable.