IN THE ARMS OF A STRANGER
Chapter Eleven
The Next Day
The country market was crowded
with eager girls to volunteer for the quilting bee. Rose took a deep breath and
entered. Fifteen minutes later, she was the second in line and gasped when she noticed
Brianna sitting next to the elderly woman who must be Mrs. Nancy. Two minutes
later, she was the first in line.
"Why, isn't it Mrs.
Dawson?" Brianna smiled. "How's Jack?"
"He's fine." Rose
forced a smile.
"Grandma, you remember Jack
Dawson, don't you?" Brianna turned to the woman.
"Of course. He was that dear
boy who escorted you to that fall dance five years ago and left after his
parents died. Poor dear." The old woman shook her head sadly.
"Well, this is his wife,
Rose. They returned to Chippewa Falls about four days ago. Rose is from high
society in Philadelphia."
"Oh, really?" The old
woman examined the red-headed girl standing before her.
"Hi, Rose." Susan
appeared behind Rose.
"Hi, Susan."
"Jack told me you'd be
here." Susan nodded.
"What are you doing here,
Rose?" Brianna crossed her arms.
"To volunteer for the
quilting bee. I heard you needed volunteers," Rose answered.
"That's very nice of you,
Rose, but we need girls who can actually quilt." Brianna laughed. "I
don't think you've ever been near a needle before."
"Well, actually, Jack tells
me Rose's been practicing and she's gotten very good at it," Susan
replied. "I say, give her a chance to prove herself."
"Oh, really now?"
Brianna narrowed her eyes at Susan.
"Besides." Rose smiled.
"I want to prove that I'm not just some snotty debutante who only knows
how to make her husband happy."
Brianna gasped and paled as Rose
said this. "Well, we'll see about that," Brianna grumbled. "Put
Mrs. Dawson down on the list, Grandma. I want to see what she can do."
"Okay." The elderly
woman nodded and wrote down Rose's name. "Party's this Saturday at four
o'clock sharp, dear. Don't be late."
"Put me down, too, Mrs.
Nancy. I'd like a hand at it, too." Susan nodded and turned to Rose.
"This is my first year volunteering, too. My mother's being real forceful
about it this time."
"Well, this should be
interesting." Brianna smiled cruelly at Rose. "I just hope this
year’s quilt won't be ruined by inexperience."
"Don't you worry about that,
Brianna. I'm sure Rose will do just fine. If what Jack says is true, once Rose
puts her mind to something, she excels at it." Susan smiled. "Well,
if you don't mind, I have to go tell Mother that I volunteered. Good-bye, Rose
and Brianna."
"I have to go, too. I guess
I'll see you Saturday." Rose smiled brightly at Brianna before leaving the
store.
When Rose got home, Jack was
sitting on the porch, busily sketching in his portfolio. He looked up just as
Rose got to the stairs.
"Well? How'd it go?"
Jack asked curiously.
"Great. I have to be there
at four o'clock Saturday afternoon." Rose eagerly went into his arms.
"I'm sure you'll do
fine." Jack grinned.
"I hope you're right, Jack.
I want to put that Brianna in her place. She was there today, standing at the
sign-up table. She was so...smug. I know she's expecting me to fail."
"Don't worry, Rose. You'll
do just fine. Besides, I'll be there to cheer you on. So, don't worry about
Brianna."
"You'll be there?"
"Yeah. Why do you think they
call it a quilting party? A group of women gets together to work on a quilt,
and everyone else in town gathers around them and observes how the town quilt
is being made. There's singing, dancing, food...it's a lot of fun."
"For you." Rose
laughed. "But how about the people quilting?"
"They have fun, too. It's
all about community togetherness, Rose. Besides, this is the perfect
opportunity for everyone to get to know my new wife from Philadelphia."
Jack laughed. "Even though they'll see her just fine in the gallery down
the street where I submitted my portrait of her."
Rose paled. "Portrait? Jack,
you didn't..."
"Relax, Rose. I didn't
submit the portrait I drew on the Olympic. That's private...just between
us." Jack laughed.
"But that's the only one you
drew of me." Rose stared at Jack in confusion.
"Well, no. Not actually.
Well...when we were in Southampton...you were the most beautiful girl I’d ever
seen in my life. You looked like an angel from heaven when you were asleep. So
I took out my portfolio and sketched you sleeping."
"Oh, Jack, you should have
told me. I'd love to have seen it." Rose gasped in surprise. She had no
idea Jack had sketched her in Southampton.
"You will see it, Rose, when
they showcase it next week in the gallery."
"Oh, Jack." Rose threw
her arms around him. "I'm so happy for you!"
"It's all thanks to you,
Rose." Jack hugged her tightly. "Ever since I met you, it seems like
I get inspired by everything around me. I don't know if it's being in love that
makes the world more beautiful or what."
"Maybe it's the constant
trips to the stars we've been taking." Rose laughed. "I’d better go
in to start lunch. You must be starving."
"Rose, wait. You've never
cooked before." Jack got to his feet.
"Well, it's time I started.
I'm a housewife now, and that's one of the things housewives do. Right?"
"Right." Jack laughed.
"Well, I'll let you get to learning then." Jack sat back down.
"Call me when it's ready."
"I will." Rose smiled
at him one last time before going into the house.
"She's a pistol, Jack."
Susan came up on the porch. "I hope you can handle her."
Jack stood up and greeted his
friend. "Hey, Susan. What are you doing here?"
"Just came by to catch up
with an old friend." Susan grinned. "So, word has it that a certain
Mr. Dawson has a portrait that's going to be on display at my uncle's gallery.
He says it's magnificent."
"Yeah. Pretty great."
"My uncle says he was
entranced by the subject. He said the title was Sleeping Angel. He even showed
it to me. Rose should be flattered by your description of her."
Jack grinned modestly.
"That's how I see her, Susan. What can I say?"
"That you're head over
heels. I'm telling ya, Jack, for a guy who hated girls ten years ago, you sure
have come a long way." Susan laughed.
"Ha ha."
"So, do you have any other
portraits of her?"
"I do...but it's
private...Rose wouldn't appreciate me showing it off."
"Oh, I see." Susan
laughed.
"Anyway, did you hear about
Rose volunteering for the quilting bee?"
"Sure. I was there. And may I
say Brianna was steaming? I'm telling you, Rose sure knows how to stand her
ground, though."
"That's why I love her,
Susan. For a society girl, she has a lot of fire, and she's not afraid to try
new things." Jack sighed, peering into the kitchen.
"I can see that. You know,
Jack, when you first brought her home...I didn't know what to make of her, but
it's looking like I could like her. But that by no way means I'm going soft. I
just want to make that clear." Susan laughed. "But things are looking
good for Rose."
"Well, then, good. I'm
glad." Jack grinned happily. "You two are the most important women in
my life. I want you to get along."
"Jack! Lunch is ready!"
Rose called.
"You want to join us,
Susan?" Jack asked, turning to his friend.
"Rose's first attempt at
cooking? No, thank you. I'll stop by later. Tell her I said hi." Susan
laughed, walking off the porch.