AFTER TITANIC
Chapter Fifty-One
Lindsey and the twins were put to bed and
Rose laid awake, cuddled close to her sleeping husband. Lying there, she
examined his face and thanked God that she hadn't lost him after all she'd put
him through. She didn't know what she'd do if she had to go through this
custody battle alone.
"Rose?" Jack stirred in his sleep
and slowly opened his eyes. He must have felt her watching him.
"I'm sorry, Jack. I couldn't sleep."
Rose stroked his cheek. "I was just thinking about Lindsey and you. I
don't know what I'd do if you weren't here to get me through this."
"I'll always be here for you, Rose.
Don't you know that by now?"
"I should, but I'm always surprised.
Someday, Jack, you will get tired of being my rock. I know you will." Rose
sighed sadly.
"I'll never get tired of being your
rock, Rose. I'm your husband, and that's what I'm here for. Besides, I love you
and enjoy being your rock." Jack smiled. "Now, go to sleep. We have
to meet with our lawyer so he can give us a better idea of what our chances
are." Jack kissed her forehead.
"Yes, Jack." Rose sighed.
Jack remained awake until Rose drifted off to
sleep. Stroking her hair gently, he wished with all his might that it was
within his power to keep Lindsey with them. Rose loved the little girl so much,
and so did he. She was a part of them now...and the twins would be heartbroken
if they lost their big sister. Sighing deeply, Jack drifted off to sleep.
*****
The Dawson family lawyer sat behind his desk,
his brow wrinkled in a frown as the young couple sat before him with pleading
eyes.
"Please, Mr. Emery. Tell us there's a
chance we can keep Lindsey, even if it's next to nothing." Rose sniffed
back her tears at the thought of losing the little girl.
"Jack...Rose...what can I say? In these
cases, the foster parents never have any rights. All the rights belong to the
biological family. Mr. Linningston can take this child away from you, and
there's nothing either of us can do." The lawyer sighed. "All I can
tell you to do right now is to say your good-byes now and turn her over to her
grandfather. It'll save you a whole lot of heartbreak."
Jack lowered his gaze to the floor, not sure
of what to do. He couldn't let Rose down, that was for sure. He had to at least
try to keep Lindsey. "Mr. Emery, what would you say if I told you we don't
intend to give up on Lindsey? If we planned to fight this?"
"That you were crazy and foolish to
think you could defeat a powerful man like Albert Linningston. The man is very
powerful, Jack. He could wipe out an entire company like the White Star Line if
he so chose. For your wife's sake and the sake of your own children...give it
up. Let the girl go with her grandfather. You two are young. It's not like you
can't have children of your own."
"But we want Lindsey!" Rose cried.
"She's our little girl...we were there for her through everything. When
she lost her mother, I was there to comfort her! When she had fallen off a
swing, I was there to patch it up! When she needed a hug, a kiss, someone to
talk to, I was there! When she was scared of monsters being under her bed, it
was Jack who comforted her and gave her the sense of security! Where was Mr.
Linningston then, huh? Where was he when that car hit his daughter? Where was
he when Stacy's husband died and she was forced to raise her daughter by
herself? Where was he?" Tears streamed down from Rose's eyes. Her body
shook with each sob. Jack could do nothing but hold her in his arms and try to
comfort her with gentle words and kisses.
"Mrs. Dawson, I understand where you're
coming from. I really do." Mr. Emery sighed, handing the sobbing woman a
handkerchief. "I, too, adopted a little boy, and I love him like he was my
own. In fact, I all but forget that he was adopted. But you have to think what's
right for Lindsey..."
"We're right for Lindsey. Mr. Emery, I
grew up in a house just like the Linningston mansion. It was a cold and
unfeeling place and I was scared to death to even breath. I was so afraid that
I'd do something wrong and my mother would punish me severely. It was a
horrible childhood and I'll be damned if I let that old man take Lindsey and
traumatize her the way my mother traumatized me." Rose sniffed. "Even
if I have to take her and disappear!"
"Rose..." Jack warned.
"Listen. This decision is yours. I'm
just saying that it'll be better to just give in. But if you want to fight
this...I'll stand behind you and do my best to make sure that Lindsey stays
with you." Mr. Emery sighed. "Just be prepared for a long and nasty
battle."
"What's the first step, Mr. Emery?"
Jack asked.
"I'll call the judge and halt that
custody thing Linningston has going. That'll buy us some time. Then I'll get a
court date set up as soon as possible. In the meantime, you two make sure that
Lindsey is living in a comfortable and stable home. Which shouldn't be too hard
with all your grandfather has left you." The lawyer sighed. "Make
sure she's completely safe and secure. The judge will look for that. Make sure
that all three of the children get along."
"Is that all?" Rose asked.
"Afraid so, Mrs. Dawson." The
lawyer simply nodded. "But don't worry. I'm totally in your corner, and
I'll get a couple of New York lawyer friends to work with me on this case. So
that'll give you a lot of gun power. But let me warn you that this is bound to
get dirty. I've heard of Mr. Linningston, and he pulls out all the stops to get
what he wants...no matter who it may hurt. Do you understand?"
Rose solemnly nodded. "Thank you, Mr.
Emery. This means a lot to us and Lindsey."
The lawyer just smiled and nodded.
"Well, I have to cut this meeting short. I have a lunch date with one of
those lawyer friends of mine, and if I want his help, I can't be late."
"We understand." Jack stood,
helping Rose to her feet. "Will you keep in touch?"
"Of course. I'll talk to you tonight and
let you know if there's another lawyer on your team. Good day, Jack and
Rose."
As they left the office, a gray cloud settled
over their mood. The future was so uncertain. All they could do was stick close
to each other and head for home where their children awaited them.