AFTER TITANIC
Chapter Fifty-Two
Albert Linningston was waiting for Jack and
Rose when they returned to the mansion. Rose recognized him instantly. Looking
over at a black car, she gasped in horror when she saw Lindsey's teary face in
the car window.
"What are you doing? Let her go!"
Rose cried, running up to the old man.
"I've come to collect what's mine, Mrs.
Dawson," Linningston coldly replied.
"You can't do this. Our lawyer called to
halt the proceedings..." Jack began.
"He was too late. Court order here says
I have full custody of Lindsey. She's mine now, Mr. Dawson, and there's nothing
you can do about it."
"Oh, yes, there is. Lindsey is our
daughter, and we're not letting you take her without a fight." Jack stood
face to face with the older man.
"Well, then, be prepared for the fight
of your life. I'm not going to let my granddaughter be raised outside the
family."
"Your granddaughter? Why weren't you
there to claim your granddaughter when Stacey died? Where were you when
guardianship was left to me? Why do you come out now when she's going to be
adopted? What's the big rush now?"
"Rose, calm down." Jack returned to
Rose's side and took her hand. "Seeing you like this isn't good for
Lindsey. I'll call the lawyer and see what our options are." Jack turned
back to Linningston. "But in the meantime, Lindsey stays here with
us!"
"No. She's going back to New York with
me, and she's coming back now. If you have anything else to say, have your
lawyer contact mine. Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Dawson." He turned and entered
the car.
"Wait!" Rose ran after the car as
it pulled away. "Wait! At least let us talk to her! You can't just take
her away like this! Give us a chance to say good-bye!" Rose sobbed uncontrollably,
then collapsed onto the pavement as the car disappeared into the horizon.
"Lindsey, no!" Rose cried uncontrollably.
"Rose...come on. Let's go in," Jack
solemnly replied, pulling her up on her feet.
"No, Lindsey." Rose sobbed.
"Rose, please."
"Jack? Rose?" Kathy came running
out of the mansion. "What's going on? Where's Lindsey?"
"Where's Lindsey?" Jack turned to
his cousin. "Kathy, you were supposed to be watching her. How could you
let that man come and take her like that?"
"What? What are you talking about? She
was playing on the sundeck there."
"Well, somehow that Mr. Linningston came
and took her. He had a court order and everything." Jack sighed, holding
Rose as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Oh, no. Oh, Jack, I'm so sorry..."
"We're going to get her
back...somehow...we're going to get her back." Jack guided Rose to the
mansion. "But right now, let's check on the twins. Then, I'm making a call
to our lawyer."
One Hour Later
Jack hung up the phone and sighed sadly. The
news wasn't good, and it was going to destroy Rose. How was he going to break
this to her? How was he going to make up for what they had lost? Sighing once
again, Jack headed upstairs, where Rose was in the nursery, rocking Molly to
sleep and singing her a lullaby.
"Rose?" Jack entered.
"Hi, Jack." Rose smiled up at Jack.
The smile didn't reach her eyes, and her voice was emotionless.
"We need to talk...alone," Jack
said, taking Molly from her and placing the baby next to her sleeping brother.
"About what?"
"Come on." Jack took her hand and
led her into their room. There he sat on the bed and pulled her down onto his
lap and held her tightly. "I talked to the lawyer just now."
"And?"
"Rose...he said that now Linningston has
custody of Lindsey there was nothing we could do. There's no way we can fight
Linningston and win." Jack brushed a red hair out of her eyes.
Rose gasped tearfully, tears welling up in
her eyes. How could this happen? How could they lose their little girl so
easily?
"Rose?" Jack asked, tightening his
hold on her as she began to tremble with sobs.
"Why, Jack? Why did this happen?"
Rose cried.
"I don't know, Rose....I don't know. We
can still try to fight this, I guess, but the lawyer said we'd be lucky to even
catch a glimpse of Lindsey again, much less regain custody."
At that, Rose sobbed uncontrollably. There
really was no comforting her. Picking her up, Jack laid her on the bed and laid
down next to her and wrapped his arms tightly around her. They fell asleep that
way and didn't wake up until morning.