AFTER TITANIC
Chapter Fifty-Six
Three Months Later
It was Rose's birthday when the call from the
lawyer came in. Jack had just adjusted his tie to go to the office when the
phone rang. Sighing impatiently, he picked it up.
"Hello?" Jack asked.
"Jack...this is Mr. Emery. The verdict
has just come down from the judge. He's reviewed both of your cases, and has
decided the best thing to do for now is to share custody. You get Lindsey
during the school year, and in the summer her grandfather will have her. He
wants to see how this arrangement would work. It may be a permanent thing if
Lindsey seems to be benefiting from it, but if she doesn't he'll have to make up
her mind about who gets full custody of the child."
"You mean...we're getting her
back?"
"Yes, sir. You'll get her back at the
beginning of the school year, and in the summer she goes back to her
grandfather. The judge will make a final decision this time next year,"
the lawyer explained. "Mr. Linningston has been ordered to have the child
at your doorstep day after tomorrow."
"Yes! Rose is going to be so happy. This
is the perfect birthday present!"
"I'm glad I could give you the news you
and your wife have been waiting to hear. Congratulations."
"Thank you, Mr. Emery. We really mean
that, from the bottom of our hearts." Jack had tears of happiness in his
voice.
"You're very much welcome, Mr. Dawson.
If there's anything else I can do for you and your family, just let me know.
I'll be glad to help."
"Thank you, Mr. Emery."
"I'll be in touch," the lawyer
said, before hanging up.
Kathy came down the stairs, rubbing the sleep
out of her eyes. "Who was that?"
"Our lawyer. We get Lindsey back!"
Jack ran up and hugged his cousin. "It's only for the school year. Then
the judge makes a final decision, but we still get her back for the school
year! Rose is going to be so happy!"
"Oh, Jack, this is so wonderful, and it
comes right in time for her birthday!"
"I know. That's why she's not going to
know anything about this until tonight, when I take her out for her birthday
dinner." Jack looked directly at his cousin.
"Oh, Jack, please tell her now. I mean,
she's been so depressed ever since that dream, and she seems to have lost all
hope of getting Lindsey back. This would really cheer her up," Kathy
pleaded.
"No, Kathy. Not until tonight, when I
can really surprise her. Really make her happy." Jack sighed. "Rose
always loved surprises, and this is the best one yet. So promise me now, Kat.
Not a word to Rose."
"Okay. Fine. You win. I won't tell Rose
about Lindsey." Kathy sighed, her shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Thank you, Kat. I must be off now, but
will you do me just one more favor?" Jack asked. "Will you take care
of her while I'm gone? Please. I really have been worried about her, and in her
condition...I just want to make sure that she's well taken care of."
"Okay, Jack. I'll look after Rose until
you return. And I promise to keep Lindsey a secret." Kathy nodded.
"Now, get going before you're late, and you know how Cameron is about
punctuality."
"Of course." Jack grinned.
"See you later, Kat."
Kathy waved as her cousin bounded out the
door.
"Was that Jack just now?" Rose
asked, appearing behind Kathy with Molly and Tommy in her arms.
"Yes, it was. He told me to look after
you, and I guess that means helping with the children." Kathy took Tommy
away from Rose. "Really, Rose, in your condition you shouldn't even be
carrying one of them."
"I'm fine. Tommy and Molly may be
growing like weeds, but they're as light as a feather." Rose followed
Kathy into the kitchen. Placing Molly in her high chair, Rose began to cry.
"Rose, what's wrong?" Kathy asked,
startled.
"Oh, it's nothing. It's just that Tommy
and Molly are growing up so fast. they can't even be called babies
anymore." Rose burst into renewed tears.
"Oh, of course they're still
babies." Kathy laughed. "They've barely turned a year old, and here
you are, pregnant again. That'll make three children."
"I'm sorry, Kat. I'm such a mess this
morning...every morning for the past five months, actually. I don't know what's
gotten into me." Rose sniffed.
"Hormones," was Kathy's simple
reply. "Don't worry, Rose. Things will be look up soon. Trust me."
"Did Jack hear anything from Mr. Emery?
I know the judge was supposed to come to a decision about Lindsey in the next
couple of days." Rose suddenly looked into Kathy's eyes.
Kathy swallowed hard. She was so tempted to
tell Rose the truth, but she couldn't betray Jack's trust. She had to keep the
secret. "Jack didn't say. He just said hi and bye this morning. He was
running late to the office."
"Oh." Rose bowed her head again, disappointment
filling her voice. "Did you know today's my twentieth birthday? That would
have been the perfect surprise."
"Oh, Rose." Kathy went over to her
cousin and pulled her into a hug. "Don't worry. You'll get Lindsey back. I
know you will."
"I hope you're right." Rose wiped
away her tears.
"You know I am. Listen, why don't I take
the children for the day, and you go upstairs and rest? You do look exhausted,
and me taking care of the twins will help you and the little one you're
carrying get some much needed rest. Consider it my birthday gift to you."
Rose looked at Kathy, then back at her two
children, who were busy playing drums with their spoons, happy and content to
be children. They were so much like their father, so carefree. She didn't want
to spend a minute away from them, but Kathy was right. She was exhausted, and
taking a nice long nap would do the baby she was carrying now a whole lot of
good.
"Okay. I'll do it." Rose nodded.
"But are you sure this is okay? I mean, the twins are a handful when it's
only one person. It's not like last year, when they were just babies."
"I can handle this, Rose. Now, go up to
bed and get some sleep. I'll feed the twins. Then, we'll head out to the park
and enjoy the weather."
"Okay, then. I'll see you when you
return." Rose got up and hugged her cousin-in-law, grateful for the day
off from taking care of the twins, yet missing her children already.
"Molly, Tommy, you'll be going with your cousin Kat for the day. Mommy
will see you later when you return. You two be good for your cousin,
okay?" She hugged and kissed each of her twins, who just stared up at her
innocently with their big blue eyes and nodded.
"Now, upstairs with you, Rose."
Kathy pointed to the stairs. "I'll send Sylvia up with your
breakfast."
"Thanks, Kat." Rose waved, already
heading upstairs, where she remained for most of the day.