AFTER TITANIC
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Jack returned home to a quiet house. After
putting the twins to bed and thanking James for his help in rescuing the twins,
Jack went to check on Rose. She was still peacefully sleeping, a slight smile
on her face.
"Jack," she softly whispered as she
turned, facing his side of the bed.
"Rose." He sat beside her and began
blowing in her ear. "Wake up, Rose. It's time to get up."
"Jack." She turned back to him, her
eyes still closed.
"Come on, sleepyhead. Get up. I have a
big night planned for us." Jack lifted her into his arms, forcing her to
wake up.
"What?" Rose groggily asked.
"Get up and get dressed. I'm taking you
out to dinner." Jack grinned. "I'll give you ten minutes."
He went downstairs to wait for her.
"Jack?" Kathy appeared behind him.
"Yes?"
"Are you angry at me? I never meant for
the twins to be in danger...I'm sorry." Kathy wrung her hands nervously.
"Kat...it's okay. I'm not angry with
you. I was just so mad at that Humphrey guy...it took all my willpower not to
kill him for even putting his hands on them. But listen, I don't want Rose to
know about this. This is the last thing she needs right now."
Kathy nodded in agreement. "She won't
hear it from me."
"Hear what from you?" Rose asked,
appearing behind Kathy.
"Your surprise. I have a surprise for
you, and Kat here promised not to tell." Jack quickly spoke up. "So,
are you ready?"
"I guess." Rose tiredly shrugged.
This pregnancy was really taking a lot out of her. She was tired all the time
and didn't have much energy to do anything. Plus, there were the constant mood
swings. They were really getting to her.
"Mr. Dawson, there's a car outside,
waiting for you and Mrs. Dawson. What shall I tell him?"
"We'll be there in a minute." Jack
grinned. "Ready, birthday girl?"
"Oh, Jack, you remembered!" Rose
threw her arms around him. She had thought her birthday had slipped his mind,
since he'd been so busy lately. He hardly had time for her and the twins
anymore.
"What? You thought I forgot your
birthday? No way would I forget, Rose!" Jack laughed and pulled her
towards the door. "Come on. Our chariot awaits."
"I'll watch the twins!" Kathy
called as they disappeared into the Renault.
*****
Jack opened the door for Rose once the car
had stopped in front of one of the fanciest restaurants in Boston. He watched
her face light up as she got out.
"We're going here?" She turned to
her husband, who just grinned down at her.
"Only the best for my wife." Jack
grinned. "Now that I can afford to give you the best."
"You're too good to me, Jack."
Jack just smiled and took her hand to lead
her inside the restaurant. Once seated, Jack presented her with a tiny black
box.
"Oh, Jack, you shouldn't have."
Rose gasped in surprise.
"I want to. Rose, ever since I met you,
I've wanted to do nothing but shower you with the most beautiful jewels in the
world, and for the first time in my life, I'm able to do just that." Jack
opened the box to reveal a ring of every type of jewel there was.
"Oh, Jack! It's beautiful." Rose
gasped in surprise as he placed the ring on her finger. "I don't know what
to say."
"Don't say anything. Just kiss me."
Jack leaned closer to her until their lips met in a sweet kiss. "I love
you, Rose."
"I love you, too, Jack."
Jack smiled at her, his blue eyes sparkling.
He wanted to tell her about Lindsey right there and then, but he was going to
wait until they were somewhere a little more private.
"So, Jack...what else do you have
planned tonight?" Rose asked.
"How do you feel about a buggy ride
around Boston? Just you, me, and the driver up front?" Jack took her hand.
Rose's eyes lit up with delight. "I love
it!"
*****
One hour later, they were in the buggy,
riding along the almost deserted streets of Boston. Jack tightly held Rose's
hand in his and they gazed into each other's eyes. Rose couldn't remember the
last time they had been alone like this. Between Jack learning how to run the
business, taking care of the twins, and trying to get Lindsey back, there
really wasn't that much time for romance.
"Happy, Rose?" Jack asked, stroking
her hair.
"Happier than I've been in a long
time." Rose smiled up at her husband.
"How do you feel about another
surprise?"
"Another one? Jack, how much have you
spent on tonight?"
"Well...this one was free." Jack
grinned. Rose just looked at him in confusion. "Our lawyer called today.
The judge has made a decision about Lindsey."
"What?" Rose came to attention.
"What did he say?"
"The judge has decided that Lindsey is
to come home with us day after tomorrow. We're getting her back, Rose."
Jack smiled. "Lindsey's coming home."
Rose's eyes grew big with surprise and
complete joy. "Oh, Jack!" She threw her arms around him. "Oh,
Jack, I'm so happy! We're getting our little girl back!"
Jack pulled away from the hug and looked into
her eyes. He was so glad he could make her smile, but he also had to be
truthful with her. He couldn't let her go into this blindfolded. "But
there's a drawback, Rose. We only get her for the school year. Then she goes
back to Linningston for the summer. After that...the judge will make his final
decision. He wants to see what benefits Lindsey the most."
"Oh." Rose's face fell, but then
lit up again. "But at least we get her for most of the year, and she is
only exposed to that old man for three months. And I'm sure the judge will see
that we're the best people to take care of Lindsey. We have a ready-made family
for her. What does that old man have that we don't? I mean, it can't be money.
We have that now, too."
"You're right. The judge is going to go
see that we're the best choice, Rose. I'm glad I can make you so happy. I mean,
you've been so melancholy lately." Jack kissed her again.
"I know, Jack, and I'm sorry. It's just
this pregnancy...it's taken a lot of my energy, but with Lindsey coming home,
I'm as good as new."
"And I promise, Rose, I’m going to make
more time for you and the children. I'm going to try to make it like it used to
be before all the money."
"Oh, Jack." Rose hugged him again,
enjoying his closeness. That, too, was the happiest news she heard that night.
It had been so long since she and Jack spent time together, just them and their
children. Things were coming back together just in time for the new baby's
arrival.