FOR BETTER OR WORSE
Chapter Seven

It was the day of the picnic, and Jack and Rose were busy packing up their basket while Butch and Vic Dawson stood by with their arms crossed.

"I don’t know why you two want to go to that picnic with all the snot-nosed townspeople. You think they’re going to treat you like you’re on the same level? Think again," Butch grumbled.

"Why do you have to be so negative?" Lisa piped up. "Rose and Jack will be fine. Remember, Jack’s the good Dawson."

"Humph." Butch snorted.

"Jack, where’s my sweater?" Lisa asked.

"You’re going, too?" Rose was surprised. She had thought it would just be her and Jack today, but obviously that was going to change.

"Of course. Who else is going to reintroduce my cousin to the town? Don’t worry. Everything will be fine."

"Humph." Butch snorted again.

"Come on, ladies. We’ll be late." Jack wrapped an arm around Lisa and took Rose’s hand in his. "We’ll see you tonight sometime, Uncle Butch." He waved, leading the women to the carriage that was going to take them to the infamous Lake Wissota.

"Where to?" the driver asked.

"Lake Wissota." Lisa nodded. "This is going to be fun."

When they arrived, people were setting up the tables for the food. "Come on, Rose. We’ll help set up. Jack will get our place to sit ready." Lisa grabbed Rose’s hand and dragged her over to the table, where other young women were moving items around.

"Lisa Dawson," a soft yet indignant voice spoke. "What are you doing here? This is a good, clean, decent function. Nothing for the likes of you here."

"This is a free country, Gloria. I can come here if I want."

"And I suppose your father and uncle have joined you?"

"Only my cousin and his wife, Rose, here. You do remember Jack, don’t you? In fact, rumor has it that you two used to be an item." Lisa snorted.

The girl with light brown hair and brown eyes gasped indignantly. "If you are talking about Jack Dawson, you are mistaken. I kissed him on a dare."

"A dare. Right." Lisa laughed.

Having had enough, Rose interrupted the girl’s baiting. "Hello. I’m Rose Dawson. Jack’s wife."

"Oh!" Gloria’s cheeks turned bright red with embarrassment. "Oh, hello. I’m Gloria Jansen, an old friend of Jack’s. Ignore that talk earlier. Lisa enjoys insinuating situations that simply are not true."

"It’s perfectly all right." Rose nodded.

"In fact, that kiss in question wasn’t actually a real kiss. The girls dared me to kiss the first boy that came in the door, and it was Jack. We were children, really."

Rose laughed at the flustered girl. "It’s perfectly all right. I understand."

"Rose, are you ready yet?" Jack asked, coming up behind her .

Gloria’s eyes bugged out of her head. The man before her was the most handsome she’d seen. This couldn’t possibly be Jack Dawson, the skinny as a rail boy who had always been getting into trouble.

"Not yet." Rose smiled up at him.

"Oh, my God. Jack Dawson? You look so different!" Gloria gasped.

"Gloria Jansen?" Jack smiled openly. "Wow. You look different."

"So do you. You’ve grown up since the last I saw you."

"I see you’ve met Rose." Jack squeezed Rose’s shoulder.

"Yes. When did you get back into town?"

"A week ago. Rose wanted to see where I grew up, so this was the first place we headed to."

"She’s lovely, Jack, and it’s grand to see you again. Everyone is going to be ecstatic that you’ve returned home." Gloria beamed. "It’s about time."

Jack only laughed and took Rose’s hand in his. "Well, it’s been an experience so far."

"Gloria!" An older woman called out and beckoned for the younger woman to join her.

"Coming, Aunt Lily! You remember my aunt, don’t you, Jack?"

"Sure. The one who took a broom and threatened me with it if she ever caught me on her porch again." Jack laughed.

"What?" Rose looked at her husband curiously.

"My aunt didn’t like Jack very much. Plus, she didn’t approve of boys and girls playing together. Hey, Jack, come over and say hi. I want to see her face when she finds out you’ve returned." Gloria grabbed his hand and pulled both him and Rose over to where the woman beckoned.

"Gloria, who are your friends here?" The woman looked curiously at Jack and Rose.

"Aunt Lily, don’t you recognize Jack Dawson when you see him?" Gloria giggled.

"What?" The woman’s eyes widened in disbelief as she got to her feet. "Jack Dawson? Why, it is, and look how you’ve grown. Just as tall as your father, may he rest in peace."

"Hello, Mrs. Jansen." Jack nodded.

"And who is this lovely young lady?"

"This is my wife, Rose," Jack answered.

"They just got back into town, Aunt Lily. They’re newlyweds." Gloria spoke up.

"Well, I can see that." Lily glared at her niece. "Why, Jack Dawson, married already. Gloria, now it’s your turn. When are you going to accept Owen’s proposal?"

"Owen? You don’t mean Owen Townsend, do you?" Jack had to laugh. The last he remembered, Owen and Gloria had hated one another.

"Surprised?" Gloria raised an eyebrow. "Owen and I have overcome our differences and have fallen in love. In fact, we owe it all to you."

"Why is that?" Jack stifled his laughter.

"We bonded over the fact that we’d both lost a very good friend. That brought us together." Gloria smiled.

"There you are!" A tall man about Jack’s age, a little bit taller than Jack with black hair and warm brown eyes, ran up behind Gloria and lifted her off her feet, twirling her in the air.

"Owen Townsend, put me down right now!" Gloria laughed.

"Really, Owen, what inappropriate behavior." Lily snorted.

"When has Owen ever been appropriate?" Jack laughed, watching as his friend put Gloria down and stared at Jack with a pale, shocked face.

"Jack? Is it really you? Have you finally come back?" Owen stared at his friend.

"I’ve finally returned, Owen. This is Rose, my wife. Rose, this is Owen Townsend, one of my best friends," Jack introduced.

"Pleased to meet you." Rose held out her hand.

"Why, Jack, she’s exquisite. If I wasn’t engaged, I’d have to take her from you." Owen grinned, kissing Rose’s hand. "Wherever did you two meet?"

"Long story," Jack simply replied. "So, tell me, what’s been going on, besides you two getting engaged. Where’s the old gang?"

"Hold on and we’ll get them for you. Everyone’s going to be thrown over a barrel when they see you. All married and everything."

"It’s going to be good to see everyone again." Jack sighed, his blue eyes glowing with happiness.

"Hey, Witherspoon! Over here! Guess who’s back!" Owen called over to a young man with wavy brown hair and green eyes.

"Why, isn’t it the giant killer?" The man waved, running up to Rose and Jack.

"Giant killer?" Rose looked at Jack, confused.

"It’s a nickname from grade school when we read the book Jack and the beanstalk." Jack blushed in embarrassment.

Rose giggled. "Don’t be embarrassed. I think it’s cute. Really. That story was my favorite."

"Really?"

"Hey, giant killer!" The man came and slapped Jack on the back. "Long time no see!"

"Hey, Jon. It’s good to see you." Jack smiled.

"And who’s this lovely creature?"

"Rose, this is one of my friends, Jon Witherspoon. Jon, this is my wife, Rose Dawson."

"It’s a pleasure." Rose shook his hand. "So, what’s your nickname?"

"Genie. That’s because I keep boasting that I can do anything." Jon laughed. "Wow, giant killer’s married now. What a surprise. I thought Owen and Gloria would be the first to marry."

"Jack beat me to the punch." Owen shrugged. "Where’s everyone else?"

"They’ll be here. For now, let’s get Jack and Rose reacquainted with the town. Come, Jack, I’m sure old man Fisher would want to say hi to you. You left town without paying for that window, remember?"

"What window?" Rose asked curiously.

"Oh, we were playing baseball near his house and Jack knocked out his window. Mr. Dawson had agreed to make Jack pay for it, but as you already know, his parents died that very week, and Jack left just two days later."

"Ah…maybe we can pass on that." Jack pulled back, but his two friends were insistent, and soon Rose and Jack were on their way to being introduced to the rest of the town.

*****

It had been two hours since the start of the picnic. Rose yawned tiredly as she sat in the grass watching Jack play baseball with his friends. Every once in a while, he’d stop and wave to her, and she’d wave back. She looked back at the group of women gathered watching the game and giggling. Rolling her eyes, she turned back to the game. She wondered if she’d ever fit in anywhere. She definitely didn’t fit in with the giggling women watching the game a little way from here, yet she didn’t belong with the older married women at the farther end of the field either. Not for the first time, she felt like an outsider. Everyone in their little cliques, leaving Rose to herself.

"So, Jack’s finally left you alone, huh?" Lisa sat next to her. "Never thought he would. You two are attached at the hip."

"What can I say, except we’re in love?" Rose sighed.

"Love is for daydreamers like you and my cousin. Me…there’s no such thing, really. No man in this town can ever really love me. They just love my body. It’s not the same. I would kill to have something like what you and Jack have. Someone that respects me and my opinion."

"Lisa…there’s someone out there for you. You just have to find him. Maybe he’ll come unexpectedly. Like Jack. Do you honestly think I’d expected to find someone as wonderful as him?"

"Not with that handsome, rich man you were engaged to." Lisa shook her head, then gasped, realizing that she had let slip that she had eavesdropped.

"What?"

"I accidentally heard your conversation with Betsy and saw the picture of you and Caledon Hockley. Tell me, Rose…why did you leave Caledon Hockley for my poorer than dirt cousin? Sure, Jack is one of the handsomest men around, but he’s not half as rich as Caledon."

"Money’s not everything, Lisa. Cal was a monster, and I was miserable. If it wasn’t for Jack, I’d be dead right now. Maybe not physically…but spiritually, I would be."

"Whatever. I still say you made a big mistake. But it’s your mistake. I have no right to judge."

"That’s right. Just like I don’t have a right to judge you and your night escapades."

"Oh, Jack wasn’t kidding when he said you had a fiery spirit. Okay, Rose. I’ll drop the thing about Caledon Hockley." Lisa laughed. "But you know, I bet the full story is captivating. I hope you and Jack tell it someday."

Rose shrugged. "Maybe we will. It’s up to Jack."

"Yay! We won!" Jack yelled excitedly. Rose looked up, and laughed to see him jumping up and down like a little kid.

"Rematch later today, Dawson!" one of the men yelled as Jack came running up to the women.

"We won." Jack smiled at his wife, helping her to her feet and giving her a big hug.

"I see that." Rose giggled.

"Oh, brother." Lisa rolled her eyes.

"What’s your problem?" Jack grinned at his cousin, releasing Rose.

"Oh, nothing. It’s just that you two seem to always be at it, no matter what." Lisa rolled her eyes.

"Well, they’re newlyweds. They’re supposed to be." Gloria snorted, following Owen to the small group.

"What do you two say to joining Gloria and me for dinner tomorrow evening? Celebrate our unexpected victory," Owen suggested.

"You’re on." Jack nodded.

"Okay. We’ll eat at Flanagan’s. You remember that place, don’t you?"

"Of course. That was our favorite restaurant. Rose, you’re going to love it there. Trust me."

"I always do." Rose smiled, squeezing Jack’s hand.

"Rose, it’s your turn to cook tomorrow," Lisa whined.

"Well, you’ll just have to take her place. Think of it as payback for that trick you pulled the other day, leaving Rose to deal with lunch on her own."

"Humph." Lisa snorted.

"Come on, honey. Aunt Lily’s wanting us to join her." Gloria pulled Owen away from Jack. "We’ll see you tomorrow!" She waved.

"Bye!" Jack and Rose waved.

"Wow. It was good seeing them again." Jack grinned. "Rose, I just can’t wait until you experience everything. Not just the town picnics, but the dances and hayrides as well. You’re going to love it."

"I’m sure I will." Rose smiled lovingly at her husband. There was no limit to her love for Jack. He was everything to her, and as long as she was with him, she knew her life was going to be full of love and excitement.

"Well, I’m tired. Let’s go home." Lisa began packing up their belongings. "It’s about to get dark, anyway, and Pa and Uncle Vic are going to want dinner soon."

"Come on, Rosie." Jack picked up their basket and took Rose’s hand. Humming their song, they followed Lisa out of the field, certain that through better or worse their love would see them through it all.

Chapter Eight
Stories