CHANCE ENCOUNTER
Epilogue

August 9, 1922

An unusually cool breeze flowed lazily through the open window, causing the light summer curtains to fly about and flap against the sill. The sun cast a delicate glow over the small kitchen, and for once, its rays were not quite as brutally hot. The footsteps of the occasional passer-by on the sidewalk were the only disturbances to the peaceful late afternoon. Rose sighed, breathing in deeply as she stepped back into the room. Soon, she knew the sounds of weary men and women returning from a day's work would be heard from the street. She stepped up to the counter, leaned against it, and watched as the branch of a nearby tree waved slightly in the wind. She always anticipated its transformation from season to season. And in about a month or so, the soft reds and yellows would signal the beginning of autumn in New York.

Finally Rose tore herself from the window, walking over to the set of wooden cabinets. She reached up to several of the top shelves, slowly taking down what she would need to set the table. Jack would be home shortly, and dinner was already cooking inside the oven. She smiled to herself, relishing in the momentary silence. She set the plates carefully on the counter, lifting her eyes to study the intricate floral design Jack had painted on the edges of the cabinet doors for her. Done in the palest shades of yellow and violet, the graceful pattern was something she loved. She closed her eyes, thinking of the day Jack had surprised her with it. It had been mere weeks after they arrived from Chicago. Smiling as he kneeled on the narrow counter, Rose had been close to tears, watching her husband work so diligently. Everything he did was so perfect, so beautiful. He had said he wanted this place to feel more like theirs, more like home.

Rose quickly and masterfully set the table, stepping back to admire her work. Learning how to become a wife had been experimental for her, something so new. She had succeeded quite well, and Jack always offered his help. But now she found such a joy in having everything ready when he returned from work. In the past few months, it seemed, he had become so busy and not just with his teaching. Recently, with no surprise on Rose's part, the word of his art had been spreading widely. Now it was clear that he would receive the praise and recognition he had always deserved.

"There we go." Rose nodded to herself, pulling a few stray curls behind her ears. She tapped her finger against one of the chairs, knowing full well that this quiet would not last long. Her eyes roved the cozy, if slightly cramped, apartment There were times that she felt extremely frustrated with the lack of space, but those thoughts never lasted long, and she knew that never could she imagine a more perfect place to share her life with Jack. Rose folded her arms casually across her chest, walking into the main room that was adjacent to the kitchen. The door was situated as the center of living area. The couches were the lightest tones of blue, and had been here when she arrived, and according to Jack, when he had as well. But with some creativity she never knew she had, Rose had added splashes of vibrant color with throw pillows she had located for very little money and several woven coverlets. Jack masterfully restored the cherry wood tea table she had found in the basement of a nearby antique store, and the bookshelf in the corner was adoringly cluttered. And on the walls hung several of Jack's framed paintings, which they always rotated every few months, just for a change. Rose turned back around, letting her arms fall to her side.

Glancing at the clock, she saw that Jack should be walking in within the hour. And just as she contemplated sitting down and working on the album she was preparing, a loud thump sounded along the floor. "How did I know?" She laughed to herself, heading toward the noise, and opened the door nearest to her. Sure enough, a very awake two-year-old greeted her, clasping her little hands in the air at Rose's entrance. She had fallen into a tangled bundle on the floor, but didn't seem to mind at all. The little girl threw the pink blankets from around her, jumping to stand. Rose smiled, leaning down to smooth the soft blond curls on the top of her daughter's head.

"Mama, I'm up!" Lily exclaimed this, as if announcing something extremely important, and Rose could only laugh. Sweeping down to pick her up, Rose reached to pull back the curtain of the round window above Lily's miniature bed. A ray of light flooded through and a brilliant smile formed on the tiny girl's face. Her blue eyes, complete replicas of her father’s widened, and she pointed furtively to the weakening sun. "Daddy will be home soon." She looked expectantly up at Rose, as if to confirm that fact.

"Yes, he will be." Rose nodded, amazed at Lily's observation. She was quite perceptive, and had obviously memorized just what the sky looked like when her father returned each afternoon. Rose smiled, kissed her daughter's forehead gently, and bounced her once in her arms, before setting her down. "Okay, Lily-poo. Do you want to change before Daddy gets home?"

Lily shook her head back and forth, giggling. Rose sighed, picking up a hairbrush on the nightstand. "Well at least let me brush your hair, come here." She kneeled down, running the silver brush through Lily's hair. She blew a tendril of her own hair from her face, thinking back on these past three years. Her life had become an adventure and a daily exploration, just as Jack had promised. And it was so hard to believe that two years had passed since Lily was born. She had been their magical gift. Lily was the apple of Jack's eye, and Rose was certain they had been blessed with the most amazing and the happiest child in the world. She had inherited her father's looks, and, no doubt, his spunk. And although her energy could be tiring at times, she certainly kept her parents on their toes. Rose grinned, standing back up and watching as her daughter excitedly raced to the door, glad to be awake and free once more. Rose herself only stepped to the doorway, leaning against it, observing with a proud face as Lily promptly opened the wooden bin filled with her toys. Her eyes glazed over, and for just a moment, Rose let her hand fall to her stomach. She was sure that her face would crack soon, and bit her lip to control her smile. Nodding to herself, she rejoined Lily, reassuring herself that tonight was certainly the right time.

******

"Not bad, Rose." She whispered to herself, eyeing her profile in the mirror. She reached up to arrange a few strands of red curls, then stepped back, glancing at herself once more. She had changed for dinner, into a dress of a glossy lavender color, Jack's favorite. Or at least that's what he always said. The loose, silky fabric fit around her perfectly, starting in a low, rounded neck, and ending in wide pleats just below her knees. Rose smiled at her reflection, almost blushing as she turned to tend to Lily, whose feet dangled from her parent’s bed. She sighed with boredom, her eager eyes examining the walls.

"That is pretty." Lily extended a hand toward the sketch in her view, which hung just by the door. Rose laughed, lifting her eyebrows as she helped Lily down.

"It sure is. And you know who that is?" Rose nodded to the picture, of a very small infant with mesmerizing blue eyes, dressed in white. "That's you, right after you were born."

Lily looked upward, her eyes wide. She seemed to be quite taken with the likeness of herself. "Me? Mama who made that?"

Rose grinned and picked her daughter up. "Daddy drew that, just for you. He's pretty good, right?" Lily's face broke out into uncontrollable giggles, and she nestled her head against Rose's neck, only nodding. She stared at it another moment, reaching to trace the sketch with her fingers. It seemed she was having one of her rare, quiet times, when the sound of footsteps and a key fitting into a lock, put her into immediate action. Rose knew she should set her down, and sure enough, off she went, headed in the direction of Jack, who was just letting himself in. Rose cleared her throat, closing her eyes to collect herself. Her heart was racing as she followed the sound, her mind whirling with the news she had to share.

“Dad deee!” Lily raced across the room, her blond curls bobbing wildly around her head. As if she had the natural timing of an athlete, the door opened and she flung herself against Jack’s legs in one movement. “Dad deee!” Lily’s hands were entwined like an octopus around her father, making it impossible for him to move. In fact the only thing he could do was set down the rolled canvases he was carrying and then reach for Lily, hoisting her up against his shoulder. He planted a kiss on her forehead and felt a surge of fatherly love as she cuddled against him.

“Did you have a good day?” He felt her head nod. “Did Mommy have a nice day?” Again he felt the gentle movement of the toddler’s head. “You’re not talking today?” Jack chuckled as he adjusted his daughter in his arms, so that he could see her face.

“Daddy, can we play toys now? I need to get my baby ready for bed.” Lily squirmed, suddenly anxious to be on the move again. Jack set her down and she headed for her toy box and starting rummaging for her doll.

“Sure, but just for a few minutes. I need to talk to your mommy too,” said Jack. His eyes roamed through the doorway, where he caught a glimpse of Rose coming down the hall. As usual, she looked fresh and calm, as is she had done nothing more than relax all day. Somehow with Lily and the cooking and cleaning, she still managed to find the time to change and fix her hair before he arrived home every night. A throw back to the old society days, he guessed, when people dressed for dinner. But he did not mind. He looked forward to feasting on Rose’s beauty as much as he did eating her cooking.

“Rose, you look like the cat that swallowed the canary. What’s up?” He opened his arms to her and savored the moments of this welcome embrace. He tilted her head up to meet his gaze, studying the expression on her face. “Something you want to tell me?”

“No, no, Jack. Nothing. Just enjoying watching you and Lily. I wonder if you were as active as a child.” She turned around in Jack’s arms so they could both study their daughter. “I was a bit more docile. Maybe we need one with my personality.” She stopped, waiting to see if Jack caught on to her comment. But he was too intrigued in watching Lily and wrapping his hands around her own waist.” She rested her hand on top of his and sighed. Somehow this just didn’t seem the right time either. Since Jack had not picked up on that one hint, she might as well let it rest until later. She leaned her head back against his shoulder. “We should eat, Jack. Before things get cold.”

He brushed his mouth against her luxurious red hair. “We can always heat things up later,” he murmured in her ear.

“Jack.” But she offered no further resistance to the hidden meaning of his words.

*****

While Rose carried several bowls and platters of food in from the kitchen, Jack put Lily in her high chair and tied a small towel around her neck.

“Mama doesn’t have one of these when she eats,” complained Lily, as she tugged on the white cloth.

“That is because she is not quite so messy as you are.” Jack sat down and reached for a slice of bread. He cut it into four pieces and placed them on the tray of the highchair. “Once you are a big girl, you won’t need that either.”

“When will I be a big girl?” She picked up one piece of bread and crumpled it in her hands.

Jack watched his daughter as she repeated this motion with the rest of the bread. He raised his eyes to the ceiling and sighed. He wondered how Rose had the patience to deal with this child all day long. Lily was a cute and adorable as could be and while he loved her dearly, he guessed that maybe mothers were better able to cope with the constant questioning of a toddler.

Through the open door that connected the kitchen to the dining room, Rose heard the soft conversation between father and daughter. It brought such warmth to her heart whenever she listened to Jack patiently speaking to Lily. He always made it sound like she was the most important person in the world. And Rose guessed that Lily was, next to her, of course. When she had been pregnant she had often hoped that she would have a boy thinking that was what Jack wanted. Much to her delight however, Jack had been thrilled that Lily had been a girl. “Now I can spoil both my girls.” That had been his first reaction. Jack was so unlike other men she had met who had relegated the care of a child of any age to the mother alone. No, Jack wanted to do everything with her. He had graciously gotten up at night to change diapers, comfort a fussing baby and even spooned liquid baby food into Lily’s mouth with the same artistic movements that he devoted to his painting. He was exceptional and she never took that aspect of him for granted. She loved him all the more for this and indeed their joint parenting had created an ever-closer bond in their marriage.

A quick look around the kitchen told her that all that was left to bring in for dinner was the bowl of mashed potatoes. She grabbed the butter tray and sliced off a pat, letting it melt down the sides of the white mound. Rose wrapped a towel around the sides of the steamy, hot bowl and went in to join her family.

“When Dad dee?” Lily asked her question again. “What’s up there?” She pointed in the direction where she had seen Jack’s eyes move to.

“I think you will be a big girl when you can eat all your dinner and have no spots on your bib. Can you try?” Jack watched as Lily nodded her head solemnly up and down. He placed another piece of bread on Lily’s tray and this time she picked it up daintily and bit off a tiny piece.

Rose placed the bowl in the center of the table and then sat down herself. She looked with satisfaction at the food in front of her. There was a platter of sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, three perfectly baked pork chops, and two bowls. One with the potatoes and the other sliced cooked carrots. After three years, she had finally attained some expertise in the kitchen and while she never attempted anything too complicated, Rose always strove for perfection. And tonight’s meal could have been a picture in a cookbook. “Not bad for someone who once could only make crepes and soufflés.”

“Jack, how was your day? Things got so hectic when you came in.” She gazed across the table at her husband. To her that was one of the best times of the day. To sit and look at Jack and study him, to totally absorb herself in this man she loved beyond life itself.

He cleared his throat. Slowly a smile started to spread across his face. “Ah, It was interesting.” Jack reached into his pocket and drew out a small clipping from a newspaper. He passed it across the table to Rose and waited while she read it. This news was really something he had wanted to wait and share with her. But the excitement and pride within him was such that he could not contain himself any longer.

Her eyes scanned the tiny print several times before looking up at Jack. It was a real estate ad for a house in Bayshore on Long Island. “For sale, well kept cottage, year round. Near beach and train station. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms. Parlor, kitchen and dining room. Large yard and garden. Call now. $4000.” What was this all about? She knew they could not afford to move. She raised her head and glanced over at Jack who was beaming from ear to ear. “I don’t understand. You said that……….” She could see the excitement brimming over in him.

“I know what I said, once. But today things changed for us. Dramatically.” He got up from his chair and walked to her. He pulled her up and put his arms around her. A quick glance at Lily who was busy with her carrots, told him that he had a few undisturbed seconds to tell Rose his news. “It was one of those things of being in the right place at the right time. The wife of the president of the Chase Bank came to the settlement house last week. And she saw some of my things hanging there and loved the style of my work. I guess she told her husband. Anyway, she came around today looking for me and I was there. She had a contract for me to sign and everything.”

Rose’s forehead creased in confusion. “A contract for what?”

Jack took a deep breath and put his hands on Rose’s shoulders. “They want me to paint the portraits of their board of directors. For their new boardroom. And Rose you won’t believe that they are paying me.” This was the part that made him shaky. It was still too unreal, too unbelievable. “There are eight directors. And Rose,” he grasped her more tightly. “They are giving me eight hundred dollars for each painting. That is over six thousand dollars, Rose.”

Her eyes dilated and her hands flew to her face. “Jack! I can’t believe it. Oh, Jack.” She flung her arms around his neck and he started to feel the wetness from her tears slowly soaking through his shirt. “Oh Jack. I don’t know what to say.”

“That ad that I gave you, that’s for that little blue cottage you fell in love with last summer. I thought we could move there. I can take the train into the city. What do you think, Rose?”

“Think? Jack, I can’t think, I’m so happy.” She gazed into his blue eyes that were now filled not only with pride, but their shared happiness.

“I thought that maybe on Saturday, we could go out there and give them the down payment. I know the house it a little big for the three of us, but……..” He watched to see what her reaction would be to his plans. But he saw something else instead. A serious expression came over Rose.

Rose took Jack’s hand in hers and gently placed it on her stomach. The perfect moment to share her news had also arrived. “It won’t be too big Jack. The house, I mean.” Her heart started pounding when she saw the amazement on Jack’s face. She knew that this was something they both wanted, but this time, things had taken a little longer than expected.

Now it was his turn to be speechless. “Rose, I, we………we’re so lucky. I can’t believe all this today.” Slowly his arms wrapped around her. He leaned in, his lips almost on hers, when he was interrupted by Lily’s voice.

“More carrots, Mama. Why don’t you eat, Daddy?” Lily’s face was stained by the carrots she had been eating and her golden curls were sticky where she had used her hair for a napkin.

Rose ducked her head against Jack, biting her lips to keep from laughing. Jack answered for her. “I just wanted to give your Mommy a hug. Now we’ll all eat,” said Jack reluctantly letting Rose out of his arms. Like a fine tuned machine, Jack attempted to wipe the mess off of Lily while Rose spooned a few more carrot slices onto Lily’s tray.

“How do people have such big families, Rose, when there are these constant interruptions?” Jack finished cleaning Lily’s face as best he could without a tub full of water. His eyes were twinkling as he spoke.

“Well, Jack, maybe we’ll find out.” She reached out and drew her hand slowly across his sleeve before she went to sit down. Like always, touching Jack sent electric sparks coursing through her. She glanced over at him with a silent promise in her eyes. Maybe that little blue cottage would be filled after all.

Later That Night

In the distance, the rumbling of an elevated train vibrated in the air. A late night cleaner opened and then banged shut a trash can. The air hung heavily over the city this warm night and Jack was sure that he was not the only restless sleeper. He thought though that he would not have been able to sleep anyway. So much had happened today. That such wonderful and exciting events had been compressed into the last twenty-four hours still left his mind whirling with disbelief.

Now, thanks to his talent and the generosity of the Chase Bank, he and Rose would have a real home. A solid investment behind them in the bank. And that home would echo with the sound of the laughter of more than one child. He and Rose had once again created another life. It was all too wonderful. “I think it will take awhile for all this to sink in. Maybe when I get that first paycheck for this project,” he thought. And from this perhaps other commissions would follow.

He wondered if Rose was as stunned as he had been. And the news she had given him was even more precious than all the paintings in the world. How he could have been so lucky he could not figure out. So much giving and taking in his life. Now though with Rose, it seemed that life was giving much more to him. More than he could ever have imagined.

Jack pushed the damp sheet off of him, using as little motion as possible He did not want to wake Rose. Even that light covering was too much in this stuffy heat. Maybe when they moved out to Long Island there would be a nice breeze from the ocean. He quietly moved his head to the side and saw Rose. Her eyes were open too and she appeared to be staring at the ceiling. Apparently she had been unable to sleep as well.

“Rose.” The whisper of her name caused her to turn towards Jack. “Rose, I couldn’t sleep either. So much to think about and the heat too.” He raised himself up on his elbow to study her better. In the dimness her skin looked like alabaster. She had braided her hair and the long rope of red, hung loosely over her shoulder. Surely there was no one in the world more lovely than she was.

“Oh, Jack. I’ve been thinking of that little house, filled with children and your pictures. Maybe you and I could sit on the porch on a night like this and listen to the ocean.” She closed her eyes and sighed imagining the scene she had spoken of. Rose slid her hand across the sheet and made contact with Jack’s arm. She turned too and found herself captivated by his stare. Even after three years of marriage to him, she felt almost faint when his eyes bore into hers. It was one of the things that had attracted her to him in the first place. And the power was no less now.

He stroked her cheek with his thumb. His breathing suddenly became ragged. “Maybe we could do something else on that porch too Rose. Something we could work on right now.”

Rose felt his breath in the hollow of her neck and before she knew it, she was lying in his arms. For a second she heard the noises of the city, but then there was nothing. Nothing except the sound of their love, roaring as loudly as the ocean they would soon be near.

The End .

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