DUST IN THE WIND
Chapter Nine
One month had passed since Jack’s
return from the dead and their subsequent marriage. Everything had been going
well for the newlyweds. Jack had started a job at the local post office,
delivering mail. Rose had slipped into a routine of shopping with Molly for her
baby and for little gifts for the soon-to-be delivered baby that Samantha was
carrying. Being one month overdue, Samantha was ordered on bed rest and George
was still at his job, running errands for the busy people of Chippewa Falls.
Jack’s reappearance was widely celebrated throughout the town, happy that news
of his demise was just a case of mistaken identity and near misses. Rose was
already accepted into the hearts of the townspeople. All of those who had
shared her sorrow were now sharing her overwhelming joy.
Rose had slipped into a happy
life, surrounded by family and friends. It was the first of the month when
things changed. It was a Sunday and it was Jack’s day off. She was surprised to
be waking up by herself and shivered against the cold air of the room. After
slipping on a simple yellow cotton dress, Rose slipped downstairs, alarmed to
find packed bags sitting in front of the door. Molly soon emerged into the
foyer, throwing orders to both Jack and George.
"Molly?" Rose came
down. "What’s going on?"
"Oh, Rose! I’m glad you’re
awake! Now I have a chance to say good-bye." Molly met her at the bottom
of the stairs to hug her.
"Good-bye?"
Molly turned to Jack and George,
who each had a handful of bags. "You two go on ahead and load up the car.
I’ll be right out."
"Molly…why are you
leaving?"
Molly sighed. She knew saying
good-bye was going to be difficult, but she knew it was the right thing to do.
Rose no longer needed her. She had Jack now. Plus, it was high time for Molly
to return to her own life in Denver.
"It’s time for me to go,
Rose. It’s been what? A month or so? It’s time I return to Denver and leave you
to your own life."
"But…"
"Hey, it’s not like I’m
leaving you alone. You’re in very good hands. You have Jack now, and I have a
feeling that he’s going to take real good care of ya, darlin. That boy loves
you, ya know."
"But…I’m going to miss you,
Molly. Who’s going to show me the ropes of being a housewife now?"
"Well, I do believe you have
a new cousin that will be happy to show you the ropes. Once she’s had the baby,
that is. The rest, you can wing it until she is up to it. Now, I’m expecting a
monthly letter from you telling me how you’re faring. And when the baby’s born,
I want pictures."
Rose forced a smile, not
bothering to wipe away her tears. "I promise."
"Good girl." Molly
smiled, pulling Rose into a hug. "This isn’t good-bye, Rose. I’ll be
seeing both you and Jack again."
Rose just nodded and watched
Molly walk out the door. Letting her tears fall, she ran upstairs to her room
and gazed out the window to watch her best friend leave.
Molly stood in front of the car,
hugging the young man she had mourned for only a month ago. "Now, you take
good care of Rosie. She may seem like a wall of strength, but she has her
weaknesses, as well. She’ll need you, especially now."
"I promise I will, Molly.
I’ll take care of both them." Jack pulled away and nodded. "Are you
sure you don’t want me to drive you to the train station?"
"George will do just fine.
Besides, Rose needs you by her side right now."
"Mrs. Brown?" George
held the passenger door open. "Are you ready?"
Molly nodded. "Take care,
Jack." She hugged the young man once more before stepping into the car.
"Drive safely." Jack
nodded to his cousin, who only smiled and ducked into the driver’s side.
Sighing, Jack headed inside and upstairs to Rose, who was standing by the
window, watching Molly ride away.
"Well…it looks like it’s
just the four of us now." Jack wrapped his arms around Rose’s waist,
allowing her to lean back against him. "Are you okay?"
Rose nodded. "I’m fine.
So…what do we do now?"
"I’m going to check on Sam,
and then I want to take you on a picnic right beside the lake. Is that all
right with you?"
"That sounds great,"
was Rose’s flat answer.
Jack sighed, wondering how he
could cheer her up. "Rose…I’m going to miss her, too, okay? But we’re
going to have to let her go. She has her own life and family to take care of,
and we have ours." Jack set his hands on her abdomen.
"It’s not like I was
expecting her to stay forever." Rose sighed. "Just until…until…I
don’t know."
"Until you were ready to
really start a family. Right?" Jack asked.
Rose turned around and took his
hand in hers, staring deeply into his eyes. "Believe it or not, I am ready
for us to be a family. It’s just that…I’m scared, Jack. What if I’m a terrible
housewife? What if I’m a terrible mother? Wouldn’t I need Molly around to tell
me what I’m doing wrong? What if I fail to make you happy?"
Jack laughed. "Oh, Rose, all
you ever do is make me happy. And as for the rest, we’ll learn together. We’ll
help each other out."
Smiling, Rose turned around and
wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close. She stared into his
sparkling blue eyes and kissed him tenderly. "Jack, you always know what
to say to make me feel better."
"Just remember that I’m new
at this, too. I’ve never been married before. We’re in this together, and that’s
the way it’s going to stay."
Rose just grinned and laid her
head on his shoulder. All her fears and worries put to rest. As long as she had
Jack, she’d be just fine.