A LOVE NEVER FADING
Chapter Twenty-Three
Monday, September 9, 1912
"I'm sorry, son, but I just can't give
you the time." Erik frowned at Jack, who sat in front of his desk.
"Erik, this is really important. Two
weeks. That's all I ask. I've been working here every day since July. I've even
been here on weekends. I've done overtime and never asked for the extra pay.
Please. This is very important to Rose and I." Jack's eyes were filled
with pain. He couldn't understand why Erik wouldn't give him time off.
"Look, if I could I would let you have
the time off. Maybe if you gave me a reason, but you don't seem to have one.
I'm sorry. You know I am. My answer is still no."
"Please. I would tell you if I could,
but I can't. Just please give me the time. I swear I'll never ask for anything
else." Jack was near tears.
Erik couldn't believe how shaken Jack was. He
would gladly give him the two weeks off if Jack would just say what he wanted
them for. He shook his head. "I just can't."
"Fine." Jack got up and started to
walk to the door.
"Jack, get back here."
Jack went back to his seat and held his head
down. "Are you really going to give up that easily? I would think a man as
madly in love as you would fight to the death to be able to go on his
honeymoon."
Jack's head shot up. "How did you know I
needed the time for my honeymoon?"
"So you and Rose aren't married, are
you?" Erik yelled he threw his pen down on the desk.
Jack shook in his seat. "No...no sir.
We're getting married Saturday."
Erik burst into hysterical laughter.
"Well, it's about bloody time you told me. I've been waiting patiently all
these weeks, but you never budged. I'm sorry to yell at you like that but
scaring it out of you was my last resort."
Jack's mouth hung open. So, Erik had known
all this time. "You're not mad?"
"Oh, I'm mad. Mad that I wasn't invited
to the wedding. You know I look at you and Rose as my children." He raised
his eyebrow.
"Erik, you can come. If we had known
that you knew, you would have been invited. I swear."
He smiled. "I know, son. I know. Well,
when is it?"
"It's Saturday at five o'clock."
"I'll definitely be there."
"How did you find out we weren't
married?"
"Well, Rose would never tell me her
wedding date, and she never wore a wedding band. Plus, I heard you talking
about getting married in September that night at Craws when you two were in the
hallway. I thought you would come out and tell me, but you never did. When you
came in here and asked for two weeks, I knew they were for your honeymoon. I
also knew it was my last chance to get it out of you." He smiled.
"You understand why we didn't tell you,
right?"
"Yes, son, societies morals can be tough
on two kids in love." He laughed. "Well, get over here and give me a
hug."
Jack smiled and gave Erik a hug.
"Congratulations, son. Rose is a wonderful women. I know you will very
happy together."
"We already are." Jack smiled.
"Thank you so much, Erik, for everything." He gave him another hug
and left the office. Erik sat back in his chair and smiled. He finally got Jack
to tell him his secret, and now he could go to the wedding of the two people he
had grown to love most in the world.
*****
Wednesday, September 11, 1912
"Oh, Rose, you look beautiful."
Maggie smiled.
"You do, love. I'm not ashamed to say
this is my best work yet." Sarah smiled up from Rose's hem. Maggie had
begged Rose to get Sarah to make her dress. They told Sarah that she and Jack
had never married. She just said that their families didn't get along so they
ran away. Sarah didn't pry.
"I love weddings. I'm so glad you
invited me." Sarah beamed as she stitched the lace.
"How come you never married,
Sarah?" Maggie asked.
"Well, dear, I was in love with a young
man when I was about you girls' age, but things happened, and we parted ways.
Then, I never found any one else. So here I am, an old spinster." She
laughed.
Rose looked at herself in the mirror, and
tears filled her eyes. "Thank you two so much. I couldn't have done any of
this without you."
Maggie hugged Rose. "Oh, Rose, you mean
the world to me. You're welcome. I must confess, though, I had a ball doing all
this, so don't go thinking you were taking up my time."
"All right, ladies, make room for
me." Sarah walked over and placed Rose's veil on her head. "You look
like an angel." She gasped.
Maggie stared in awe at Rose. She seemed to
be almost glowing. "Jack will be beside himself when he sees you."
Rose's smile grew. She couldn't wait for
Saturday. It was going to be the happiest day of her life. She knew that even
if someone from her past found her, they couldn't do anything, because she and
Jack would be legally bound.
*****
Friday Night, September 13, 1912
"Come in." Erik had no idea who was
in the theater at this hour. He was getting ready to leave, and was almost
annoyed that someone was bothering him. When the door opened, though, he
immediately softened. "Rose, dear, what are you doing here?"
"Erik, I want to ask you a
question." Rose was speaking very quietly.
"What is it? Is something the matter?"
Erik walked over so that he was standing right in front of her.
She smiled slightly. "It's just that I'm
a little nervous about what you'll say."
"Well, don't be. You never have to worry
about how I will react to you." He smiled, and that seemed to comfort her.
"OK." She sighed. "Jack told
me that you were coming to the wedding tomorrow."
"Yes. That's not a problem, is it?"
"No, no. I'm glad you are. It would be
nice to have an adult there. Especially you."
Erik smiled. He loved Rose so much. He was
very close to Jack and treated him like a son, but it was different with her.
He seriously began to look after Rose like she was his daughter. Erik had never
had any children. His wife Betsy had become pregnant many times but lost the
children. She had almost died twice. So they stopped trying. He didn't want to
risk losing his beloved wife. Now she was gone. He wished so much that he had
someone to remember her by. Rose did that. She had a special fire inside of her
that made him think of Betsy.
"What I want to ask..." She took a
deep breath. "Would you give me away?" Rose looked up at him.
"Rose." He wrapped his arms around
her. "Of course, of course. I would be honored to." Erik let go of
her and saw that she was smiling.
"Thank you so much. I was afraid you
would say no."
"Never. I am the one who should be
saying thank you." He kissed her on the cheek. "I will see you
tomorrow."
Rose hugged him one more time and left. She
didn't notice it, but Erik's eyes were filled with tears. She had just made him
happier than he had been in three long and lonely years.