A LOVE NEVER FADING
Chapter Forty-Four
May 23, 1918
Rose arranged the flowers in the vase. She
loved spring. The sun was shining through the apartment windows and a cool
breeze was causing the flowers' scent to fill her cozy home. She loved having
fresh flowers in the apartment. She put the vase on Jack's drawing table. The
portraits caught her eye. It had been so long since new sketches had been
placed on this table. Rose sighed. She wasn't going to let anything get her
upset today. It was far too beautiful.
Rose decided to go downstairs. She walked
into the living room. Brian and Maggie were playing with Andrew. He had just
started walking. His tiny steps were wobbly, but he could get a few feet and
then fall into someone's arms. Right now his arms were around Brian's neck, and
he was laughing hysterically. It had taken a little while, but Andrew had
bonded with Brian. Of course, Brian was ecstatic.
Rose smiled. Brian and Maggie looked over at
her.
"Hello, love! It's a beautiful day,
isn't it?" Brian smiled brightly.
"Yes, it is." She came and sat on
the couch. She smiled at Andrew. "Hey, big guy!"
Andrew burst into more laughter. He put his
hands up for Rose to lift him. She pulled him up on the couch. She smiled when
he put his hand on her stomach. "That's a baby." He laughed. Rose
continued. "I hope the baby is as sweet as you." Andrew stood up and
wrapped his arms around her neck. He kissed her cheek. Maggie and Brian looked
at each other and smiled. Andrew was so close to her.
The three adults played with Andrew all
morning. It was such a happy time. So happy...
"The mail's here," Maggie said,
making an observation.
"I'll get it." Rose got up off the
couch and picked up the few envelopes. There was one for her. From the war
department. She ripped it open and began to read the letter:
Dear Mrs. Dawson:
We regret to inform you that on May 15,
1918, your husband, Jack Dawson, went missing. We have found no trace of him
since. The United States Government is doing everything in its power to track
him down. He is not dead, but missing in action. We are confident that he will
be recovered soon. You both are in our prayers.
Rose felt her body start to shake. Her hand
went over her mouth. The tears streamed down her face. Brian looked over at
Rose. He shot up. "Rose...Rose!" He ran over to her and she fell into
her arms. Her body was wracked with sobs.
"He's missing...he's missing," she
said in agony.
Maggie picked up the letter and immediately
felt the tears in her eyes. She wrapped her arms around Brian and Rose.
"It's going to be okay. They'll find him. I know they will."
Rose cried for a little while longer, but
then she shocked Brian and Maggie. She straightened herself up and said,
"Everything will be fine. They'll find him. It's their job. Right now, I
have to stay calm for the sake of the baby. It's not healthy for the baby if I
cry all the time."
Rose picked up the letter and went upstairs.
She placed it in the bundle of all the letters she had received from Jack.
"Someday, I'll get another letter form Jack. I know I will."
*****
Erik sat at his desk doing some paper work.
He was relieved when there was a knock at his door. "I'll get to stop
doing this," he mumbled. "Come in!"
Tim entered. "We need to go over these
script revisions."
"Right, right. I forgot all about that.
Sit. We'll do it now." Tim and Erik got to work.
There was another knock at the door.
"Come in!" Erik looked up. "Brian! What are you doing
here?"
"Erik...something's happened."
"What?" he asked cautiously.
"It's Jack. Rose got a letter yesterday.
He's missing."
Erik sat back in his chair. He was silent.
"Oh, my God. Is she all right?"
"She cried when she got the letter, but
then she said she needed to be strong."
"I have to go see her." He stood up
quickly. "Tim, do you mind?"
"No, of course not. Go on. She'll need
you. Tell her I'll come by later."
"Thank you. Thank you." He ran out
the door with Brian.
Tim sighed. He felt an overwhelming sense of
guilt. All this time he had been wanting Jack out of the way. Now he was, but
he could only imagine the pain Rose was going through. He had never even
thought about what it would be like for her if Jack was out of the picture. He
looked up at the ceiling. "I'm sorry, Rose. I'm so sorry."
*****
"Erik. How are you?"
"I'm fine...but how are you?"
"I'm good."
Erik sat down on the couch next to her.
"Are you sure?"
"Look...I know what you're talking
about. I'm going to be fine. They'll find Jack. I know they will. He promised
me he would come home."
"You know I'm here for you."
"I do know. And Brian and Maggie are
here for me, too."
Erik hugged her. "You're my world. And
that baby, too." He smiled.
Rose smiled at him. "Would you like
something to eat or drink?"
"No...no, I'm fine." He sat back.
"Tim said he would come by later."
"That's nice of him." She looked at
Erik. "He really doesn't have to."
Erik thought for a moment. He liked Tim a
lot, but he had been picking up signals for a long time now that Tim may have
had feelings for Rose. Even that play her wrote, The Secret Love of Tommy.
The characters' names: Tommy, Lilly, and James were awfully similar to Tim,
Rose, and Jack. Erik couldn't blame Tim for being in love with Rose. She was an
amazing woman, but Erik knew Tim would only end up getting hurt. Rose loved
Jack with all her heart and soul. The only way Tim could be with her was if
something was to happen to Jack. Erik dreaded that thought. Not only because he
knew it would kill Rose, but because Jack was like his son. He had always felt
that. Jack was a good young man, who took care of his wife and treated everyone
with the utmost respect.
Erik stayed, and Rose made him dinner. They
made plans for Rose to come back to work a few months after the baby was born.
Erik asked about Jack. Rose told him all about the letters she had gotten from
him. She told him that he had promised her that he would come home, before he
even left. She trusted that he would. Erik listened intently and prayed that
Jack would come home. He was also grateful that Rose was handling this so well.
"Well, I better go. You'll need to get
some sleep."
"I'll walk you to the door."
Erik and Rose walked to the door together. He
turned to her.
"You stay as strong as you are now, and
you'll be fine. But remember, I'm here for you, and it's all right for you to
be upset. You can even come stay with me if you like. You know how big the
house is. A lot of empty rooms. And the servants could take care of you and the
baby when I'm not around."
"Erik, I appreciate all of this. I
really do. If I need anything, I promise I'll ask you. Now, get going. It's
dark out, and people will wonder where you are."
Erik gave her a kiss on the cheek and left.
Rose leaned against the door and put her hand
on her stomach. "Things are going to be fine."