FAMILY
Chapter Four
Rose was standing in her father’s
study. Now it was Cal’s, but he was out with her mother, so Rose took the
opportunity and went there. She always did when given a chance. But as time
went by, Cal spent even more time in the house, and it was getting harder to
avoid him.
The thing she loved the most
about that room, apart from the fact that it had belonged to her father, were
the paintings. He had been quite an expert and used to buy all the paintings
that he could. But then, when he and the money were gone, her mother had sold
many of them in order to get cash to keep up appearances. The only ones left
were the ones in his study--his favorites.
Fortunately, they had traveled to
Europe and arranged Rose’s marriage with the young bachelor Caledon Hockley before
Ruth had had to sell anything in that room. That was another reason for Rose to
marry--she didn’t want to let go of the only things left from him.
Her eyes focused on the newest
drawing. It wasn’t even hung yet, and it wouldn’t be. Rose had decided to take
it to her new home. It was a very good drawing, but what she loved the most was
that buying it had been the only battle she had won since coming back from
Europe.
She had been walking with Cal one
afternoon when they passed an art gallery. She still didn’t know how, but she
had managed to convince him to look around. Many works of many new artists were
shown, but when she saw that particular one, she had fallen in love with it.
And Cal must have found it nice, too, because he didn’t argue too much when she
told him that she wanted it.
The artist’s name was John Doyle.
She didn’t get it at once, but once she reached her home, she realized that
they were the same initials as Jack. Jack Dawson. In fact, one of the bottom
corners of the drawing had JD written as a signature.
Perhaps that was what caught her
eye in the first place. Maybe deep inside she had noticed the initials and
bought it as a remembrance of the man she had loved so much.
She was so into the drawing that
she didn’t hear Kelly entering the room. The maid saw her staring at the
picture and thought it was her opportunity to obey her brother’s will.
"You like the artist?"
she asked.
"What? Oh, I do. It’s a
great piece of art."
"He’d be pleased to know
that someone like you thinks that about his work." She turned around, but
was stopped by Rose’s voice.
"How do you know? I asked
the owner of the gallery where I could find him, but he had no idea. What makes
you say that you’d know what he’d think?" It sounded a bit cold, but Kelly
could tell that she wasn’t being rude. She was just interested in something.
"I know it, miss, because
that man, John Doyle, is my brother."
A couple of minutes before, Rose
had been wondering about this JD. She wanted to know him. His drawing had a
magic effect on her, and she wanted to find out more about it. Now, all of a
sudden, this girl said she was his sister.
"Is that really true?"
"Well, I think I know my own
brother, don’t you?" replied Kelly angrily.
"Yes, you’re right.
Sorry." She didn’t sound angry, but ashamed. She knew she had said
something stupid.
"No. I’m sorry, miss. I
overreacted."
"Your reaction was perfect.
But now…you were saying John Doyle is your brother? That’s great, you know,
because I wanted to meet him. I think he’s a great artist. Do you think you
could make him come here?"
"Oh, miss. I’m afraid that’s
not possible. He’s out of town, right now, and he’s not coming back for a month
or so."
"That’s too bad. I was
really looking forward meeting him. Where is he?"
"New York, but he’ll be back
in Philadelphia soon, miss."
"Really? The wedding is in
Philadelphia, you know? Perhaps he would be able to attend. It would be nice to
have someone to talk to."
"I’ll write and ask him if
he can, but I guess he will be very pleased."
"Thank you. Wait.
Here," she added, reaching one of the desk’s drawers. "Send this to
him. It’s an invitation in case he decides to come."
Kelly smiled and left the room,
letting Rose return to her world. When she was in the kitchen, she grabbed a
piece of paper and wrote a few lines to her brother.
Done it. See you there. You’d
better prepare your excuse well, Mister.
Love ya,
Kelly.
PS. Sorry I can’t give you
this in person, but I have work to do. Ruth is such a bitch!
Then she put it inside an
envelope with the invitation, wrote the address of her own house--which was now
being used by her brother--and told the butler to send it as soon as possible.
"Let’s see what he has
prepared," she whispered to herself.