FAMILY
Chapter Eight
Suddenly, everybody was silent,
and Rose’s words were heard by everybody.
"I love him…"
Cal smiled and looked at Jack.
The two men understood that she was talking about the richest.
"Well…so, I guess there’s
nothing left for me to say, is there? Congratulations, Cal. Rose…take good
care." The blond turned around and walked down the aisle. Everybody
watched him, many different expressions on their faces.
Kelly felt very sorry for him. Didn’t
he have a plan? And…what the hell was Rose doing? Kelly thought she hated her
fiancé. She thought she was really upset about her marriage. What was going on?
"That’s a very wise answer,
miss. I think we can take it as a valid one, though we were expecting you to
say I do…anyway…do you, Mr. Caledon…"
"Wait!" shouted Rose.
Why was Jack going away? She had told him she loved him…didn’t he feel the
same? Suddenly, the minister’s words made sense, and she realized that everyone
had understood she had been talking about Cal. "I love you! Jack, please,
don’t leave me again! I love you!"
Leave her again? thought Kelly. Again? What the hell was
going on? All the guests seemed to be as lost as she was, because they
looked at each other. She searched for her brother, but he was already hugging
Rose, who, for the first time in seven months, looked truly happy.
"I’m so sorry…I should have
searched harder for you, Jack. I should have. Oh, I’m so sorry you believed I
was talking about Cal. I love you…I love you."
"Rose, it’s okay. Everything
is okay. We are together now, aren’t we? Nothing and no one will come between
us anymore. I won’t let you go…not this time."
They seemed to have forgotten
about everybody around them. They didn’t even hear Ruth shouting.
"Reverend! Do something!
She’s possessed…I don’t know. She is not being herself anymore!"
They also ignored the look on
Cal’s face. He wasn’t hurt, but angry. He looked as if Christmas had been
canceled. He was losing. For the first time in his life, he had lost something
he wanted. He was about to say something, but he couldn’t think correctly.
"Now…what would you say if
we got out of here?" Jack asked.
"It sounds great. I have to
get out of this dress!" She smiled at him. He was real, he was there, and
most importantly, he was alive! She took the hand he was offering her, and they
began to walk, ignoring Ruth’s sobs.
"Aren’t you gonna say
something?" he whispered as they passed near her.
Rose knew that she wasn’t crying
because she was losing her daughter. She was crying to see if Rose would stay
if she felt guilty. But she was her mother. She did have to say something.
"Mother, I think we need
some time off. I love Jack, and I’m going with him. I’ll write to you one of
these days and see if you can accept him. If you don’t, I’m afraid that we are
too different and it’s very unlikely we’ll see each other again. Think about
it."
She turned around, and she and
Jack began to walk once more, thinking that no one would get in their way. Cal
was still too shocked to talk.
"Jack Christopher Dawson!
Where do you think you are going?" yelled Kelly.
"Well, I don’t know if you
noticed, but this was supposed to be a wedding, and I’m getting out with the
bride. The groom isn’t exactly a nice guy, you know? And I would really like to
be as far away as possible when he returns to reality," replied her
brother sarcastically.
"How funny. But I’m afraid
you are not going anywhere before you two tell me what has been going on. You
showed up out of nowhere, and you asked me to help you…well, now I want
answers."
"Kelly, I think we shall be
going. Tell her, Rose."
"Actually, I would also love
to know what you have been doing. It’s been seven months, you know."
Jack glanced at Cal and saw that
he was beginning to regain control of his muscles. Then he looked at the two
women and gave up.
"Fine! I have my car parked
near here. C’mon. We’ll go to my hotel room."
The three of them ran towards
Jack’s car, and he drove to his hotel.