A FIRE IN THE WIND
Chapter Thirty-Six
Rose walked down the street self-consciously,
with her head bowed low to the ground. It felt so absurd to be in the
neighborhood that she had lived in only a few short days ago. Still, she felt
immensely out of place.
Rose played the part of a lady perfectly, for
she still was one, outwardly. She was wearing one of her best day dresses, her
waist was neatly corseted up, and her hair was pulled back, covered by a large
hat. Still, Rose was constantly pondering about the consequences of someone
recognizing her. Did Allison really have to speak with her this badly?
Ali had requested that Rose visit her one
last time before Jack and she headed west to California. They hadn't bought the
tickets yet, and the two didn't know if they would be able to afford them. Going
to Allison's house put Rose in a very dangerous situation; she had to go
through her old neighborhood.
Rose walked at quite a rapid pace, looking at
the ground the whole time. She was a nervous wreck. Keeping her composure was
an impossible task. She had made quite a character out of herself.
'This is the last time I will ever have to do
this,' Rose thought nervously. 'I'm almost at Ali's house. Just two more blocks
to go.'
Rose turned the corner and accidentally
bumped into a young woman. She apologized without looking up and took another
step, just to be cursed with a voice.
"Rose."
Rose turned around slowly, praying that it
wasn't the young woman who matched that voice. Luck wasn't with Rose as she
turned around to be standing face to face with Victoria.
Rose sighed, and once again bowed her head
down to the ground, knowing that Victoria's words would be harsh, and that she
was in a position where she could get total revenge on her cousin.
Rose closed her eyes, trying to be strong,
although she didn't know whether or not she could.
And then the words came.
"I'm sorry."
Rose looked up at her cousin in astonishment.
Had Victoria just used a sincere tone of voice? Could it be possible?
"What?" asked Rose, in a total
state of perplexity.
Victoria shook her head and sighed. "I'm
sorry, Rose."
Rose gave Victoria a blank stare. What was
going on?
Victoria smiled softly. "I know this may
come as quite a shock, hearing me say this now, but I guess it's better for me
to say it now than never. I'm sorry for all the cruel things I've done to you
in the past seventeen years. I know there was quite a bit of resentment between
us, but I'm sick of fighting."
Rose laughed nervously. "I'm sorry,
Victoria, but why are you saying this now? Didn't I just ruin the family name?"
"Of course I was mad at you for
that." Victoria laughed. "In fact, I was furious. Most everyone
was."
Rose cringed at the thought.
"I changed my mind though,"
Victoria replied. "I was furious you ruined the DeWitt name, you exposed
Cal as being an infamous, arrogant bastard. I started to think about it,
everything I mean, the wedding, our relationship as cousins, Caledon Hockley.
In fact, I spent hours thinking about it. I realized something then, Rose. Cal
already was an arrogant bastard; you just helped everyone see that. And the
family name--it's not that important and I for one think everyone will forget.
It doesn't mean that much to me, Rose. In fact, it means nothing."
Rose smiled and hugged her cousin. It was the
first time she had ever hugged her before. "Thank you, Victoria,"
Rose whispered softly, "and I'm sorry I was so cruel, too. For example, I
remember exactly two weeks ago today I embarrassed you in front of those two
young gentlemen. I'm sorry for that and everything else."
Victoria laughed. "Think nothing of it,
Rose. I provoked you into doing it. I want to apologize about the wedding
shower, also. I'm just glad that things turned out well between you and
David."
"Jack," Rose replied with a
chuckle.
"Jack," Victoria mimicked.
"But Rose, what are you doing here? You haven't decided to come back, have
you?"
"Of course not," Rose stated
firmly. "Ali wanted me to see her, before Jack and I leave town."
"Why so soon?"
"I have to get away from my mother and
Cal before they find me," Rose said, pausing for a few seconds.
"Victoria, you won't tell them, will you?"
Victoria smiled sincerely. "For the
first time ever, Rose, you truly have my word."
"Thank you." Rose smiled, glad that
she had made a much-needed peace between her cousin and herself. "Listen,
Vickie, I'll send you a letter when Jack and I get settled."
Victoria nodded. For the first time ever, she
was fond of the nickname. "Fine, Rose. Good-bye."
Rose once again hugged her cousin.
"Good-bye, Victoria."
Victoria began to walk away until she heard
her cousin's voice, yonder.
"Oh, and Victoria..."
Victoria turned and looked at Rose,
bewildered.
Rose continued. "Make sure you watch out
for the Caledon Hockleys of the world."
Victoria nodded with a slight smile. "I
will Rose. I will."
And with that, a Victoria that Rose had never
known walked away.
Rose was shocked. Was that the cousin that
she had known all her life, who liked to torment her so much? It couldn't have
been, could it? Had Rose really touched her cousin so much that she had changed
completely? It was an odd but joyful sensation. Rose felt as if she had finally
made peace with Victoria, and she did.
As Rose continued walking towards Ali's
house, her head was no longer towards the ground and she no longer felt nervous
in the face of society, but her head was held up proudly above the sidewalk and
a bright smile was stuck across her face.