JACK AND ROSE: TOGETHER FOREVER
Chapter Twenty-Seven
May 2, 1913
Rose smiled at the birds chirping in the tree
above her. The sun was shining brightly high above her in the sky and there was
not a cloud in sight. It was the day before her and Jack's first anniversary
and Rose was as giddy as a girl on her first date was. She and Jack had been
talking about tomorrow for about two months, and now that it was almost here,
they were almost shaking with anticipation. They had talked about how much they
wanted it to be special and about what their plans were.
Rose started whistling her favorite song,
"Came Josephine in My Flying Machine." She swung her heavy brown bag
back and forth as she walked. The bag was filled with stuff for tomorrow. Wine,
soup, French bread, and stuff to make manicotti. She looked farther ahead and
she could see where the turn was to her street. She didn't want to go home just
yet. She needed some time to think. To sit and collect her thoughts. She could
here the roar of the Ocean just on the other side of the trees that were acting
like a barrier between her and the Pacific Ocean. 'That's where I will go. The
beach.' She thought to herself. Smiling, she quickened her pace and ran home.
Rose-
Went out. Will be back around five-thirty.
Love you, see you soon.
-Jack
Rose looked at note in her hand and sighed.
Jack had been running off the last few days and not telling her where he was
going. She hoped it had something to do with their anniversary. A surprise
maybe. Or maybe with work. Her mind wandered for a moment and than she shook
her head. It was not possible. Jack would never do anything like that. She
smiled at herself for thinking such things. 'God Rose. Get a hold of yourself.
You know Jack inside and out way better than most people know their spouses.
Knowing Jack, he probably had some surprise up his sleeve." Rose thought
to herself. She laughed and smirked as she thought of all the possible
surprises that Jack might be planning. She put the groceries away and picked up
the note that Jack had left.
My Jack-
Hi honey. I went for a walk to think and
sit. It is about five now. I should be back before six. Anyway, dinner, a
casserole, is in the icebox. If you could, please put the casserole in the oven
at about 360 degrees if I am not back by six-fifteen. Thanks. I love you dear,
see you later.
-Your Rose
Rose smiled and set the note on the counter.
She slipped of her shoes and grabbed her light shawl. Rose walked down and out
the apartment building. As she walked down the path and grew closer to the
ocean, she breathed in the smell of the salt water and could hear the seagulls
calling to each other in the sky. Rose smiled as her feet came into contact
with the semi-hot sand. She wiggled her toes in it and continued walking. She
walked out into the surf, holding her skirt up shawl together at the same time.
Suddenly, Rose saw what she was looking for. A big piece of driftwood was
sitting not to far from the surf with no one around it. Rose smiled as walked
over to it. She sat down and leaned up against it. Rose looked around. There
were mothers and fathers with their children, people walking with their dogs,
children flying their kites, and couples walking hand and hand on the beach.
Rose thought about how much her life had changed sense last April. Everything
was different from a year ago. From where she was living, to whom she was
married to, who her friends were, what she wore, and even how she did her hair.
Rose smiled as she changed to position a bit to get more comfortable. Rose
loved the fact that she could move around now that she didn't wear a corset
anymore. Jennifer had convinced her that since she never wore one and that know
one had damned her to hell, Rose could live without a corset too. Rose had
agreed, finally getting it through her head that know one was around to tell
her to wear one anymore. And she had noted that Jack certainly had liked and
supported that dissension.
'God, I am so lucky to have him.' Rose
thought to herself as she thought of Jack. She still couldn't even imagine life
with out Jack. And shuttered when she thought about what life would have been
like with Cal. She silently thanked God for the umpteenth time that he had
given her Jack and than looked out to the ocean. It looked so beautiful and
romantic at the time. Rose thought about how many times she and Jack had taken
their late night walks out in the sand or the surf if it was warm enough,
holding hands, kissing each other softly, whispering little romantic words or
sentences in each others ears. Rose closed her eyes and leaned her head back
against the driftwood.
'God I am so lucky.' She thought again. 'But
it is hard to concentrate here'. She could hear sounds coming from the pier;
people laughing, calling to each other, the music from the various booths and
rides. Rose opened her eyes and twisted her head so she could see down the
beach. The pier looked very inviting right now.
'Maybe I'll go down there for a while.' Rose
thought as she pulled herself up and started down the beach.
'That is where I can really think. And I need
somewhere where I can really think.'
"Rose!" Jack shouted as he opened
the door. He had been out for a while 'picking up' his anniversary gift for
Rose. Boy was she going to be surprised at what he had gotten. Rose had always
loved the huge white house next to the Langstons, at least from the outside.
Now he wanted to give her a chance to not only see it from the inside, but also
live in the house. A few weeks ago, he had been visiting Scott while the girls
were out shopping, and he had noticed that the house was for sale. He didn't tell
Rose and had looked into it as a surprise for their anniversary. It was more
than cheep enough, was huge inside, and absolutely perfect for the two of them.
Two days ago, he had gone down to the house and had the owner take him through
it once again. Right now, the newly signed deed to the house was folded up in
his pocket.
"Rosebud!" Jack called again,
walking into the kitchen. Again, there was no answer. Then, he found the note.
After Jack had read the note, he sat it down the on the counter and glanced at
the clock. It was fifteen to six.
'Good, I'll just put this deed in a box, wrap
it up and hide it until tomorrow.' Jack thought as he walked into the bedroom.
After going through their closet and finding the right box, he sat down and
began wrapping.
"Umm, that smells good." Rose
announced coming into the kitchen and throwing her shawl on the counter.
"Hay Rose." Jack said coming into
the kitchen.
"Where have you been all
afternoon?" Rose asked as Jack held her in an embrace.
"Umm, let's just say that I think you
will be surprised tomorrow." Jack told her with a teasing look in his eye.
Rose smiled and silently kicked herself.
'See Rose, nothing to worry about.'
"What time did you put this casserole in
dear?"
"About fifteen minuets ago."
"Alright, thank you." Rose said
giving Jack a kiss on the check.
"No problem. But come on, let's go sit
on the balcony until dinners ready. We can watch the sun go down." Jack
suggested. Rose smiled and nodded. Jack smiled back at her and took her soft hand
in his own. Together they went and sat down and watched the sunset. Rose with
her head on her Jack's shoulder and Jack with his arms around his Rose.