JACK'S ROSE
Chapter Forty
Despite the law that had been passed
outlawing alcohol, beer mugs overflowed all over the cafe. The sign hanging on
the door was turned to Closed and the cafe's door was locked to anyone
outside.
"Cheers!" Molly said, raising her
mug.
"Cheers to Rose and Will!" Susan
said, sloshing beer all over her friend. Rose laughed, remembering the last
time that had happened...
"Finally, after all this time!"
Cora exclaimed, smiling.
Everyone laughed happily. They all chattered
among themselves, everyone save Rose and William. They sat beside each other,
anxiously awaiting a moment when the others' attention was turned away from
them and they could leave. His hand gently rested on hers, and they laughed
absentmindedly with the others.
Finally, Molly started in with one of her
stories and everyone's attention was suddenly directed at her. Rose and William
exchanged glances.
"I'm gonna go outside and get a breath
of fresh air. All right, Susan?"
"Mmm hmm," Susan mumbled, not
having really heard what Rose had said. Rose and William wiggled out of the
booth and pushed the door open, both laughing as they slipped out.
"I thought we'd never get out,"
Rose said, laughing as William slipped his arms around her waist.
"Molly certainly can talk, can't
she?"
"You've no idea, Will." Rose
laughed.
"How in the world did you ever meet
her?"
"A woman's heart is a deep ocean of
secrets," Rose whispered quietly, her laughter now fading.
"Where did you ever hear that?" he
asked, gingerly touching her cheek.
"I don't know," she said, smiling.
He bent and ever-so-gently kissed her lips. As their lips parted, Rose looked
up at William, a small smile playing on her lips.
"You have no idea how much I've missed
that."
"Yes. I do."
*****
Rose lay down, digging her toes into the warm
sand. She smiled. She listened as Nathan squealed, playing just in the surf.
Cora and Lilly giggled as the water splashed up their legs, wetting the edge of
their skirts. Susan and Andrew had wandered off on their own.
William lay beside her, his fingers entwined
with hers.
They would leave the next day. Rose would go with
them. Go with them to help William gather his things from the store. Go with
them to see Henry and Julia again.
William would go with Rose back to
California.
And that's as far ahead as they planned. But
that didn't matter. Since Rose had truly begun living, she had left everything
to fate and chance. And so she would again.
"Are you nervous, William?" she
asked, looking over at him.
"Nervous?"
"Nervous about what lays ahead?"
she said as she propped herself up on her elbow. Rose gazed down at him.
He shook his head. "Not at all,
Rose."
She smiled. "Me, either." Rose bent
her head and kissed his cheek.
But she quickly leapt up as water began to
run down her back. She spun around looking for the culprit to see none other
than Susan doubled over laughing at her.
"You little sneak!" Rose exclaimed.
She could hear William and the others
laughing.
"You should've seen your face,
Rosie!" Susan's eyes were pressed shut, trying to hold back the tears from
laughing so hard.
A smile spread across Rose's face. Susan was
still laughing, her eyes closed. Rose quickly stooped and picked up the cup her
friend had dropped after dumping its contents over her head and ran to the edge
of the water, filling it.
"Oh, you should've—ah!" Susan
screamed as Rose dumped a cupful of water over her head.
"There!" Rose said, laughing as she
backed away from her dripping friend.
"I'm gonna get you, Rose!" Susan
said, running after her friend.
"Run, Rosie!" Nathan called,
stopping his play to watch the two women begin chasing each other like children
less than half their age.
The laughing of Andrew, William, Nathan,
Cora, and Lilly followed Rose and Susan as they ran through the surf, trying
desperately to splash each other. Rose paused for a moment, bending and
splashing Susan. But Susan could not stop soon enough and crashed into Rose,
sending her face first into the water. She struggled to roll over.
Susan laughed as she towered over her friend.
"There, there, Rosie. It'll be all right. You'll dry," she bantered.
"I know," Rose said, sitting up,
her red hair now in a million tangles and dripping wet. "Truce. Now, help
me up." A smile still on her face, Susan extended her hand. Rose grabbed
it, but instead of pulling herself up, she pulled Susan down into the water.
Rose leapt up and backed away from her. "There, there, Suzie! It'll
dry," she mocked, laughing.
Susan glared at her friend and struggled to
stand up.
The others stood back, laughing to the point
of stomachaches and tears.
"Okay...ch-children...that-that's...enough,"
Andrew said, barely able to talk through his laughter. Susan and Rose exchanged
knowing glances. Then Susan bolted toward him, wrapping her arms around him and
pulling him close to her, soaking his entire front. "Susan!" he
yelped, jumping back.
Susan and Rose laughed, slinging their arms
over one another's shoulders.