LEGACY
Chapter Eight
Rose knocked against the
guestroom door. "Cal? May I come in?"
A deadened voice from within
replied, "It’s up to you."
Rose opened the door, softly
entering. Cal rested in an armchair by the windowsill, staring out at the
bright blue sky. "It’s breathtaking, isn’t it?"
"The Pacific?"
"No, the sky. Where’s the
ocean?"
Rose pointed to the corner of the
window. "Crane your neck. This is the only room in the house with an ocean
view. You’d better enjoy it."
Cal stood up and looked into the
distance. "I see it!" He grabbed her hand. "We should go!"
"We were going to take you
sightseeing all day. We didn’t know if you were up for it."
"Of course I am! We need to
go!"
His anticipation startled her.
"Cal, wait. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you first. Sit
down."
Cal sat, anxious and only
half-listening. Rose leaned against the windowsill, her back to the waters.
"I’m sorry for the way Tom just bombarded you this morning. He shouldn’t
have done that. He should have talked to us first and told us what he was going
to do. I can’t believe that boy at times."
"Don’t fret about it. He’s
got good fire. I just wish I could help him."
"You don’t need to worry
about him. He’s a smart boy; he said so himself. I’m sure it’ll be a little
more difficult, but I think we can get him through Harvard."
Cal laughed. "I’m sure
you’re thrilled that he wants to go to my old alma mater."
Rose rolled her eyes. "You
have no idea. But that’s where his heart is set. There are plenty of good
schools right here in California, but he won’t even consider them. It’s Harvard
or nothing in his eyes. We’ll make something work."
"I hope you do, because Tom
deserves the best."
Rose shot him a cold look.
"And what do you think he’s been getting?"
"Nothing, nothing. I meant
nothing by it. Actually, I suppose I owe you a giant thank you for everything
you’ve done for Tom. After all these years..."
"Cal! Enough. All I’ve done
is raise my son."
"And Jack?"
"What about Jack? He’s done
his duties as a father, more than that, actually. He’s a godsend, and I could
never have come this far without him."
"I’m glad you found him.
Meanwhile, you have no idea what I’ve been through. Congratulations on your
happy marriage, though."
"You’re right. I’m very
sorry for the pathetic, empty life you’ve wasted. A loveless marriage. Children
you never bother to see. A whole museum of priceless nothings and unkept
promises. Honestly, do you have any idea what you could have been?"
"Your husband?"
Rose was silent then. "Mr.
Hockley, I believe you’re overstepping your boundaries. I owe you nothing. You
treated me like an asset, like property, like a jewel that you had to hold
tight and keep all to yourself. And I think we both know that sometimes, jewels
slip right through your fingers." Her harsh gaze met his then, gradually,
softened. "Look, Cal, I didn’t come to argue with you. Actually, I have
something for you."
"Don’t worry about it Mrs.
Dawson. Like you said, you owe me nothing." He got up to leave, but she
grabbed him and pulled him back.
"Cal, I have the
diamond."
He froze.
Turning back toward her, he
watched in awe as she pulled forth a gleaming, blue-toned jewel. He gazed into
its depths, hypnotized, his own image reflected for eternity. "You have
it? In the coat pocket? I never...how did you...how could it have...oh,
God!" Cal collapsed back in the chair, his head buried in his hands.
Rose still had the necklace
outstretched, the chain dangling languidly from her fingers, the Heart of the
Ocean pulsating as it swayed back and forth from its gleaming chain. "Cal,
it’s yours."
He looked up. "Excuse
me?"
"It’s yours. It’s in your
name. Take it. Make your family proud. Make the Hockley name respected
again."
Unable to tear his eyes from the
jewel, Cal shook his head. "Why are you giving this to me? Don’t you need
it? Tom..."
"I told you. Tom will be
fine. He’s a smart boy, and he is going to Harvard. I’ve raised him for
seventeen years without your help, and this will be no exception. Now, take
what is rightfully yours."
In one of the few moments of
emotion in his life, Cal gripped the diamond, gripped Rose’s hands, bowed his
head, and whispered, "Thank you."