LET’S LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Jack and Kimberly walked along
the streets of Chippewa Falls. Along the way Kimberly pointed out certain
landmarks and explained their significance to Jack.
"There’s the grade school we
went to," Kimberly pointed to a rectangular brink building. "We used
to get in tons of trouble. I remember when you and the boys were playing
baseball and you broke out that window there. Your pa had to pay five dollars
to have it replaced."
"He tanned my hide for that
one," Jack nodded, not realizing the significance of what he had said, but
it wasn’t lost on Kimberly.
"Jack…you just remembered. I
think this is working," Kimberly brightly smiled.
"Quick, show me something
else," Jack grinned, finally excited to be getting somewhere.
"Ok, just down here is the
park…"
"We used to meet here and
feed the ducks. One time my parents took me and Jacquelyn here for a picnic and
a duck chased Jacquelyn around a tree!"
"Jack you’re doing it!"
Kimberly jumped up and down, throwing her arms around her ex-boyfriend.
"Kimberly! What is going on
here?!" Linda Smith stood in their path, her arms crossed, eyes glowering
angrily. "Kimberly what would Brendan say if he knew you were with
this…scum."
"Mother that is enough! Jack
is not scum and Brendan already knows. I’m helping Jack get his memory back by
walking him through town and going through the past with him. Brendan is at the
Dawson’s waiting for our return."
"Couldn’t his wife do
that?"
"He didn’t know Rose then
mother. She helped him remember the last year, but only I can help him remember
his past here Chippewa Falls. Now I’m not going to stand here and let you be
rude to Jack. Now excuse us, we have more of the town to see," Kimberly
took Jack’s hand and pulled him pass her stunned mother.
"I’m sorry about that Jack.
My mother can be rather rude," Kimberly apologized and was surprised to
hear laughter from Jack.
"I remember. And that’s the
first time I heard you stand up to her like that," Jack smiled happily.
"Am I right?"
Kimberly nodded. "I guess
I’ve finally found that backbone you were talking about."
"I knew you had it in you
Kimberly. You just needed to get the courage to use it."
Kimberly just smiled. "How
much do you remember now Jack?"
"You know…I think it’s all
back now. My family, old friends…I remember all of it. I have you to thank for
that."
Kimberly sadly smiled. "I do
miss you Jack. In some ways I wish it was me you married instead of Rose. But
I’m happy that you found someone to love and that loved you twice as
much."
Jack nodded and stepped closer to
her. "I will never love anyone like I love Rose, but I want you to know
that you’ll always hold a special place in my heart. I never regret any of the
time we shared together." He gently touched her cheek. "I hope that
you’re able to find some kind of happiness Kimberly. You deserve it."
"Oh Jack," Kimberly
reached up and brought his lips to hers, savoring the velvety feel of them. For
just one minute she pretended that Jack was her husband and that they had a life
together. But her fantasy was cut short when Jack pulled away. "I’m
sorry…I just…Oh Jack it’s still there! My love for you. I thought it was gone,
but it’s not."
"Kimberly…I don’t know what
to say…I wish I could say I feel the same way but…"
"Jack…your feelings for me
have to still be there! They can’t just disappear! You have to love me…"
Jack sighed, not knowing how to
express his feelings without hurting her even further. "Kim…it’s not that
I don’t love you…I do love you. But it’s different now. It’s like I love you
but I’m not in love with you. I’m in love with Rose. She’s everything to me. If
I lose her….there will never be another. She’s my soulmate. Do you
understand?"
Kimberly tearfully nodded.
"She’s your heart and I’m not. I understand."
"I’m sorry…"
"No Jack. Don’t be sorry for
moving on with your life. I never wanted you to remain alone…"
"I only wanted you to find
true love. Like I have with Rose. Listen…give Brendan Lakesworth a chance. He’s
not as bad as I first thought and maybe he truly does love you. Believe me,
I’ve met worse men than him."
"But…he’s not you."
"Exactly. You need to move
on Kimberly. You need to build a life of your own and stop living in the
past."
Kimberly nodded. "You’re
right. I do. Jack…I’m sorry for causing a scene. I’m supposed to be helping
you, not throwing myself at you."
Jack smiled. "You have
helped me. You helped me remember my family and bring closure to a part of my
life that will always be special to me."
Smiling Kimberly took his hand.
"Come on. Let’s head back to the house. It’s getting nippy and we don’t
need Rose worrying."
Hand in hand they head back to
the Dawson house, finally at peace with their past and ready to look on to the
future.
*****
That night Rose and Jack laid
cuddled in each other’s arms. Rose sighed contently as she snuggled closer to
her husband, basking in his warmth. Jack tightened his embrace, thanking God
that he had found her and vowed never to leave her ever again.
"So…you and Kimberly were
quiet when you two got back. What did you talk about besides the past?"
Jack looked at Rose, wondering if
she suspected anything. He might as well tell her the truth. He didn’t want any
secrets between them.
"Well…she kissed me and told
me that she still loved me."
"What?! When…"
Jack placed a finger on her lips.
"I told her that even though I loved her, I wasn’t in love with her. I’m
in love with my beautiful wife. That you’re my soulmate. I told her she had to
move on from the past like I have and work on building a life with Brendan. I
think she listened to me."
"Really? Are you sure?"
Jack nodded. "Rose, you
don’t know how thankful I am to have found you. You brought my heart back
alive. You made me love again and this time much deeper than I ever have
before. I had never felt such selfless love before." He pulled her closer
and brought his lips to hers, soft and gentle. Rose pulled away and laid her
head on his chest.
"Thank you Jack. You didn’t
have to tell me all of that but you did. Now I feel so much better about
Kimberly being a part of your life."
"I want you to know
everything Rose. I don’t want there to be any secrets between us."
"I honestly hope Kimberly
can find happiness without you Jack. I know it’ll be hard because I’ve tried
and it nearly killed me. If it wasn’t for the baby…I don’t think I would have
survived that horrible month."
"Yes you would. You have so
much strength Rose and so much to offer the world. You would have gone on, even
if there wasn’t a baby you would have gone on because you knew I wanted you
to."
"You have so much faith in
me Jack."
"That’s because I saw that
strength first hand on Titanic and after as well. Only a woman of true courage
would go back into that water and use a whistle that was in a dead officer’s
mouth to bring attention to her and her lover."
"I love you Jack," Rose
sighed happily, drifting off into a dreamless slumber.
"I love you too Rosie. Sweet
dreams," Jack yawned, drifting off himself.