LET’S LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND
Chapter Thirty-Two

Thanksgiving Day

The Dawson house was bustling with activity the morning of Thanksgiving. Despite the tension between Jack and his uncle, everyone was in good cheer. Jack and Rose stayed away from Weaver while the older gentleman kept an eye on the redhead, still a bit suspicious. He couldn’t help be worried that Hockley was lurking around somewhere ready to strike.

"I wish he’d stop looking over here." Rose sighed as Jack handed her a coat to wear since they were going out for a walk on Lake Wissota.

"Ignore him Rose. He’ll be gone in another couple of days and we won't have to worry about him anymore."

"Maybe we should just tell him Jack…"

"No. It’s none of his business and I refuse to dig it up again. We’ve been through it with too many people as it is. Now let’s get out of here. I need some fresh fall air." Jack wrapped a arm around her shoulder and escorted her outside.

Once Jack and Rose were gone, Weaver made a bee line for his sister in law who was just boiling water to make the stuffing.

"Nancy…we need to talk. About Jack. He’s real attached to Rose isn’t he?"

"Well she is his wife." Nancy laughed. "Weaver what’s going on? The tension between you and Jack is almost palpable.."

"He’s mad at me because I asked Rose about her origins."

"Oh Weaver you didn’t…" Nancy groaned.

"I was just trying to protect the family. That’s all." Weaver shrugged. "And I still am. Trouble is in the air. I can feel it."

"Weaver…the past is something that neither of them need to relive. They almost nearly died, they saw other people they knew die…Jack especially had a hard time dealing with it."

"The papers said that Hockley lost his fiancée aboard that ship Titanic." Weaver stroke his chin thoughtfully. "Now I wonder how did she meet Jack…"

"You just won’t let this rest will you?"

"Uncle Weaver!" Jacquelyn skipped into the room. "Come on, we all want to hear your tale of the Dawson’s first Thanksgiving!"

"You’re being summoned." Nancy sighed. "And Jacquelyn I want you back in here in a little bit to help."

"Yes mother." Jacquelyn nodded, pulling her uncle into the living room.

Rose and Jack meanwhile walked hand in hand on the lake, enjoying a few moments of silence. It’s Rose who spoke first.

"Jack…I don’t want to come between you and your Uncle. Please…just tell him about Titanic. I’m sure he’ll let it drop then."

"No Rose. He’s going to have to learn that he accepts you with no conditions or he doesn’t except me either. Why can’t he just be happy for me like he is for Richie? He didn’t give Jolene the third degree. We know nothing at all about her family."

"He’s just afraid of you being hurt again."

"Well he’s hurting me now. He should be able to see that." Jack crossed his arms.

"Oh Jack." Rose sighed, leaning into his arms, wanting to take away the feelings of betrayal Jack had towards his Uncle. "I wish this wasn’t happening."

"I do too Rose, but it is and I don’t think I’ll be getting over this anytime soon." Jack sighed. "What are we doing talking about that anyway? We should be talking about all the different things we’re going to do in the coming year."

"Like raising our baby." Rose grinned, snuggling deeper into his arms. "I’m so scared and excited at the same time Jack."

"Me too. But we’re going to be great parents. I’ll teach her how to draw and build sand castles in Santa Monica."

"And I’ll teach her the fine art of catching the perfect husband. Climb over the railing of a ship and threaten to jump off. Then Mr. Right should appear ready to save you."

Jack laughed. "You better not. I hate to have to kill the guy."

"You Jack? You couldn’t hurt a fly." Rose laughed, as they made their way back to the house, talking and laughing. But all laughter stops when they reach the house and find the one person they had hoped never to see again on the porch talking to Jack’s Uncle Weaver.

"What the hell is he doing here." Jack’s eyes grew dark with fury.

"Shh, Jack. Let’s just remain calm and see what it is he wants. This is a family holiday and we don’t want to make a scene." Rose placed a calming hand on Jack’s arm all the while trying to calm down her own fears. Who had told Cal where she was? That she was still alive? Was it Ruth? Richie since he had threatened to get in touch with Cal once before?

"Let’s get this over with." Jack placed a protective arm around his wife and together approached the house. Cal turns around and cruelly smiles.

"So I see Rose didn’t perish after all. Why am I not surprised?" Cal crossed his arms. "Well Rose. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"It always takes time to get rid of pests, but sooner or later one prevails." Rose answered.

"Careful Sweetpea. You’re on the brink of insulting me." Cal smiled and glanced at Jack. "Mr. Dawson, I’m not surprised to see you’ve survived too."

"Yeah. Even after your attempt to kill both Rose and myself." Jack openly glared at his one time rival. "Tell me Cal, what are you doing here in Chippewa Falls? I didn’t think such a small town would hold much interest for you."

"It doesn’t. It’s come to my attention that this town has something of mine…something I want back."

"Now Mr. Hockley." Weaver tried to interrupt but Cal holds his hand up for silence.

"Two things very precious to me was lost that awful night. Now that I’ve discovered that one has survived, I only have to presume where the other is."

"What in heavens name are you talking about Cal?" Rose glared openly at her ex-fiancée. There was no one she loathed more.

"The diamond Rose. Where is it? Don’t play dumb with me either. You know what I’m talking about."

Rose rolled her eyes. "Is that all you wanted?"

Cal laughed. "Of course Rose. You didn’t think I’d want you back after your detestable behavior aboard Titanic did you? I’ve found a much more suitable girl to be my bride. Someone complacent and knows her place."

"Oh you mean a moron? Oh Cal where ever did you find one of those?"

"Enough with the jokes Rose. My patience is growing thin. I want the diamond and I want it now."

"It’s ok Rose. Go ahead and give it to him. It’s just a stupid piece of rock anyway." Jack squeezed his wife’s shoulder when he saw the reluctance in her eyes.

Sighing, Rose nodded. "Very well then. I’ll go get it then you can get off this property. You’re not welcomed here Mr. Hockley."

"Just get the diamond Rose." Cal glared at her. "And no funny business!"

Jack watched Rose disappear into the house and turned his attention back to Cal. "Tell me Hockley…how did you find out we were here? Did Ruth tell you?"

"Ruth? No! I hardly ever talk to the woman. No I had received a telegram stating that my fiancée was in Chippewa Falls posing as a lower class girl. The gentleman was worried about his family. Thanks to him, I know where to find my ex-fiancée."

Jack turned his attention to his Uncle, who wasn’t even looking at him. Jack had never felt such a deep sense of betrayal before. "How could you?" He asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"Here you go Cal! Your precious diamond!" Rose came out of the house, the necklace in hand. She slams it against Cal’s chest. "Take the damn thing and leave!"

Taking the necklace, Cal stared down at Rose, pity and a hint of sadness in his eyes. "It really is a pity Rose. I would have given you diamonds even bigger than this one if you had even bothered to open your heart once to me. Accept my love like you did Jack’s."

"Cal…you never loved me. Just like I never loved you. The whole courtship was for convenience. My mother needed your money and you needed a bride to give you a heir so you could inherit your fortune. Those in themselves are not suitable reasons to get married."

"I did care about you Rose."

"And that’s why you tried to kill me and chased me deeper into a sinking ship?"

Cal sighed, clearly getting frustrated. "You’re precious to me Rose."

"Jewels are precious Mr. Hockley. Now good-bye. I never expect to see you again." Rose turned her back and disappeared into the house.

Cal looked at the necklace, realization dawning in his eyes. Looking at Jack he slowly approached the younger man. "I realize now where I went wrong with Rose. I gave her riches before love while you gave her love before riches, one thing she needed most. I regret that now. This necklace is worthless to me now…why don’t you give it to her yourself. Give it some meaning."

"Are you serious?" Jack is distrustful.

"Very serious. Jack, it’s been interesting. I would say look me up if you’re ever in Philadelphia, but I wouldn’t mean it. Good day." He handed the necklace to Jack and continued on down the dirt path, disappearing into the horizon.

Jack looked at the diamond and then back up at his uncle. "I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive you for what you did. That could have ended very badly you know."

"Jack…I just wanted to protect this family…"

"By inviting Caledon Hockley down here? Today of all days? Do you even care what kind of hell that he put both Rose and I through?"

"He didn’t seem to be such a bad man…"

"That’s a ruse Uncle Weaver. Underneath all that gentlemanly exterior is the heart of a snake."

"Well…I’m sorry Jack. I just was looking out for the family."

"Yeah. Of course you were." Jack snorted, pushing past Weaver to go into the house, leaving the older man on the porch to think about what he’s done.

Jack found Rose in the kitchen helping Jacquelyn slice vegetables.

"Is he gone?" Rose asked, looking up from her work.

"Yeah. And he left this." Jack held up the Heart of the Ocean.

"After all that fuss?"

"He claimed to now realize where he went wrong with you and told me that maybe this would have more meaning to you coming from me."

Rose got up and took the necklace. "No, it has a different meaning. When he gave it to me, it was the key to the gilded cage they had trapped me in, but from you it’s the key to freedom. So where is Mr. Hockley now?"

"Gone. I say good riddance."

"You’re not the only one." Rose tenderly kissed her husband. She rubbed his shoulders as she pulled away. "Don’t be too hard on your uncle Jack. He was just looking out for you."

Jack shook his head in awe. "Rose, you are truly amazing. After what he did you are here asking me to forgive him."

"Well I know how much you love him Jack. He is your favorite Uncle after all. And of course no harm was done. In fact, Cal is now a chapter closed in my life and I can now fully enjoy my new life with you with out worrying about Cal coming out of nowhere to wreck havoc. So really, he did us a favor."

"Rose…I don’t know. It’s going to take time. Every time I think of what could have happened.…"

"But it didn’t. Jack I’m fine. I’m finally free from the last chain of high society. We both are. Plus, after Titanic…we should never go to bed angry at someone we love. Life is too short for that."

"Jack?" Weaver appeared in the doorway. "I’d like to apologize for my actions. Please forgive me. I can’t take you being angry with me like this."

Jack sighed. He wanted to do what Rose suggested, but right now his anger was too fresh. "You know, Rose asked me to forgive you. That you were only trying to protect the people you love. That after everything that’s happened to us, life is too short to go to bed angry. But I’m having a hard time doing that."

"Jack…remember when you were seven years old?" Weaver asked.

"I do." Jacquelyn piped up then piped down when her brother frowned in her direction. "Sorry."

"I remember." Jack sighed, weary.

"Remember that year I took you to the park and you fell and skinned your knee? I bandaged it up and wiped away your tears. You asked me if I would always be around to protect you and I promised I would. Do you remember that?"

Jack sighed and nodded. "Yes I remember."

"Jack looking at your tears that day, I had also made a promise to myself. Not to let anything happen to you ever again. Now I know I’ve broken that promise time and again, but now…I have the opportunity to keep that promise. Jack please…don’t be too angry with me. Protecting you was my only motive. That’s all."

Sighing Jack looked at Rose, then back at his Uncle. He knew then that he was no longer angry, but he was going to make it clear that his uncle was to keep his nose out of his and Rose’s past. "I want you to stop digging into Rose’s past. It is none of your concern. Do I make myself clear?"

Weaver nodded. "Does this mean I’m forgiven?"

Jack sighed in defeat. "Yeah. You’re forgiven." Jack went over and hugged his uncle to show that he was no longer angry.

"Great we’re all friends again." Jacquelyn grinned.

"I’ll take this back upstairs." Rose took the Heart of the Ocean and went back upstairs to return it to the hiding place.

"Can I just ask one question? Where did the necklace come from?" Weaver stared after Rose.

"Uncle Weaver…." Jack warned.

"Ok ok. I was just curious." Weaver laughed, throwing a arm around his nephew’s shoulder. "Come on. Let’s leave the women to their work and join your pa and brother in the living room. There’s a good game of poker going on."

Chapter Thirty-Three
Stories