LET’S LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND
Chapter Thirty-Three
It was a hour before dinner and
everyone was gathered in the setting room. Everyone are laughing and talking,
sharing memories and laughs all except Rose. Weaver had made it a point to
ignore Rose, leading most of Jack’s relatives into doing the same. The only
people that even said two words to Rose besides Jack, and the immediate Dawson
family were Nell and Gloria. The rest acted like she wasn’t even there. At
first Rose thought it was just because she was new to the family, but obviously
that wasn’t true since everyone was crowding around Jolene, asking her
questions about her life in New Orleans and when her baby was due and what they
were planning to name the baby. Anyone was yet to even ask Rose when she was
due. For the first time since marrying Jack and moving to Chippewa Falls, Rose
felt like a outsider.
"I’ll get that." Jack
squeezed her hand as the doorbell rang.
"I’ll go with you."
Rose followed him.
"Sorry I’m late." Bill
sheepishly smiled when the door was opened.
"Come on in." Jack
happily smiled, hoping that some of the tension would dissipate once Bill
arrived.
"I brought some cranberry
sauce. My mother’s recipe." Bill held up a covered dish.
"I’ll take that." Nancy
happily smiled, taking the bowl and disappearing into the dining room.
"Why Rose you look lovely
tonight." Bill took her hand and kissed it. "Jack’s a lucky
man."
Rose just smiled and followed
Jack back into the setting room.
"Bill you made it."
Charles shook Bill’s hand. "Everyone! This is the man that saved my son’s
life!"
Everyone one clapped, making Bill
blush with embarrassment.
"Dad, I think you’re making
Bill uncomfortable." Jack warned.
"Oh. Sorry." Charles
sheepishly apologized. "I’m just so thankful…"
"Don’t think anything of
it." Bill laughed, letting Jack lead him to the couch.
"You can set on the other
side of Rose there." Jack pointed.
During dinner, Bill observed the
Dawson family. They seemed like a happy and friendly bunch. But for the life of
him he couldn’t figure out one thing. Why were they ignoring Rose who seemed to
stand out from the table of blonds with her fiery red hair. Rose must be a
master at hiding her feelings, because she almost didn’t look upset, but Bill
saw the look in her eyes when someone asked Jolene a question about her coming
baby and how everyone seemed to skirt around Rose. Of course Rose had Jack’s
full attention, but that was different. He was her husband.
Finally dinner was finished and
everyone was gathering into the setting room again when Rose got to her feet
she grabbed Jack’s arm.
"Darling, I’m going upstairs
for the rest of the night. I’m not feeling too well. I think the baby’s tired
from all the excitement."
"Are you ok?" Jack’s
blue eyes filled with concern. "Is it the baby?"
"No. I’m just worn out. I’ll
be upstairs if you need anything."
"If you need anything just
call me ok? I’ll be upstairs in a few to check on you." Jack kissed her
forehead.
Rose only smiled and hurried
upstairs. Jack turned around to face Bill.
"Hey are you have a good
time?" Jack asked his friend, knowing how he wasn’t used to people and may
feel uncomfortable.
"I’m fine. Where did Rose
go?" Bill asked curiously. For some reason he felt a deep concern for
Rose. He felt so paternal towards the girl and wanted to make sure that she was
ok.
"She went upstairs to lay
down. She said she was tired." Jack sighed, glancing up the stairs. The
concern in his eyes were evident. "You know maybe I should go up there and
check on her, maybe she needs a doctor or something."
Bill laughed. "I’m sure
she’s fine. Thanksgiving can take a lot out of a girl who’s not used to
cooking."
"I should know that right?
But a part of me just wants to take care of her. Make sure she’s safe and
happy…"
"It’s called the new
husband/father syndrome. Listen, I was going to ask you where the bathroom was
anyway. Do you want me to stop in to check on her?"
"Would you? Rose kind of
hates it when I constantly check up on her, but I don’t she’ll mind you
asking." Jack looked at Bill.
"Sure thing kid. I like that
girl. I want to make sure she’s ok as well. I’ll be back." Bill head
upstairs, leaving Jack to return to the group, his thoughts full of Rose and
their baby.
Bill walked down the dim hall
towards the restroom when he heard the sobs coming from the room on the right.
Peering into the open door, his heart nearly broke. Rose was curled up on the
bed, sobbing into the pillow.
"Rose?" Bill took a
tentative step into the room. She didn’t look up to acknowledge his presence,
but her sobs did lessen.
"Rose sweetie, what’s wrong?
Why are you crying?" He asked, setting down on the corner of the bed.
Gently patting the girl’s shoulder.
"It’s nothing. Just
pregnancy hormones." Rose swallowed, hopping that Bill would buy her lame
explanation.
Bill sighed. He was never one to
except lies for truth. Especially when the truth was already evident for him.
"Rose…it’s the way those people treated you tonight ain’t it? I watched
and saw how they ignored you."
Rose wiped away her tears and sat
up, her green eyes tearfully pleading. "Don’t tell Jack. Please. He’ll be
so angry with them…he’ll probably insist on leaving again and I don’t want
that. I don’t want to come between him and his family and that will happen if
he knew about this."
Bill sighed, Jack needed to know
about this. "Rose…how did this get started anyway? You’re a charming girl.
You should be able to win anybody over."
"It’s Jack’s Uncle Weaver.
He’s turned mostly everyone against me. For some reason he doesn’t like me very
much."
Bill swallowed back his own
rising anger. He wanted to go down there and pound Weaver Dawson into the
ground for hurting Rose like he was. "Do you want to come back to the
cabin with me until this Weaver guy leaves?"
Rose looked at Bill, as if she
was really considering the offer, then her eyes dimmed once again. "I
can’t. Jack would ask questions and I can’t let him know about this because I
don’t want him angry."
Bill nodded. "As well he
should be. You’re a part of this family too. Even more so since you two were
married longer."
Rose again burst into tears.
"What’s going to become of my baby!?"
"Shh. This baby is going to
grow up healthy and loved. You and Jack have enough love to make up for all
those people. Believe me, I’ve seen it."
"Rose?" Jack suddenly
appeared in the doorway. His eyes widen at the sight of her tears. "Rose
sweetie, what’s wrong?" He immediately goes to her and pulls her into his
arms. "Why are you so sad?"
"I’ll leave you two
alone." Bill got up. He looked at Rose and felt his heart break again.
What was it about this girl that made him want to protect her with everything
he had. He hoped that Rose told Jack what was bothering her so he could set it
right. But somehow he doubted she would. Sighing sadly, he went back downstairs
and waited for Jack to come back down to say good-bye. Some how, dinner at the
Dawson’s had left a bad taste in his mouth.
Meanwhile, back upstairs, Jack
held Rose until her tears subsided. Then he turned her to face him. "Now
how about telling me what made you cry like this?"
Rose sniffed and wiped away a
stray tear. Looking in to Jack’s all so trusting face, she couldn’t bring
herself to tell him the truth. The truth would hurt him terribly and she never
wanted to hurt him. She wanted his holidays to be happy and joyful, even if she
was miserable. "Oh Jack…it’s just…it’s just pregnant woman jitters. That’s
all. I guess this pregnancy is really playing with my emotions. I’m sorry. I
don’t mean to make you worry."
"Rose…is that really all or
is there something else? You can tell me anything. You know that."
Rose nodded, feeling terrible for
lying, but to preserve Jack’s happiness it had to be done. "I’m positive
darling. Now stop worrying. Goodness what are you going to do for the next four
months?"
Jack laughed. "I’ll just
have to grin and bear it now won’t I?" Jack leaned in and kissed her.
"I love you Rosie. You and this baby are everything to me. Don’t ever
doubt that."
"I don’t Jack. I don’t doubt
it in the least. I just…I just want you to be happy and I know spending the
holidays with your family is making you the happiest I’ve ever seen you. And
that makes me happy."
"I want you to be happy too
Rose. If you are unhappy in anyway, tell me. I’ll fix it."
"You’re sweet." Rose
smiled tenderly touching his face. At that moment nothing existed except for
Rose and Jack. "I’ll always be happy as long as I have your love."
Jack and Rose move closer
together in a full kissing, falling back onto the bed. They visited the stars
together and remained in each other’s arms for the rest of the night.