LET’S LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND
Chapter Forty-One
The next morning, Rose lay awake
in Jack’s arms. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Her midnight conversation
with Weaver, her conversation with Ruth, and the coming confrontation with
Bill. If it wasn’t one thing it was another. What did the world want from her?
Sighing, she turned to face Jack’s chest and buried her face there, inhaling
his scent. The scent of charcoal, sweat, and something that was completely Jack
alone. God she loved him. If it weren’t for him, she’d be lost by now.
Weaver was wrong when he said
Rose was a high-class girl that Jack barely knew. He knew her…everything there
was to know anyway and she knew him. They were now apart of each other and
nothing could come between that.
"Rose." strong arms
wrapped around her, pulling her closer. "Good morning."
"Good morning Jack. Sleep
well?"
"I guess. The only time I
didn’t was when you slipped out of bed and were gone for a good half hour.
Where were you?"
"I got a glass of water. I
couldn’t get to sleep. I’m sorry if I disturbed you."
"You didn’t." Jack
kissed her forehead. "I just missed the warmth of having you beside me. I
better get up. I have a shower to take and you have Molly to feed and then
we’re both had to go down to breakfast. When do you want to go to Bill’s?"
Rose frowned. She had hoped that
somehow Jack forgot about going to see Bill today, but somehow she knew he
wouldn’t. "After breakfast I guess. The sooner we get this over with, the
better."
"You make it sound like you’re
going to your execution." Jack laughed, sliding out from under her.
"It’s not that bad."
"Jack…you don’t understand.
This is my real father we’re talking about here, and I barely know him. What if
he decides he hates me? What if he wishes he had someone else as a daughter,
someone stronger and prettier and…"
"Rose sweetie, you are all
those things and more. It doesn’t get any better than this." Jack smiled
setting back down and running a hand through her red curls. "Bill’s going
to love both you and Molly. You’ll see."
"You’re always so
optimistic." Rose smiled gratefully. Then her smile faded as she
remembered the conversation she had with Weaver the night before.
"Jack…Uh…I have something to confess."
"What?"
"Last night…I kind of had a
sort of argument with your uncle." Rose cleared her throat, knowing that
Jack wasn’t going to be too happy.
"What?"
"Well, it wasn’t actually an
argument. It was more like a discussion I suppose."
"What did he say this
time?" Jack’s voice was on the edge of anger. He had enough of his Uncle’s
attitude towards Rose and it was going to stop as soon as Jack saw him.
"What he said wasn’t
important. It’s what I said in return. Oh Jack, I know I shouldn’t have, and if
it got back to your parents, they’re sure to hate me…"
"Rose…what is this all
about?"
"Well…I told Weaver that if
he tried to force me to leave town again, I’ll take you and Molly with me and
he’d never see either of you again. I didn’t actually mean it Jack…I was just
mad." Rose sighed, sure that Jack would be mad about such a threat. That
was why she’s so surprised to hear laughter.
"That’s what you told him
huh?" Jack stopped laughing long enough to talk. "What did he say
after that?"
"I left before he could say
anything. Jack, I may have made things worse."
"Somehow I don’t think so.
There’s nothing my uncle loves more than a spirited woman and now that he’s see
yours, you may have earned his respect."
"Ahem." Weaver stood in
the doorway. He had something very important to say to both Jack and Rose.
"Uncle Weaver…what do you
want?" Jack stood in front of his wife, as if to shield her from any harsh
words Weaver planned to say, but what Weaver had to say took Jack totally by
surprise.
"I just wanted to apologize.
To both you and Rose. Especially Rose. I know I’ve been the cause of your
recent troubles and I now realize the errors of my ways. I just hope you can
forgive me."
Jack’s eyes lit up with
happiness. Finally his uncle was going to accept Rose’s place in the family.
This was the day Jack had thought would never come. Rose on the other hand felt
livid. After all the trouble he had caused, Weaver was finally apologizing. How
convenient after her threat last night. She really wanted to tell Weaver where
to stick his apology. But looking at Jack’s face, so full of relief and
happiness that his Uncle had finally seen the light, she decided to let things
rest. For Jack’s sake. This must have been so hard on him. Two of the people he
loved in the world at each other’s throats. It was indeed time to call a truce.
Not only for Jack’s sake, but for Molly’s as well.
"Before I met Jack, I
learned how to hold grudges for a long time. But since I met Jack…and what we
had gone through…life is too short. So we forgive you. But forgive me if I have
a hard time not being suspicious. You have tried a number of times to break us
up." Rose squeezed her husband’s hand.
"Don’t worry. My days of
trying to break you up are over." Weaver nodded in understanding. "I
saw first hand last night why my nephew loves you so much. Behind that etiquette
and proper manners lays the heart of a lion. A woman that stands up for what
she believes in and does not let anyone step all over her. I have to say that
I’m proud of his taste in women and his ability to see beneath the surface. How
about you Jack? I’ve made you plenty angry at me plenty of times. Do you
forgive me?"
A smile lit up Jack’s face and he
left Rose’s side to hug his Uncle. "Of course. Thank you. This…this makes
everything alright now."
"I’m sorry for all the times
I knowingly hurt you…"
"Uncle Weaver, it’s ok. I
forgive you. And so does Rose. This means the world to us." Jack smiled.
"I know. Well…I better head
back downstairs. Oh and breakfast is on the table. Your ma cooked up a feast today
boy." Weaver grinned.
"We’ll be down." Jack
nodded. "Just give us five more minutes."
"Ok. See you both
downstairs." Weaver left them alone, heading down to help set the table.
Jack went to his wife and pulled
her into a warm embrace. "Thank you Rose. I know how much he’s hurt you
and you forgave him anyway."
"Believe me Jack, it wasn’t
easy. I wanted so much to tell him where to go, but then I looked in your eyes
and then at our daughter. Weaver’s your family and you love him. And I knew
that all the fighting was hurting you and I didn’t want to be the cause of
that. So I decided that it was best to let it go. For both you and Molly."
"You are a wonderful woman
Rose Dawson." Jack kissed the top of her head.
"You’re the best Jack. The
best there is. I don’t ever want to lose you."
"You won’t. And now that
Weaver has stopped his campaign, we are free to concentrate on more important
stuff. Like you and your father. We’ll head for Bill’s after breakfast
ok?"
Rose swallowed, her nervousness
back. "Ok. But promise you’ll never leave my side. Not even once."
"I promise Rose. I’ll be
right beside you and so will Molly." Jack held her tighter.
Rose felt her lips turn up in a
smile. She was loved and secure in Jack’s embrace. She knew that no matter what
she’ll always have Jack and he’d always have her. She just hoped things went
well with her father. And if they did…then maybe she can work on her
relationship with her mother. With Jack by her side, she felt like she could do
anything.
*****
Bill’s house stood quiet and
dimly lit. He sat in a chair, smoking a pipe, his mind on his daughter and
granddaughter, wondering if he’d ever get to know either of them. He knew Rose
returned to town last night, with her new born daughter. He was going to go
over to the house, but thought better of it. Let Rose get settled first. And
then…then he could approach her as a father. He jumped at the sound of knocking
at the front door. Frowning he wondered who it could be. He never got any
visitors except for Jack and Rose. Ruth had been by only once, and hadn’t
bothered to return. She was probably thankful that she had left him for the
rich Albert Bukater. Standing up, he yawns, walking over the door. His eyes lit
up in surprise when he opened the door to Jack and Rose, who held a tiny bundle
in her arms.
"Jack? Rose?" Bill
looked at the couple in disbelief. "I-I wasn’t expecting you."
"We thought we’d come by and
introduce Molly to her grandfather." Jack lifted the bundle out of Rose’s
arms and into Bill’s. "Bill meet Margaret Nancy Dawson."
"She’s beautiful. Just like
her mother." tears appeared in Bill’s eyes. The precious child he held in
his arms was the most beautiful child he had ever seen with her bright blue
eyes and blond fuzz on top of her head.
"She looks so much like Jack
it’s scary." Rose blushed.
"Thank you. Thank you for
bringing her to see me. Holding her like this…it makes me realize even more
just how much I’ve missed. If only I had a chance to hold my daughter like
this."
"B-Bill…I would like a
chance to build a relationship with you. I want you to be a part of Molly’s
life. I may not have known who my father was…but I want Molly to know her
grandfather. Her real grandfather."
"And we plan on making that
happen by inviting you to dinner at the house. It’ll give you a chance to spend
some more time with Molly and Rose." Jack squeezed his wife’s shoulder.
Bill frowned, remembering the
last time he was there. "What about Ruth?"
"Ruth won’t be there. I’ve
asked her to wait until I got in touch with her. I’m still angry with her.
Keeping something so big from me…from both of us…it’s inexcusable." Rose
grumbled.
Bill swallowed. He didn’t want
Rose to remain angry with Ruth like this. He had made his peace with the fact
that Ruth lied and he wanted Rose to do the same as well. For the good of what
family they may have. Besides, the truth was out now and that was the important
thing. The past was something they couldn’t change, but the future was
something they could. "Rose...I think you ought to forgive your mother. I
know she lied and made you believe a man that wasn’t your father was, but
that’s the past. We have to leave it there for our own sakes as well as hers.
Especially Molly’s. Do you get what I’m saying?"
"You want to me to go ahead
and invite her to dinner don’t you?" Rose sighed, her face falling to hide
her reeling emotions. She didn’t yet know if she was ready to be around Ruth
just yet. Her mother had hurt her terribly. Had made her earlier life a lie,
something that meant nothing at all. Had made her go through numerous things
that had caused her great discomfort, her engagement to Caledon Hockley being
one of them. But she supposed if she could forgive Weaver Dawson for all he’s
done, she could at least try to do the same for her own mother. "Ok. I’ll
send a telegram."
"Ruth isn’t a bad woman
Rose. Really she isn’t. She just thinks with her head more then with her heart.
She’s ruled by reason. She truly does love you and hopes you forgive her."
Bill sincerely looks at Rose, his eyes full of emotion. It was obvious that he
was still in love with Ruth Dewitt Bukater. He just didn’t know how to express
it.
"I hope you’re right Bill. I
really do." Rose bowed her head, wishing that she could have the same
belief in her mother. That she didn’t know the things she did.
"Well…I guess we better get
going if we’re going to send that telegram in enough time." Jack lifted
Molly back into his arms. "We’ll see you tonight."
"I look forward to it."
Bill smiled at the young man he had begun to look at as a son.
Rose hugged the older man
tightly, already feeling at ease with him. It was obvious that she had accepted
him as her father and loved him as such. It felt good to have a father again.
It really did. "See you tonight."
"Keep your head up. And
don’t let that Weaver push you around." Bill released his daughter, hot
tears in his eyes. For the first time in his life, he felt like he belonged to
someone. Finally he had someone to think of him on holidays and birthdays. His
years of loneliness were over.
He stood at his door, watching
the young family disappear down the pathway, hand in hand and in love. He felt
a smile warm his heart. His daughter was well cared for and loved. That was one
thing he would never have to worry about.