LOVE FOR LIFE AND BEYOND
Chapter Thirteen
Five Months Later
"Rose?"
Rose looked up from her mending in
astonishment. It was Jack’s voice calling her. Yet, he wouldn’t be home at this
time of day.
"Yes, Jack?"
"Come outside for a moment, will
you?"
Rose hurriedly pushed her mending aside and
went outside. It was a lovely day, warm with a breeze that came and went, but
Rose was slightly apprehensive. There was something in Jack’s voice that seemed
unfamiliar. Jack was standing on the lawn, looking like he usually did. Rose
sighed with relief—at least he wasn’t hurt.
"What’s the matter?" she asked.
"I received a letter at work today from
Mr. Barnes. We’re to come to his office immediately." He sounded
perplexed.
Rose frowned. "What do you think has
happened?"
Jack shrugged his shoulders. "I don’t
know, Rose. I don’t know."
They set off for Mr. Barnes’ office, arriving
twenty minutes later. The secretary hardly looked up from her work; she simply
gestured towards Mr. Barnes’ door. Rose walked up to the door, which was
slightly ajar, and pushed it open. She and Jack stepped into the office
tentatively. Up until now Mr. Barnes hadn’t seemed to be aware of their
presence, but he looked up suddenly and told them to sit down. Jack and Rose
obeyed.
"One minute, please," he said.
Mr. Barnes turned towards them with a letter
in his hand. "Are either of you familiar with this law firm?" he
asked, pointing to the letterhead.
The blood drained from Rose’s face as she looked
at the letter. "Cal’s lawyer," she whispered, and fainted dead away.