LOVE IS MORE THAN A FEELING
Chapter Twenty-Six
Rose stared at Cal. She
half-stood, wanting to run, but sank back onto the couch, afraid of harm coming
to Elisa. As her mind whirled with indecision, Cal approached her.
"Hello, sweetpea. It’s been a long time."
At that, Rose regained her courage. "Not
long enough," she retorted, staring at him. "What are you doing
here?"
Cal smiled. "I came to see my fiancée,
sweetpea."
Rose didn’t return the smile. "I’m not
your fiancée anymore. Get it through your thick skull. I’m Jack Dawson’s wife.
We have a baby." She glared at him. "Go find someone else."
Cal shook his head, the smile vanishing.
"I don’t think so, sweetpea." He pulled a gun from his pocket, aiming
it at them. "You’re coming with me."
Rose got to her feet, standing firm, though
her heart was pounding with fear. She remembered his attempt to shoot herself
and Jack on the Titanic, the way he had shot her and almost killed her in New
York City—and the way that he was allowed to go free, calling it an accident.
Would the same thing happen this time?
"No, Cal. I’m not going anywhere with
you."
Cal just looked at her, then turned the gun
slightly, aiming it directly at Elisa. "If you want that baby to live,
you’ll do as I say." His voice was hard and implacable.
Rose stared at him. "You won’t shoot
her. Even you wouldn’t kill an innocent child."
Cal continued to point the gun at the baby,
his hand and his expression never wavering. With a sick, sinking feeling, Rose
realized that Cal would kill Elisa if she didn’t obey him.
"At least let me bring Elisa," Rose
pleaded. "She’s too young to be left alone."
Cal looked at the infant for a moment, then
nodded, gesturing toward the door with the gun.
Her heart pounding with dread, Rose walked in
the direction he indicated, the still-sleeping baby cradled in her arms. Cal
followed behind them, the gun aimed at Rose’s back.