LOVERS LOST AND CHILDREN FOUND
Chapter Thirteen

Jack was sitting in a porch chair, wondering what Eva was discussing with Cal. If he hurt her in any way, Jack would kill him. A car came around the corner that reminded him of the one he and Rose had made love in aboard the Titanic. The car pulled into the driveway, and Cal and Eva started towards the front door.

Eva saw her tense father, and said, "Dad, we need to talk to you in the dining room."

"S-sure." Jack led the way into the dining room. He sat at the table. Cal was across from him, and Eva was next to him.

"So, Father…Mr. Hockley said that we would help us fight for custody of Summer," Eva said, gesturing towards Cal.

"Okay. How do we do something like this?" Jack asked Cal.

*****

A block away, Rose was walking with Summer. "Summer, would you like to learn a new song?" Rose asked.

"Sure. What’s it called?" the little girl asked.

"It’s called Come Josephine in My Flying Machine. All right. Are you ready to hear it? This is how it goes…"

All the way home, the two giggled, singing Come Josephine in My Flying Machine.

*****

Rose made her way up the porch and into the house with Summer. They went into the dining room. Everyone there was sitting at the table. They turned their heads towards Rose and Summer.

"Daddy!" Summer ran towards her father and they hugged.

"Hello, Summer."

Rose stood there, looking at a face she had never thought would be sitting across from Jack in her house. Why, it was like a reunion of some sort. Rose felt if she would faint, until strong arms caught her.

"Rose, this is Mr. Hockley." Rose was still speechless. Cal nodded. He got up and went towards Rose, who flinched when he tried to shake her hand.

"Uh…hello, Cal." She shook his hand.

"Go into your room, Eva and Summer. We need to discuss some things," Jack said, guiding Rose to sit next to him. Cal sat across from them.

"Okay, Cal. Here is the deal. Let’s just forget everything that happened on April 14, 1912. Deal?" Jack stuck his hand across the table.

"Sure." Cal shook his hand, man-to-man.

"Rose? Do you agree?" Jack asked.

"I am sorry, Jack. You may be able to forgive and forget, but not me. When you said Eva was going to get Cal, I honestly didn’t think he’d come here!" Rose said, standing up and raising her voice a little. "I’m sorry, Cal, but I can’t forget the torture I went through with you, not just on the Titanic, but in Europe, too. Remember the time you threw away my favorite bracelet, which my father had given me? The time you slapped me because I went out without telling anyone? Yes. I am sorry. I love Summer with all my heart, but you and Jack may handle this. Good-bye." Rose ran out the door.

"My goodness…" Cal muttered under his breath. "To be honest, Jack, I really don’t remember those things," Cal said. He really had been wrong about Rose.

"Cal…" Jack started getting up. "Why don’t we meet at the pier tomorrow?"

"Sure. Good-bye, Dawson." He walked out of the house.

*****

Jack told his daughters he’d be right back. He went after Rose. He saw her sitting on the beach, playing with the sand.

"Rose…" he said, walking slowly towards her.

"Jack, it’s not your fault," she said, not even looking up. She felt Jack sit next to her.

"I understand your anger towards the man. I really do, and I am sorry, but we both know we need his money desperately," Jack said, hugging a shaken Rose.

"I know. I know…" Rose cried into Jack’s chest. He was cradling her in his arms.

"Rose?" Jack asked.

"Yes, Jack?"

"Are you okay with this? I am sorry, but we honestly need his help. I will be the one to talk to or see him. If he lays a hand on you or talks to you, tell me, and I will take care of it. I will only bring you into this if I need you, okay?" Jack asked, getting up and helping Rose up, too.

"Sure, Jack." Rose smiled, taking his hand and walking home.

The Next Day

Jack walked up to Cal. They were in a fancy café.

"So, Dawson, how do we do this?" Cal asked.

"Well, I think we should send the papers to Nicole telling her I want full custody. Then, we’ll go from there." Jack smiled.

"Then I’ll get the lawyers on it." Cal smirked.

He and Jack ate.

The Next Day, at Nicole Smith’s House

There was a knock on the door.

"Coming!" Nicole called, getting out of bed and looking at the clock. Ten o‘clock. "I overslept." She answered the door. "Hello, and you are…?"

"These are papers from Mr. Lemont."

"Okay…"

"I need you to sign here."

"There you go. Good-bye," Nicole said, shutting the door and sitting down on the loveseat.

"What the…I am going to kill Jack!"

*****

"How did it go, Jack?" Rose asked, putting the finishing touches on the design for her wedding cake.

"Oh, it was fine. Today, Nicole should get the papers, and this Friday we go to court," Jack said, going towards Rose. They kissed. Jack put his hand on Rose’s stomach. She was one month pregnant.

"Jack, you seem so stressed," Rose said, caressing his cheek.

"Well, we seem to have a lot of drama these days." He smiled at Rose.

"Seeing that it’s late and the children are asleep…care to take a trip?" Rose smirked.

Jack smiled. "Sure. To the stars we go!" Jack laughed, and so did Rose as Jack carried her to their room.

Friday, at Court

"Mr. Dawson, why should we grant you custody of Summer Dawson?" the judge asked Jack.

"Well…" Jack said, standing up. "I am her biological father. Her mother left her. Her mother’s excuse was that she couldn’t handle being a wife and mother. So I believe Summer shouldn’t be left with the chance that her mother might run off again," Jack said calmly to the judge.

"Well, we’ve heard your side. Now we need to hear Miss Smith’s side. On Monday, I will have your answer. All right?" the judge asked Jack. "Go ahead, Miss Smith," the judge ordered.

"This is why I believe I should be granted custody. She is my daughter. I gave birth--"

"Objection! That’s something Mr. Dawson can’t do!" Mr. Lemont shouted.

"Order! Order! Miss Smith, Mr. Lemont is right. That is not a reason," the judge said.

Jack smiled, as did Rose and the children, who sat behind them.

"Fine. Another is that I love her, and I promise I will not leave her behind as I once did!" Nicole started to tear up. Everyone could tell her tears were fake.

"Yes, just like those vows you made to me?" Jack commented.

"Mr. Dawson, that was uncalled for. All right, this weekend, I shall make my decision. You will both get letters. Court is adjourned!" the judge said as he slammed his gavel on the desk.

"Oh, Jack, I hope we get to keep Summer!" Rose said, hugging Jack.

"Me, too. Me, too, Rose." Jack smiled.

Nicole just gave Rose a dirty look, which she caught and returned.

Monday

"Jack! Jack!" Rose shouted, coming into the house.

"What, Rose?" Jack asked, walking towards Rose.

"Have you forgotten?" Eva asked, jumping around Rose with Summer holding Eva’s hand.

"Oh, yes! The letter!" Jack said, smacking his forehead. "Rose, you open it! You’re my good luck charm." Rose smiled at his comment, then opened the letter fiercely, but not enough to rip the envelope. Rose’s eyes opened wide. She started jumping up and down.

"We got her, right?" Eva asked, her emerald-green eyes twinkling.

"Yes! Yes, we did!" Rose said, jumping into Jack’s arms.

"Thanks, Eva, for getting Cal, and I will have to thank Cal," Jack said, kissing Rose, then bending down towards Summer.

"We get to keep you, Summer. Aren’t you happy?" Jack asked.

"Yes, Daddy, I am." Summer smiled, hugging her father.

"Jack…" Rose said strangely, scaring Jack.

"What?" Jack asked, his voice shaking.

"Nicole gets two days with her a month," Rose said, smiling sadly.

"Well, I guess that’s fair." Jack smiled back. "At least we get to keep Summer." Jack kissed Rose.

Nicole and Jack talked about the days Nicole would meet with Summer. After that, Jack walked towards the Hockley house and knocked on the door.

"Yes?" a little girl asked Jack.

"Is your father here?" Jack asked sweetly.

"Yes. Come on in." The little girl stepped aside to let Jack in, then closed the door and went to get her father. A couple of minutes later, Cal came in, shocked to see Jack again.

"Hello, Mr. Dawson," Cal said, shaking Jack’s hand.

"Hi. Well, I came here to thank you for helping me keep my daughter," Jack said.

"You’re welcome. I am assuming you got custody?" Cal asked, sitting on the couch next to Jack.

"Yes, and I almost forgot. Would you and your family like to come to the wedding?" Jack asked Cal.

"Sure. When is it?" Cal asked.

"We are not sure. You’ll get an invitation. Probably soon, because Rose is pregnant and she doesn’t want to be showing." Jack chuckled.

Cal was shocked. "She’s pregnant again. That’s nice," Cal said, hurting inside.

"Well, I have to go. Good-bye, Mr. Hockley," Jack said, waving.

He went back to his house.

Chapter Fourteen
Stories