A MISUNDERSTANDING
Chapter Eight
A Care in the World
Rose plopped down on the patio
chair on the front porch next to Cal. "You know, everyone told me that
life isn’t fair and nobody’s perfect. But they haven’t met us."
Cal laughed. "You really
think so?" After a month, the family was settled in the summerhouse. Rose
and Cal were now lounging in the front yard while Jayvelin and Jacob played
among the flowerbeds spread out in front of them.
"Cal, I know you said you
wouldn’t want to live in the country all the time, but even a city-slicker like
you could get used to a place like this. And we don’t have to live here all the
time. Once we get a plan going, we could--"
He silenced her. "No. It’s
perfect right here. And you know why?"
"Because I’m so
wonderful?"
"Heh. Yep, that’s about right.
In fact, you’re so wonderful that I couldn’t imagine spending a single moment
apart from you." From his pocket he extracted a dark velvet box. Rose
gasped even before he opened it to reveal a sparkling, delicate diamond ring.
"Rose DeWitt Bukater, will
you be my wife?"
"Yes!" She threw her
arms around him, and he breathed in the smell of her almond-scented hair and
the lingering aroma of flowers clinging to her with the happiness and delight
of someone without a single care in the world.
*****
After a few months, the wedding
date was set and plans for the small, intimate ceremony had begun to be woven.
Rose was up to her waist in sample bouquets when a knock was heard at her front
door. She held a few lilies up to Jayvelin’s nose. "Does that smell pretty?"
The little girl nodded her yes.
"Miss Rose," the butler
called from the entryway. "There’s a caller for you."
Still smiling, she went to see
who it was. When she saw the person standing next to the butler, Rose screamed.