ROMANOV AUTUMN
Chapter Thirty-Three
Two years ago at this time, Jack
would never have imagined his life like this. He hadn't made a fortune on his art,
but he was married to a beautiful woman, who continued to take his breath away.
The morning of their departure
was very emotional; Alyiah embraced her parents, crying with them. Who knew
when she would be coming back again?
"Do not worry about
us," Geena insisted. "You are a grown woman now, and will soon have
your own children to care for."
Mrs. Vernonin turned her
daughter's face towards her and smiled. "Do make sure you bring your
children to visit your father and I when you can," she said in Russian,
and Alyiah laughed through her tears, glancing at Jack, who was speaking with
her father...or, at least, attempting to.
"Do write to us, will
you?" Geena begged, and Alyiah nodded, hugging her sister tightly.
"I promise," she
replied, and went to her brothers. Pyotr begged her not to go, that he would
now be the only youngest, and picked on even worse than before. Alyiah knelt
down and pulled him into a rib-crushing embrace, insisting it would help him
grow stronger if he resisted his elder siblings' torment.
"Besides," she
continued, "I am not often home, so I do not see the difference."
"But you will not come home
to give me some relief," he whined, and everyone laughed.
A few moments later, it was time
to leave, and Jack aided Alyiah into the cart before climbing in himself.
Sergei was to drive them to the train station, which would take them to the
same dock they arrived on three months ago.
"Good-bye!" Alyiah
called to her family as the cart began to move, waving frantically as they
began to disappear around a bend. When she could see them no longer, she
snuggled up to Jack, sighing with contentment when he put his arm around her
shoulders.
"I could not imagine having
an arranged marriage," she said, and Jack smiled at her.
"I have a feeling that might
have been my fate had I not decided to leave Wisconsin," he teased, and
she stuck out her tongue. He kissed her forehead, allowing her to place her
hand against his thigh.
They reached the train platform
by early afternoon, and Alyiah hugged Sergei, kissing him on the cheek. She
told him she loved him in Russian, and he said the same to her, nodding to Jack
afterwards.
"Good luck, Dawson. You have
some Russian blood in you."
Jack smiled as he and Alyiah
boarded the train, and she watched sadly as her brother walked to the cart. She
looked beautiful in her white traveling dress with matching gloves. Her hair
was much longer now, ending just a little above her breasts, and curled at the
ends. She was quiet for most of the journey, and Jack understood how hard it
was to leave home. However, he didn't regret his adventures at all, but found
himself missing Olivia rather badly. She would be just turning twelve now, and
he hoped Esther was doing all right.
"What are you thinking
about, darling?" Alyiah asked, moving across the car to sit with him, and
he pressed his forehead against hers.
"Just about my own
family," he replied. "I miss them so much...I left home in 1898, and
now it's just 1901. I've been gone for almost three years..."
Alyiah kissed him. "Time
does pass quickly," she agreed, as the train began to come to a stop at
the docks. "Oh, here we are, then...are you ready, Jack?" she asked,
as they began to gather their luggage, and he gulped. He wasn't looking forward
to another sea voyage, after being so ill to his stomach through most of the
others. He lifted his head despite the fact and took Alyiah's arm, insisting he
was more than ready.
As he expected, his stomach
rebelled for the first couple of nights on the ship, and Alyiah sat with him
until he was able to rest more comfortably. When he felt better, they spent a
lot of time wandering along the deck, or just enjoying the early spring
weather. When New York finally approached, Jack pointed out the Statue of
Liberty. It felt wonderful seeing the city again--the lights glowing and crowds
of people wandering the streets. Jack knew exactly where to take Alyiah
first--the home of Mr. Rockefeller.
Sure enough, the millionaire was
there...he was thrilled to see Jack again. Margarita screamed so loudly when she
opened the door, he came running into the hall with the fireplace poker.
The Rockefellers took very kindly
to Alyiah, congratulating Jack on his choice of a bride. As they sat sipping
tea, Margarita clucked her tongue.
"You are still skinny,"
she said, and Alyiah snorted into her teacup at the expression of pure
embarrassment on her husband's face.
"Sorry." Jack laughed
once he composed himself. "I think I'll always be this way. Alyiah can
tell you I eat plenty."
Alyiah nodded. "He is always
telling me I should eat more," she added. "I suppose he gets that
from you?"
Margarita winked. "We are so
proud of you," Mr. Rockefeller began. "What are your plans now?"
Jack cleared his throat.
"We're taking the train to Wisconsin tomorrow where I grew up," he
replied. "It was always in their will that I would get the house when my
parents died, and well...unfortunately that's happened."
Mr. Rockefeller nodded. "If
I can be of any assistance, do not hesitate to ask, my boy," he insisted,
and Jack's eyes widened.
"Sir, you've done enough for
me already. You gave me the chance to travel through Europe. Without that, I
wouldn't have met my wife."
Alyiah blushed as he took her
hand. "Or studied art," she added into his ear, and he nodded.
Mr. Rockefeller chuckled. "I
was happy to help, lad. You're a good man, and I hope you never change. Do you
have a place to sleep tonight?"
Jack looked at Alyiah, who sat
patiently, having finished her tea quite some time ago. She raised her eyebrows
at him, and Margarita stood.
"Say no more," she
began. "You will stay here. If Mrs. Dawson would not object, of
course."
Jack started to protest, but Mr.
Rockefeller ushered he and Alyiah after the maid at once.
"Thank you very much,
sir," Alyiah breathed, and the millionaire gave a nod.
"Of course, my dear. Do make
yourselves comfortable."
Jack and Alyiah were given the
regular guest room with a double, four-poster bed and a set of drawers.
"Thank you," Jack said,
and Margarita placed a kiss on his cheek before sweeping away.
Alyiah stood very still for a
moment before breaking into laughter. "I love them," she said.
"Goodness! I had no idea people with money could be so kind!"
Jack removed his vest, stretched,
and kissed her. "I'm sure not all of them are like that," he
admitted, "but they're a rare find, I agree. Mr. Rockefeller runs the
Standard Oil company, so I worked as his guard before coming to Europe. He paid
my way there."
Alyiah smiled. "Very
good," she replied. "That is very kind of them to let us stay here,
though I am afraid I still feel the rocking of the ship."
Jack laughed, coming up behind
her, and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Does this help?" he
asked, kissing her neck, causing her to groan gently.
"It always helps," she
replied, and he led her to the bed.
"Are you too tired or would
you like to take a walk around the city? We still have a few hours before
dinner."
Alyiah smiled, accepting another
kiss, and nodded eagerly. Mr. Rockefeller seemed fine with the idea, telling
both of them to be careful.
Jack took Alyiah through the
important, safe sections of the city. She was so fascinated by how tall and
close together the buildings were that he had to pull her out of a carriage's
path twice.
"Sorry," she gasped,
and Jack smirked, glad the dirt and mud hadn't splashed her dress. "This
place...it is like a dream," she said as they wandered through Central
Park. Jack enjoyed listening to the wind rustling through the leaves on the
trees, or the water lapping up against the bank of the lake. "Thank you
for taking me here, Jack," she said. "I knew I would love
America."
Jack hugged her tightly. "I
want what is best for you," he replied, and she nodded. They continued
walking through the city, and as they enjoyed the view, Jack had a thought.
"You know what?" he asked, turning to her. "There may be a way
to make love and not have a baby yet."
Alyiah smiled at him. "Of
course there is...we may use protection. Is that what you are thinking?"
Jack kissed her passionately.
"I don't think I can hold back from making love to you too much
longer," he whispered into her ear, and she gave a pleased shudder.
"I feel the same way,"
she agreed, and he touched her cheek with his fingertips.
"We should use protection
until we're sure you're ready for another pregnancy," he added. "I
don't want to risk your life by having another baby too soon. But we'll stop at
the pharmacy and pick up what we need before heading home to the
Rockefellers...are you all right with that, love?" he asked, and Alyiah
was beaming.
"I am very satisfied,"
she answered, and he led her in that direction.
When they bought what they
needed, both were in a very good mood. Mr. Rockefeller inquired of this, and
Jack insisted they had a good time reliving memories through the city.
"It's a shame you both
couldn't stay longer," he said, "or I'd send you to a play or the
opera."
Jack chuckled as Alyiah leaned
her head against his shoulder, purely worn out from all of the exercise.
"I think the sooner we head
for home, the better," he replied, and slipped an arm around Alyiah's waist.
"but maybe we'll come and visit for the holidays."
Mr. Rockefeller chuckled.
"You are most welcome, lad. Both of you. Now go upstairs and clean
up...dinner will be on the table shortly."
Jack brought Alyiah upstairs, where
they washed in the bathroom, and came downstairs to join Mr. Rockefeller in the
dining room. Dinner was excellent, as usual; Jack ate as much as he could,
because he knew the quality of food he would provide Alyiah wouldn't be nearly
as high.
After dinner they sat talking for
a while in the parlor...Mr. Rockefeller enjoyed hearing about Jack's
adventures, but neither of them mentioned Alyiah's first pregnancy. It was too
painful a subject to bring up again, and Jack bristled when Margarita asked if they
planned on having children.
"We hope to," Alyiah
replied softly.
"I am sure they will be very
handsome," Margarita replied. "You must write to us," she added.
"We have been worried not hearing from you, Jack, for as long as we
did."
Eventually it grew very late, and
Jack brought Alyiah upstairs. "Jack," she whined, as they lay under
the covers, and he touched her lips tenderly.
"Tomorrow night, I
promise," he whispered, and she smiled, cuddling as close to him as she
could.
"Good night," she
whispered into his ear, watching as the moon rose over the skyline.