SEASONS OF LOVE
Chapter Seven
It was a lovely summer day, the sun shining
warmly but not hot, the lawn green and the flowers in full bloom. From my seat
in the garden, I could hear the children playing, laughing as they ran about.
I stretched lazily, getting up to watch them.
The neighbors had warned me that they had seen a strange man hanging around,
which was unusual in that small, close-knit community, but I wasn’t terribly
worried. We hadn’t seen him at all, and there had been no reports of break-ins
and such.
I walked out from the shady, secluded spot
where I had been sitting, watching John Robert chase a squealing Ellie across
the lawn. Sarah and Louisa sat in the shade of a large oak tree, watching the
childish antics with disdain.
It was then that I saw him. He was standing
near the gate, watching the children and me with interest. From this distance,
I couldn’t see who he was, but he had overlong blonde hair and a slightly
scruffy appearance.
He reminded me all too well of someone I had
once known. Angry and yet curious, I marched over to the gate, intent on
finding out who he was and what he wanted. It was then that I got an even
bigger shock.
It had been over six years since I had seen
him, but the face was unmistakable. Jack Dawson stood before me, his eyes
taking in the whole scene.
My step faltered as I neared the gate.
"Jack?" I whispered, not quite believing it. I had thought him dead
all this time; it seemed impossible that he stood before me now, alive and well.
"Rose?" He smiled. "I knew it
was you!"
I didn’t know what to say or do. A few years
earlier, I would have thrown myself into his arms, rejoicing in the seeming
miracle of his being alive. But things were different now. I was married, and a
mother. Seeing Jack was the last thing I had ever expected.
"Jack…my God…what are you doing here? I
thought you were dead."
"I thought the same thing of you."
He pushed back his hair nervously. "When I found out you were alive, I
came to see you."
"Jack…I…"
"I know. You’re married now. Rose
Calvert." He paused, looking at me. "I just came to be sure you were
okay. You jump, I jump, remember? I can see that you are, though. You
look…content."
"I am, for the most part."
He nodded. "I had to be sure before I
went back to Chippewa Falls. That’s all I wanted." He turned to go.
"Jack…wait."
He turned back, looking at me questioningly.
"Jack…I…about my marriage…I had to get
married. I was expecting a baby…your son."
His expression changed, becoming both
surprised and pleased. "I have a son?"
"Yes…his name is John Robert Calvert.
He’s five years old now."
"Can I see him?"
I froze, suddenly realizing the consequences
of Jack knowing about his son. Would he want me to come away with him? Would he
want to take him from me? Once, I would have gladly gone anywhere with Jack, but
things were different now. I was married…and I was happy. No matter how much I
loved Jack, I couldn’t jeopardize that.
I shook my head. "No, Jack. It…it isn’t
a good idea."
"Why not?"
"Because he doesn’t know about you. He
thinks that Andrew is his father."
"Andrew? Is that your husband’s
name?"
I nodded. "Yes. And as far as everyone
we know is concerned, John Robert is Andrew’s son. I can’t tell anyone
otherwise…not now."
"Rose, I just want to meet him…"
"No! I can’t let him know about you.
It’s too late. Andrew and I have been married for six years, almost since I
found out that I was going to have a baby. He is John Robert’s father, the one
who has been there all of his life. I can’t let you come in and change that. It
just wouldn’t work."
He seemed to be about to say more, but
something in my face stopped him. Finally, he nodded, stepping away from the
gate.
"If that’s what you want, Rose." He
turned away, then looked at me one more time. "I’m going back to Chippewa
Falls now. Be happy, Rose."
I almost changed my mind, almost called out
to him to stay. But I couldn’t. Our lives had taken separate paths, and there
was no going back.
I turned back towards the garden, where the
children’s voices still rang out. I knew that I had made the right decision, no
matter how much it hurt. I would continue my life here, and Andrew would never
know that John Robert’s father had been here and knew about him.
I froze when I saw Andrew Junior up the path.
He stared at me for a moment, gave me a knowing smile, and walked away, leaving
me to wonder just how much he had seen and heard.