THE HEART GOES ON
Epilogue
July, 1913
Chippewa Falls
Jack
J.J. gurgled. I waved the rattle
at her. She beamed at me and cooed "Dada" to me. We loved to play and
she liked to grab a crayon and whirl it around on paper intently.
She was such a beautiful child,
her hair turning a red blonde and starting to curl, but she had the blue Dawson
eyes and Rose’s strong but free-spirited, loving personality.
"Come to Daddy, J.J.,"
I cooed to her. She squealed with delight. I blew a raspberry on her tummy and
she giggled.
Rose came into the bedroom.
"You are supposed to be
putting Miss J.J. to bed, not playing with her," she scolded, her red
curls bouncing as she came over to us.
J.J.‘s eyes turned to Rose. She
said "Mama" for her and raised her arms up. Rose’s face melted and
she scooped the tiny tot into her arms.
Our happiness was complete since
the day the demanding six-month-old J.J. had come noisily into the world. She
charmed everyone and was a happy baby, but she knew what she wanted.
Rose was a natural mother with
her. For an upper-class girl who had only been taught flower arranging and how
to sew needlepoint, she was fantastic.
Even Molly and Ruth were amazed
by Rose’s adaptation to married life and motherhood. The housework and domesticity
were mainly due to Aunty’s teachings. Both Aunty and William doted on J.J.
We watched as J.J. dropped off
and slumbered peacefully in her crib.
Rose turned to me with wistful
eyes.
"You know, when J.J. is
older, can we do all the things we promised to do on the Titanic?" she
asked.
"Yes." I laughed.
"Even spitting like a man."
Rose laughed quietly. "Yes,
even that."
"Seriously, when J.J. is a
year old, we will all go and do all those things. We owe it to ourselves. You,
me, and J.J. Aunty will understand," I told Rose. "The farm is in
good shape. We are settled now, but we will go to California, I promise."
"I love you, Jack," she
said simply. "Always. Oh, I have something to show you, Jack," she
added.
Going to the dressing table, she
handed me a letter.
Dear Jack and Rose,
What can I say to you? It’s
all work here in Virginia. I see Mother very little these days, except when she
takes a trip out here. Father is barely on speaking terms with me. I do not
have a lot to say to him.
I am happy to hear that J.J.
is growing and sounds delightful. I would love to see her one day. Anyway, the
big news is that Emily and Caledon were married in a private ceremony at the
end of January.
Now they are parents. Vaughn
and Vivienne Hockley were born last week. Twins! Now Father is beaming and
Mother says Cal had received his fortune. Can you believe Cal’s luck?
Mother made sure Father
restored mine, too. It was the least he could do. What can I say? I am a bit
down right now.
I must go. Work calls.
I will write soon.
Love to all,
Your friend,
Gerard
Rose turned to me, tears in her
eyes. "Cal is such a bastard," she said. "How could he do that
to Gerard? Gerard and Emily loved each other. Cal ruined it. I am sure he
seduced Emily."
"The only thing Cal loves is
money and position," I answered.
"We have each other and our
family," Rose whispered. "You can’t buy that." She hugged me.
I held the woman I loved in my
arms.
"I’ll never let go,"
Rose said softly to me.
"Nor I," I replied, and
kissed her. "I promise you that, my love. We will always be together. No
one will ever change that."
The End.