A TWIST OF FATE
Chapter Sixty-Four
Jack stared out in the darkness and tried to
get comfortable. The couch was lumpy and he couldn’t sleep anyway. He listened
intently to the sounds outside, a train in the distance, two drunks on the
street. He was listening for the sound of anyone walking down the corridor.
The dark gave nothing away. Jack was still
worried about whether or not he did the right thing getting involved. He could
hear Rose’s disturbed breathing. No doubt she was having a tough time in her
dreams. Could she cope with this way of life? Could she cope with the fear that
Cal would find her?
No doubt it wasn’t a pretty sight at the
Hockley household, Jack thought. He shuddered. The wrath that was Cal’s would
not be pleasant.
Jack sighed and thought of the difficult
afternoon he had had. Rose was terribly upset and fearful. She was terrified of
being alone whilst Jack went out for some dinner. But they had no choice, as
there was nothing to eat in the cupboard. Jack saw no one unusual whilst he was
out and things were fine, but she was in state when he got back. He promised
he’d whistle as he approached the door to let her know it was he, but she was
shaking as he opened the door. She would hardly eat and said little.
They had said little all evening, and Rose
asked to go to bed early. Jack politely left the room whilst she got ready and
acted as lookout whilst she used the bathroom. But he felt very uncomfortable
and wondered just what Rose was thinking. This was what he had wanted, Rose away
from Cal. But not like this. Rose was a stranger. He didn’t know what was in
her mind.
He heard Rose stir.
"Rose, are you awake?" he
whispered.
"Yes," she answered. "I can’t
sleep too well."
"Neither can I."
"Do you know, Jack, this is the first
time I have been alone at night with a man other than Cal?"
"You don’t have anything to fear from
me, Rose. I said I’d look after you."
"I know, Jack, but I am so afraid."
"You have done the hardest part now. It
will get easier. Tomorrow, or should I say later today, we will be gone from
here."
"I feel alone. I don’t know what I am
doing."
It seemed to Jack that speaking into the
darkness, where neither could see, made it easier for Rose to open up.
"It’ll all work out in the end. We have
to get out of Philadelphia first. You got the clothes from Trudy to wear on the
train, right?"
"Yes. Oh, poor Trudy, I hope she is all
right."
"Trudy knew what she was doing. I can’t
promise you she is OK, but she is smart. I’m sure it’ll work out for her,
too."
"Oh, what have I done?" she cried.
"Rose, you got away and you know this is
the only thing you could have done. You did the right thing. You know what Cal
is capable of and what he did. Now you have to think of yourself and move
on."
There was silence. Then Rose sighed.
"You are right, Jack. We are both awake.
Let us get ready and catch the first train out of here."