UNTIL I FOUND YOU
Chapter Ten
"Here you go, folks!
Chippewa Falls! My home sweet home!" Gus announced as they pulled into
town.
Rose gasped with delight. It was
a quaint little town where Jack was from. Small stores and restaurants lined
the streets. There was a park just in the center of town, and further down was
the elementary school and the church.
"Wow. It feels good to be
back." Jack sighed. "I never knew I missed it so much."
"So, you’re glad we came
now?" Rose squeezed his hand.
"Yes. I’m very glad. Thank
you, Rose, for insisting I take you here." Jack kissed her gently.
"Newlyweds, huh?" Gus
turned around, noticing the display of affection.
"Got married three days ago,
to be exact." Jack smiled.
"Well, congratulations.
Young love. There’s nothing like it. When I first met my Imogene…that was the
best day of my life. Then, when I married her…pure heaven…"
Rose had to smile. She found the
old man incredibly sweet. "I felt that way when I met and married
Jack." Rose sighed.
"Well, where do you want to
go?"
"Mrs. Gladys’ boarding
house." Jack grinned.
"Oh, I see you know your way
around town here." Gus nodded, impressed. "You know, I’m afraid I
didn’t catch your last name."
"Oh, I’m sorry. Dawson. Jack
and Rose Dawson."
The carriage came to a halt, and
Gus turned around to stare at Jack and Rose. "Jack Dawson? You mean,
you’re Andy’s boy?"
Jack nodded.
"Why, look at you! You’re all
grown up, and married, to boot! Wow, have I become old! You’re going to be a
sight for sore eyes around here, boy!" Gus started the carriage going
again. "A sight for sore eyes, indeed!"
"You must have many friends
here, Jack." Rose looked at her husband in wonder. Jack only shrugged,
like he didn’t know what she was talking about.
Five minutes later, they reached
a tall Victorian house. Jack was the first out, and lifted Rose out of the
carriage before gathering their belongings.
"Gladys will die when she
sees you walking through the door. She still has that drawing you did of her
hanging up above her desk. You are planning on staying, aren’t you, Jack?"
"For the time being, yes.
Rose wants to settle down, and I think it’s time, as well." Jack smiled.
"Good. Good! Well, I’ll see
you again! Possibly at the dance tomorrow night!" Gus waved, taking off
back towards Eau Claire.
"He was friendly." Rose
giggled.
"He was one of my father’s
best friends." Jack squeezed her hand. "Come on, Rose. Let’s go get a
room so we can get some real sleep." He led her into the house, where they
found a middle-aged woman with rich chestnut hair and brown eyes.
"May I help you?" The
woman didn’t look up from the book she was reading.
"Yes, ma’am. We’re here
about a room," Jack answered.
The woman’s head shot up at the
sound of a familiar voice. Her eyes widened with surprise and happiness to see
Jack.
"Jack Dawson, there you are!
Where have you been all this time? You have been sorely missed by this whole
town!" The woman got up and pulled Jack into a tight embrace.
"Oh, I’ve been around the
world and back." Jack laughed.
"And who is this young lady
here?" The woman glanced at Rose and back at Jack.
"Mrs. Gladys, I’d like you
to meet Rose Dawson. My wife." Jack squeezed Rose’s hand.
"Oh, my word, you’re married
now. Oh, my. Your mother would have been so pleased…it’s so sad she didn’t live
long enough to see you wed." Mrs. Gladys had tears in her eyes.
"I believe she was there in
spirit, though,. Jack sighed. "Both of my parents were."
"Well, welcome home, Jack.
What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if you have
an extra room available. It’s been a long three days, and both Rose and I could
sleep for a week."
"Of course there’s room.
Here’s a key. It’s the last room on the right." She handed Jack two sets
of keys. "Take your belongings up there, then come back down and I’ll fix
you two a big breakfast. You must be starving."
"Thank you, Mrs.
Gladys." Jack grinned, leading Rose up to their room, leaving Mrs. Gladys
downstairs to start their breakfast.
She was in the kitchen when she
heard the front door open. "George, is that you in there?"
"Yes, Mrs. Gladys."
George Dawson entered the house with a crate of milk. "Here’s the order
you wanted."
"Have you and Priscilla
found a place of your own yet?"
"No, we haven’t, Mrs.
Gladys." George sighed. Ever since he moved into that house and his cousin
left, it seemed that people had been hounding him more and more. Didn’t they
get that the house was his as well as his cousin’s? Besides, Jack had left and
hadn’t returned. For all he knew, Jack was dead, so the house was his anyway.
"Well, I suggest you start
looking. Jack’s going to need that house."
"Well, we’ll let Jack decide
what he needs when he does return." George sighed, leaving the boarding
house.
"Was that voices down
there?" Jack asked, leading Rose back downstairs.
"Oh, yes. Just the milk boy.
Come, you two. Breakfast is on the stove."
*****
One hour later, Jack and Rose lay
on the bed in each other’s arms, enjoying each other’s company. Rose sighed in
contentment. She could lay here in her husband’s arms forever.
"So, when do we head for
your parents’ house?" she asked.
"Later. I want to get some
sleep first."
"Didn’t you sleep any last
night?" Rose asked, confused.
Jack blushed. "I was too
busy watching over you. I mean, Chippewa Falls is a peaceful town but riffraff
do hang around the train stations, and I just wanted to make sure you remained
safe."
"You are so sweet. I guess
you’ll always be my guardian angel."
"Always." Jack smiled,
tenderly kissing her before yawning. "I’d better get some sleep."
"Jack, one more thing…where
will we be living? Your parents’ house?"
"Uh…if you don’t mind, I’d
rather stay here. That house has too many memories, and I would rather not live
there."
"If that’s what you
want." Rose snuggled closer to her husband. "Just know that I’m here
for you if you need to talk or anything."
"Thank you, Rose. But I
promised you I’d take you there, and I will. I promise."
"All right. Now, get some
sleep so we can take a tour of the town." Rose smiled, drifting off to
sleep herself.