UNTIL I FOUND YOU
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Ruth was waiting in the parlor
for Jack and Rose to return. The house was silent as baby Andrew slept
upstairs. She couldn’t believe all that had happened in the past couple of
days. It was horrible to tell Jack upon his return, but there really was no choice.
"We’re home!" Rose
announced, walking ahead of Jack, who was struggling with their bags, unaware
of what awaited them inside.
"Rose, Jack. Thank goodness
you’re home!" Ruth got up and embraced her daughter. "I trust that
you and Jack had a wonderful time."
"It was wonderful,"
Rose grinned. "We went to the beach and the pier. We rode the roller
coaster and rode horses in the surf."
Ruth smiled at the bright light
in her daughter’s eyes. A light she knew wouldn’t have been there if she had
married Cal. A light that Ruth hoped wouldn’t disappear once she told them what
had happened yesterday morning. "That sounds lovely dear."
"Where’s my mother and
Dean?" Jack asked, looking around the room as he sat the bags down,
surprised that Lily wasn’t there to greet them.
Ruth took a deep breath, hating
to give bad news on their arrival. But she had no choice. "I suggest that
you two take a seat. I have some disturbing news. Especially for you
Jack."
Jack frowned, not liking the
vibes he was getting from his mother in law. Something had happened. Was it
Andrew? Was he sick? They should never had left him, he was only a baby, after
all. "Is it Andrew? Is my baby ok?"
"The baby’s fine. He’s
upstairs sleeping peacefully. I’m telling you, he’s such a lovely child. A joy
to…"
"Mother! What is this news
you want to tell us?" Rose interrupted. "If it’s not Andrew…oh my
God…is it Lily? Has something happened to the baby?"
Ruth sighed. She hated this. She
really did. "They were arrested yesterday morning."
"Who was?" Jack asked.
"Why?"
Ruth looked at Jack as if he
should have known who she was talking about. "Lily and Dean. Your cousin
George had them arrested for murder. The police along with your cousin showed
up at the door and carted them away. I haven’t heard anything from them
since."
Both Jack and Rose sat there,
stunned by this turn of events. Neither of them had been expecting this.
Especially Jack, who had thought that all the tension and strife caused by his
mother’s relationship with Dean was over. Everything was supposed to be
peaceful and happy now.
"I’m going to the
jail," Jack turned to Rose, taking her hand tightly in his.
Rose could only nod, seeing the
determination in his piercing stare. "Do you want me to come with
you?" She had hoped to settle in and spend time with Andrew, but it was
kind of obvious that Jack needed her.
"Would you mind? I know
you’re tired from the train."
"Eh, I’m fine. Let’s go down
to the jail and find out what exactly is exactly going on. Mother, you don’t
mind being in charge for a little while longer, do you?"
"Oh of course not. Go. See
about Jack’s mother. She may need a visit with her son. Explain what happened."
Rose knew that Ruth was expecting
her to tell her who Lily had murdered and why Jack’s cousin was so angry, but
it wasn’t Rose’s place to say. She quickly got up and grabbed her purse.
"Jack? Are you ready?"
"Sure," He got up. Rose
would never know how much Jack loved her, especially at that moment. They were
one of the same it seemed. "Let’s go see my mother."
*****
The police station was quiet, not
a peep could be heard from the officers, nor the prisoners. Jack and Rose were
led into a small steel room containing a long table and three chairs. Soon
after they entered, Lily was led in, looking rather dejected. Jack frowned,
thinking that he had never seen her look so dejected.
"Jack, Rose," Lily
tried to smile, not wanting her son to feel sad right after his happy
honeymoon. Rose and Jack had deserved nothing but happiness, but she seemed to
keep ruining it. "You look well rested. I assume you had a good time in
Santa Monica."
"It was great," Jack
tried to smile, but found that he couldn’t. He had never wanted to see his
mother in jail. Not even when he was so angry with her. "Oh mom. How did
this happen?"
Lily shrugged, glancing away from
her son’s sad stare. "You’ll have to ask your cousin that question. George
just came to the house with the police, said that Dean and I were going to pay
for Andrew’s death. The next think I know, I’m setting in this jail cell,
wondering if I’ll ever see the light of day again."
Jack sighed, setting in one of
the chairs. "I’m going to have a talk with George. He can’t just do this.
You’re pregnant for goodness sake!"
"That’s something I want to
talk to you and Rose about Jack," Lily sat across from him and took his
hand. "If I go to prison…I want you and Rose to look after the baby."
"But mom, you’ll be out way
before the baby gets here. So there won’t be any…"
"Jack, just promise me.
Please, this is important. Dean’s family…they’re horrible people. At least with
you, the baby will grow up safe and happy. Please Jack...this will be the only
thing I'll ask of you again," Lily pleaded, tears in her eyes. There
really was a good chance of her going to prison. She needed to know that her
baby will be safe.
Jack looked at Rose, and knew
what the answer was. "Ok mom. We’ll take the baby if you’re convicted.
Don’t worry anymore. Besides, I doubt you’ll be convicted anyway."
"I wish I could have your
confidence, sweetie," Lily got to her feet as the officer returned to take
her back to her cell. She felt like crying. She had just gotten her son back in
her life and now she was losing not only him, but her grandchild and her own
child as well. Maybe she shouldn’t have come back to Chippewa Falls. She should
have known this would happen. Looking one last time at her son, Lily was led
back to her cell.
"It’ll be alright
Jack," Rose wrapped her arms around him, wanting to comfort him. She knew
how hard this must be for him. Jack loved his mother. He really did and she
knew it was killing him to see her locked up like this.
"I know," Jack sighed,
trying to believe that things will work out. That his mother could beat the
charges…even though he doubted she could.
*****
George was waiting for Jack once
they returned. He was playing with Andrew while Ruth made tea. Jack glared
angrily at his cousin. He couldn’t help but to blame him for his mother’s
incarceration.
"Jack! You’re back at
last," George greeted, getting to his feet with Andrew in his arms.
"This little man’s missed you. Where did you go?"
"The police station to see
my mother…who you’ve put in jail."
George let out a held breath. He
had hoped to have told Jack about Lily himself, but that obviously didn’t
happen. Instead, Jack found out himself and looked very angry. "I had to
Jack. I couldn’t let her get away with murdering Uncle Andrew. You may be able
to forgive her, but I can’t."
"You didn’t even try! For
goodness sake, George! She’s pregnant!"
"So? That doesn’t make her
crime disappear. Aunt Lily deserves everything that’s happening to her,"
George handed the baby to Rose as he faced his cousin. "She’s a murderer
Jack."
"But she’s my mother and
despite it all, I love her and don’t want to see her locked up."
George only snorted, not knowing
what else to say or do to get Jack to agree with him. "Well…I do. I’m
sorry, but that’s how I feel. Lily belongs with the rest of the murderers. I’m
sorry."
Jack didn’t answer. He was full
of anger right then. In fact, he felt that it was time for George to leave. He
needed a break from his cousin for a while. "I think it’s time for you to
go home George. Cillie’s probably waiting."
"Call me when you see
reason," George grabbed his coat and left the house, wondering when Jack
will be ready to speak to him again.
As his cousin disappeared down
the walkway, Jack wondered about the stability of his family. Was it finally
time for the Dawsons to come apart under pressure? Well…only time could truly
tell.