WHERE I WANT TO BE
Chapter Nine
They slowly walked home, hand in
hand. Totally oblivious to the world around them. Rose clung to Jack’s free
arm, as if he’d disappear if she let go. She thought back to just an hour
earlier. When she had noticed that Jack was gone. She had been frantic then,
knowing what his intentions must have been. She had wanted to run after him. Go
to Gloria and scratch her eyes out for trying to take Jack away from her. But
then Molly had stepped in and reasoned with Rose. Got her to call the police
and tell them what had happened. Now walking with Jack, their son in his arms,
Rose wanted to know why he had been so quick to give himself to Gloria. Why he
hadn’t waited for them to come up with another plan?
"Jack. Why? Why were you so
eager to give yourself up like that and not even tell me. Why?” She looked up
at him.
Jack sighed. He had asked himself
the same thing over and over again. Why had he been so ready to throw himself
to the wolves? "I felt responsible for it all I guess. Rose…you were
better off without me. You didn’t have anyone wanting to kidnap Robbie. I
wanted to make things right for you again."
"But Jack, things weren’t
right. Yes, I had Robbie, but I didn’t have you. That was very, very wrong. I
was so sad and miserable…a shadow of my former self really. Robbie was the only
thing I had to live for. He was the only thing that kept me from breaking the
promise I made to you that night, so long ago."
Jack stopped walking and looked
into her eyes. So clear and full of love. "Oh Rose, I’m so sorry that I
wasn’t there for you. I should have been. You should never have had to go
through that," he hugged her close with his free arm.
"You’re here now. That’s
what matters," Rose sighed, her love for him seeming to grow even more.
"What happened to Robbie wasn’t your fault Jack. It could have just as
well been my mother, or Cal."
"But it wasn’t."
"It could have been.
Just…next time you feel like sacrificing yourself for the greater good…talk to
me first. Ok?"
He laughed, feeling relieved that
she wasn’t angry or hurt by his rash decisions. "Ok. I promise."
They stood like that for a
minute. Two people and their son, in love and comforting each other. Slowly,
they parted. Keeping their hands tightly clasped together and knowing that they
were forever, Jack and Rose headed for home.