AFTER STARTING ANEW
Chapter Twenty-Two

Rose leaned her head back against the seat of the taxicab and let out a long slow breath. Her rather terse responses had at last stopped the attempts made by the driver for any kind of conversation. It wasn’t that she intended to be rude. Rather she felt that it was imperative for her to get into the proper frame of mind as she returned home. A frame of mind, far from the jovial remarks made by her driver, that focused only on the festivities of the various high school homecoming games this coming weekend.

"If she hadn’t gotten sick, Cora would have been flitting about trying on dresses, nylon stockings and tottering through the house in a pair of my high heels." Rose could not concentrate on anything else. Only the what might have beens with her daughter, had not the dreaded polio come to pay a call on her family in August. What was the use? Those days were over for her playful, lovable child. In fact, the lives of her whole family had taken on a more serious tone. Molly and Edy were far from home at their respective schools and were thus, less involved in the day to day drudgery that everyone else experienced. Frank had often come home on weekends and she sensed that those visits had dwindled rapidly once he sensed the strain in their usually happy household.

"Even poor Patrick has suffered." For Rose knew that far too often she gladly sent the little boy to a neighbor to either eat or play. Her own mother and stepfather took pity on the seven year old and invited him as a welcome weekend guest in their large home. As far as she and Jack were concerned, things were even worse than that awful time during the war. Only then, when he had returned, the situation cleared up and things came to a swift and happy conclusion. Since Cora had taken sick, the passion and intimacy between them had cooled considerably and while they were pleasant and considerate of one another, they were both so tired and frustrated by Cora’s lack of progress, that the very personal side of their marriage had suffered greatly.

Rose could hear her daughter Molly’s words in her ears. Words that seemed much too wise for nineteen year old. Somewhere along the line, Rose had forgotten that her twins were grown up. She was not even quite sure how Molly even knew there was a problem. "Mother, you really can’t let this eat away at you. I’ve watched you and Daddy walk around the house like strangers. First he goes to bed, then several hours later you go. It certainly does not remind me of your lives before. You know how we all used to giggle when you and Daddy used to think up all kinds of excuses for going to bed early." Rose remembered, blushing at her daughter’s frank remarks. "Somewhere along the line, you have to separate your life and Cora’s sickness. I know that might be hard. In fact, it might seem impossible at times. But you and Father still have a long life to live together, and unless you try and put a little romance back, nothing will be worthwhile. You’ll see that eventually even Cora will move on. And you and Father must too." So mother and daughter, with the daughter now acting as the authority figure, set off together for the lingerie department of Marshall Field’s. In the back of her mind, Rose recalled her last shopping trip there with Jack in 1912, when he had purchased a pile of rough outdoor clothes for the two of them. Back in a time, when they had been blissfully in love and felt that since they had suffered so from Titanic, they would live the rest of their lives unscathed from any further harm.

"How innocent and foolish we must have been." Rose thought back to all that had happened. Things that were probably no more or less than what occurred in most families. It was just that their emotions were always heightened by what had happened that April night in 1912. There had been the sinking, of course, followed in quick progression by the frightening birth of the twins, Jack’s injuries in the war, serious bouts of childhood asthma with Frank and almost losing their house last year as the casualties of the Depression spread across the country. It was the one and only time that Jack had allowed Arthur to give him a personal loan. He would accept anything for the children, but his own pride would not let him take unneeded charity for his personal use. This time however, he backed down, for he knew that he could not very well see his family become homeless because of his own stubbornness, when help was within his reach.

Rose leaned over and touched the rough exterior of her suitcase, thinking about the peach and black silk gown that rested inside. She recalled that the clerk had wrapped it carefully in white tissue paper, "so that it would not wrinkle on the way home." She had to smile at that. If indeed the enticing garment served it’s usefulness, she was quite sure that Jack would not care whether is was wrinkled or not.

The taxi lurched slightly to the right as they came around the corner of their block. Suddenly Rose’s stomach started to churn. For a few days she had escaped from the tension and unhappiness at home. Now reality was staring her in the face again. The days of loving drudgery, coupled with the strain of hopelessness. How did Molly even think her idea would work?

"This is it, Ma’am." The driver braked to a rapid stop, sending Rose and her thoughts sailing almost to the front seat. He turned his head to the back seat and nonchalantly held out his open hand. "That’ll be seventy five cents. You need help going inside?" he asked. Rose wondered if that were a hint for a bigger tip.

"No. I’m fine." She counted out the change and dropped a dollar in quarters into the man’s eager fist. "Thank you." Tiredly she opened the door, got out and reached for her purse and suitcase. "Good bye," she said to the taxi driver as he reached over to close the door. As if in a hurry to be rid of his silent passenger, the taxi driver sped off, leaving Rose on the curb looking up at their gray and white Victorian style house wondering if any tempers had flared while she was away. Cora had changed from a cheerful, co-operative person to someone whose replies to simple questions were sullen and bitter. Not that she could blame the child. It was just that nothing she tried to encourage Cora to even try had worked. With one foot in front of the other, Rose made her way slowly up the sidewalk. Perhaps the surprise of her arrival would invoke some enthusiasm from her family. Originally she was to have come home tomorrow morning at seven, but when Molly was suddenly called back to duty, Rose got a ticket for the early train this morning. The railroad allowed the passengers to board at midnight and go to sleep before the outrageously early departure time of 3 A.M. Since she knew that Cora and someone from the family would be home, she had not bothered to spend the money on a telegram or a phone call. She decided to just show up. The door to the screened in porch creaked on its spring hinges as she slowly pushed it open. She squinted her eyes in concentration as she listened for any sounds coming from inside. And that was what puzzled her. She recognized some music coming from the radio. That was not unusual. Rose just could not figure out the scraping and banging sounds. And she was certain that she recognized the odor of paint as well. Something strange was going on. "I guess the only way to find out is to be brave and go in." Rose left her bag on the porch and with that thought in mind, she pushed open the lace curtained glass door and stepped silently into the front hall. Her eyes opened wide in amazement as she surveyed the chaos around her. Their normally tidy front hall resembled a furniture warehouse. Boxes of clothing were mixed in with desk drawers and articles of bedclothes were lying in amongst stacks of manila folders. She turned her head toward the stairs when she heard a conversation going on up there. Rose recognized Jack’s voice and he was talking to someone. "Just help me push the desk in the corner. Then we are done except to bring the drawers and papers up here. Do you want to shut off the radio before we go downstairs?"

The person who answered was Arthur. There was the sound of static and a click, then footsteps in the upper hall. What on earth was going on? There was noise coming from the room they used as Jack’s office too. "Gran, can you hand me one of those rags. I want to oil the top of the night stand really good. Then we can put one of those lace things on it before we put on the glass top."

Cora? What was she doing down here?

"Doilies, dear. Those lace things are called doilies. My that looks nice." Chuckling to herself, Rose was amused that her mother still clung to a few shreds of propriety from the old days. Rose walked over to the doorway of Jack’s office and peeked around the corner, amazed at what she saw. Ruth was placing clothes on hangers and hanging them in the closet. Cora, though seated in a wheelchair was industriously polishing the top of her night stand. She stood in disbelief as she noted that Jack’s office furniture had disappeared and now the room was filled with Cora’s bedroom set. But the biggest shock of all was Cora. She was dressed in street clothes, her hair hung loosely over her shoulders, as she had worn it before she got sick and she was smiling from ear to ear.

"Gran? Do you think Mama will be surprised? About me moving down here and everything?" Rose backed into the hall, unable to contain the tears of joy that streamed down her face. She had been gone only a few days and somehow a great miracle had taken place. Rose pulled her hand down across her face and swallowed hard. She wanted so much to go in and hug Cora, but first she had to get control of herself. It wouldn’t do to for them to think she was crying because she was angry.

"I think she will be so surprised that she won’t know what to say. Oh dear. Look at the clock. It is almost dinnertime. We better hurry. She will be home in about fifteen hours."

Rose heard the clinking of the wooden hangers and the something that sounded like a rug or blanket being shook out.

"Do you think she’ll bring me a surprise? She always does."

Rose eyed her suitcase behind her near the front door. Inside were not only the nightgown she had purchased for herself, but also a box of special chocolates for Cora, made exclusively in Chicago. Plus another mystery book for Cora and some other little gifts for the rest of the family. It was a tradition ever since Jack had gone off to war, for whoever traveled to bring home a little memento for those who had stayed behind. She was afraid she had spoiled Cora shamelessly since she had taken ill with little trinkets and surprises and certainly this trip had been no exception.

Rose had enough of this eavesdropping. She had brought her crying under control and wiped her face as best she could with her fist.. Now it was her turn to surprise the family. Slowly she stepped into the doorway. Cora and Rose saw each other at the same time and Rose opened her arms and ran to her daughter, leaving Ruth gasping in shock before she realized what was happening.

"Cora." Her voice was no more that a whisper. In her excitement, her throat constricted and her breathing quickened. Rose closed her eyes, never in her wildest dreams imagining a homecoming like this.

"Mama. I missed you so much," cried Cora into her mother’s shoulder.

"And I missed you too. This is the best surprise that you could have given me." Rose squeezed her daughter tightly against her chest, surprised at the strength of Cora’s hug. It seemed to Rose that a great many changes had taken place in the time she had been gone. Jack had been absolutely adamant that she take a few days off from hovering over Cora and go and mother another one of her children. She had resisted at first, and now it seemed that her absence had brought only progress. So insistent was he, that she go off on her visit, that she wondered now if Jack were not behind all of this, possibly even having the whole idea up his sleeve before she even left. He was like that. Jack could be so convincing at times, that he could make people believe that his suggestion had been their original idea.

Rose smoothed Cora’s hair, reluctant to let go of her child. It had been a long time since Cora had been able to sit up and be hugged like this. And Cora too, showed little interest in letting go. She felt a hand on her shoulder and heard Ruth’s voice behind her. "We didn’t expect you so soon, Rose. But I’m glad you are back. We all missed you." Rose turned her head and smiled up at her mother. There were tears on Ruth’s cheeks as well. It appeared that coming home early had been the right thing to do after all.

"Ruth? I thought I heard someone come in." Jack’s voice echoed in the hallway outside his old office.

Rose stood up slowly and faced the door. "It’s just me Jack," she said loud enough to be heard out in the hall.

"Rose? Rose? How did you get back early?" The rapid creaks on the floorboards told of his hurried steps towards Cora’s room. Her heart started racing at the thought of seeing Jack, thinking of her plans for later on. Now she could proceed with the peace of mind that things around here were getting back to normal for all of them. Molly had been right. Cora was moving on and so should she and Jack. She saw the broad smile on Jack’s face as he moved rapidly towards her. With one hand still clinging to Cora, she put her other arm around Jack, happily letting him enfold her in his embrace.

"I missed you, Rose. We kind of thought we would have time to clean up and be a little more organized before you got home." He continued to hold her tightly, as he explained why the house was all topsy turvy. "We got this idea and all of us sort of collaborated…well, one thing led to another and we thought with Cora down here, she would feel more a part of things. What do you think, Rose?"

She leaned her head back and studied Jack. His hair was mussed and there were a few tiny specks of yellow paint on his forehead. His face was filled with a light and enthusiasm she had not seen in months. The expression matched the beaming smile on Cora. "So, when did all this happen? Cora, when did you start to feel better? I think I am missing something here." Rose caught the conspiratorial look that passed between father and daughter. Just as she had suspected. Jack had somehow taken things in hand.

"Oh, well, Mama…" Cora hesitated, not wanting to give away the secret she and her father shared.

"It was just time, wasn’t it, Cora. Time for a change of scenery." Jack answered the question without giving any real information. Rose had the feeling she would never know quite what precipitated the dramatic change in Cora’s attitude.

"Mama, I have one more surprise for you too. Daddy, should I show her now?" Cora turned to her father to get his opinion.

Jack rested his chin on his thumb, contemplating Cora’s request. He knew that Rose had been shocked enough to see Cora up and participating in life again. To see her actually stand would stun her completely. "Why don’t we wait until after dinner." He glanced around the room at the piles of boxes and furniture, thinking that this mess would not be the best place for Cora to show off her newly learned skill. The last thing she needed was to get caught on something and fall.

Rose rested her head on Jack’s shoulder, looking around the cozy little room. They had painted it pale yellow. From somewhere, her mother had resurrected several old lace panels to serve as curtains. On the floor lie several samples of wallpaper. The idea to move Cora down here had been brilliant and she wondered why they had never thought of it before. It was next to the kitchen and across from a bathroom. Now Cora would be right in the center of the family’s daily activities. Cora sat in her wheelchair, back to the task of polishing her night stand. Ruth had excused herself to go and find Arthur so they could start dinner. Jack stood behind her, his hands gently massaging her shoulders. She felt his warm breath in her ear as he broke into her thoughts. "So should we wait until after dinner?" He repeated those words, only this time they had an entirely different meaning.

She turned and stared at him. His words had been so quiet, that she knew they were meant for her alone. Rose bit her lip and furrowed her forehead. "Jack?"

He pulled her across the room, into a corner, and pretended to show her a sample of some wallpaper. "So it’s been such a long time that you don’t recognize a proposition when you hear one?" He whispered softly, his lips just brushing her neck. Jolts of electricity shot from her shoulders to her toes. Even after twenty years of being with Jack, his subtle touches and whispered words, made her heart beat wildly. His eyes locked onto hers, willing her to give an answer.

She put her hands to her throat and her eyes focused in on Jack...her mouth was dry from a nervousness she had not expected. Rose made a failed attempt to control her ragged breathing, before murmuring her response to Jack. "Oh I recognize it, all right. It’s just that you beat me to it."

He glanced quickly to see that Cora was still concentrating on her work. Jack grasped Rose tightly by the hand and led her from the room. "What is that supposed to mean?" he asked. She shrugged her shoulders and tossed her head. There was a seductive, secretive look about her that he had not expected. He pinned her against the wall and let his lips melt against hers. His thoughts were on the words she had used to answer his question. Rose must have a surprise in store for him too. In the house where people were in and out all the time, he was determined that tonight for a change, there would be no interruptions.

Later at dinner

"Pass the pork chops, please, Gran." Patrick stuck his plate out in front of him, trying to remember his best manners as he asked for seconds. He jiggled his knee quietly under the table in an attempt to signal Clancy that more food was on the way.

"Since when have you developed such an appetite? I thought you didn’t like pork chops anyway, Patrick." Rose shook her head, somehow doubting that the two huge pieces of meat had actually gone into her son’s stomach. The idea of his eating a third one, made her really suspicious. She wiggled the tablecloth and just as she suspected, Clancy was patiently waiting for more food. "Patrick, don’t you mean that Clancy wants seconds." She sounded exasperated, but she did not want to ruin her good mood, by chastising Patrick at the table.

"Patrick, you have to eat at least half before you can give the dog any. You don’t want to make him sick do you?" Jack grimaced, thinking that the last thing he wanted to do tonight was clean up after a sick dog. Arthur sat watching this interchange between the family members he loved so much. A family that he had adopted as his own, after marrying Ruth eighteen years ago. He knew how lucky he was to have her and a family like this. The one thing he had always dreamed of was a scene like this. Sitting around a homey table, with several generations, each sharing their experiences with one another. He reached inside the pocket of his suit jacket and felt for the long crisp envelope. Giving Ruth a quick glance, he silently indicated that he was ready to make his little presentation. She gave him an approving smile and lovingly patted his hand.

He cleared his throat in an attempt to get everyone’s attention. "I have a little something here for Cora." His granddaughter looked up at him in surprise. "I met one of my friends a few days ago and he gave me something special just for you, Cora. But I thought that everyone would enjoy hearing you read the letter. That’s what I have, here a letter." Carefully he pulled an ivory colored envelope from his pocket and walked around the table to place it in Cora’s hands. Everyone was craning their necks trying to make out the professional looking printing on the back flap and the elegant handwriting on the front.

Cora looked up at Arthur and then back down at the envelope he had given her. "What is it?" she asked curiously. "It is from someone I know?" Cora had her friends at school and her family, but she could not think of one person that she knew who also was acquainted with her grandfather.

"Go on, open it and read it to us. And we’ll all find out who it’s from." He sat back down at his place, smiling to himself and hoping that this letter would only give Cora courage and not embarrass her.

Cora turned the letter over several times studying the beautiful engraved printing on the back. "Oh. This looks important. I think I should read it standing up." Slowly she grasped the sides of her chair and in a quickly choreographed move, Jack was at her sides with her crutches.

"Cora. No. You’ll fa…" Rose got halfway up from her chair. But the words died in her mouth as she saw for the first time in months, her daughter rise to her full height. Even though she still seemed a bit wobbly with the crutches, there was a look of confidence about her that was unshakable. "Mama?" Cora grinned at her mother. "Mama, this was the other surprise. Are you surprised?" She stood swaying slightly, adjusting her weight from one side to the other.

Rose put her hands to her face in shock. There were tears swimming in front of her eyes. She was totally stunned. Having Cora up and around in a wheelchair had been wonderful enough. Seeing her stand with crutches and the braces she knew Cora had hated so much was truly an unexpected gift. "Oh, yes. I am surprised. Very surprised. I don’t know what to say." She sat staring in amazement at the unbelievable sight before her.

"Will this be boring?" Patrick leaned his head against his hand and twirled some potatoes around on his plate. "Just read the letter, Cora." Jack sat down after helping Cora get comfortable, also puzzled by the mysterious document she held in her hands. "Patrick, sit up and finish your dinner," he said in a somewhat exasperated tone. Patrick was a handful and he did not want his youngest and most stubborn child to steal the scene from Cora tonight. Just a few words to remind the youngster to eat and then his attention would be back on his daughter.

Cora stood as tall as she could and read the return address. "Ahem. It’s from the…" She stopped and stared at Arthur.

"Go on," he encouraged.

"It’s from the Governor’s Mansion, Albany, New York."

Rose and Jack glanced at each other, both of them knowing instantly who this was from.

Cora carefully broke the seal on the ivory envelope and glanced down the neatly typewritten page. "Ready?" she asked everyone at the table. When they all gave an approving nod, she began to read.

"Dear Cora,

I had the pleasure of seeing your Grandpapa Arthur several days ago at a meeting in Topeka, Kansas. He certainly is a fine person and he kept me very busy talking about you."

Cora looked up beaming at Arthur, wondering what he could have possibly told the governor of a state about his granddaughter. Surely they must have had more interesting and important things to think about. Secretly she thought her grandfather the most handsome of men. Even at age sixty-seven, he stood taller than her own father. He dressed like someone from the windows at a fancy store downtown. He still had thick silvery hair and his smoky gray eyes that looked stern to those who did not know him, twinkled like playful moonbeams as she saw him gaze proudly at her.

"One of the things he mentioned to me was that we have several things in common. He told me that we both love history and that you enjoy reading as I do. The other thing that links us both very closely is the date of August 10. For on that day, just thirteen years apart, you and I were both stricken with that dreaded disease called infantile paralysis."

She stopped reading, her hands shaking with nervousness as she held the paper. It was still a shock to her system to be reminded of that awful day.

"I trust that now you are over the worst and have started picking up the pieces of your life. If the rest of the family is as wonderful as your grandfather, I know you are in good hands."

>Cora looked up in time to see Arthur wink at her.

"I have to tell you that I was pretty low when it happened and I am sure you were too. Now though I have too much on my mind to think about polio. They have me going twenty four hours a day trying to get me elected President of the United States."

Cora sank down in her chair, attempting to absorb this fact. With her crutches slipping to the carpet, she kept her eyes affixed on the words "President of the United States." Her fingers traced those five words over and over and at the same time it was dawning on her just who had written the letter. Cora had seen the newspapers at home and vaguely remembered that the names of the two candidates were the incumbent president, Hoover and the Governor of New York, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Quickly she glanced up at her grandfather who was watching her with an expression of fondness in his eyes.

"Grandpa? You know him?" Cora asked incredulously.

"Yes, I’ve known him for some time. I met him in Washington a few times when I was there on some banking issues and socially too, when we were at his home in Hyde Park. If he gets elected, he’ll be a great leader. Aren’t you going to finish reading the letter."

Cora put her hand to her head as if to remind herself of what she had been doing. "Oh, yeah." She read a few paragraphs ahead to see what else he had to say to her. "Oh my gosh."

"What it is? Don’t keep us all in suspense," said Jack. He too was totally in the dark about Arthur’s acquaintance with this great man. But then Arthur was like that. He never made a big deal about who a person was. What was more important to him, was the character and integrity of the individual.

Cora shook the letter excitedly and began reading again. "Okay, here is the rest. It took me a long time to learn that I didn’t need my legs to run in elections. I let my voice and my mind do the work for me. I also have a wonderful family, who when asked, act as my legs. From what your grandfather said to me, about you and how interested you are in the world around you, I am certain that we will be hearing great things from you one day as well."

Rose and Ruth worked hard to hold back the tears as Cora sat straight in her chair and stuck her chin out in front of her. There was a look of determination about her that they had not seen since she was a toddler trying to keep up with her older siblings.

"Shortly after I contracted the polio, I made a visit to a camp in Warm Springs, Georgia. I tried the waters there and I did get some relief from the stiffness in my legs. However, I decided that those of us who needed and wanted to get better should not have to suffer the pitying looks of people who don’t understand our illness." Cora nodded to herself, remembering how her doctor had wanted her to go to that resort in Arkansas. "So, I bought the whole piece of property, the warm springs, cabins and all. I remodeled it and for years now, it has been a place where those people like us can nurture our bodies and renew our spirits. This spring when you have some time off from school, just have your grandfather give me a call and I will arrange for you and your family to take a trip there. I am sure you will find the warm water and friendly atmosphere as appealing as I do. There are therapists there to help you with your exercises, as well and doctors and nurses. You might even make some new friends."

"Oh, Daddy, can I go? Please? And Mother and Gran, will you go with me." Cora was waving the letter over her head, showing more animation than they had seen from her since long before she became ill.

They all looked at Cora benevolently. It was like watching a person be reborn. It had been awesome enough to see her rise to her feet in the braces and move around the house in her wheelchair. When the move downstairs had been suggested, it was Cora herself who had initiated the ideas of painting and furniture arranging. Now with this anticipated trip to Warm Springs, they were seeing once again the enthusiastic, vibrant girl that had once graced her body. Cora was back.

"Of course, we’ll go. Won’t we, Mother." Rose peered around Patrick’s head, attempting to catch her mother’s eye. The little boy had settled himself in her lap, suddenly tired from all the food. Ruth beamed at Cora, thrilled to be included in the invitation. "Yes, that will be wonderful. It is so beautiful in Georgia in the spring. You will love it."

"Did he say anything else?" questioned Jack, whose admiration for Governor Roosevelt had grown enormously in the last few minutes.

Cora finished reading the letter to her family. It concluded with some lines about another invitation.

"If I am elected to the presidency in a few weeks, I shall look forward to seeing you and other special friends of mine, seated in a reserved section near the presidential stand on Inauguration Day next March. I am hoping that all of you will act as my special ambassadors in helping others to understand that being handicapped, in no way hampers a person from achieving their goals. I look forward to meeting you then, Cora.

Respectfully yours, Franklin Delano Roosevelt"

"Gosh, Daddy. Can I go to that too? That inauguration thing?"

Jack smiled at his youngest daughter, touched to the core of his being by her happiness. He would move heaven and earth to make her happy and if she wanted to go to Washington in March and be part of the festivities, then he would take her. "Cora, it would be my honor to escort you to Washington. In fact, it will be one of the proudest moments of my life."

"You know most people don’t realize that he has polio." Everyone turned to Arthur, who had some confidential information about Mr. Roosevelt. "He has his sons help him into a standing position or he makes his speeches from behind a desk. I understand that he runs his staff ragged giving orders and that most of them can’t keep up with him. He’s quite an athlete too. Did you know that Cora?"

She shook her head, mystified that someone as crippled as she was could be athletic.

"He is a wonderful swimmer. A much stronger swimmer that most people. And…" Arthur waited for Cora’s undivided attention. "He drives his own car. They have arranged special hand controls for him, so he gets around wherever he wants to go."

Cora wrinkled her forehead, taking in all of this information, deciding that her life was going to be very different from now on. She pushed her wheelchair back from the table and headed for her new room. As far as she was concerned she had two months of her life to make up and she was not about to waste anymore time.

"Where are you going?" Jack stood up and moved her braces out of the way. "We haven’t had dessert yet."

"Daddy, can you get up early tomorrow morning and go with me to school?"

"School?" Jack repeated this word, wondering if he had heard correctly.

"Yes, school. I wondered if you could give me a ride there and go in with me to talk to Mr. Biggs. Maybe they could fix my classes so they were mostly on one floor? Or do you think they would let me use the elevator? After all if someone who has polio can run for president, I don’t think there is any reason why I shouldn’t go to school, instead of wasting my time with a tutor."

Jack stared at Cora. So unexpected was her request that she might have been speaking another language. Mr. Biggs the principal had never dealt with anyone as convincing as Cora, unless it was Jack himself. If he was not mistaken, Denver Central High School was about to be turned upside down, by one determined fourteen-year-old. Jack looked around the table from Rose, to Ruth and then Arthur. All of them, even the sleeping Patrick had given Cora the love and devotion she needed to recover as best she could from the physiological part of her illness. And now a letter from a fellow polio victim had transformed an unsure, unwilling victim into an impatient, whirlwind of a girl. The psychological healing was about to begin. Jack recognized that stubborn look of determination on Cora’s face. In the last twenty years of his life he had seen that look frequently. In good times and bad. It had been written all over Ruth’s face on the Titanic when she had wanted to squash any ideas of a relationship between him and Rose. And also when she had first come visiting after their marriage. On the day, she had decided to accept the future and move away from the past. Rose had appeared equally headstrong when she had announced that she was going to get off that ship with him. Oh yes, Jack knew that fire of these Dewitt Bukater women quite well. Old Mr. Biggs was going to have his hands full in the morning.

Later that night

Rose looked in the mirror of her dressing table, fluffing out her red curls, so they surrounded her head like a halo. Her cheeks were flushed not only from the warmth of the late October night, but from Jack’s flannel robe. She drew it tightly around her, pulling the tie securely around her waist. Carefully she folded the lapels close around her neck and pulled it down in front of her. "There," she said, satisfied with her appearance. "He certainly will never suspect the nightgown under this shapeless thing." Rose held her arms out to her sides and couldn’t help laughing to herself as the sleeves drooped down over her wrists. Even though the fabric was faded and worn, Jack would not let her throw it out. He clung to it, like a small child did to a blanket. Once she had asked him why he would not give up the robe. He had explained that his mother had bought one for him the Christmas before the fire. When she would hug him and say good night, her fragrance clung to the robe and whenever he was sick or had a hard time sleeping, he would sniff it and remember his mother’s comforting words. This robe was practically identical and it replaced one of just a myriad of his precious belongings that has burned that night. And on those few occasions when Jack had taken to their bed with a severe cold or influenza, he had worn the robe day after day, until he was well. Even now after frequent washings, there was still the vague scent of lemon tea and cough syrup that permeated its folds.

Rose walked over the to the bed and plumped the pillows and straightened the quilt, all the time wondering what was keeping Jack. Arthur and Ruth had left after helping Patrick and Cora settled for the night, and shortly thereafter, Jack had gone out with Clancy on a walk, promising to be back soon. Oh course, he had no idea as to her plans for the evening. She was not even sure that he knew she was in such a good mood. That she had been determined to get their marriage back on track tonight was one thing. But to be able to do so after seeing things with Cora go so well, would make it an occasion worth celebrating indeed.

She went around the room touching all their familiar things. Books that they both liked to read, Jack’s ever present sketch pad, and a few misplaced articles of clothing. Gently she lifted some scarves from the top of the dresser and folded them neatly placing them in their proper drawer. Since there was still so sign of Jack, Rose settled down in the old rocker with the needlepoint seat and picked up a copy of "The Good Earth" by Pearl Buck. Rose’s interest in the world far beyond hers had never left her and she enjoyed traveling now through the eyes of others. Jack had promised that one day when everyone was gone, they would go to all the places they had talked about. Even back to the beach at Santa Monica. For right now she was content with short weekends to the mountains of Colorado, their visit to New York several years ago, and trips to visit their children at their various colleges. And these days, with frugality the watchword for everyone, even these small excursions were infrequent except when totally necessary.

She was deeply involved in the descriptions of a small Chinese village when she felt someone staring at her. Rose looked up and Jack stood in the doorway. His hands were behind his back and there was a rather odd look on his face. He was breathing rapidly as if he had been running. "So, Rose…" That was all he said as he walked into the room, careful to keep whatever he had in his hands, well hidden.

Carefully she slid a bookmark in between the pages where she had left off reading and put the book back on the night stand. She stood up and adjusted the robe carefully around her. Rose took a few steps towards Jack trying to see what he had. "Jack? Whatever is going on? What have you got there?" She could barely hide her amusement at his attempts to move away from her.

"Ah, you are going to have to guess that, Mrs. Dawson." He lifted his eyebrow excitedly and licked his lips in anticipation. She was about two feet from him, when he darted unexpectedly to the side. "Jack?" She was laughing hard and felt as giddy as she had that reckless night with him twenty years ago. Each time as she approached Jack, he quickly diverted himself, not yet ready to divulge his surprise. She took two huge steps to try and reach him and ended up instead loosening the cord of the robe. Rose could feel her chest moving up and down and could hear her own ragged breathing as the front of the robe opened revealing her surprise for Jack.

She watched as his eyes dilated and saw him swallow, he too acting much the same as that night he had drawn her picture. It had been a long time since either of them had felt this playful or lighthearted. "I sort of meant for you to find out about my surprise a little differently," she said honestly. "I bought it in Chicago." Rose approached him slowly, hoping that he would be distracted enough by her nightgown that he would finally reveal what he had with him. But once again he swung around and out of her way. "All right, Rose. Enough of this torturing me. You get to find out what the surprise is." There was a gleam of anticipation on his face as he nodded his head in the direction of the bed. "Take off that robe of mine." He stared as Rose slipped the robe the rest of the way off of her shoulders, breathless as he saw how the little the lace on the gown’s bodice hid. "Now, go sit on the bed and close your eyes." Jack watched as Rose complied with his instructions. There was a half smile on her face and he could see the excitement in her eyes. Whether she was shivering from a chill or from the promise of what this night would bring, he could not tell. He only knew that now he would rather be holding Rose than the surprise in his hands.

"Is that all you are going to do tonight is issue orders?" She tossed her head to the side and blinked her eyes rapidly, knowing that she was driving Jack mad. And in her opinion he deserved it. He had kept her in the dark with his little game long enough.

"Maybe," he challenged. Slowly his right hand came around his side. "I said close your eyes, Rose. And do not open them no matter what."

She gave a last glance to Jack and covered her eyes with her hands. "All right. I’m ready."

"Now you have to trust me Rose. Even if you hear some sounds, don’t open your eyes."

She heard a soft scratching which sounded like he had put down whatever had been in his hands. With his hurried movements around her, she started to grow dizzy, but she dared not open her eyes. Jack had something planned and she did not want to ruin things for him.

"What are you doing? It sounds like you are closing all the shades and curtains and turning out the lights."

"That is just what I am doing. But don’t open your eyes yet," he warned her.

She sat patiently listening to his concentrated breathing as he went about his tasks. Rose jumped when she heard a muffled popping sound. Before she had time to think about what that might have been, she felt a warm presence next to her.

"Open your eyes now." Rose blinked as she adjusted her vision to the now almost dark room. The only light came from a candle on the dresser. In one movement, Jack’s arm was around her and she felt the sensation of a cold glass being pressed to her lips. "All right, Rose. Take a sip, but try and keep quiet."

She searched his eyes for an answer to what this big mystery was. But all she saw was the same mischievous look that had been on his face when he entered the room. The glass was moved forward on her lips, forcing her to drink. Jack had warned her not to make a sound, but in her excitement, she let out a shriek.

"Jack! Jack, It’s…" His warm hand closed over her mouth, just as she was about to utter the words. "Quiet, Rose." Slowly he released her mouth and saw a brilliant smile on her lips and her eyes dancing with happiness. "Jack, it’s champagne. Where ever did you get it?" she asked softly, but excitedly. She took the glass he held for her and drank several more sips, convincing herself that this was the real thing. "We haven’t had this in, well years." She studied Jack as he drank a little of his, noticing that he held his in his mouth to savor the taste just a little longer. Now she understood the mystery, his admonitions to be silent, the closing of the curtains. It was still Prohibition. He was right in taking precautions. One never knew who was watching or listening.

"I was afraid you were going to ask that. Arthur gave it to me," he admitted.

Her eyes popped wide open. "Arthur? Is he in on this…this little clandestine activity?"

Jack shook his head, his gentle smile curving up slowly. "Yeah, seems this got left there at the bank by some high ranking official from another country who never was required to have his baggage searched. So Arthur hid it away in his private vault. He thought tonight was a cause for us to celebrate. There are a few more bottles left for another time." Jack stared at her face, now aglow from the effects of the champagne. His eyes traveled slowly down the front of the peach negligee, the black lace leaving little reason to imagine what was underneath.

Rose tried not to feel self-conscious as she noticed Jack’s eye roam up and down her body. As she felt him studying her, she made a weak attempt to continue a normal conversation. "So that’s where you went with Clancy." Jack nodded. "What if someone would have caught you…you an upstanding teacher. Why I am quite sure that someone like you doesn’t even think about…" He took her unfinished glass and set it with his on the night stand. "Think about what Rose. Just what don’t I think about…come on. You got yourself into this." He leaned his face into hers and gently placed his lips against her forehead, her nose, and her neck. Waiting patiently for her answer.

Rose reached out and grabbed his shoulders, now unable to catch her breath, let alone speak. Her answer came as she looked into his eyes, that were smoldering with a passion she was sure matched her own. She watched his face as his cheek muscles twitched slightly. "Jack." She called his name breathlessly, wanting only now for him to touch her and ignite the fire between them. There was no stopping her once she saw this liquid blue eyes piercing into her own. Softly she groaned and uttered the first words that came into her head. "Put your hands on me Jack."

There was a slight fumbling motion as Jack laid her back against the bed. She felt his warm fingers, inch their way down from her neck. Jack’s eyes burned to the very depth of her soul and she was unaware of anything else around them, as the lace slowly slipped away.

From inside Jack, there came a quiet chuckle. "Rose, I don’t mean to be funny. But at least this time, you are dressed a bit more conveniently than the last time you asked me to do that." He did not give her time to answer as he instead began to devour her lips with his own.

Rose lay in bed with the sheets tucked firmly around her. They had blown out the candle and now the room was bathed only in the dim light from the street lamp out side. Her head rested in the curve of Jack’s neck and the only sound around her was their rhythmic breathing. She was awash with a warm sensation of contentment that had been brought on by their tender lovemaking. It had been much too long since they had passed a night this way. Rose felt energized and satisfied and even if she had more days of nursing Cora ahead of her, she felt up to the task. That did not seem likely however, for Cora seemed ready now to conquer her illness. She suspected that in addition to the letter from Governor Roosevelt, that Jack had been deeply involved in the dramatic change in their daughter.

"Jack, just what went on here while I was gone? I mean with the transformation of Cora?" She sat half way up, leaning on her elbow and looked down at him. For a moment his face was expressionless and he appeared to be lost in thought before he answered.

He nodded as if to himself before he spoke. "Rose, I made a promise to Cora not to talk about it with anyone. I won’t betray that promise. All I can say is that it was time for her," and turning his head aside, Rose barely caught the words, "and for me."

She caught his eyes with her and stared at him intently. "I understand, Jack." Rose had a feeling that it had to do with his own problems back in 1919, but she knew enough not to bring that up. Trying to revert to the sensual mood of the evening, she changed the subject. "So…you like the nightgown? You don’t mind that I spent a little extra money on it." She cast her eyes to the floor where it now lay in a wrinkled heap. So much for the special wrapping by the clerk at the store in Chicago.

"Yeah. I liked it fine. I’ll think of it as an investment." He reached up and tucked some strands of her hair behind her ear so he could see her better. "Whatever made you decide that tonight was the night to…" Jack thought for a moment. "…to seduce me?"

A husky laugh escaped from Rose’s throat. "You won’t believe this, but it was Molly who suggested it. I guess all the children except maybe Patrick have seen the toll this was taking on our marriage."

He shook his head in agreement realizing too late that he and Rose had been almost torn apart by Cora’s illness. Jack felt guilty that he had not really tried to understand what Rose went through day after day. So intent had he been in trying to keep up a cheerful facade for his children, that at night in this room, there had been nothing left for Rose. And then too he had been afraid to touch her when she seemed so exhausted from the toils of nursing her child. "It’s a pretty sorry state of affairs when your own children have to remind you to...well, you know what I mean."

Rose sighed and laid her head on Jack’s chest, snuggling close to him. "Yes. It’s hard to believe that they are all really growing up. Molly seems so focused on her nursing and Edy her teaching. Even Frank spends more of his time at home talking to some girl at school than he does to us. And now Cora is going to spread her wings." She thought back to the days in their old house when they had been crammed into two small bedrooms when the girls and Frank were tiny babies. "Everyone is growing up except Patrick. I swear, Jack, that child drives me to distraction sometimes. I thought Frank was bad. At least with Frank he looked like he was guilty of some wrongdoing when he was bad. Just like you." She smiled broadly as she rested her finger on the tip of his nose. "But Patrick. I don’t know where we are headed with him."

Jack gently kissed her finger. "Oh he’ll be all right. Everything will be all right now. You’ll see. Even this damnable Depression will be over one of these days. Then we won’t have to scrimp and count every penny." He gazed down at Rose whose green eyes were blazing with love. "Do you what I wish Rose? Well, I’m grateful for you and our family and the beautiful simple things in our life. But just once Rose, if something happened to us, I wish that for one time, it would be something really, really good. Does that sound terrible to you?"

Her eyes were fastened on Jack’s, held captive by the hopeful, honesty in his shining pools of blue. Rose thought back to the days when Jack had worked and gone to school and she knew very well, that he always saw to it that his family had new clothes before he did. All their married life, they had always been happy, always felt rich in the love they shared. But Jack was right. Just one time, it would be wonderful to be singled out for something really special. "No. It doesn’t sound terrible at all. Just as long as what we feel here," she gestured to the space around the bed, "as long as what we do here, is still filled with love, then it is not terrible, Jack. For once, maybe we deserve it."

(From the Author-Some of you may wonder why Cora was invited to Washington for the Inauguration in March. Up until the first term of FDR, the U.S. Presidential Inauguration was held then. It was changed to January 20 with the 20th Amendment. As to why the secrecy over a bottle of champagne? The Volstead Act, which became effective in 1920, kept American dry until it was repealed with the 21st Amendment to the Constitution in 1933. It was illegal to purchase beer or wine or to produce such except for ceremonial purposes. But I will tell you a little family history here. I have two heavy pottery crocks in my house. One was used by my maternal grandfather to make bootleg whiskey during Prohibition, the other was used by my paternal grandfather to ferment some bootleg wine during the same period.)

Chapter Twenty-Three
Stories