SURVIVING
Chapter Eight
One Year Later…
The war was over. Life had sauntered down
into a routine for Jack and Rose. Jack had a job at the local mill, while Rose
helped Emma Jean and Myrtle with the housework. Emma Jean was even encouraging
Rose to take up nursing. Rose was thinking about it, but right now she was
happy just taking care of her new family.
That day, Jack was off and in the kitchen,
wanting to help his wife with breakfast. Rose had been feeling under the
weather and Jack wanted her to take it easy until he got her to the doctor.
"Jack!" Rose laughed in
exasperation as he took a pot of water from her. "What are you
doing?"
"It looked heavy." He shrugged,
setting the pot on the stove, blushing terribly. The pot wasn’t heavy at all.
"You have to stop doing this, Jack. I’m
fully capable of cooking dinner tonight." Rose sighed. Yes, capable, as
long as she forgot about her nausea and the fainting spell she had had last
night and that morning. She was just thankful that Jack wasn’t around to
witness either event. He’d have her tied to her bed.
"I just want to take care of you,
sweetie. You can’t be angry at me for that." Jack wrapped his arms around
her, pulling her close. Slowly, he kissed her, moving from her lips to her
neck.
"Jack." Rose struggled to keep her
focus. Early morning lovemaking in the kitchen was inappropriate. She’d die if
anyone came in. "Come on. I have to make breakfast. Besides, we can’t. Not
in here and not now."
Jack groaned, pulling away. She had no idea
what she did to him. Especially when he stared into her eyes. Sometimes his
attraction to her scared him, but honestly, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
"I adore you, Rose. More and more each day."
Before Rose could answer, a sharp knock
pounded on the door, ruining the moment. Both Jack and Rose frowned. It was way
too early for visitors.
"I wonder who that can be." Emma
Jean came into the room, along with the grandparents.
Jack shrugged as he approached the door. He
had no idea who it was or what they wanted. His eyes widened in shock as he
opened the door to the last person he had ever expected to see again.
"Jack." Greta Dawson, now
Straussel, stared up at her son.
Jack would have slammed the door in her face
if he wasn’t so shocked to see her. What was she doing here? What did she want?
"Jack? Who is…it?" Myrtle stopped
in her tracks when she saw who was at the door. She had never set eyes on her
son’s wife before, but she knew that it was her. Jack had her face.
"Lucas’s wife, I presume."
"I know we haven’t met…" Greta
stammered, not taking her eyes off her son. He was so handsome and tall. He was
a sight for her sore eyes.
"Jack’s told us all about you."
Henry glared at the newcomer. "How you allowed that Nazi to beat on him.
If it hadn’t been for young Rose, there…I don’t even want to think of what
could have happened."
"What do you want?" Rose took her
place at Jack’s side, her green eyes spitting fire. Greta Dawson was the last
person she had ever expected to see from Germany. She had hurt Jack terribly.
"I came to see my son. I want…I want to
make things right between us again."
"I don’t think so." Myrtle shook
her head. She didn’t want the woman near her grandson. She was sure Lucas would
agree with her if he had been there. "You betrayed both my grandson and my
son’s memory by siding with that evil man the way you did."
Greta sighed, feeling tired and depressed.
The ending of the war had been tough on her. She had lost everything. Her job,
her home, and her husband, who had been arrested for crimes against humanity.
Everything she had thought was so important was now gone. All she had left was
the son who had fled to America, probably fearing for his life. The son who
hadn’t spoken to her in such a long time, she had almost forgotten the sound of
his voice. A son that had every reason to hate her, but she hoped he didn’t.
"I know that I’ve messed up. I know that
I’ve hurt you, Jack…but…you have to understand. I was lonely. I loved my son,
but I needed a man in my life. A man who could take care of us both. That was a
good role model. I thought Hansel was both of those things."
"Well…you might as well come in."
Myrtle beckoned, tired of standing but wanting to hear what Greta had to say
for herself. She couldn’t help it. She was curious. "It’s chilly out there
this morning."
"Thank you." Greta smiled, entering
the kitchen, setting her bags in front of her as she took a seat at the kitchen
table. So far, this was going well. Jack hadn’t told her to leave…yet.
Jack looked at Rose, apprehensive about his
mother showing up like this. She wanted his forgiveness, but he wasn’t sure
that he was ready to give it. Because of her need for a man in her life, Jack’s
life had been a living hell. He had feared the one place where he should have
been safe. The one place he had called home. She had stood by while her lover
beat him into a bloody pulp, ignoring his calls for her to help him. And when
Rose had come to save him, she had refused to let her, and then when Rose had
forced Hansel to leave him alone, her concern wasn’t for his son, but his
tormenter…her lover. How could he ever forgive that?
"I don’t know what to tell you. You
stood by and let him beat me. You didn’t even ask him to stop. Then, when Rose
arrived…your concern was for him. Not me. For goodness sake, I was your son,
your own flesh and blood, but it was his well-being you cared about! Not
mine!"
Tears sprang from Greta’s eyes. She knew she
had messed up and perhaps her son could never love her again, but she had to at
least try.
"Jack, please…I know there’s no excuse
for my actions. That I’ve hurt you very badly. But I beg for your forgiveness
anyway. You’re all I have in the world and I do love you. Please, Jack…I am
your mother, after all."
"Jack." Rose’s hand lightly brushed
his arm. "I…I think she’s sincere. She does seem truly sorry."
"I agree." Emma nodded.
"I believe Lucas would have wanted you
to forgive her." Myrtle sighed. Of course, her own opinion was quite
different. If it was up to her, Greta would never know the love of her son
again. But she knew Lucas would disapprove if she told Jack not to give the
woman another chance.
"Rose?" Jack looked at his wife,
valuing her opinion before anyone else‘s. "What do you think?"
Rose frowned. Somehow, she knew that this was
her call. If she told Jack not to forgive his mother, he wouldn’t. But how
could she tell him not to, when she would do anything to see her own mother
again? Despite it all. "She seems sincere. I think you should put her on
probation. Forgive her…but make her earn back your trust."
Greta glanced hopefully at the young couple,
hoping that Jack would listen to his wife. That he’d forgive her everything,
even if she had to earn back his trust.
Jack nodded. It was a good idea. "Do you
have a place to stay?" He turned to Greta, his answer in his voice.
"No." Greta shook her head, cursing
herself for once again not thinking ahead.
"Well…you can stay in the
guestroom." Myrtle poured a cup of coffee, her voice void of emotion. She
didn’t like this, but it was Jack’s decision and that was what mattered. She’d
just be there for her grandson. Just in case he needed her.
"Thank you." Greta tried to smile,
knowing that she didn’t deserve the kindness from anyone in the room.
"Jack…I promise to…"
"Don’t. Okay? I may forgive you, but I
don’t trust you. You’re going to have to earn that back."
Greta nodded, thankful that at least she was
forgiven. She looked at the young woman responsible for her son’s happiness and
was grateful that he had found someone so full of love and kindness.
"I’ll show you to your room."
Myrtle beckoned, already leaving the room.
Once they were alone, Rose placed a concerned
hand on Jack’s shoulder. Was he truly all right? He was so hurt by his mother’s
betrayal…maybe she shouldn’t have encouraged him to forgive his mother.
"Are you okay?"
"I’m fine. I…I just…I don’t know if I’ll
ever be able to trust her again."
"Jack." She pulled him deeper into
her embrace, wishing that she could take all his pain away. "It’ll be all
right."
"With you by my side, I know it will
be." Jack sighed, pulling away from her, thankful for her love and
support. He knew for sure that Rose was all he’d ever need. Even if his mother
betrayed his trust once again, he’d be okay. Why? Because he had Rose. She was
his life preserver and he was hers. Comfortable in this knowledge, Jack didn’t
worry about forgiving his mother. Everything was going to be okay.