UNEXPECTED THINGS
Chapter One
Rose danced as best as she could
with Cora, but her large belly sticking out made it hard. "All right,
Cora," she said, allowing herself to fall into a chair. "Mommy needs
a rest." Cora made a disappointed face, her big blue eyes pleading for
more. Rose laughed. "Later. Mommy’s tired from carrying your brother or
sister around." She smiled, and reached out towards Cora’s small hands,
taking them and placing them on her swollen belly. "Feel it?"
Cora’s big blue eyes got, if
possible, even bigger, and a smile spread across her face the way it always did
when she felt the baby kick. Only five years old, Cora was a beautiful little
girl. From her mother, she had inherited her red hair and fiery spirit, from
her father, she had inherited her piercing blue eyes and a talent for drawing.
"Mommy," she whispered, "she’s so strong."
Rose smiled. "It might be a
boy," she reminded her daughter. She was almost due now, and she knew it
had been rather stupid to insist that she and Jack go to the Chippewa Falls
fair, but she couldn’t help it; she liked to be a part of things.
"All right. Here’s your
food!" said a cheery voice from behind them.
"Daddy! The baby kicked. I
felt it again, Daddy!" Cora tugged at her father’s shirt.
Jack smiled as he squeezed
between them. "Did you?" He rubbed Rose’s stomach playfully.
"That baby’s strong, isn’t it?"
Cora giggled. As they ate, Rose
remembered all the wonderful times she had had with Jack. What would she have
done if it had all gone differently? If she had married Cal? Surely she would
be dead now. Instead, she was here with the man of her dreams, who loved her
just as much as she loved him. She had a beautiful daughter--and soon, another
child.
Jack turned to look at her.
"What?" he asked playfully. His eyes lowered their gaze to her belly.
"You should have stayed at home, Rose," he said thoughtfully.
"Oh, really?" asked
Rose, raising her eyebrows and putting on an air of snootiness that only she
could achieve. Jack burst into laughter before leaning over and giving her a
kiss.
"Daddy!" Jack gave Rose
a meek smile as the five-year-old interrupted the moment.
As Jack listened patiently to
whatever Cora might be telling him, Rose watched as a gentleman and his wife,
beautifully dressed, passed by, wrinkling their noses at the poor people. I’ve
got more class than you, thought Rose angrily. The woman reminded her
strongly of Ruth. Ruth. She hardly ever thought about her. She never referred
to her, spoke of her, or thought of her as her mother. After all, she had
nearly destroyed her, and when she had found the man of her dreams, her
soulmate, had tried to force her to marry Cal. She hated Cal. And now, she
found herself hating most of these rich snobs. She knew she used to be one of
them, but she was different now. She’d always wanted to break free.
"Rose?" Jack’s wonderful,
caring voice broke into her thoughts.
"Yes?"
He smiled at her. "Paul
needs a hand. Do you mind if I leave? I wouldn’t, but…"
"Go on!" she cut in,
giggling. "I’ll be fine."
Jack gave her his wonderful smile
and hurried away to help Paul, who was in a muddle somewhere.
"Mommy! Mommy! Can we dance
now?" Cora pulled hard at her mother’s hands.
Rose allowed herself to be pulled
over to the crowd of happy couples dancing. She tried to teach her impatient
daughter the dance Jack had once taught her. After a while, Rose found herself
beginning to tire. "Wait here," she said. "I just need to get a
drink. Now, stay here, Cora, and don’t move." She made it very firm and
clear to the reluctant five-year-old.
"Yes, Mommy."
Rose hurried as best as she could
to the table where she’d left her drink. Taking a large gulp, she was finally
satisfied. Turning around, her eyes searched for Cora. She should have been
only a few feet away--but she was gone.