A TWIST OF FATE
Chapter One
Rose walked out of the cool shade of the
department store and into the hot Philadelphia afternoon. Close behind her was
Trudy who was keeping a close eye on the boxes being carried by two young shop
assistants. Thomas was waiting with the car and immediately he stepped out and
opened the door.
"No thank you Thomas. It is such a fine afternoon, I think we will walk.
Please ensure that these boxes are taken safely back."
"But Ma'am, Mr. Hockley's specific orders were for me to bring you back in
the car."
Damn Mr. Hockley, thought Rose. "No, Thomas. The matter is final. Come
Trudy" and with that Rose started to walk away, Trudy hurrying to keep up.
"Miss Rose, is it wise to walk home?"
"What do you think is going to happen to us Trudy? It is broad daylight,
in the middle of town. I do not fear being kidnapped!" but Rose knew that
wasn't really what Trudy meant.
Presently they arrived at the park. In front of it was a large paved area where
aspiring artists would gather to sell their paintings and offer portraits. Rose
loved to come here, to admire their work and watch the artists laboring over
their canvas or paper. Some them were quite good, some not so. Some were
regulars; others came only once or twice. But there was always something new
for Rose to look at. Unfortunately, she did not get the chance to come as often
as she would have liked.
Today there was quite a small gathering of artists in the square surrounded by
passersby. Rose entered the throng and was soon lost in a world of her own.
Suddenly she spied some drawings and went over for a closer look. She picked up
a landscape drawing of a farmhouse and studied it.
"Do you like that Miss?" Rose looked up to see who had addressed her.
A young man stood before her, slightly long, floppy blonde hair falling into
his blue eyes.
"Yes, I do actually." Rose replied, picking up another drawing.
"I can do you a portrait for 10 cents".
Rose smiled. The house was full of portraits of her that Cal had had
commissioned. "No, thank you. But these are rather good. Are they drawn
from real life or copied?"
"Oh no miss! I don't copy anything, it's all original" sensing a
sale, he moved closer to Rose. "See this one, that's drawn from memory.
It's probably not strictly accurate, but some years since I saw it last. And
this one" he reached down and picked another one up "I did from real
life, actually I did it in Paris. I was there earlier this year."
"Paris?" Rose questioned him. She noticed what piercing blue eyes he
had. "I was in Paris earlier this year also. It is an amazing city for
art."
"Oh it is, it is" the young man said enthusiastically. "They
didn't think much to my art but I learned so much. See this one", he
picked up another drawing, " this was before Paris. See how perspective
had improved?"
"The perspective was very good to start with!" Rose mused looking
over some more work. "I bought some excellent paintings when I was in
Paris."
"Really? I sure wish I could I see them!"
Rose smiled again and looked at him directly. "Have we met before? You
look vaguely familiar."
"I'm sure not miss. I'd never forget a face as beautiful as yours!"
Rose blushed and decided it was time to end this conversation.
"I will take this one here, and this one and this one I think!" Rose
picked up the three pictures and handed them over. "Do you come here most
days?"
"I do miss, although I'm fairly new to the area" the young man
carefully rolled up the pictures.
"Then I shall come and see your work again and maybe we can talk about
Paris again!"
"Yeah, that'd be kind of good" he grinned. "Anyways miss, let me
introduce myself. I'm Jack Dawson" He stuck out his hand.
"Very pleased to meet you Mr. Dawson" Rose shook his politely.
"I am Mrs. Rose Hockley."