A TWIST OF FATE
Chapter Seventy-Five
Jack took a deep breath. He was standing
outside Rose’s door. No noise came from within. He was almost expecting sobs to
be heard.
"Rose, I need to speak to you," he
called.
"Come in," Rose’s definitely
unfriendly voice came back.
Jack opened the door. Rose had her back to
him, looking out of the window.
"We need to talk," he began
awkwardly.
"Do we?" Rose turned to face him.
Her face was red, although he wasn’t sure if she had been crying. He hoped she
hadn’t.
"You are upset about something and I
think it is to do with Theresa."
"You are a single man and are free to
pursue…" Rose began.
"I don’t want to pursue anything like
that," protested Jack. "There was no need for Theresa to be so
rude," he added lamely.
"Had she good reason?"
"What?"
"Had she good reason to be rude to me?
Was there something between you and she was surprised to see me?"
Jack sat on the edge of Rose’s bed and hoped
she would do the same.
"I’ll be honest, Rose. I kissed Theresa
at Fabri’s wedding. It was a stupid thing to do. I knew that then, but I had
too much to drink and I was missing you. I only wished it was you and not her
that I kissed." Jack rested his chin on his hands.
Rose sat quietly down.
"Did you give her any reason to think
there was more to this?" she asked.
"When I left I told her that I was
sorry, but there could be nothing. I thought she had accepted that. But I just
found out that she thinks I had a girlfriend all along and finds it awful that
I bring her here. Meaning you of course."
"Did you tell her the truth?"
"I told her I didn’t have a girlfriend
then and you were a friend who needed help. So it was only a part truth. I told
her again that I was sorry. But I don’t think she believes me."
Rose tried not to look hurt at Jack’s mention
of them just being friends. Was that what he really thought?
"She isn’t like Maria. She isn’t so
understanding," he continued.
"Well, I can see a little why she is
upset."
"I know that Rose. It is all my fault. I
shouldn’t have kissed her. But it happened and I can’t undo it."
Rose was playing with the ribbons on her hat.
"Was there anything else other than
that?"
"No, Rose, I assure you. I made a
mistake and I wish Theresa hadn’t taken it so bad. I’m also sorry you had to
find out like this. I was going to tell you at some point, but I didn’t see
that now was a good time, as things were starting to go so well for us. Not
that there was much to tell."
"Was this the reason you wanted to go
out tonight?" Rose needed to know.
Jack nodded.
"I was embarrassed to see Theresa and I
wanted to avoid all this."
Rose thought for a moment, playing still with
the hat. She looked down and didn’t look at Jack.
"I appreciate your honesty, Jack. That
is all I ask of you, honesty. You see, I always thought Cal had another woman
somewhere. I never had any proof, not that I could do anything about it anyway.
But there were times when he came home late from the Gentleman’s Club, reeking
of cheap perfume. Sometimes, when he had too much to drink, he would say this
woman’s name in his sleep."
Jack looked Rose in amazement and awe. What
she had endured yet she was still the same remarkable, strong woman he had
always admired. Rose turned to look him.
"So, honesty in a relationship is very
important Jack. I know you will always be honest with me." Her face broke
into a warming smile, that Jack couldn’t help returning. He knew then that this
misunderstanding was now cleared and they both were a little closer to each
other. Why she was so understanding, indeed why she turned to him when he
nothing to offer her he did not know. But she had opened up a little more to
him and he knew things were going to turn out fine.