AN UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Jack sighed as he pulled Rose into an
embrace. They were lounging out behind the house again, this time looking at
the stars together. He had just gotten home from a long, grueling day at work.
He couldn’t wait until he had some time to start selling some drawings again.
Just as Rose had walked back into his life again, so had his ability to draw.
He thought back to the night before. It had been such a magical night. He and
Rose had given themselves to each other, once again making the other whole.
Rose looked at Jack, hearing his sigh. He
looked so happy. So much love radiated from his eyes. "Jack, when do you
want to get married?"
Jack thought a moment before answering.
"Would this Saturday be too soon?"
She smiled at his words. Saturday was only
five days away, but she felt excited. She would be married to the man that she
loved in only five days! "Saturday sounds wonderful, Jack. It’ll be a
challenge getting everything in order by then, but it’ll be worth it. I can’t
wait to be your wife, Jack." He smiled before kissing her. When they
parted, Rose looked at Jack, a nervous flutter in her heart. She knew that the
time had come to tell Jack about the baby.
"Jack, there’s something that I need to
tell you." She swallowed nervously. She dreaded telling him, not because
she didn’t want him to know about the baby, but because she didn’t feel that
she had the strength to tell him what Cal had done to her. But he has a
right to know; I can’t keep this from him any longer.
Jack looked at her, a concerned expression on
his face. "What is it, Rose?"
She avoided his eyes. "Jack…I’ve been
keeping something from you. I’m terrified of what your reaction will be."
She finally looked into his eyes. He looked confused…and worried.
"You have to trust me, Rose. Nothing
will keep me away from you. I love you with all of my heart. You have to know
that you can tell me anything," he said as he took her shaking hands into
his.
She hesitated a moment. She knew that her
news would change their lives forever. "Jack, I–I…"
Jack waited patiently for her to finish her
sentence. Her face had gone pale. Jack wondered what it was that she was trying
to tell him. "It’s okay, Rose. You can tell me," he said gently.
She looked into his eyes again, trying to
draw strength from them. She knew how much he loved her. "Jack…I’m
pregnant." There! I finally said it. She felt relieved to have
finally gotten that off of her chest. She looked at Jack uncertainly, waiting
to see his reaction.
He looked at her in shock. But behind that
she saw that he was happy to hear the news. "Oh, Rose, I’m going to be a
father?" he cried in pure joy. Rose was surprised by his reaction. He
hugged her, crushing her against him. He pulled back and looked into her eyes.
"Rose, how could you think for one moment that my reaction would be
anything less than joy at hearing your news? I want nothing more than to start
a family with you." He embraced her again.
She hid her face in his shoulder, hiding the
tears that fell down her cheeks. How can I shatter his heart by telling him
that Cal might also be the father? she silently asked herself. She didn’t
have the strength to tell him, not then. Their wedding was only five days away.
This was supposed to be the happiest time of their lives. I know that I will
have to tell him. I can’t keep something like this from him forever. I’ll wait
until after the wedding to tell him, she decided.
"I love you, Rose," he said, before
kissing her.
She kissed him back, desperately trying to
forget her unsettling thoughts. But it was no use; the fact that she was still
keeping something from the man that she loved haunted her. She couldn’t wait
until Saturday. Then, she’d be Jack’s wife…and everything would be okay.
*****
Mr. Buff watched as Rose walked down the
sidewalk with another woman. They were talking about a wedding–Rose’s wedding. Cal
will not be happy to hear that Rose has found that Dawson kid, Mr.
Buff thought as he watched them enter a wedding boutique. Rose was obviously
going to buy a wedding dress. He’s going to blame me for all of this. I let
her get away; I have to find a way to get her back with Mr. Hockley. A
moment later, an idea came to him. Yes, that would be the perfect way to get
her back in the hands of Mr. Hockley and to get revenge on that Dawson kid. Mr.
Hockley will be pleased that I’ve come up with such a brilliant plan! He
headed back to the hotel where Cal was staying. Yes, this will work! It’s
perfect. Just the revenge that Mr. Hockley so desires. He knew how much his
boss hated Jack Dawson, and if his boss hated the man, he did also. Mr. Buff
smiled smugly as he entered the hotel lobby. He knew just the way to make Jack
pay. He would kidnap Rose on their wedding day, leaving Jack heartbroken and
alone at the altar. Mr. Buff hurried to Cal’s suite; he had to tell his boss of
his plan right away. After all, there wasn’t much time to prepare; he’d heard
Rose say that the wedding was only four days away. Yes indeed, there was much
to do.