Eternal Destiny
Part 6
The small distance between Jack and her was unbearably painful. Not being able to control herself, Rose closed the gap, bringing Jack into her arms silently. Both were a little surprised, but neither had any problem with it. Deep down, it had been what both had wanted all along- each other.
Rose took a deep and shuddering breath as she let out a soft cry. Jack stroked her hair as he gently repeated her name, over and over, just to make sure it was really her and that he was really here to cherish this moment. "It's ok Rose, it's ok…"
Rose clung to Jack's neck a little tighter as she let all of the pain and suffering that she had been through rush out in groups of tears onto Jack's shoulder. When she spoke, her voice was hushed and careful. "Oh God Jack…you have no idea, no idea…"
Jack was confused. "No idea of what Rose? Come on, you can tell me. No idea of what?"
"It's been so hard." Rose pulled away to look up into Jack's worried blue eyes. "I never knew life could be so cruel."
Jack gently stroked Rose's cheek with his thumb. He could feel her cold and shaking body as she tried to speak. "What happened Rose?" Jack whispered.
Rose turned towards the two pairs of eyes eagerly looking up at her. "Girls, why don't you go and play outside for a while."
Sarah's eyes dashed from her mother to Jack. Her eyes squinted slightly in deep thought and confusion as she looked at the intimacy between the two. Many years ago, in a time that Laura wouldn't remember, she remembered her father like that- holding her mother close and planting sweet little kisses on her cheek. How happy those days were- so care free and wonderful. But things were different now. Those days were over and from the looks of it, would never come back. "Yes Mother." Sarah gently grabbed Laura's hand, leading her away. "Come along Laura."
Jack watched silently as the two little girls left. He could barely hear Laura whisper to Sarah as she turned her head to the side to catch one more look at him. He looked down at Rose. Her eyes were shut and her lips were trembling. "Come on Rose, let's sit down." Carefully leading her to a nearby chair, he watched as she collapsed into it. "Rose…tell me. What's happened?"
Rose looked up at him with all the emotions that she had experienced over the past twelve years of their separation- love, hope, sadness and grief. "A…a couple of years ago in November of 1921, Michael fell extremely ill. All of the doctors said he'd be perfectly fine- recover in a matter of weeks. Well, for a while there, it did look like he'd gotten better. After the New Year came, he began to feel fatigued, never hungry and was easily irritable. I called the doctor and they told me that he was ill again…this time much worse. Within days, he was bedridden and absolutely miserable."
Rose's head fell as she wrung her shaking hands around her apron. "I sent the girls to stay with Michael's parents while I stayed at home to take care of him. Then one day, while I was sitting by his bedside, he told me that he had excepted what the future held for him…he said he wasn’t afraid of it anymore. He told me to go to California…there was a man there that would help me and take care of the girls. I tried asking him whom he was talking about, but he just kept repeating that I already knew him." A tear gently fell down Rose cheek. "He died a couple days later."
Even Jack found himself without words. Even though Michael had married Rose and had been his worst enemy for doing so, he was also Jack's best and most wonderful friend. He couldn't help but grieve with Rose over Michael's loss. "I'm so sorry Rose…"
Rose raised her head to look up at Jack. "Me too Jack…me too. We left for California shortly after that. We first came here to Los Angeles where we found an affordable apartment near Sarah's elementary school and I found a job as a secretary for a small theater company down the street. I did other small jobs too, like acting small parts out for the latest movies or theater productions. So far, Los Angeles seemed to be very welcoming to us. That wasn't until the theater company I had been working at closed and our tenant suddenly decided that having two little girls around was too much of a bother. So I quickly packed us all up once more and moved to another apartment while I scrambled for another job. Sure, there was acting, but it was never enough to pay for food and clothing for two growing children.
"So, here I am two years, three apartments and over a dozen jobs later. Where has it gotten me you might ask… not a single step ahead of where I was then, that's for sure."
"Rose, why didn't you come to me sooner? I could have helped you Rose. I've got an art store now that's really booming. For once in my life, I don't have to worry about where my next meal's comin' from." Jack paused as he pulled Rose's hands into his own. "You know something? Mike was right- there is a man in California who can help you and take care of the girls…you just have to give him a chance first."
"Oh God Jack! Why'd I ever doubt myself even for a second?" Letting out another cry, Rose brought Jack back into her arms again. "I'm sorry I didn't come to you sooner Jack. I was just afraid…unsure…I didn't know if I could trust life anymore. I was afraid of what and who the future held."
"It's ok Rose. See? We're together now. It was meant to be Rose. Everything happens for a reason, you and I both know that." Jack pulled away, holding Rose at arms length. "I told you once a long time ago that we'd make it…and we will Rose, we will."
Then, after twelve grueling and painful years of separation, Jack finally held his Rose in his arms and gently kissed her.
"I'll love you Rose…from now through Eternity."
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