Eternal Destiny
Epilogue
.July 4th, 1946
The sun was just about to set as Rose leaned against the window frame. She was quite amused as she watched her three granddaughters, Susan, Audrey and Mary (10, 7 and 3 years of age respectively) take pleasure in waving their bright, new flags around. She watched lovingly as their mother Sarah gently picked up Mary to explain what was to come tonight when the annual fireworks show started. Rose felt herself go limp as a pair of strong, loving arms wrapped themselves around her.
"What ya thinkin' about?" Jack whispered into her ear as he gently laid a kiss on her bare neck. Even after all these years, he still treated Rose like the delicate flower that he thought her to be. But even he knew that his 'delicate flower' was also like a loaded pistol, ready to fire at any time and surprise the world. Yes, he had definitely figured that out by now. You might say that that was why he loved her so much.
"Everything…mostly our lives, how everything has worked out over the years. We're so lucky Jack, did you ever think about that?"
"Rose, I've been telling myself everyday since the day that I first met you just how lucky I am. Sure, I know we might not have felt too lucky for those first couple of years, but fate brought us back together again. I thought that life couldn't get much better after you agreed to marry me, but once you gave me two more beautiful children, I knew that the only explanation for all of this was that I had died some time ago and flown to heaven.
"Then the children grew up one by one, each leaving for some far away place to find their way in the world and accomplish their dreams. First it was Sarah who got married at 23 years old to her high school sweetheart David Scott and had those three beautiful little girls that we see playing outside at this very minute. Then 'little' Laura left for college and instead of coming home with a degree, she came home with a husband. They moved up to Santa Barbara and started a family there, having their two children Michael and Emma. We were all thankful when our son Matthew finally finished high school and decided that he would like to go to college the next year. But, he suddenly changed his plans and ran off to fight in the war, not even telling us until he was overseas."
Rose closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she remembered that day all too well. But then again, anyone could have told them that he had his mother's wild and carefree spirit and his father's sense of adventure and curiosity, not to mention his good looks.
"But I guess he has too much of his parents in him," Jack continued, smiling as he nestled his head onto her shoulder. "Then after Matthew came home, our youngest and probably the most academic, Elizabeth, graduated and got excepted to Yale where she has been studying to this day. So much has happened to us since that night in April of 1912 when you decided that jumping off the back of a ship would be much better than living the Hell that you called life at the time."
Rose smiled in remembrance as she brought her hand up behind her to stroke Jack's cheek. "Yes, but then my knight in shining armor came and swept me right off my feet."
"Sounds just like a fairytale." Rose looked up at him, trying to suppress her almost child-like giddiness.
"Oh but it is a fairytale, don't you see? The prince runs off to save his princess and they live happily ever." Jack smiled and played along.
"Well of course! But I believe you forgot one minor detail my fair lady." Rose looked up at him, slightly confused and amused all the same time. "Yes…you see, all of the fairytales that I've heard, the prince takes his princess in his arms like this," Rose gave a short yelp as Jack surprise her by picking her up in his arms.
"Jack, you idiot! Put me down right this instant!" Jack laughed as he watched Rose's reaction. He always enjoyed surprising her by doing things like this.
"You see I would, naturally, but I don't think the prince has been completely satisfied yet." Rose looked at him, trying to look completely annoyed.
"What do you suppose could satisfy the prince?" Jack just looked at her like he didn't know what she was talking about.
"Oh, I don't know…" Rose cut him off short by pressing her lips up against his. In that kiss, held all of the love and passion that they still had for each other. They broke apart, breathless as Rose smiled at him mischievously.
"Do you think that will satisfy the prince?" Jack smiled and kissed her again lightly.
"Very much." He mumbled against her lips. She smiled as he gently put her down. In the background, they heard the loud banging of the fireworks begin.
"Grandma, Grandpa! Come outside! The fireworks are starting!" Susan, Audrey and Michael burst through the front door shouting. Just as they made their entrance, Matthew and Elizabeth emerged from the kitchen, wiping their hands dry, and Laura descended the stairs holding her two-year-old daughter Emma. Sarah's husband David followed her along with Laura's husband James, the two of them debating what team would win Saturday's baseball game.
"We're coming sweetheart." Rose replied back to the threesome. She smiled as she watched her family rush out the door to catch the fireworks show. She looked up at Jack, who smiled down at her lovingly. "You never finished your answer to the question I asked you." She said as they walked out the door, Jack's arm around Rose.
"What? About being lucky?" Rose just simply nodded. He paused to look out at the family that they had made. Everyone was huddled on the blanket, the brilliant colors of the fireworks lighting up their figures in the darkness. "Yes, I've thought about just how lucky we are…every single day of my life. There's a lot of people out there that will tell you that life isn't perfect. I for one can testify against that. For the past 34 years that I've known you, all of my dreams have been fulfilled. There's a path out there for everyone, it's just up to them to take a step. They're closer than they think. Dreams do come true."
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