Rose

by Alison Chaffin Higson

  Walking to the beach the following morning, Lucas had insisted on going via Thomas’ cottage, to see if he wanted to go with them. Mack tried to talk him out of it, but Thomas was his new friend, and had to be invited.

  Lucas ran off ahead of Mack once Thomas’ cottage came in to view. She just hoped Lucas didn’t badger him. Once Lucas got a bee in his bonnet, it was difficult to bring him around to something else.

  Mack climbed the four steps to the porch where Thomas and Lucas were sitting. “Morning, Thomas. Sorry to barge in on your morning, but I’m afraid Lucas has something to ask you.”

  He put his head back and laughed. “Oh, I know that.” Then he had a twinkle in his eye. “Lucas asked me if I wanted to come to the beach with him to watch you,” he coughed, “skinny dipping.”

  Mack had just taken a sip of her water, which ended up down her top. “He never did?” She looked at Thomas, then at Lucas, who looked rather angelic. “Did he?”

  Thomas nodded his head.

  She narrowed her eyes. “Lucas Cartwright!”

  “Granny goes skinny dipping,” Lucas said in his defense.

  Mack quickly glanced at Thomas, who looked ready to burst with laughter. She sighed. “Okay. Lucas, we’re leaving to go to the beach. Thomas, would you like to come with us?”

  He looked from Mack’s blushing face to Lucas’ hopeful one. “I think I will.” Then he winked at Lucas. “Providing your Auntie keeps her clothes on. Might give me a heart attack at my age.”

  Lucas fell about laughing. Mack continued to blush. Embarrassed.

  Once Thomas appeared in his light-weight jacket, Lucas took hold of both their hands and let them lead him to the beach, where Mack guided them over to a shaded area. “Let’s sit here so we don’t fry like a lobster. I’ll still be able to watch you, Lucas, so don’t think you can get away with anything.”

  Thomas chuckled as he watched Lucas run off to play in the small tidal pool close to where they were sitting.

  “He sure is a handful,” Thomas commented, sitting beside Mack on the blanket.

  Mack laughed. “He sure is. I think he listens to his granny too much.” She sat with her legs pulled up, resting her chin on her knees. “It’s lovely here, Thomas. I’ve never been to Cape Elizabeth before, which is unbelievable, considering I’ve lived all my life in Boston. So quiet and peaceful.”

  After a few minutes, Thomas glanced at Mack then back to Lucas. “I’ve never lived anywhere else. When Janet, my wife, was alive, we traveled to Europe, Canada, and Australia over the years we were together, but since she passed away, I haven’t been anywhere. I don’t need to travel after seeing what I have, and having this in my backyard… why bother?”

  “It’s paradise, Thomas.”

  “That it is. Why don’t you have a boyfriend?”

  Mack quickly looked at Thomas. Wow. That question was unexpected!

  He laughed. “You’re a pretty young woman, Mack. I might be old, but there’s nothing wrong with my eyesight.”

  “I date, but….”

  “No one ever lit the spark?”

  “That about sums it up.” She sighed.

  While she enjoyed the silence, Mack mulled over the last date she had been on, at her mother’s insistence. He had been fifty-five and a friend of her parents. In fairness, he was handsome and looked younger than his years, but he had three children, two of whom were older than she was, plus he couldn’t stop talking about his wife. Soon to be ex-wife. Mack actually told her parents she gave him five months and he’d be back with his wife.

  “Auntie Mack?” Lucas joined them on the blanket and cuddled into Thomas.

  “Yeah? Are you tired now, Lucas?” He looked really sleepy.

  “I think I’ll have a nap as well,” Thomas added.

  “Well, if you’re both napping, I’m going to read.” She watched them both settle down, before she retrieved Rose’s diary from her purse.

  Mack moved back and rested against a small rock. She gazed at a yacht far out at sea, until it disappeared from the horizon, then opened the diary to the bookmarked page.

  Chapter 5

  March 11, 1947

  We meet again…

  I’d been busy over the past three days since I last wrote in my diary, thanks to Jayne. One night she took me to a dance at her office to celebrate a big contract they had been awarded. I danced with a few of the single men Jayne worked with, which was nice, but I was still hoping to see Jacob again. I couldn’t get him out of my head.

  Two nights ago we went to the movie theatre watching It’s a Wonderful Life. I really liked James Stewart. The movie was long and walking home all I wanted to do was drop into bed, I was so tired. Jayne made me laugh, though. She flirted with the movie attendant and ended up having a date with him last night.

  Today was my day off from the library and I was so looking forward to meeting Jayne in town. Ever since meeting Jacob, I’d been spending more time over my appearance, just in case I should see him again. It had been seven days since our first meeting; everywhere I went I looked out for him. I so hoped he hadn’t left Cape Elizabeth.

  It was thirty minutes past twelve as I approached ‘Belle’s Tea Rooms’ to meet Jayne. Belle was from Cornwall and moved to America after the war to be with her husband, who she married while he was stationed over there. She made the most amazing scones and cream cakes, and I was so looking forward to indulging this afternoon, our monthly treat.

  “Rose.” Jayne shouted from behind me. I slowed down so she could catch up.

  “Jayne. I’m glad you’re not late again.” Whenever I arranged to meet Jayne, she was always at least ten minutes late and kept me standing around waiting for her like a bump on a log.

  “Let’s get inside. I haven’t had lunch yet.” Jayne not eating lunch before coming here was nothing new. She made up for it with the cakes!

  I opened the door and walked in to be greeted by the most delicious smell. As I looked around, I froze. Across the room, also frozen, his eyes locked on me, was Jacob. Jayne not realizing I had stopped, walked straight into me, pushing me towards Jacob, who had walked across the room to me and took hold of my hands.

  “Rose. I can’t believe… Rose, you’re here?” he said, not letting go of my hands.

  “Rose. Who is this?” Jayne asked.

  I’d completely forgotten Jayne was with me. “Jayne, this is Jacob. Jacob, this is my best friend, Jayne.”

  “Nice to meet you, Jayne,” Jacob replied without taking his eyes or hands from me.

  “Please join us?” Jacob invited, and before I could reply, he was leading us across the room to his companion. I hesitated slightly when I saw the other woman. “She’s my sister,” he whispered to me with a twinkle in his eye.

  “Eleanor, I would like you to meet Rose,” Eleanor raised an eyebrow, “and her friend, Jayne. This is my sister, Eleanor.”

  After shaking hands, Jacob pulled a chair out for me and then, remembered his manners, for Jayne. If I was to be asked later what I ate, I wouldn’t be able to answer. While Jayne and Eleanor chatted away, Jacob and I looked longingly at each other.

  “Are you really sitting in front of me?” Jacob asked me.

  “I thought I wouldn’t see you again. I thought maybe you’d left Cape Elizabeth.”

  He lifted his hand as though to caress my face, but he remembered we were in public and pulled back. “I couldn’t remember where you worked.” Then he started to laugh. “I tried so many places in town looking for you.”

  I took his hand. “I work at the library. I’ve been looking for you as well.”

  Before I knew it, we had finished our tea and cake. As we headed for the reception room, Jayne and Eleanor headed towards the powder room, while Jacob took my hand and pulled me into an alcove behind a really large potted plant.

  “Please tell me you’re not marrying that other fellow?”

  “No,” I replied, shaking my head. He shocked the life out of me by kissing me on the cheek, tende
rly.

  “Can I see you again?” he asked, moving closer.

  “Yes.”

  His lips came down onto mine. I was sure I could see stars. I couldn’t think, my whole world had tipped on its axis. He pulled his mouth away from mine, and I finally came back to myself. He just grinned at me.

  “Wow… I think we need to practice that.”

  I reached up and pulled his head down to mine. Fireworks exploded in my head. I wasn’t usually so forward, but it was Jacob. Wow.

  We both pulled away rather breathless. “Can I see you tonight?”

  “Oh, yes,” I replied excitedly.

  I told him where I lived and we quickly made arrangements to meet at ten tonight on the beach.

  All the way out of town, Jayne did nothing but go on and on about Jacob and how much my parents would disapprove. I pointed out to Jayne that it was my life, and I would see Jacob if I wanted to. She walked off in a bit of a huff. So from now on, I was going to keep him my secret. I certainly didn’t want to have my parents finding out about him before I knew him better.

  My father was a snob, and in his eyes, anyone who wore anything other than a suit to work was not worthy of his only daughter. He actually hated me working at the library, all the more reason to do it!

  Later that night I brushed my hair until it shined and put one of my new dresses on, which was pale pink with white piping around the neck and sleeves. I applied my pink lipstick and slipped my feet into my pink shoes.

  My stomach was full of butterflies with excitement as I sneaked out of my room and down the stairs, through the kitchen then out the kitchen door.

  With a deep breath, I walked around Mother’s rose garden and between the gap in the hedges to be able to walk down the path to the beach.

  Five minutes later, I turned the bend in the path and could just make out Jacob and the smile that spread across his face at seeing me.

  Jacob started walking towards me as I sped up my walk, and before I knew it we stood facing each other.

  He reached up with his hands and caressed my face before touching his lips to mine in the sweetest of kisses. The kiss went on and on, by the time he withdrew his lips from mine, my knees were so weak, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to walk.

  “I can’t believe you’re here in front of me. That I have my hands on your face. I feel as though I’ve known you for years and that it hasn’t only been a few days since we met,” he confessed.

  I had tears in my eyes. “I know what you mean. I feel it too, Jacob.”

  He seemed to pull himself together and stepped back, taking my hand in his. “Come, Rose. Let’s walk along the beach, before it gets too dark.”

  “I’d like that.”

  We strolled along the beach wrapped in each other’s arms. My arm was around Jacob’s waist and his was around my shoulders, holding me tight. He felt delicious against my side, and all I wanted was for him to stop walking and kiss me senseless again.

  I had been on dates with other young men in the past and held hands, but no one had ever felt as good beside me or so right.

  Was I falling in love with him? I honestly felt so happy with Jacob.

  As we walked along the beach he told me all about his sister, Eleanor, and how close he was to her.

  She was ten years older than him and had been engaged before the war, her fiancé having been killed in France. Apparently, she hadn’t been the same since and still missed him dearly.

  It brought it home to me about all the people who had lost loved ones during the war. My family included.

  All too soon it was time for me to head home before I was missed.

  Jacob walked me part of the way home, along the foot-path.

  “Rose, I don’t want to let go of you. How is that possible after only a couple of meetings?”

  “I feel the same,” I whispered as I buried my face into his chest.

  He put his hand under my chin and lifted my face so he could place a gentle kiss to my lips.

  “Will you meet me at lunch tomorrow? Near the rocks.”

  “Yes.” I turned quickly and started running back towards my house, then remembered we hadn’t arranged a time, so I turned back and shouted, “One o’clock.”

  “I’ll be there,” he shouted back.

  March 12, 1947

  I can’t wait for lunch…

  I’d spent all morning watching the clock creep very slowly to one o’clock. Why did the time always drag when you were looking forward to being somewhere else?

  “Rose?” Mr. Young.

  “Yes?”

  “I have been talking to you for the past five minutes, but you appear to be here in body only. Are we keeping you from something?”

  “Not really. Is the meeting over?”

  I made a quick exit, while Mr. Young got all flustered. I grabbed my jacket and purse from the staff room, before I left the library to go and meet Jacob.

  I was so excited as I ran along the sidewalk towards the beach and the few rocks. I still couldn’t believe how much he had started to mean to me. I even pinched my arm once or twice to make sure it was real and not a figment of my imagination. Then there he was, pacing back and forth, stopping to look around him, then he would start up again. Was he nervous? Worried that I wouldn’t turn-up?

  He lifted his head again and spotted me. He stilled and a huge grin started to spread over his face.

  I ran towards him, and threw myself into his arms. He hugged me real tight and then sealed his mouth to mine.

  Being in Jacob’s arms with his lips locked to mine made me tingle all over, even in places that I hadn’t tingled before, and it sure felt good.

  “Rose, I’ve been really looking forward to seeing you again. I couldn’t concentrate on anything this morning for thinking about you.” He caressed my face, down to my neck and shoulders.

  “I’ve been watching the clock all morning,” I confessed.

  Jacob smiled, took my hand and pulled me down the steps to the beach then over to a large rock. He helped me to get comfortable and then put his arm around me.

  “I only have about twenty minutes. We don’t get too long for lunch.”

  “I’d rather have twenty minutes with my Rose, than none at all.”

  I rested my head against Jacob, as we just sat looking out to sea. My eyes found a trawler out on the horizon which I watched until it disappeared from view.

  I could sit with Jacob all day in silence and yet still be more than aware that he was sitting with me. That was how comfortable I felt being with him.

  If I was to sit at home with my parents, I’d be twitching and desperate for an escape within five minutes, but not Jacob.

  “Rose, will you tell me a bit about yourself? About your family?”

  I quickly glanced at my watch and realized fifteen minutes had past while we’d both been lost in our own world. “I’m not sure we have time, but I’ll tell you that there is my brother JT and my parents. We also have a housekeeper who tries her best to keep JT in-line, but she tends to fail more often than my parents would like.” I grinned. “I think we need to make a move.”

  “I know. I’m having trouble moving. I just want to stay here all afternoon with you in my arms. I’m really falling for you, Rose,” he gulped, looking so vulnerable.

  “I’m falling for you too… but I need to get back. I don’t particularly enjoy my job, but it annoys my father.” I grinned and Jacob laughed.

  He stood up first, jumped down from the rock then turned around and put his hands on my hips. With his eyes alight with mischief he lifted me down from the rock, moved his hands to my bottom and pulled me in to his body to claim my lips.

  Jacob broke the kiss and rested his forehead against mine, while he wrapped a piece of my hair, which had come loose from my braid, around his fingers.

  The way he looked at me, as though he wanted to devour me, had my heart beating rapidly in my chest, with what felt like butterflies, flying around in my stomach, and tingles betwee
n my legs.

  “I can’t see you again until Friday, but I want to take you dancing. Will you come dancing with me, Rose?”

  Without thought, I said, “Yes.”

  Once back on the sidewalk we agreed the time and place to meet on Friday then said our goodbyes. We both left walking in different directions.

  I missed him already.

  Chapter 6

  Mack lay in bed, with her thoughts on Rose and Jacob the following morning, not really wanting to move.

  The cottage was known as ‘Rose Cottage’, so it didn’t take a lot of imagination to realize the cottage was named after her. That must mean she was a relative of Thomas’, as he said he changed the name when his father died. Was she dead? Was that why the name of the cottage changed from Degan House to what it was today? In her memory. It would certainly explain Thomas’ reaction yesterday to seeing the diary.

  Mack pushed the duvet to the side and climbed out of bed. After a quick shower, she dressed, then walked across the hall to check on Lucas before heading downstairs to start breakfast.

  “Auntie Mack, when will Thomas be here?” Lucas asked, not five minutes later.

  Mack turned around and found Lucas standing in the doorway, fully dressed with a wet face. “I didn’t know you were awake, and you’ve dressed as well. Wow!” She hid her smile. “He’ll be here later today. Come and eat.”

  Once Lucas sat down, Mack placed his breakfast in front of him. “Hot cereal! Are you sure that’s what it’s supposed to be?” Lucas asked in disgust, as he dipped his spoon into the bowl of white looking substance.

  “Yes, it’s hot cereal, Lucas. Try some syrup or natural yogurt with it.”

  “I’m not sure I like hot cereal.”

  “Just be glad I didn’t put prunes and apricots in yours.” Mack tried not to laugh at the look of horror on his face, while she placed some yogurt and syrup in her own bowl.

  “Ugh, yuk. Can we have proper food, like a burger for lunch?” Lucas whined.

  “If you eat your breakfast, we’ll find a fast food place for lunch, a treat on the way back from shopping. How’s that sound?” She laughed.

  He’d started to shovel his breakfast into his mouth rather quickly.