Rose

by Alison Chaffin Higson

  “Mack, what’s wrong?” Dean asked, as he sat up and massaged her shoulders.

  She reached back to cover his hands with hers and leaned back into his chest. “I’m nervous to continue, knowing it ends with Rose’s death.” Mack wiped at a wayward tear with her fingers.

  Dean wrapped his arm around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. “Don’t you want to know what happened on her last day?”

  “Yeah,” Mack whispered.

  “Do you want me to read it?” Dean offered.

  She let out a sigh. “No. I’ll be okay. Let’s eat and then we’ll read about the 14th.”

  “Okay, babe.” Dean reached for the picnic hamper. “Cheese or ham?”

  “Ham, please.”

  Mack took the sandwich from Dean and sat resting her chin on her drawn up knees, looking out to sea while she ate. There was another couple further down the beach who were playing Frisbee with two children, and a dog running circles around them. She could hear the children giggling from where she sat.

  Mack turned back to look at the ocean. When her sandwich was finished, she turned and knelt between Dean’s legs, looking at him.

  She grinned and moved closer. Dean’s eyes widened when she reached the bottom of his t-shirt. “I need distracting for a few minutes, and I want to have a closer look at the tattoo I keep catching glimpses of.”

  He groaned. “Mack, I’m not sure this is a good idea.” He sucked in his breath when Mack’s hand slid inside his t-shirt, up to his chest. She climbed onto his lap and managed to pull the t-shirt over his head. Dean didn’t protest too much.

  “Mmm, you look… damn good.” Mack licked her lips. Dean’s breathing had become more erratic.

  Mack kissed him on the lips then moved down to his chest and smoothed her hands over his biceps, crawling from Dean’s lap and around to the back of him. Now it was her turn to suck her breath in.

  On his back from one shoulder to the other spread an eagle. It was magnificent, like nothing she’d ever seen before. Mack reached out and started to trace the wings with her fingers. Dean broke out in goose bumps as she moved closer and started kissing her way across the wingspan.

  “Mack,” Dean hissed, “unless you want to put on a display for the family down the beach, I suggest you stop.”

  Mack smirked. She knew exactly what she did to him. “Spoil sport.” She crawled back to the front of him and couldn’t help but notice the bulge in his lap. “Your eagle is amazing.”

  He smiled. “I drew up the design and the tattoo artist did an excellent job of transferring it to my skin.”

  “That he did,” Mack agreed as she straddled Dean’s hips.

  She sealed her lips to his in a heated kiss, which ended all to quickly for Dean’s liking.

  “Very nice. Okay, I’m rested and I think, ready to finish the diary.”

  She climbed off Dean and turned around to scoot back between his legs.

  “Thank you for the distraction.”

  “Yeah, well, if you carry on wiggling that butt where you’re wiggling it, you’re going to get more of a distraction than I think you’d planned for the beach.”

  “That really is a tempting offer. I’ve always wanted to make out on the beach. We’ll have to take a rain-check for when it’s dark.” Mack turned her head and laughed when she looked into Dean’s lust-filled expression. “Okay, fun’s over, for now.” She reached for the diary, laughing to herself at the look on Dean’s face, because she was passing him over for a diary dated 1947.

  Chapter 22

  April 14, 1947

  Today’s the day….

  On my way down the stairs, I felt really well, or at least I did, until Mother asked me to join them for breakfast.

  I entered the dining room and could tell straightaway that something was wrong. JT wasn’t there, which meant he’d been told to eat in the kitchen.

  “Who is this man you’ve been seen with?” Heck. So Richard had been to see them.

  I decided to be as honest as I could. “I have fallen in love with a good man, and he’s asked me to marry him, and I’ve agreed. I love him with all my heart.”

  Father looked ready to burst. “If he’s a good man, why hasn’t he been to ask me for your hand in marriage?” he roared.

  “Because I asked him not to,” I said quietly. Father was such a snob.

  “Why?”

  I took a deep breath. “Because Jacob doesn’t have a lot of money. He has an apprenticeship awaiting him in New York. I love him and want to be with him. I was afraid you wouldn’t understand, and that you would prevent me from seeing him.” There was no way I was mentioning Boston.

  “So you keep saying you love him, yet you’re ashamed to bring him to meet your parents?” Father threw his napkin down on the table.

  “I’m not ashamed. Frightened, yes, but never ashamed.” I was as stubborn as my father when I wanted to be.

  “Then prove that to me, bring him for dinner tonight.” Both Mother and I sat in shock.

  “If you’re serious, then I will.”

  “I’m serious. Seven this evening, we’ll meet this young man you say you love.” Father sneered.

  I turned and stomped out of the house. I was halfway to work before I realized I hadn’t eaten breakfast. I felt slightly dizzy so I stopped at Belle’s to buy a pastry, which I quickly ate in the restroom so Mr. Young wouldn’t catch me. No one was allowed a morning break.

  Finished eating, I brushed the crumbs from my blouse and headed onto the library floor, then practically bumped into Richard, who I ignored by walking past him. He came after me.

  “Rose, wait. I want to talk to you.” He grabbed hold of my arm.

  “I have nothing to say to you. Please stop bothering me.” I tried to pull my arm free, but he was holding me too tight.

  “You’re going to regret being with him. He’s not worth it. He can’t give you what I can.”

  I started to get really cross with him. “I will say this for the last time. Leave. Me. Alone.” I stamped on his foot. He released my arm. I hurried away, back to the desk. Mary gave me a quizzical look, but I ignored her and pretended to be sorting some papers out on the desk. Richard left and I sagged against the desk in relief.

  Not long after, Jacob appeared, so once again, I followed him behind the antiquated books.

  He pulled me straight into his arms and hugged me really tight. I lifted my face for his kiss; he didn’t disappoint me. “I love you. Are you sure about tonight?” he asked.

  I took his face in my hands and pulled him down to me. “Yes. I love you, and want to spend the rest of my life with you.” I kissed him.

  “Transport is arranged for our lift to Boston. Eleanor is really looking forward to having us both living with her.”

  “I’m so excited, Jacob, but… I need you to come to dinner tonight.” He paused with his hand caressing my face. “Richard told my parents about us and what he’d seen. I told my father at breakfast I love you and plan to marry you. So my father told me to bring you to dinner tonight.”

  “Then I’ll be there. What time?”

  “Seven sharp.”

  “Rose, everything will be fine and if it isn’t, then we can still slip away tonight, all right?”

  “Yes.”

  We heard voices approach, so he placed a quick peck on my lips and headed out of the library.

  How I managed to endure the rest of the day I would never know. It was such a relief to be on my way home.

  I’d just left town when I heard someone shouting my name. I looked behind me… Richard. “What do you want now?”

  “I’m walking you home, and I plan on staying outside your house all evening to make sure you don’t go sneaking off with him.”

  I just glared at him, shocked. “Have you lost your mind?” He really was crazy.

  “No, but you have, for dallying with him.”

  “I’ll have you know that Father has invited Jacob to dinner. So you see, I don’t need to
sneak out, because he will be eating with me and my family tonight.” I stomped off and left him as I reached my house.

  I ran upstairs and looked out of the window on the landing only to see Richard still sitting at the end of the drive.

  I really couldn’t believe he was doing this, to what gain, I had no idea. In my room, I quickly changed into a clean dress, rather than one that was rumpled from a day’s work. I brushed my hair and applied my lipstick.

  As I ran down the stairs, I was just in time to watch Jacob walk up the porch steps. I spotted Mother and Father approaching from the parlor, so I ran and opened the door for him, then barely stopped myself from throwing my arms around his neck.

  “Rose.” He winked and grinned at me. I felt like melting into a puddle.

  “Rose, are you going to invite the young man inside?” my father asked.

  “Yes, of course,” I replied, grinning at Jacob. I took his hand and pulled him inside, then refused to release him.

  “Mother, Father, I would like you to meet Jacob Evans.” Please let us just get through this meal.

  My parents were polite and shook his hand. Mother stared as we held hands. I loosened my hold slightly, but Jacob tightened his fingers and entwined them with mine.

  We took our seats in the dining room and all was quiet. Too quiet.

  “So Jacob, Rose was telling us you have been offered an apprenticeship in New York.”

  With a quick glance at me, he looked back at my father. “Yes, sir, I have. It’s with an engineering company, they also pay well.”

  “Hmm, so what do you intend towards my daughter, if you’re planning on leaving Cape Elizabeth?”

  Jacob placed a hand on my leg underneath the table, knowing I was seconds away from saying something. “Rose has agreed to become my wife, so I’ll be taking her with me.”

  Yes!

  “That is enough. You are not going to be marrying my daughter, because she is already spoken for.”

  I stood up and faced my father. “No, I am not, and if you mean Richard, we have already had this discussion.”

  “I forbid you to spend any more time with this man.”

  Jacob stood up and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, which, with my father in the room, wasn’t the wisest thing to do. “Don’t worry, Rose. I’m going to leave now, but please don’t worry,” he whispered into my ear. “I’ll go now.” He turned to me. “Remember, I love you, Rose.” He then walked out of the house and I ran upstairs to my room, crying.

  Although I knew what my father was like, I’d hoped he would accept Jacob and all would be well. I was stupid to hope.

  With my tears dried, I made sure my door was locked and then retrieved another travel bag, before packing my few remaining belongings. I came across the Our Gang comic, April 1st edition that I’d bought for JT, because Father had refused to let him have it. I bought it for him to bribe him to keep quiet.

  Taking out the photograph of myself and Jacob, I wrote on the back a small message to JT. I told him I loved him and wished I could take him to Boston with me. I also wrote the address of Jacob’s sister, in case he ever needed anything, and I begged him not to tell Mother and Father.

  I placed the photograph in the middle of the comic, then put it to one side, ready to leave on his bed.

  Dressed in slacks and a warm sweater for traveling, I climbed onto my bed to rest before it was time for me to leave. I had started to become nervous about the whole thing. I had no doubt whatsoever that I loved Jacob and wanted this baby, his baby, our baby, but was going to be stressful, doing what I was about to do.

  I wondered what to do about my diary. Part of me wanted to take it with me, but another part wanted to leave this part of my life behind. I would have to leave it somewhere safe, where hopefully one day, someone would find it, and know just how much I was in love and maybe even return it to me, if I was alive when it was found.

  It was ten-thirty. I climbed from my bed and collected my purse, bag, and JT’s comic, then slipped quietly out of my room. I went into my brother’s room and watched him sleep for a minute before I had to leave him. I placed the comic on his bed, as my tears started to flow.

  As I walked down the stairs to the kitchen, I’d decided to leave my diary on top of the kitchen cupboards. They never got cleaned, so it could be a long time before it was discovered.

  Goodbye diary.

  This is the end of a Rose!

  Chapter 23

  Dean had no idea what to say, which was a first. Hearing about the love ‘Rose’ had for his grandfather, and the love his grandfather had and lost for another woman, totally blew his mind.

  Mack started to shake. He realized she was sobbing her heart out, her face buried into his side. He pulled her further into his arms and started to gently stroke her back. “It’s okay, Mack, just let go.” And let go she did, while he just held her tight.

  She pulled slightly away from Dean to search for a tissue, managing to control the water works, while he also felt like bursting into tears. “God, their story is so sad.” Mack started to cry again. “She loved him so much, and he obviously loved her. It breaks my heart, knowing that she died that night, and Jacob never knew. He always thought she’d left him.”

  Dean pulled her close again. “Mack, why did Jacob only make one phone call to find out about her, a month after he left? Why not come to see if she’d been held up that night? Why wait a month to try and contact her? It doesn’t make sense.”

  Still cuddled into his chest, she looked up at him and gave him a watery smile. “Then let’s try and get Thomas to talk.”

  He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “What does the J in JT stand for?”

  “James.”

  “Now I really am sure, but it doesn’t make sense, why if he’s with another woman, would my grandfather name his first born after his first lover’s brother.”

  Mack had a quizzical look on her face.

  “My father is James Thomas Evans, and remember, James is my middle name.”

  She sat up suddenly. “Oh my God, and then you said your Aunt Rosalind...”

  “When do you want to see my grandfather?”

  She looked out to sea and found it hard to get her head around anything. Jacob obviously had loved Rose to have named his first born after Rose’s brother, and then his daughter after Rose herself.

  If he loved his wife as much as Dean said, then he couldn’t have told her about Rose and the names of his children, unless his love for Eliza only grew after the children were born, and he was still missing his Rose all the time. None of this made any sense. She was going to have to ask Jacob, and just hope he could clear everything up.

  “I don’t know, as I can’t really take Lucas, and I don’t feel comfortable leaving him all day with Thomas. He can be a real handful.”

  “Who? Thomas or Lucas?”

  “Ha ha… both!!” She turned back to look at Dean. “Soon. Can I meet him soon?”

  He reached up and moved a piece of hair behind Mack’s ear. “Let me know when you’re ready and I’ll take you.”

  Mack took hold of his hand. “Thank you.” She placed a kiss gently on his knuckles. “So, am I your girl?” she asked with a large grin on her face.

  “Yes,” he replied, without any hesitation, leaned closer and nuzzled her neck. “You are!”

  “Mmm. Good, because you’re my guy!” She reached up and ran her fingers through his hair, sending shivers down his spine. “I think we’d better head back. If there’s an opening in conversation, I’ll ask Thomas about the April 1st edition of Our Gang, see what he did with the photograph. I would love to see a photograph of Rose and Jacob.”

  “That would be amazing. We would also know for sure if it’s my grandfather. There are photographs all over the house in Brookline, so I’ll be able to recognize him straightaway.”

  <><><>

  Mack made chicken parmesan with rice and she’d also made two pies, one apple and the other cherry. In fact, she hadn’
t stopped since getting back from the beach.

  Dean was playing one of Lucas’ Mario Brothers Wii games in the sitting room, and apart from him coming back and forth for a beer or munches, or even delicious kisses, he’d pretty much stayed out of the way.

  When they’d read the diary, it had really upset her. She had cried all over Dean, for heaven’s sake. Dean hadn’t minded though, he’d just held her and tried to comfort her.

  Her thoughts turned back to Rose. She wondered if Thomas had known about Rose’s pregnancy. Did anyone but Jacob? Jacob had known Rose was pregnant, so wouldn’t he have wanted to know about the baby? He seemed to be happy at the prospect of becoming a father. She really needed to speak to Jacob.

  “Auntie Mack, I’m home. Did you miss me?”

  Mack held her arms out and Lucas ran straight into them. “I sure did, buster. Dean’s in there, playing Mario.”

  “Yes!” Lucas darted out of the kitchen to join Dean.

  “Hi, Thomas, come sit. Would you like a drink of lemonade?” Mack asked as he took a seat at the table.

  “That would be mighty fine, thank you.”

  She poured him a large glass of homemade lemonade. “Can I ask you something?”

  He smiled. “You usually do whether I want you to or not.”

  She placed his drink in front of him and sat down on the chair beside him. “Thomas, do you have a photograph of Rose and Jacob together?”

  He hesitated. “No I haven’t. Never saw one either.”

  Mack was puzzled. “Are you sure? In her diary she says as she was leaving the house, she goes into your room and leaves the April 1st edition of Our Gang on your bed, and inside she’d put a photograph of herself and Jacob with a private message on the back for you only.”

  Thomas looked really shaken. “All this time, I’ve had a picture of her with him, and I didn’t even know?”

  Mack was puzzled. “I don’t understand, Thomas.”

  He leaned forward and put his arms on the table with his head in his hands. He sighed. “I knew Rose had bought me the comic, and I found it that night, but I didn’t get a chance to read it then. When I finally went back to bed, we had been told that Rose had gone over the cliffs, so getting into bed, I just held the comic and cried, then placed it in the box with the others, and never opened it. I couldn’t.”