Rose

by Alison Chaffin Higson

  Mack took hold of Thomas’ hand. “Do you still have that comic?”

  He nodded his head. “I took it away from Lucas, and placed it on my night table, intending to finally read it. Maybe it’s time. I’ll look through it tonight.”

  “If you find a photograph, will you bring it tomorrow? I’d love to see what Rose looked like, and the man she loved.”

  He raised his head. “Okay, Mack. I will.”

  “Thanks, Thomas. You’re staying to eat, right? I’ve made chicken parmesan and then there’s cherry or apple pie with ice cream.”

  "You do know they say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!” He chuckled.

  “Really!” She turned away laughing, to check the chicken in the oven, then turned back to Thomas. “Dean’s surname isn’t Simone, that’s his mother’s maiden name.”

  She had his full attention. “His name is Dean James Evans, and the James is after his father who Jacob named James Thomas. Dean is Jacob’s grandson.”

  “What are you saying, Mack?” Thomas whispered.

  “I’m not sure yet, but Jacob named his first born James Thomas after you, Rose’s brother. He also named his only daughter Rosalind, obviously after Rose. He married after Rose died, so by naming his first born and then his daughter in memory of Rose, he was obviously missing her terribly, and maybe he insisted on those names with his wife, Eliza.”

  “That is some story,” Thomas replied, shaking his head.

  “Thomas, did you know Rose was pregnant the night she died?”

  He took a deep breath. “Yes. I overheard a conversation between my father and mother after Jacob phoned the house. Apparently my father had known she was pregnant. I don’t know how, but he said he told him Rose had lost the baby. He also told my mother that Jacob sounded very shocked. I didn’t want you thinking badly of Rose, about her being pregnant, so I didn’t tell you when we talked before.”

  Mack wiped her eyes on the apron she was wearing for cooking. “Thomas, it’s okay. It’s hard to explain, but somehow I feel as though she’s talking to me and wants me to help,” she waved her arms around, “I don’t know, maybe set Jacob free, as ridiculous as that sounds.”

  They sat lost in their own thoughts for a few minutes. “I know you said Rose had gone over the cliffs, but how, exactly? What happened?” Mack asked.

  “Let me sleep on it, Mack.” He shook his head. He looked so sad.

  She felt guilty having bombarded him with so many questions, bringing back memories.

  Mack stood up with Thomas, giving him a hug, followed by a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you, Thomas. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. Let’s eat!”

  Chapter 24

  Mack was upstairs reading Lucas a bedtime story, and Dean was lying on the sofa thinking about his grandfather. If everything in Rose’s diary was true, and it looked like it was, then why had no one in his family ever mentioned a Rose in his grandfather’s past, or that his grandfather had lived in Cape Elizabeth for a time?

  His grandfather had always said he lived in Boston, apart from the war, when he was in England. Unless, he loved and missed Rose way too much to talk about her.

  He had seen wedding photographs of his grandparents, and they’d looked really happy. Dean’s father was the eldest, and had once told him that his parents were the most loving couple he had ever seen, and from being a small child, he remembered them always holding hands and kissing. He had a really hard time imagining his grandfather like that with anyone but his wife, Eliza.

  “You look deep in thought.” Mack moved away from the doorway and leaned over the sofa to get a closer look at him. He looked sexy, lying there in his stocking feet, well-worn jeans, and Rascal Flatts t-shirt.

  “I’m really blown away with everything I’ve learned today, about my grandfather’s past. It’s unreal.”

  “I know what you mean. I can’t stop now. I need to find out what really happened. It’s really important to me.”

  “Is Lucas asleep?”

  “Yeah, he was exhausted.”

  “Come, lie down with me, Mack.” He held his hand out to her, wondering if she had anything on under the robe she was wearing.

  She climbed half on top of him, flashing a bit of thigh. Dean caught his breath. He reached out and put his hand on her hips to steady her, only to get one hell of a view of her breasts, plump, naked breasts.

  He inhaled at the sight of her hovering over him, practically naked. “Mack, you’re killing me.” He gritted his teeth as he closed his eyes from the sight of her.

  Dean felt her straddle him. His eyes flew open just in time to watch her lose the robe.

  “We wouldn’t want that now, would we?”

  Wouldn’t want what? All Dean’s brain cells had traveled south, giving him one hell of an erection, while she was only seconds away from discovering that fact, he couldn’t even keep up with the conversation.

  Mack was totally naked, straddled over his thighs and wiggling around on top of his penis, which was hard as rock in his jeans, and more than ready to come out and play.

  “I want your hands and mouth on me, Dean.” She leaned over him and traced the outline of his lips, before touching his teeth with her tongue. Finally, she sealed her lips to his in a hot, passionate, open-mouth kiss, that left them both gasping for air. He put his hands on her naked butt and arched up into her.

  Mack broke the kiss and groaned. “You have too many clothes on.” She started to pull his t-shirt off, which he ended up yanking over his head and tossing on the floor impatiently.

  “You’re a goddess!”

  She grinned. “You’re already getting laid, so you don’t need…” and before she could finish, Dean had his lips locked to hers again. His hands moved to her breasts, which he massaged before he started to play with her nipples between his finger and thumb.

  “You set my skin on fire,” she whispered, as she broke away from the kiss and started to move down his neck, to his collarbone, then alternating between his nipples as she licked and nibbled on them. Dean arched his hips into hers in ecstasy.

  She moved down south towards his naval and dipped her tongue in and around. Dean shuddered and arched his hips again, wanting her attention even further south.

  She started to undo his zipper, and to her delight, found his very naked penis at full mast, impatient for her attention. She leaned closer and placed a kiss to the tip, then smoothed her hand over him, into his jeans. He groaned. “Mack, stop!”

  She froze. “Stop!”

  “Just a minute, let me get my jeans off. You make me feel like a teenager.” Breathing heavily, he tried to regain control. She giggled and rolled to the side so he could stand up to get rid of the rest of his clothes, which he did in record time.

  “Condom. Hell, I don’t have any!” he whispered.

  She grinned up at him. “Don’t worry. I’m on the pill and had a check-up for insurance three months ago. Results came back fine.”

  “I got checked about seven months ago, but I’ve been celibate around eighteen months.”

  “Wow.”

  He grinned wickedly. “Yeah. I have a lot saved up!”

  Mack stretched out and stared up at Dean, who couldn’t stop devouring her with his eyes. “I’m all yours.”

  “I don’t think this is going to last as long as I’d like. I want you so damn much.”

  “Then get over here,” Mack pleaded.

  Before she knew what was happening, she was on her back, with him on top of her, his mouth locked to one of her nipples while he sucked, licked, and nibbled on it.

  “Dean, don’t stop,” Mack said holding his head to her breast.

  He let her breast slide out of his mouth and moved over to her other one, at the same time as he moved his hand between her legs and found her entrance. He dipped a finger inside her channel to find her more than ready for him.

  “Christ, Mack.” He placed two fingers inside her as he rubbed her clit with his thumb.


  Mack started to rotate her hips. “No. Dean. Inside me now. I need you,” she panted.

  He pulled his fingers from her and moved fully between her legs. His erection was hard as rock and ready to burst. As he entered her, he moved his face within an inch of Mack’s, and looked straight into her eyes. “I’ve never felt like this before.”

  She wrapped her legs around his hips. “I feel the same… Kiss me.”

  “God, babe.” He moaned, as he started to slide slowly in and out of her, while he placed hot, wet kisses to her mouth.

  Dean was breathing really heavily and started to lose control. “I can’t hold on.” He moved his hand down to her clit and started to rub it between his fingers.

  “Oh, yes.” Mack arched her back and dug her nails into his back as she started to convulse around his throbbing shaft. “Oh, don’t stop.”

  “I can’t,” Dean croaked as he started to shoot inside her in long bursts of pleasure. As his orgasm ripped through him, Mack’s muscles contracted around him.

  He was still panting as he put his head down on Mack’s shoulder, breathing heavily. “Hell. I saw stars.”

  “Me too,” she whispered, placing a kiss to his shoulder.

  “Let me stay with you tonight. Just to sleep. I think you’ve done me in, but I need to hold you in my arms all night.”

  “Mmm.”

  Just lying on the sofa, with Mack still cuddled around him made him feel like the luckiest guy alive. He should be running away, but instead, he wanted to stay right where he was.

  Over the past week he’d started to fall in love with her. The thought of her with anyone else made him see red. Hell! He was in love with her. He just hoped she was in the same place that he was, because he had no intention of letting her go.

  Mack slept blissfully in his arms.

  <><><>

  Thomas climbed into bed and couldn’t help but feel unsettled. Discussing Rose after all these years was rather upsetting, and to discover she had left him a photograph with possibly a note on the back... Ah well.

  He picked the comic up from his night table and slowly started to turn the pages, holding his breath each time, until he turned to the middle of the comic. He found what he was supposed to find sixty-five years ago, which brought tears to his eyes.

  A Polaroid photograph of his sister Rose, wrapped in the arms of Jacob Evans, looking so much in love.

  Mack had said there was a message on the back for him. He just hoped the ink hadn’t faded with age. He took a deep breath and turned the picture over to look at the handwriting he never thought he would ever see again.

  Dear Thomas,

  I want you to know that you are the only one I will miss. I love you so much, brother, please forgive me.

  If you ever need anything, go to the address at the bottom and ask for Eleanor, she will know how to find me.

  When we have our own place and are settled in Boston, I will be back to see you. It may take a few years, but know that I will always be thinking about you.

  All my love, Thomas, my JT,

  Rose

  He used his fingers to wipe his eyes and with shaking hands, he placed the comic and photograph back on the table to the side of his bed. He needed to tell Mack what actually happened that night, and maybe then he would feel better. After all, he had carried around so much guilt for all these years.

  First though, he would show her the photograph and then think about what to say.

  At eighty, it was time to be free and have peace of mind at last.

  Chapter 25

  Mack woke with a smile, snuggled against a hard male chest. Dean was spooned behind her, his arm over her waist with his hand cupping her breast. She was overwhelmed with contentment. He felt totally amazing, and she didn’t want to move.

  She couldn’t believe she had fallen asleep on him last night, after the best sex of her life. She hadn’t even woken up when he’d carried her upstairs.

  “Morning, babe,” Dean whispered into her ear, sending shivers down her spine. He smoothed his hand down the curve of her waist and hip, then over the top of her thighs. She was the most beautiful woman, he’d ever seen, ever known; inside and out.

  “Morning… you feel so good.” She turned her head for his kiss, moving closer she rubbed against Dean’s erection; his hands shook.

  “I want you inside me,” Mack moaned, reaching behind her, she smoothed her hand along Dean’s shaft, rubbing her thumb over the leaking tip.

  “Mack…” Dean lost his voice to a groan, with Mack sliding her hand back and forth along his quivering body part.

  He was breathing heavily as he moved her hand away, slid his hand over Mack’s thigh and brought it up and over his. He took hold of his penis and rubbed the tip between her thighs, which dragged a long moan out of her, then entered her in one thrust.

  She gasped for breath with the pleasure he elicited out of her. Mack reached behind her again and dug her fingers into Dean’s hip, while she ground herself against him.

  “You feel so good inside me,” she said, tightening her internal muscles around him.

  He growled in her ear in response, wrapped his arms around her, with one hand going to her breast, massaging her nipple, and the other to massage her clit.

  Dean started to move his hips real slow, sliding his penis in and out, creating a delicious friction inside of Mack.

  She turned her head and looked into Dean’s eyes. “Faster.”

  He sealed his lips to hers in a heated kiss, while he quickened his pace.

  Mack came apart in his arms, panting and groaning, spasming around his shaft for so long that he came with her.

  They lay spent in each other’s arms for a short while, before Dean withdrew from her body, turned her over, and after placing a gentle kiss to her lips, pulled her in to his body, resting his chin on the top of her head.

  “I wish we could stay in bed all day,” Mack murmured, filled with contentment.

  Dean smiled. “I do too. But I guess Lucas is going to be awake soon, so we need to make a move.”

  Mack was the first to pull away. “I’ll shower and dress so at least one of us is decent when he awakes,” she said climbing out of bed.

  “I’ll just admire the view.” He grinned, watching her walk buck-naked into the bathroom, then groaned when he realized he was hard as hell again.

  He gave a sigh of relief as she disappeared from sight, but his relief was short lived as the shower went on and he had a front row view of Mack as she took a shower.

  Hell! There was no sign of his erection subsiding anytime soon, with the show she was putting on. He watched her slide the sponge over her sexy curves, her breasts, and then, he closed his eyes before he jumped out of bed to join her.

  Mack towel-dried in the bathroom, then walked back into the bedroom to dress, stopping short when she met Dean’s heavy-lidded eyes.

  “You’re wicked. Look what you’ve done to me!” He lifted the duvet from the top of his hips to show Mack how effected by her he was.

  With a lick of her lips, she looked up at the clock, and realized Lucas would be up any minute. “Lucas is about to get up, but all I want to do is wrap my mouth around you.” She gave him a wicked grin.

  Dean arched off the bed. “I’m going to have a very cold shower. Please be dressed by the time I get out.”

  “I’ll start breakfast.” She grinned and watched Dean climb out of bed, so ready for action!

  “Even better.” He walked past her, with a swat to her butt.

  <><><>

  Downstairs Mack was cooking bacon, sausage, eggs, and biscuits for breakfast. She whistled away, feeling her life was perfect, for the first time in a long time. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this way before. She knew then, that she had fallen for Dean Evans. He always seemed to know the right thing to say, or what she needed without her having to say anything. He was good on the eyes as well, which was an added bonus, and when naked… Oh boy!

  Thomas walked th
rough the kitchen door, which brought Mack out of her thoughts of a very naked Dean. “Morning, Mack,” he said, but not with his usual flare.

  Mack looked more closely at him and noticed how pale he was. “Thomas, are you all right?” She walked over to hug him. “Come, sit down and tell me what’s wrong. You don’t look well. Do you need to go to the doctor?”

  “It’s not that, Mack,” Thomas explained, just as Dean came down the stairs.

  “Morning, Thomas.” Then he saw Mack’s concerned expression. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s been a very long time since anyone was worried about me. But I’m not ill, just a bit in shock, I guess.”

  Thomas looked at Mack. “I found this last night, right where you said it would be.” He took the photograph of Rose and Jacob out of his pocket. He handed it to Mack with shaking hands. She took hold of the photograph and placed it face down on the table, sitting down next to him, took hold of his hands and just held them.

  “Thank you, Thomas.”

  “Look at it, Mack, and read what she wrote to me.” He had tears in his eyes.

  “Auntie Mack, I’m up,” Lucas shouted as he came bouncing into the kitchen. “Thomas… Dean… you’re both here, really early.” He pulled up short.

  Not knowing what to say, Dean placed one of his hands on Mack’s shoulder. He just needed to touch her. “I’ll go distract him while you talk to Thomas,” he whispered. He was curious about the photograph, but right now, distracting Lucas was the priority.

  Mack turned to look up at Dean, took hold of his hand and pressed a quick kiss to his palm before letting go. “Thank you.”

  She watched Dean and Lucas retreat to the sitting room, no doubt to play some more Super Mario Brothers, which they were both addicted to.

  She turned her attention back to Thomas and reached out to pick the photograph up, turning it over to take her first look at Rose.