Rose

by Alison Chaffin Higson

  They exited the shop looking shell-shocked. “That was quick, are you sure you paid for them?”

  Dean laughed and ruffled Lucas’ hair. “Oh, I paid. That was the first thing I did. Come on. Let’s go find Auntie Mack, and remember, don’t say anything about her present, okay?”

  “I won’t.”

  <><><>

  Mack arrived at the checkout at the same time Dean and Lucas reappeared. “Hi, guys.” Then she turned to Lucas. “I see Dean’s been buying you another book.”

  Lucas had a cheeky grin on his face. “He bought me four. We couldn’t decide between two dragon books.”

  “Oh, really.” Mack cocked an eyebrow at Dean.

  “Yeah, I liked the green dragon, but Dean wanted the red dragon, so he bought both books because we couldn’t agree.”

  She laughed and started to load the shopping onto the checkout with Dean helping her. “Just who’s the child here?”

  He grinned. “That wasn’t what you said last night.”

  She threw the burger buns at him. “I can’t believe you said that.”

  They finished unloading the shopping cart and heard a throat being cleared, only to discover the cashier had been listening to everything they’d been saying. Mack blushed and Dean laughed as he paid before leaving to go load the car with the groceries.

  <><><>

  Dean had waited until after dinner before retrieving the earrings that he’d bought for Mack. Taking them out of the box and putting them into his pocket, he went in search of Mack. Finding her sitting outside on the step with two glasses of wine, Dean sat down behind her, with a leg on either side, and wrapped his arms around her.

  “Hey, you okay?”

  She snuggled deeply into Dean. “Oh, yeah.”

  Dean placed a kiss to the side of Mack’s head. “I bought you a present today.”

  She moved slightly away from him, so she could see him. “What?”

  He felt nervous when he pulled the earrings out of his pocket and held his hand out to Mack. She studied them intensely, close to tears.

  “Oh, Dean, they’re gorgeous.” She took them from his palm. “I love shells.”

  “Hmm, a little bird might have told me that.”

  She smiled and removed her current earrings to replace them with the shells. “How do they look?”

  “Amazing.” Smoothing his hands down the side of Mack’s face, he gently pulled her forward and placed a kiss to each earring. “I love you, Mack.”

  Mack shivered. “I love you, too… Take me to bed.”

  “My pleasure!”

  Chapter 33

  En route to Richard’s nursing home, Mack watched the countryside flying past, while she nervously pondered what Richard might tell them.

  Yesterday, when they got back from the supermarket, Dean had taken them to the beach where they’d had fun in the sand and sea with Lucas.

  Dean had sat and watched them wading in the ocean, and when they returned, he had produced a sketch of them. The image had brought tears to Mack’s eyes, he’d captured the love between aunt and nephew.

  Mack had spoken to her sister last night and both Melinda and Daniel were missing Lucas something fierce. Melinda had told Mack they were going to try and get a flight home and then take Lucas down to Florida for a week.

  Thomas would miss him when he went home to Boston, and Dean would have no one to beat him playing on the Wii. At least Mack got to see him all the time. She’d already planned to stay in touch with Thomas when the summer was over and perhaps bring Lucas to visit every few weeks. They would both like that. Mack would enjoy visiting with Thomas, also, she’d started to look on Thomas as a part of her family.

  Mack was so in love with Dean, she had no idea what was going to happen at the end of the summer. However, she had a gut feeling Dean was with her for much longer than the summer.

  Lucas was staying with Thomas and Levi in the bar until after lunch, so they had a couple of hours to spare. Mack just hoped Lucas behaved himself, and with a bit of luck, kept his thoughts to himself for a change.

  “We’re here, Mack.” Dean pulled into a parking space at the home.

  She stared out of the window and surveyed the scene as Dean walked around to open her door.

  Still sitting in the car while Dean rested his arms on the side of the car, he asked, “You ready to do this?”

  “No, not really. Do you think I’m doing the right thing?” She was terrified of what Richard might reveal.

  “You have to do this. If you don’t, you’ll always regret it.”

  She let Dean pull her out of the car and took hold of his hand as they walked towards the entrance.

  Inside they were greeted by a nurse who asked them the name of the person they were there to visit.

  Mack replied, ‘Richard’, then it suddenly dawned on her that she didn’t know his surname, but when she mentioned Sally, they were pointed to the correct room.

  On entering Richard’s room, they found it rather dark, with only having small lamps switched on offering a soft, orange glow.

  “I can’t see you over there,” a rather rough voice grumbled.

  She moved forward, her hand still held tightly by Dean, and took a seat to the side of the bed.

  “Hello, Richard. My name is Mackenzie Harper, and this is a good friend of mine, Dean… Simone. We’re sorry to disturb you, but we were wondering if you would be willing to talk to us about something that happened a long time ago?” Mack held her breath while she waited anxiously for Richard’s reply. He took a while to answer that she started to fidget, so Dean tightened his hold on her hand in reassurance.

  “Do I make you nervous, young lady?”

  She hesitated. “Actually, yes, you do. I’m nervous about asking you what it is I need to know.”

  “So, ask me and get it out of the way.”

  She inhaled deeply. “I found a diary dated 1947, it belonged to Rose Degan.”

  Richard inadvertently froze. His eyes narrowed.

  “You remember Rose, don’t you, Richard?”

  After a few moments, he focused on Mack. “Rose was the first woman I ever loved, and I never loved anyone else like I did her. She was everything to me.”

  “Will you tell us what happened the night she died? Please, Richard?”

  “I’ve never spoken about that night since it happened, and then I only said I saw her go over the cliffs from a distance.”

  “So what really happened?”

  He sighed heavily as he shut his eyes, Mack actually thought he had fallen asleep, until he started to talk, slowly, but directly.

  “I stayed outside that night after she got home from work, to make sure she didn’t sneak out to meet him. I’d taken sandwiches to eat for dinner, and a thermos of coffee. Unbeknown to me, Jacob had been invited to dinner by her father. Don’t know what happened, but he left soon after arriving. So I stayed, knowing deep down she would try to sneak out to see him. Later, I don’t know what time it was, I saw a figure moving quickly away from the house. I knew instinctively it was Rose, so I ran in the same direction and then she disappeared from sight.”

  Richard opened his eyes and looked longingly at Mack. “I’m not proud of what I did next, but I loved her and I panicked.”

  “We’re not here to judge you, Richard. We just want to know what happened to Rose.”

  He realized Mack was serious. Richard took a deep breath. “I went running to the backdoor and started banging on it, only to have it opened by Thomas, who looked upset himself. I threatened him, so that he would tell me where she had gone.” He paused and shook his head. “He told me he thought she had gone to meet Jacob, and that she normally took the footpath over the cliffs.”

  Richard looked distressed, so Mack stood up and moved to help him take a few sips of water.

  “Thank you.”

  He didn’t look too good. “Richard, do you want to continue?”

  “Yes. It’s about time I admitted the truth.”


  “Okay.” Mack took her seat next to Dean again.

  “I caught up to Rose on the cliffs. She was just standing there, near the edge, lost in her own thoughts. I made her jump in surprise.” He coughed. “She turned around to look at me and wanted to know what I was doing there. I told her I loved her and wanted her to stay with me and marry me. She laughed in my face. Rose told me that she was in love with Jacob, and only him, and that she was…” he wiped tears from his eyes, “pregnant, with Jacob’s child and that she was running away to marry him. I begged her not to. I told her I would still marry her and we could raise the child as mine. She told me no, and as I started very slowly walking towards her, she took a couple of steps back, and went off the cliffs.”

  Richard stopped and gulped in some much needed air. “After that, I went back to Degan House, by which time her parents had arrived back home. I told them I saw her go over the cliffs from a distance and that I never had chance to talk to her.” He paused. “About a week later, her father came to see me and asked what really happened. I told him about the baby. He was angry as hell and ended up punching me. He told me never to talk about Rose ever again. I really did love her, Mackenzie.”

  As Richard finished talking, Mack handed him a tissue. She took one for herself and looked at Dean, who also had tears in his eyes. She turned and hugged him tightly.

  Mack looked at Richard. “Thank you for telling us. It means a lot.”

  “Tell Thomas I’m sorry for not saying any of this way back then. I was in shock, and a coward. I’m not proud of my actions. I thought everyone would think I’d pushed her off, because she was going to him instead of choosing me.”

  “Oh, boy.” Mack had to take some deep breaths to stop from crying.

  “I need to rest now.” Richard became agitated. He dismissed them with one sweep of his old, wrinkled hand.

  Dean took hold of Mack’s hand and led her back to the car and helped her inside before he ran around the front to climb in himself. “Where do you want to go from here, Mack?”

  She offered him a sad smile. “Just take me home.”

  “Okay, babe. Anything you say.”

  Chapter 34

  Back at Rose Cottage, Dean ushered Mack inside and into a chair at the kitchen table. “Your hands are freezing.” He turned to warm some water for a hot drink, trying to bring some life back to her.

  With a drink made, he passed it to Mack and wrapped her fingers gently around the cup. “Thank you, Dean, for being there with me.”

  He moved his chair closer to Mack’s as he put an arm around her and rubbed her shoulder with his hand. “I’m here for you… now and always. I love you and I’m not going anywhere.” He put his hand underneath her chin and brought her face up to his for a sweet, slow kiss.

  “Are you really, Dean?”

  Dean smiled. “Yes, Mack. I am. If that’s okay with you?”

  “Mmm. That’s more than okay.”

  The next minute Lucas barged right through the kitchen door. “Auntie Mack, you’re back!” Not realizing he’d interrupted anything, Lucas carried on walking straight through to the sitting room. “You coming, Dean?” he shouted.

  Dean glanced at Mack. “In a minute, champ.” She seemed to be pulling herself together, so standing, he took hold of her hand, urging her up and into his arms.

  With her arms wrapped around his waist, she snuggled into his chest, slid her hands further down Dean’s back. She pulled his hips into contact with hers, then lifted her face up to look at him. He sealed his lips to hers.

  He was breathing heavily as he pulled his lips away from hers. “You’re asking for trouble doing that!”

  “Promises, promises.” She gave him a saucy grin.

  About to grab her again, Dean stopped himself as Thomas walked through the back door.

  “Are you feeling better, Mack?” Dean asked. “We’ll finish what you started later,” he whispered. He gave Mack a quick kiss before he joined Lucas on the Wii in the sitting room.

  Mack felt all hot and bothered after having Dean’s hands and mouth on her, as she watched Thomas walk cautiously into the room, making eye contact with her. “You look like a flushed ghost,” he observed. Mack raised an eyebrow. “You’re white as a ghost and obviously flushed with whatever that young man was doing to you.”

  She blushed even more. “Thomas, we spoke to Richard this morning.” She took a seat at the table and waited for Thomas to join her. “He told me what happened that night, and he also told me how your father knew Rose was pregnant.”

  Thomas silently rubbed his face with his hands. “I did wonder if Richard had spoken to her before she died, because I could never figure out how Father knew she was pregnant.”

  “Apparently, he found her at the cliffs and begged her to stay and marry him. He said she’s the only woman he has ever loved, and I believe him. Richard told Rose he would even bring her child up as his own.”

  He shook his head. “He was married and has a daughter. Are you saying he admitted to only loving my sister, Rose?”

  “No. He said she was the first woman he had ever loved and he never loved anyone else as much, so I guess he did love his wife, just in a different way.”

  “Then I feel sorry for him. His wife was a lovely woman, in fact, she was best friends with my wife, and when Janet died, she would bring meals to me three times a week.”

  Mack just sat quietly for a short time, lost for words. “Richard said to tell you that he was sorry he never told you anything about that night. He presumed everyone would think that he’d pushed her off, because she’d chosen Jacob instead of him.”

  Mack glanced into the sitting room to make sure Lucas was still being entertained by Dean and the Wii game they were playing. She caught Dean’s eye. He winked at her and blew her a kiss, making her smile.

  She turned back to Thomas. “Your father visited Richard about a week after Rose died, wanting to know what had happened. He hadn’t believed Richard’s account of that night. He told your father everything, including about her pregnancy. Your father punched him.”

  He sniggered. “Yeah, I can believe that. My father didn’t lose his temper often, but when he did, you didn’t want to be anywhere near him.”

  Thomas took hold of Mack’s hand and squeezed. “Thank you. I guess at the back of my mind I have always wondered whether or not he had anything to do with her death. I can’t imagine what he must have felt like, watching the woman he loved going over the cliffs.”

  “It’s all so sad. Dean is going to arrange for me to meet his grandfather soon. I’m not looking forward to telling him, but he needs to know and I really need to be the one to tell him. I feel so connected to Rose. Their story breaks my heart.”

  Dean was standing in the doorway watching Mack and Thomas talking. He was falling more in love with her. She was the most compassionate woman he had ever met, and hopefully, she would be all his for a long time to come.

  “Dean, you okay?” Mack asked, bringing him back to the present.

  He walked over to her and placed a tender kiss to the top of her head. “When you look at me like that, I’m more than okay.”

  “Auntie Mack, after dinner, can I go and have a sleepover at Thomas’ cottage… please?”

  Mack glanced at Thomas who was nodding his head. “Are you sure, Thomas?”

  Thomas looked choked up. “I’d love that, I really would.”

  Mack looked back to an excited Lucas. “Well then, I guess we better pack you a bag, then I’ll get dinner ready.”

  <><><>

  After dinner, Thomas took Lucas back to his place, leaving Mack and Dean to do the clean up.

  Mack had plans for tonight, and those plans included Dean and a comfortable bed.

  She left Dean to finish cleaning the kitchen while she went upstairs to shower.

  With the shower turned on, she took her clothes off and threw them into the washing basket. She stepped under the spray and just stood, letting the hot water ease her
aching muscles.

  She felt a slight draft and turned slightly to find Dean climbing into the shower behind her. He was completely naked and his erection pointed straight at her. She was mesmerized, and completely turned on.

  With a sexy grin, he moved in close to her and put his hands on her hips, while he started to place feather-light kisses along her neck and shoulders, sending shivers all the way through her body.

  She reached behind with her hands landing on Dean’s hips. Stepping back into him she felt his erection rub between her buttocks. Dean shivered as she dug her nails into his bare butt.

  He reached to the side for the shower gel and squeezed a large amount into his hands and started to explore Mack’s body.

  He started at her shoulders, moved down her arms, briefly lacing their fingers together. Bending down slightly, he placed a quick kiss to her shoulder. He caressed her arms back up to her shoulders and moved along to her collarbone, then to her breasts. Massaging each one with his gel-covered hands, he rubbed her nipples with his fingers. Mack moaned.

  “God, Dean,” Mack croaked, as she rubbed her butt against Dean’s erection.

  He started to move one of his hands down her stomach, smoothing them between her legs. and slipping between her wet folds. He pushed one of his fingers inside her. Mack writhed, trying to find the right friction to send herself rocketing into orgasm and heaven.

  He pulled his finger out of her. “Not yet,” Dean whispered, kissing her shoulder as he continued to use his hands on her breasts, massaging and pinching her nipples.

  Mack thought two could play at that game, and reached for the gel, squirting some on the palm of her hand. She then reached behind her back and came into contact with Dean’s penis. She took a firm hold of him and started to glide her hand up and down him. Dean pushed two fingers inside her again, and started to move them in and out of her as fast as she was moving her hand on him, still rubbing and pinching her breast. Mack turned her head and met Dean’s glittering eyes.

  He pulled his fingers out of her, turned her around, gripped her butt tight, hoisted her further up the wall, then entered her in one smooth move. He sealed their moans with his mouth locked to hers, starting to thrust in and out of her, while still kissing her passionately.