“Eeeek!” Julie shrieked with excitement. “I get to meet your boyfriend! I’m so excited! You described him like he was a Greek god. I’ve been wanting to meet him so bad, so this is perfect!”
“Well, he’s not exactly my boyfriend,” Rose told her. She paused. “Yet,” she added.
“Still, I can’t wait,” Julie screeched.
“Gosh, I hope Lionel is okay with Rodney going,” Rose wondered aloud. “He doesn’t like Rodney.”
“And we care about what Lionel thinks, why?” Julie rolled her eyes. “He’s a big brother. He’s been protective like that for as long as I can remember. I try to ignore him when he gets that way.”
“You’re right, I need to forget about what he thinks of Rodney,” Rose agreed. “It doesn’t matter anyway.”
“Know what we need to do?” Julie asked.
“What?”
“We need to get you ready to see Rodney!” Julie sang.
Julie grabbed Rose by the hand and practically dragged her down the hallway to the bathroom. She plugged in the curling iron and rolled Rose’s hair to touch up her natural curls. Within minutes, Rose was sporting a head full of perfectly shaped curls. Julie secured a hot pink headband on Rose’s head.
“I have this really cute plaid skirt,” Julie told her. “I think it’d look great on you! It’s black, and yellow. I’ll let you wear my white polo, too.”
“Thanks, Julie, you’re the best!”
Despite Julie’s almost incessant gabbing, Rose liked her new friend more and more. She admired Julie’s enthusiasm and how much she wanted to be a helpful friend.
“Okay, back.” Julie stood in the doorway and held up two hangers, one which had the skirt and the other with the polo.
“Perfect!” Rose cried when she had tried on the new outfit. “I love it all. Thanks, Julie!”
“Anytime, Rose.” Julie smiled. “I’ve always wanted a sister.” She shrugged. “Having you here is kind of like having one.”
“Honestly, Julie,” Rose began. “I’ve always wanted a sister, too. So I’m really glad we became friends and that we are living in the same house. This is great having someone to talk to about dating Rodney and clothes and hair and stuff.”
There was a loud knock on the bathroom door.
“Hey, that guy’s here.” Lionel spoke in a loud voice from the other side of the door.
“That guy is named Rodney,” Julie scolded. “We’ll be right there.”
“Wow, someone isn’t happy,” Rose mumbled.
“Yeah, he can be ridiculous,” Julie commented as they walked out the door and down the stairs.
“Rose, you look great!” Rodney stated when he spotted her, his arms outstretched for a hug.
Rose ran down the stairs and into Rodney’s embrace. She pulled away and stared into his eyes. He was looking down at her and smiling.
“Julie, this is Rodney,” Rose introduced him to her friend. “And Rodney, this is my friend, Julie.”
Julie introduced herself and began chatting about what they were planning to do at the Tower of London. Rose noticed Lionel rolling his eyes.
“Well, let’s go,” Lionel suggested.
They walked down the street to the nearest Tube station. They took the Picadilly Line on the Tube and then switched trains at the King’s Cross Station to ride the Circle Line. As they rode along, Julie shared her opinion on a variety of matters, such as why big sales should happen more frequently at stores and why they should create a Tube line that did not require you to change trains. Lionel, Julie, and Rodney added a phrase or two to her monologues. After over half an hour in the trains, the four friends arrived at their stop and walked from the station to the Tower of London. Feeling hungry, they decided to get lunch at a nearby French café before doing the tour of the Tower.
After eating a lunch of croissant sandwiches, Julie, Rose, Lionel, and Rodney left the restaurant and purchased their tickets for the Tower of London. Rodney grabbed Rose’s hand and held it as they walked. He purchased her ticket and whispered sweet words into her ear.
It’s really like I have a boyfriend, even though he hasn’t officially asked me out yet. She realized. I like this. I like this a lot.
Lionel ignored Rodney’s presence almost the entire time as they walked through the main gate and among the buildings at the Tower. Lionel appeared to be enthralled by the history of the place, but he did not acknowledge Rodney unless he spoke to him first. Rodney politely asked Lionel a few historical questions, just to make conversation.
They decided to check out the Crown Jewels last. Rose noticed Rodney’s eyes grow wide when he saw the Queen’s crown. Julie was also in awe, which she expressed through words.
“Wow, that’s beautiful!” she cried with enthusiasm. “I just love gemstones. Do you love gemstones, Rose? I know they say diamonds are a girl’s best friends, but I think gemstones are to die for. Of course, I do love diamonds, too. Rodney, do you like gemstones?”
“Well, actually, yes,” Rodney admitted. “I do. In fact, I’m one of the managers at a small jewelry store near Buckingham Palace.”
“Really?” Julie was in clearly in awe. “Oh, I’d love to see it! I just love jewelry.”
“Well, you’ll have to come by sometime,” Rodney suggested politely.
They enjoyed the rest of their time looking at the Crown Jewels before leaving for the gift shop. Julie purchased several Tower of London trinkets while Rose browsed with Rodney, holding hands as they walked. Lionel entertained himself in a far corner of the store, which had a shelf of history books having to do with the Tower.
“Not very sociable, that one,” Rodney commented, gesturing toward where Lionel stood, his face in a book.
“He’s just shy,” Rose replied, trying to distract from Lionel’s behavior.
“I don’t think he likes me.”
“It’s his problem, not yours, if he doesn’t,” Rose told Rodney.
They left the Tower of London and went their separate ways home. Rodney promised to call Rose the next day.
* * *
“I was wondering if you’d like to go out dancing with me again?” Rodney asked her the next afternoon on the phone. “Same place, at eight o’ clock tomorrow.”
“I’d love to!” Rose exclaimed. “I’ll meet you there.”
“I promise that you’ll have a better time this time,” Rodney assured her.
“Oh, but Rodney, I had a great time before!” Rose reassured him. “I just felt a little sick toward the end.”
“Well, I’m glad that you do have some good memories,” Rodney replied. “See you tomorrow at eight!”
Julie let Rose borrow another dress, this one white with black satin edges and a long, flowing skirt. Julie touched up her hair and let her borrow her red shoes. Rose took a cab to the club, where Rodney was waiting for her at the door.
Rose ran up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He smiled in the same pleasant way as before, but did not hug her back for long. He suddenly pulled away from their hug and led her inside by the arm.
Puzzled, Rose followed him to their table. Feeling bold after they had ordered dinner, Rose leaned over to kiss Rodney. He turned his head so that all she could kiss was his cheek. Disappointed and confused, Rose took a sip of her ginger ale and stared at the dancing couples out on the floor.
She and Rodney danced several dances, but it was nothing like before. He didn’t hold her as quite as close or stroke her back. He didn’t cradle her body as he had before. He didn’t press himself against her as they danced.
Their conversation in the cab ride home seemed the same as last time. It was light-hearted and full of interest. They laughed and joke together. But it was Rose who took Rodney’s hand this time.
Maybe I was coming on too strong before, Rose decided. I need to take a step back and let him initiate things.
“I like you a lot,” Rodney told her in the cab as they neared the Douglass’s house. “But I want to take things slow. Yo
u are young and I don’t want to rush anything.”
“Okay,” Rose agreed. “That’s probably best.” Her mind told her that his suggestion was the most sensible thing to do, but part of her still wanted more.
* * *
On Monday morning, Mrs. Douglass and Rose sat down together in her office. It was Rose’s first day of work, and she was thrilled to be independent.
“Well, let’s start with what I need your help with.” Mrs. Douglass spoke with a pleasant voice. “I do some of the bookkeeping for the Embassy. Mostly expenses and things like that. Most of the files are kept at the Embassy, but I’m also working on a language project. It’s an analysis of Americans living in England who speak multiple languages. So those items are kept in my files here at the house. I’ll need to you keep these files organized.”
Rose nodded.
Mrs. Douglass continued. “On Mondays and Wednesdays, I go to the Embassy to do some work and take files and paperwork home. You will help me carry these items back to the house. Do you know where the U.S. Embassy is?”
Rose shook her head.
“It’s very close to Hyde Park. Here, I’ll show you today. Anyway, we can do most of the file work on Mondays and Wednesdays. Tuesdays are my errand day. I do shopping and make lists for the staff of what needs to get done. If we are hosting any foreign diplomats, I prepare the menus. So you will help me with those things.”
“Okay, that sounds good,” Rose replied.
“So you’ll have Thursday through Sunday off,” Mrs. Douglass added. “Every Wednesday I’ll pay you sixty British pounds for the week.”
“Thank you,” Rose said graciously. “That’s very generous.”
“You are most welcome, Rose. I’ll honestly be glad to have some extra help around here.”
“I’m glad to help.”
“Julie starts work at the hospital tomorrow. She also has a Monday through Wednesday schedule, so I thought that this would work out well. Then you girls can go out and have a good time on the days you both aren’t working.”
Rose smiled. Mrs. Douglass was so thoughtful.
“I really appreciate that,” Rose told her.
Mrs. Douglass nodded and then turned back to her desk. “Shall we get to work? Let me show you how I organize the files.”
“Sounds great,” Rose said with eagerness. Though her new job seemed to be lacking in the area of excitement, she knew that she would be paid well and could finally have the independent life she desired.
* * *
Over the next three weeks, Rose fell into a routine that she enjoyed. She worked on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays with Mrs. Douglass. During her working hours, she enjoyed her conversations with her new boss. Rose began to admire Mrs. Douglass as a mother-like figure, which was something she longed for in her life. On the other days of the week, Rose spent a lot of time with Lionel and Julie, as well as Rodney.
Rose and Julie went out shopping on most afternoons on their days off. Julie always spent a lot more in the shops than Rose did. But slowly, Rose used her earnings to build up a small wardrobe for herself, which she was proud of. She had never been able to really select her clothes before. With the money she earned, Rose purchased dresses, pants, shoes, scarves, make-up, and fashion jewelry. The small wardrobe in her bedroom at the Douglass house was soon filled with these items.
At least twice a week, Julie, Lionel, and Rose visited a famous historical site in London, usually on the weekends. Some days Rodney came with them. Lionel continued to dislike Rodney, which Rose ignored. Rose and Julie would roll their eyes when he made rude comments about Rose’s new boyfriend. But despite Lionel’s attitude toward Rodney, Rose enjoyed her friend’s company. They got to know one another better and Rose knew she could always count on Lionel as a true friend.
Rodney and Rose went on a lunch date every Friday. Every Saturday night, they went out dancing together. Rodney continued to take things slow with Rose, which she was beginning to grow weary of. On their lunch dates they talked and on their Saturday night dates they danced and cuddled in the cab on the way home. Besides that, it was all holding hands and quick pecks on the cheek. This is a little too slow for me, Rose kept thinking. She had given up trying to kiss Rodney or initiate anything else after his desire to “take things slow” caused him to reject her advances.
“Rodney must be really old fashioned,” Julie told her. “It’s a good thing he has so many other redeeming qualities, like his good looks, his straight teeth, and his awesome personality.”
“Yeah, a little too old fashioned,” Rose replied.
“Well, isn’t he from the Midwest?” Julie brought up. “Things are different out on the farm.”
“I guess so,” Rose said with hesitation. “Except I don’t think he ever lived on a farm. He never mentioned any farms.”
Despite all the time Rose spent with Rodney, she had still not told him about trying to find her birth mother or the abusive woman who raised her. She had started to tell him several times and then stopped. I don’t want him to think I’m a complete weirdo, she told herself. She wanted to be honest, but she did not want to risk ruining Rodney’s good opinion of her.
Rose tried to forget about her frustrations with Rodney being too old fashioned and enjoy each day in London. Having no clue where to search next for Loretta Jennings, she focused her energy on socializing and sightseeing.
Together, Rose, Lionel, and Julie visited the British Museum (Lionel insisted that they stay for nearly six hours), the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the Tower Bridge, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Rose and Julie took a river ferry down the Thames. Rose was delighted by the beauty of the architecture and the richness of the art in London. They went to a London show, Carousel by Rogers and Hammerstein. Rose had never seen a professional play before, she quickly fell in love with the stage. She and Julie grew closer, despite her friend’s incessant chatter.
Chapter Twelve
Rose had leafed through the pages of the Rose in the Countryside book from Mrs. Harrison a few times before tucking it away in a drawer and forgetting about it. Occasionally Rose would open the drawer and spot it inside. She would briefly think of Mrs. Harrison with a smile before shutting the drawer again.
On the first Friday evening in July, Rodney called, as he always did. On Fridays they chatted for awhile and made plans for their date the following evening.
“I’m so sorry, Rose,” Rodney apologized as soon as she said hello.
Rose felt her heart sink.
“Why, Rodney?”
“Well, something unexpectedly came up at work and I can’t take you out tomorrow night,” Rodney told her.
“Oh,” Rose responded with disappointment.
“I hate to do this, but I am a manager at the store,” Rodney explained. “But I’ll tell you what. I’ll take you out on Friday afternoon. How does that sound?”
“Fantastic,” Rose agreed.
“Okay, terrific. I’ll call you on Friday morning and we can arrange a time and a place for us to meet. Sound good?” Rodney’s voice sounded eager.
“Yes, that’s great,” Rose replied, feeling slightly less disappointed.
“Okay, Friday it is! See you then.”
“Bye, Rodney,” Rose replied, trying to mask the disappointment which was evident in her voice.
After they said good-bye, Rose hung up the phone and began tapping her fingers on the table, deep in thought. She absently opened the drawer of the desk that the telephone sat on and spotted the book from Mrs. Harrison. Thinking of her old friend, she took the book out of the door and began flipping through the pages.
She turned to the last page in the book, one she had not noticed before. It featured a black and white photograph of the author, L. G. Jenner. The mini biography explained that the author had been writing stories about little Rose and her adventures in the country for fourteen years. L.G. Jenner did all of the writing and the illustrations for her books. She lived in the countryside near Kettering in
England.
Rose’s eyes glanced back at the photograph of L. G. Jenner. Something about her seemed familiar. She studied the woman’s face again. Can it be? Rose thought as her eyes grew wide.
This woman looked very much like the person who she believed to be her true mother, her birth mother, Loretta Grigsby Jennings. L.G. Jenner’s face appeared older and sadder, but otherwise the resemblance was uncanny from what Rose remembered of the photographs in the newspaper clippings. Her heart began racing.
Forgetting about Rodney’s disappointing phone call, Rose rushed away to find Lionel. She hurried up the stairs and down the hall to his room. Approaching it, she softly, but excitedly, began knocking on the door.
“Lionel! Lionel! Please open the door!” Rose called to him, trying to keep her voice at a volume that would not wake up the whole house.
Rose heard sounds of him moving inside. She bit her lip, anxious for him to answer. Slowly, he opened the door and stood in front of her in his pajama pants with his shirtless chest bare. His hair was in tangles. Rose blushed and looked down.
“What’s wrong, Rose?” he asked, his voice sounding concerned.
“Lionel, look at this woman!” Rose said excitedly, shoving the book into his hands, suddenly forgetting that Lionel was standing in front of her half naked.
He examined the photograph with a puzzled expression on his face.
“I think she’s my mother,” Rose added. “My birth mother. The woman I’ve been looking for!”
“You really think so?” Lionel asked. “Why do you think?”
Rose quickly explained the photographs from the newspaper which she had found in the box under the floor. She explained the other obvious similarities. The name, L. G. Jenner, was similar to Loretta Grigsby Jennings. And the main character in the books she authored, Rose, was a little girl with her own birth name and similar features.
“But are you really sure it’s her?” Lionel asked, his voice doubtful.
“Well, I don’t know for sure,” Rose responded. “But it wouldn’t hurt to find out, would it?”
“So, tomorrow let’s take the train to Kettering,” Lionel said with a smile.
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