Chapter seven: Preparing to Leave
''So I guess the bags are all packed huh?''
Jack leant over the gate. He smoked a roll up, like he always did. He turned to Rose, who stood beside him. She wore a simple dress, lilac in colour. He loved seeing her like this, when she was herself and not dressed to the nines. Her make up so natural, her translucent beauty which shone under the budding sun. There was a different side with Rose, he had observed which she only allowed him to see and yet with her husband, the supposed love of her life, she was so stiff and different.
''Yes. It has taken three days to pack most of our lives into a suitcase.'' She laughed pathetically. ''The majority of it was bought on a whim, the new dresses, shoes, hats...its hideous.'' She shook her head. ''My mother insisted on new dresses, I left it all up to her.''
''Well I guess that is what you folk do.'' He laughed. ''Well not you, but you know...'' He didn't want to offend her but he knew she wasn't offended when she laughed along with him. He treat her differently to the rest of the people who she knew, who were in her circle and that made her happy.
''How about you, Jack?''
''Oh hey, I will find work.'' He took another drag of the cigarette, he offered it to her and she took it before taking a drag. She found she liked it, it cleared away the stress building up in her chest. They had never shared a cigarette and there was something so intimate about doing so. 'I just liked it here, y'know. Its beautiful.'' He glanced around, squinting in the sun.
She felt bad for making him jobless. ''Will you draw again?''
''I never stopped. I just made more money from the work here. I barely found time to do it.''
He glanced around, the sun was about to set over the city and what would be Rose's last day here for some time. She had a feeling that when she returned everything would change. She turned to Jack. ''Was it just about the money?''
During their friendship she had picked up many traits from him, including direct questions. Jack leant over the gate again, he took the cigarette from Rose as he shook his head. ''No, I made friends.'' He glanced at her. ''I made a friend.'' He smirked, correcting himself.
She laughed. ''I do wish we could head back to the fields just one last time.''
''Why don't we?''
Rose bit the inside of her lip. The temptation was almost too much but she knew she couldn't. She had already spent so much time with Jack. The adventures they had, the long talks getting to know each other, she knew she couldn't stay any longer. Their friendship had to end sometime. ''My husband returns soon. Cal spent so much time away he now insists we catch up on the small things like dinner together.''
Jack said nothing. A tiny stab punctured something inside him and he didn't know why. He had known since the first time he laid eyes on her that she was married to his boss. ''You know he asked me to join you on the trip?''
Rose whipped her head around to him. Her features questioned him right away before she could ask the question herself.
''Apparently he lost his valet and his father insists on hiring another for the trip.'' Jack pointed to himself with both hands and grinned. It was almost a joke.
Rose was surprised but something inside her which had been dying now seemed to come back alive. Part of her wanted him on this trip. ''Did you accept?''
He shook his head, his eyes twinkling in the fading sunlight. She felt a connection to him, something pulling her towards him in every way.
''You know you should consider.''
He narrowed his eyes whilst looking at her. ''Why?''
''Its a good opportunity to travel...'' She tried to list points.
''I always travelled by myself, I wouldn't even know what to do.'' He shrugged.
''If you could be told what to do by Cal. He isn't so bad or demanding. I think he even trusts you.'' She felt a pang of guilt. The man her husband trusted was the man she had built a deep friendship with over such a short space of time.
''I think he does.''
''Just make sure my husband gets back to the hotel on time, in a reasonable state and with his wallet after a crawl through less reputable parts of town.''
They shared a laugh. Their fingers were just an inch or two away, she could almost feel the heat from his body in the warm evenings breeze. She tried to cling onto that feeling knowing it could be the last time.
''I have always wanted to go to Europe. I would get one day off a week.'' Jack's voice was tinged with excitement. ''We could use that day to explore every inch of the city.''
''We can buy expensive art in Paris, see the Eifel Tower.'' She giggled.
''I want to live like a bohemian just for one day, to experience that life. I want to meet Monet.'' She loved his dreams, the way he spoke of them with such passion and dare she say she shared those dreams more so than hers and Cal's. Not that they had any.
''We should try to sell you in Paree, get your name out there.'' She laughed. ''I could be hanging a Dawson worth millions.''
''Oh no, I'm not that good. I never will be.''
''Nonsense. When you sketched me that day. I haven't seen a talent like yours.''
''Because I haven't seen beauty like yours.''
As soon as he said it his stomach fell and he shut his mouth, he took a long breath. He was still looking at her, their eyes never wavering. She clutched her hands to her stomach hoping it would calm the nerves. They both knew he shouldn't have said such a thing but he wouldn't take the words back and she wouldn't make him. They meant something to her. Instead, she relaxed against the gate where she had found him working shirtless during the night. He joined her, side by side they watched the sun set over the land. Both of them knowing this could be the last time. For a moment, she thought she didn't want it to end. This moment was the happiest she had been in such a long time, she always smiled around Jack, he brought out a different side to her, a side she never knew existed.
''We shall be looking out to sea soon.'' Rose broke the silence. She could see Jack smirk, she couldn't help but smile too. Jack felt his heart leap, it was the first genuine smile he had ever seen from her. And he was happier for it.
''Well then I must go.'' He pulled away from the gate. ''I have supplies to buy for this trip tomorrow.''
Rose's face broke out into a smile.
''What?''
He turned to her, so wide eyed. ''I will come with you, presuming the offer is still open.''
Rose touched her flushed cheeks. ''Oh Jack, I am so glad. It must still be open. I will talk to my husband.''
''What a journey we shall have.''
She felt giddy.
''I will be around early tomorrow, I have a suit to be fitted for. I have never been fitted for anything in my life.''
''Get used to it, boy.'' She laughed as she walked back towards the house.
''So I have decided to become a valet?'' He questioned his own sanity. He questioned why and then he knew the reason and she was in front of him.
''I will see you tomorrow.''
Cal's embrace that night was colder than she had ever felt and yet as the morning loomed, Rose couldn't help but feel a tiny bit of excitement.
''Darling?''
Cal was half asleep, half awake. His eyes running over some paper which he had missed out on that evening due to dining with Rose. It was rare he bought business to the bedroom but with a few hours before going to New York, things needed tending to quickly.
''Yes?''
Rose came to him on the bed, tucking a curl behind her ear. ''I hear you invited Mr. Dawson to assist your affairs during this trip?''
''Yes.'' Cal muttered absentmindedly.
''I happened to see him as he finished the gardens for today and he mentioned he would in fact be very interested in the offer.''
Cal removed his eyes from the paper. He was silent as he narrowed his eyes at Rose.
''He spoke to you about this?''
''Quickly.'' Rose smiled sweetly. ''It was I actually who said perhaps he would save you a lot of hassle looking for a more suitable candidate.''
''Actually its my father who deals with that.''
''We are to leave tomorrow.''
Cal nodded. ''Yes, of course. I will have words.'' He went back to his work. Rose sighed heavily as she picked up a book to submerge herself into. She knew sleep wouldn't come to her very much tonight.
