Chapter 34: He Keeps Asking for You
February 7th, 1914
Rose was back to working at the bakery with Jade. They were prepping for the day in the back. It was about time for them to unlock the door for customers. Rose was putting freshly baked bread in the display when she glanced out of the shop window and gasped. This caused Jade to look up and stop what she was doing.
"What is it Rose?" Jade asked as she continued putting the cakes in the display. Rose said that she thought she saw someone that she never wanted to see again when she glanced out of the window. Two people actually, Cal Hockley and Spicier Lovejoy.
"If either of them see me here then we are all in danger." Rose revealed that Cal was her ex-fiancé and that he was the one that said he would harm her family if he ever found them. Both women had to think of something quick. Jade now understood why the older man kept asking about her family.
"I'm so sorry." Jade sobbed as she explained that she though Mr. Lovejoy was just a regular. She should have found it odd that the man kept asking about Jack and Rose. Jade now feels like that she is the reason her entire family and Rose's family is in danger. Rose assured her that she was not at fault, and that she couldn't have known who he was.
"It's not your fault. You didn't know who Mr. Lovejoy was." Rose explained that he did the dirty work for the Hockley's so that they didn't get a bad reputation for the awful things that they did. He plays this innocent older man who works for a family.
"He did say that his job was keeping track of a rich man's son." Jade thought the man actually cared about them because he was a regular customer. They finally came up with a plan. Rose would be in the back staying as quiet as possible. Jade would work the shift as normal. If they asked her anything, she would go along with it and pretend that she didn't know who the men were.
"Honestly I pity him. His life is keeping Cal out of trouble. If you ask me that's not much of a life at all." Rose went on about how she wishes the older man would leave them alone.
"Quick he's walking towards the door." Jade warned Rose so that she could get to the back before they saw her. Rose bolted for the back of the bakery. She could easily hide in the back with all of the ingredients and baking equipment. Jade went to unlock the door just as the older man was approaching. She noticed that the younger man that Rose saw him with was not with him. She decided not to mention anything about that when he walked in. Jade unlocked the doors for the day and prepared herself for whatever they were going to ask her.
"How do you manage to pull it off?" Lovejoy asked as he walked up to the counter and motioned to everything that was out and fresh.
"How do I manage to pull what off?" She asked truly not knowing what Lovejoy had meant by this.
"How do you run this entire place by yourself?" He asked her hoping she would spill some more information that was useful. She then excused herself and stepped to the back to grab something really quickly.
"I have help baking the goods, but sometimes it's just me running the shop sometimes." She replied as she went to the back to get a cake out of the oven. She then took that time to quietly tell Rose to lock the back door. "Cal didn't come in with him." She muttered under her breath so Lovejoy wouldn't hear her talking. She though he could have possibly gone around to the back of the bakery to try and sneak in. Rose hurried and locked the door and went back to where she was hiding in the back. Jade returned to the front with the freshly baked cake. She offered him this caked after she finished outing the icing on it.
"So who helps you bake all of these delicious goods?" Lovejoy pressed her for more information. Little did he know that she was well aware of what he was trying to do. He was trying to use the baker to get information on the Dawson's which was proving to be unsuccessful. "Your sisters or brother?" He asked. She nodded.
"Sometimes they help out, but I have another woman who comes in every other day or so to help in the store." Jade lied as she continued decorating the cake. Lovejoy went on about how Jade's bakery was the best.
"I would love to meet everyone who helps make these delicious treats." He asked hoping that she would say more. He looked at the family pictures again and asked about Rose.
"So where do Rose and your brother work?" He asked hoping she would tell him something.
"As far as I know Rose doesn't work she stays at home and cares for the baby. Jack I'm not so sure anymore. Last I heard they were going to move to Madison." Jade lied again hoping to keep them from trying to follow her home.
"Darn, I was hoping to see her. She really does look like someone I know from Philadelphia." Lovejoy said as he looked out of the window. He saw Cal mostioning for him to get out of the bakery. "I must get going, I have to meet someone in a few minutes." He added as he was about to leave.
"Here's your cake sir." Jade reminded him as she held the box out to him and told him the price of the cake. He paid her and made his way out of the bakery with the cake. After he left Jade walked to the back to let Rose know that Lovejoy was gone. Rose sighed in relief.
"I really thought he was going to find me and force me to lead him to our home." Rose went on about how she heard the door handle in the back jiggle. That could only have meant one thing. Lovejoy was supposed to be a distraction and Cal was going to try and get into the back to get Rose.
"Not that they are gone we can get back to work. Rose I don't think it safe for you to continue coming into work for the time being." Jade explained how Lovejoy asked for her again. Before today she had honestly thought that Rose reminded the older man of someone in Philadelphia. Now she knows that is a cover up.
"How are we going to get out of here without them following us back home?" Rose asked knowing that they will probably be sitting outside of the bakery until they closed in the evening. Jade had an idea, but they would have to let the others know tht they would be coming home late. First Rose called her mother and filled her in on what had happened. Ruth agreed to keep Jewel until Jack got home from work then she would let him know that Rose and Jade were safe.
"Now we wait." Jade laughed as she added more sugar to the mixing bowl to make cookies. That was all they could do. The men had to go stay somewhere for the night eventually. They couldn't stay awake forever. The women were going to take advantage of that time and leave when the men should be looking for a place to sleep.
The two women waited for hours even after they store was officially closed. They turned the lights out, so nothing seemed odd. Lovejoy had been coming often so he knew the hours of the bakery. They waited a while in the dark and looked out of the windows to see if there was anyone still in the area. Rose spotted a vehicle parked on the side of the street right by the bakery. That was when they realized that they were waiting for them to head home.
"Can you tell if they are asleeo?" Rose asked Jade who looked out of the window. It looks like the old man is, but Cal is still awake and waiting.
"He's eventually going to have to get some sleep." Rose went on about how she was worried about everyone else at home. Jade reminded her that they had her father and Jack over there to keep everyone else safe. "I don't think the bakery will be open tomorrow if we have to wait too much longer." Jade yawned as she put a closed sign on the door for the next day.
"Not at the rate this guy is falling asleep." Rose went on about how he fought sleep just to argue with her late in the evening once. She told Jade just how horrible this man truly was. Jade promised that she and the rest of her family would do what they could to keep her, Jack, Ruth, Lily, and William safe.
A few more hours had passed since they last peeked out of the window. Jade looked this time and quietly motioned for Rose to come look out of the window as well. Both women agreed that both Lovejoy and Cal had fallen asleep waiting for them. Now was that small window of opportunity to get out undetected and they weren't going to waste it. Jade opened the door as quietly as she could. Rose followed her out. She managed to lock the door without making much noise either.
"Now we walk home and hope we aren't being followed." Jade whispered as they walked past the car with the sleeping men. They made sure that they kept an eye out for them and looked in all directions after going so far. They made it home. Jade walked Rose to her door and followed her in. Jack was sitting in the living room waiting for them to arrive home safely.
"I'm so glad both of you are home safe." Jack said as he invited them to sit down in the living room and talk for a bit. Jade filled him in on what had happened.
"Ruth had told me you had some visitors that made you and Rose feel uncomfortable, but she didn't tell me who." Jack went on about how he wished someone would have told him that Cal was in Chippewa Falls.
"I told her not to tell you it was Cal and Lovejoy." Rose spoke up. She then reminded him that Jewel needs both of her parents and grandparents in her life. Jack finally calmed down some.
"He knows about Jewel." Jade sobbed causing both Rose and Jack to assure her that it wasn't her fault.
"He can know about her all he wants. Over my dead body will he lay a hand on Rose or our children." Jack went on about he would do everything to protect his family.
"You can stay in one of the guest rooms here tonight. It's late and I'm sure those two will probably be slowly driving down every street and looking at every house in the area." Rose reminded them that Cal and Lovejoy were still out looking for them, and that they could wake up at any time. They lived a small distance from the bakery, but it wasn't impossible for them find them soon.
"I guess we are all going to have to lay low until they leave the area." Rose yawned as she got up to make her way to her and Jack's bedroom.
"Tomorrow morning I want you to catch Johanna before she heads out to go to work. I'm sure Dr. Bradshaw will understand our situation." Jack assured his older sister before he too got up to head to bed.
