Two days had passed since Molly had informed Jack of Rose's whereabouts and what had happened to her and the young man had yet to get in touch with them. Not that Ruth blamed him. She, herself, had just came to terms with the fact that Rose had deceived her.
It had been a hard blow, but the blow had been softened by the discovery of Cora. It had been two days since she had held her granddaughter in her arms. She couldn't wait any longer to see her again. So when Molly mentioned the three of them getting out and getting some air, Molly took Rose with her as she ran errands and Ruth headed for the Dawson's to visit her granddaughter. After all, Jack had said that she was allowed to stop by anytime she wanted to spend time with the child.
She knocked on the door, feeling nervous. What if Jack had changed his mind and wanted her nowhere near his daughter. After all, she had ran off her own daughter and was never able to get her under control. What if Jack didn't want the same for Cora? Not that she would even assume such a status. She was grandma and her role in Cora's life was quite different from that of a parent.
It was Jack's uncle who answered the door. He looked at Ruth as if she was a strange creature from a different dimension.
"You're Cora's grandmother," the man gruffly stated, blocking the doorway.
"Yes I am. Jack said that I could see her whenever I wanted. I am just taking him up on the offer."
"Jack is not here. He's at work. "
"Oh," Ruth bowed her head, not knowing what she could say to this man so she could gain access to her granddaughter.
"You're not used to people saying no to you, are you?" Weaver looked the woman up and down, folding his arms over his chest, his blue eyes sparkling in amusement.
Ruth frowned, feeling indignant. "Pardon me?"
"If I told you that you can't come in and see Cora, you would be at a loss. I bet that you're used to getting whatever you want."
"Excuse me, sir. You do not know me. You do not know what I would do or what I am used to. I just came to see my granddaughter, but if you rather I wait until Mr. Dawson returns, I will happily do so."
Weaver just laughed. It was a hearty sound and it lit up his eyes the same way Cora's smile lit up a room. "Who said that I would rather you wait. I'm not one to stand in the way of Cora and her family. I was just feeling you out you can say."
Ruth's cheeks grew pink and her eyes widened as a gloved hand pressed against her throat. "That sounds rather vulgar, sir."
"Well I usually don't bite my tongue, a habit my nephew says I should break if I ever plan to marry again," Weaver chuckled.
"Daddy, who is at the door? Let them in, it's getting drafty and no one wants Cora to catch a cold," Lisa appeared behind her father and came to a stand still at the sight of Ruth. She blinked a few times and then forced a smile. She didn't really care for the older woman, but Jack was insistant that Cora have the woman in her life. "Mrs. Dewitt Bukater, what are you doing here?"
"I was hoping to see my granddaughter," Ruth frowned, beginning to wonder if maybe she should come back later. She had a feeling that these two were going to deny her access without the baby's father present.
"Of course. Come in. Excuse my father, he has bad manners," Lisa pushed her father out of the way and headed for the stairs. "Just follow me."
Gripping her purse in her hands, Ruth followed the young woman up the stairs, very much aware of Weaver Dawson following right after. Whatever he could want now, Ruth had the faintest idea. It made her nervous, but it also excited her a little. It's been years since she held a man's attention for herself. Of course, she would never let anything come of it...Weaver Dawson was of the wrong tax bracket of course, but his attention made her feel like a young girl again.
Lisa lead them up to the room on the left, which was a nursery, made up in colors of pink and white. A toy chest was neatly set at the foot of a baby bed, where Cora was sitting, playing with a pink teddy bear. The child looked up and smiled to see the adults and stood up with arms outreached, wanting someone to pick her up.
"Looks like someone's tired of being bed, huh? Did you have nice nap sweetie?" Lisa kissed her cheek.
"Daddy!" the girl exclaimed, looking around. Jack had been the one to put her down for her nap before leaving for work.
"Daddy is not here right now. He went to work to make you money. But look who is here to see you. You remember Grandma, right? You spent a great deal of time with her the other night."
Cora smiled and happily clapped her hands, excited for more attention from a dolting adult.
"I'm afraid the wee lass is a bit spoiled, between my daughter and her father," Weaver chuckled as Lisa handed Cora to Ruth.
"Oh don't act so tough daddy. She has you wrapped around her finger more than anyone else," Lisa chuckled before turning her attention back to Ruth.
Hugging the child, Ruth found her way to the rocking chair that sat opposite the bed and picked up a stuffed unicorn.
"So what do you think?" Lisa whispered to her father, low enough so only he could hear. "Should we be concerned? She could be here to take Cora..."
"I doubt that. But not to worry, I'm keeping an eye on her," Weaver whispered back. In their minds, Jack was being way too trusting of this newcomer who reeked of high society. It wouldn't surpsie them at all if she was here to try to take Cora from them. Then again, wasn't her daughter in town somewhere, wanting to meet up with Jack?
There was something else that Lisa had noticed...the way her father looked at Ruth. Weaver was a handsome man, but he never made it his business to go searching for a new wife. She hoped that he wasn't getting ideas now. "Daddy...I know you like her….but look at Jack's situation before you even think of courting her."
Weaver frowned, taken aback. "Who said that I'd want to court her?"
"I see how you look at her. She's blind, but I'm not. Just be careful."
Watching Ruth play with Cora, Weaver couldn't help but be a little curious about the woman. On the surface, she seemed to be as cold as ice, but when she was with Cora...it was like watching someone turn into another person.
Ruth herself felt something hard and cold melt away as Cora happily smiled up at her, giving her love to this stranger so easily. She had to wonder where this ability came from? The child's father? Was that how he had won Rose from Cal? By being so free with his affection?
Whatever the case, she was grateful for the acceptance she found with the child and her father's willingness to let her be a part of her life, despite what had happened with Rose. He had every right to turn his back and order her away.
She really had been wrong about Jack Dawson from the start. Hopefully, Rose's memory will return and the family could be put back together. It was the only way she could see both herself and Rose to have a happy life.
…..
Molly and Rose were just exiting the post office. Molly had some letters to send and they planned to go to a cafe across the street for lunch. It was going to be a nice outing, in Molly's opinion and a good way to get Rose used to the town. She looked up, her gaze drifting over to an office building and froze. Jack was coming out, his portfolio stuffed under his arm and his sight on the ground. Judging from his expression, he was deep in thought.
"Molly?" Rose asked, confused why the woman had stopped so suddenly. She followed the older woman's gaze to the blond young man with the portfolio. For some reason she couldn't explain, her heart stopped. She had no idea who he was. She had never seen him before...yet...there was something about him that drew her attention. Could it be…?
"Is that him?"
"Jack? Yes. He must be getting off from work," Molly chewed on her bottom lip as she watched Jack take a seat on an empty park bench and began to leaf through his portfolio. She tore her eyes away and looked at Rose and had to smile. "He's a handsome one, isn't he darlin'?"
"What do we do?" Rose frowned, at a loss on what her first step should be. Should she go over and introduce herself? Or should she let it be and let him make the first move? She was so confused.
"I say we go say hello. Mr. Dawson had a few days. He should be ready to at least see you by now," Molly took Rose's hand, just for Rose to pull back.
"Molly, I don't know...what if he hates me? What if...what if he doesn't want to have anything to do with me at all. I wouldn't blame him a bit if he felt that way. After all, I did leave him and our child without a word..."
"You were sick. He knows that now..."
"But still, that doesn't take away the hurt of the past two years. He may want nothing to do with me."
"Well he can tell you that himself. Now, you two need to stop hedging and confront each other. There is no better time than now."
Molly didn't have to call out to Jack, because he had looked up at the sound of her voice and froze when he saw who was with her. He didn't know what to say or what to do...well he knew what he wanted to do, but he had a feeling that Molly wouldn't let him get away. So he just sat there as the women made their way over to him.
"Jack, fancy meeting you out and about. I had some errands and thought that it'd be good to take Rose with me, since some nice Wisconsin air would do her good. Good idea, yes?" Molly grinned, her eyes darting to Jack, then to Rose, then back to Jack again.
Seeing the look in Jack's eyes, she softened some. The boy looked like a trapped deer. Maybe ambushing him like this wasn't a good idea...but could it be considered an ambush? After all, this was a small town. These were public streets. They were going to run into each other sometime. She turned to Rose. "This is your husband Jack Dawson. I told you all about him. Didn't I tell you that he was handsome?"
Rose blushed and stepped forward, not wanting to leave Molly to do all the talking. What did one say to a husband that you had forgotten and walked away from? What could she say to make him not hate her anymore? She had no clue.
Jack didn't know what to say either. That was why he hadn't stopped by the bed and breakfast yet. What did a fellow say to the woman that had left him and their daughter two years ago because of a sudden case of amnesia?
"Say hello Rose," Molly nudged the redhead, seeing her hesitation. "Don't be shy."
"I don't know what to say...except I am sorry. I'm sorry for hurting you and leaving you and Cora like I had. It didn't occur to me that I was married or had a child," Rose stammered, wanting to explain herself.
Jack got to his feet, swallowing down his own nervousness. He brushed the hair out of his face and looked at Rose closely, examining her for any changes that may have taken place in the past two years. There were none really. At least not to his eyes. She was still the same Rose he had married.
"I…didn't know what had happened to you. We were happy and raising our daughter in Santa Monica, something that we had dreamed about...and then you were just gone."
Looking at Jack, who seemed tense and ready to flee at any moment, Rose again realized that she had left a life behind...a life that she had most likely wanted with this very man! What had happened? Why did she have that mental break that had wiped him and their daughter from her memory?
"Were we happy?" The question left Rose before she could even stop it. She felt an ache inside at the clear sadness in Jack's eyes. God, she must have hurt him terribly. She knew it wasn't her fault, but she still couldn't help blaming herself.
"I thought we were...well, I guess we were now that Molly had explained why you disappeared. I mean...I knew you were struggling, but all in all you seemed happy."
Rose closed her eyes and tried to search her mind for any clues of what had been...for any signs...but she could only come up with nothing. "I don't remember anything..."
"Darlin, don't push yourself. Remember what the doctor said. This isn't permanent..," Molly tried to comfort her, seeing Rose struggle to regain her memories.
"Don't push myself? I have a husband and a child that I don't remember...a life that I have no idea about...I've been walking in the dark for the past two years, Molly...when all this time…," Rose covered her mouth as a sob erupted. She turned away from him, embarrassed by her tears. "I' so sorry for all of it."
"Maybe this should have waited," Jack frowned, not happy by his urge to take Rose in his arms and comfort her, like he would have done two years ago. It was an instinct, one that he didn't dare to indulge for his own sake.
"No it couldn't. You two would continue to avoid this. It's best we do this now and get this over with. Now the ice is broken and we can really work on healing the both of you," Molly reached over and took Jack's hand, wanting him to know that she was there for him too, not just for Rose.
"Just...no more crying, okay?" Jack looked at the grass, still fighting the urge to hold her and tell her everything would be alright. To tell her that all was forgiven and to come home. That would be opening himself up too much and far too fast.
Rose simply nodded, wiping away her tears as she pulled away from Molly. "I do hope you'll be able to forgive me...even though I don't deserve it..."
Jack sighed, hating how seeing her cry made his heart hurt. How could he still love her so much, still...after all this time apart, with him believing that she had just abandoned him? "Look, there's nothing to forgive. You were sick. What happened wasn't your fault. The important thing is getting your memory back...and building a bond between you and Cora."
Molly frowned, not missing that Jack hadn't said anything about the relationship between himself and Rose, but decided to leave it for now. The boy was already going through enough at the moment. Maybe later, they could sit down for a chat. She was curious about what was on his mind.
"Speaking of Cora, Ruth is at your place now spending time with her. Maybe now is a good time to introduce her to Rose..."
Jack simply nodded and walked to the entrance of the park, assuming that Molly and Rose would follow. He hadn't planned on Cora and Rose meeting today, but really there was no better time than the present. What harm would it do anyway? It's not like he's making any promises or declarations of love of devotion or anything. The old Jack would have probably done such a thing, but not now….not after the past two years of heartbreak. He may have forgiven Rose, but he didn't think he could ever trust her again. Not in the way that a husband trusts a wife.
(A/N: After the short chapter 12, I thought it'd be a good idea to post another chapter, the reunion chapter straight away. I know it's not what everyone was hoping for, but it would be unrealistic for Jack to welcome her back with hugs and kisses right away. I would also like to thank everyone for their reviews! They really mean a lot to me! I'll have more of this up soon)