"I'm surprised that you didn't ask her to move in with us and into your room with you," Lisa stood in the doorway leading outside. Jack was again on his stoop, looking through his portfolio this time, trying not to think of Rose, who had left with Ruth and Molly over an hour ago.
"Lisa, don't start," Jack sighed, in no mood for his cousin's coming lecture. He knew that he was going to be in for it, but he still wouldn't have changed his actions. Rose needed him and he was there for her. His reaction, it was a part of him, something he couldn't change and wouldn't change, even if he could.
"Don't start? You're letting her back in. Once again giving her the power to tear your heart out."
Jack turned his head to look at his cousin, who had her arms crossed as she glared at him worriedly. "She's not here, is she? She hasn't moved into my room, her things aren't here. She's back at the bed and breakfast with her mother and Molly and she's very much aware that we are not going to be picking up where we left off. That the focus is on Cora. So you can stop your worrying."
Lisa just snorted. "I wonder how long that will last, before you do have her living here with us..."
"Well, you know she is my wife and it's my business not yours! So but out," Jack lost his temper. He closed his eyes, regretting the outburst. Of course Lisa was only concerned. He shouldn't get annoyed so fast, but she was being ridiculous in his opinion. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lose my temper, but you're worrying over nothing. Rose and I...we're just friends now. We're focused on building the bond between her and Cora. We're not even thinking about what was our relationship. As far as I'm concerned...that part just doesn't exist anymore."
The last part was a lie, and they both knew it. Jack was still in love with Rose, that had been clear to them both all day. But Jack didn't want to deal with that emotion right now. He just wanted to live his life and take care of his daughter. That was the only thing he could handle right now.
"I don't believe you," Lisa frowned, taking a step back. "But I'll drop it. But as for it not being my business Jack, you're my cousin and best friend. I saw up close and personal how you struggled to move on without her for the past two years. I'm not going to let her destroy that progress."
"She's not going to destroy anything, alright. Stop worrying. She doesn't have the power to hurt me like that anymore...not that she had meant to in the first place."
"Oh yeah. She was sick."
Jack frowned, not liking Lisa's tone. "You sound like you don't believe her."
"Maybe I don't. It just seems a little too convenient for me. I mean, yeah I know about Titanic and I guess that could send anyone off the deep end, but don't you think it's a little weird that she was so easily found and diagnosed? That as soon as she sat eyes on you, there was some attraction?"
"No. I don't find it convenient. As for the attraction...well that was always there. I was at work when she had wondered off, remember?"
"If you say so," Lisa sighed, turning to go back into the house. She didn't trust Rose. She just felt that all of this was contrived and Jack was just too emotional to see through it. Which was all well and good that she was here. She was going to make sure that Rose never regained that spot in her cousin's life that would give her the power to break his heart again. She had a plan. The only problem with that plan was that it depended on Jack to work...and it would only work if he was telling the truth and was not interested in getting back with his wife.