Rose stood in her room, looking at her reflection in the mirror. She was dressed in a black dress with her hair pulled up in a simple bun. The simple black pumps hurt her feet, but they fit the dress perfectly and matched her mood. She was to be at the lawyer's office in an hour for the reading of her father's will. She had wanted Jack to be there with her, just as he always been through this ordeal, but her mother had stepped in, saying it was inappropriate with Jack not being a family member and had decided to attend it with Rose. She was probably hoping that her father had left her something. Which was typical Ruth behavior in Rose's opinion. Her mother had wanted nothing to do with the funeral arrangements unless it could benefit herself in some way.
"Rose! Rose it is time! Are you ready?" Ruth called up, a hint of impatience in her voice.
Rose sighed deeply. No. She was not ready. She would never be ready for this. "Coming!"
Grabbing her purse, she joined her mother on the first floor. She watched as Ruth pulled on her gloves while the servants grabbed Rose's own coat and gloves.
"Really, Rose. We cannot be late. Who knows what your father has left us in his will. It is more than likely that he had left everything to his staff and gave the rest to charity and left us nothing but his debts to pay. It'd be typical of him," Ruth ranted. "Probably left the house to that harlot's family..."
"Don't call her that," Rose's voice was harsh and forbidding. She would not allow her mother to say anything against Katarina. She had been there for Rose more than Ruth had ever been. "Katarina is not a harlot. She has done a lot more for me than you ever have so you will just keep your mouth shut about her, mother."
Ruth just gave Rose a chastised glance then walked out the door without saying anything else.
"Is there anything else I can get you Miss?" The maid asked.
"You can give me my father and step-mother back," Rose sighed. "But other than that, no. We won't be long. You may want to start on a light lunch for mother. You know how she is if things are too idle around here."
"Yes Miss," Carlotta curtsied then disappeared back into the kitchen.
Taking one last look at the house, Rose joined her mother in the car and rode to the lawyer's off in a tense silence. Again, Rose wished that it was Jack attending the reading with her, not her mother.
The lawyer's office was brightly lit and contained only a bookcase, a desk, and a chair with two chairs sitting in front of it for the clients. Rose looked around taking in the surroundings. Somehow she doubted that the man spent much of his time inside of this room. Her father's lawyer, a balding plump man by the name of J.T. Simpson sat behind the desk, her father's file in on his desk.
"Miss. Dewitt Bukater, it is a sad day that you have to be here," the lawyer addressed Rose. "I had hoped that this day would be a long long time coming. You do have my condolences."
"Thank you, Mr. Simpson. Can we please get this started and over with? I do have other appointments I must keep," Ruth spoke up, eager to hear what was in the will. Rose just glared at her, wishing that she would have continued to keep her distance like she had been doing during the funeral arrangements.
"Of course," the lawyer cleared his throat and opened up the file as Rose and her mother took their seats. Once everyone was seated, he began. "William had left behind a hefty estate. A mansion, cars, stocks, bonds, checking accounts. Most of it, he had left to charity. But there is a trust fund set up for Miss. Dewitt Bukater. One that she'll have access to upon graduation from high school. It's two million dollars. In the mean time, Miss. Dewitt Bukater will receive a stipend of $1000 a month."
"Is that all?" Ruth frowned, watching the lawyer close the file. "Did he not mention me? His wife?"
"Oh, he did mention his wife, Katarina. But since she's perished as well, her part of the inheritance reverts to charity."
"What? But I"m his wife as well! Surely he left me something!"
"You were his ex-wife, Mrs. Dewitt Bukater. He had no responsibility towards you. I am sorry, but you were not in his will."
"Oh that man! That man had always hated me! Right here is proof!"
"Oh stop it mother. You were doing just fine without daddy's money. I am sure that you will continue doing just fine," Rose glared at her mother, offended. Her mother wasn't here as support. She was here to see if she had anything coming. This was so typical of her. "Mr. Simpson, what of my father's house? What will happen to it?"
"The house was in Katarina's name. It will go to her parents."
"Oh, so the harlot's family gets something, but I don't," Ruth huffed, not caring that she was being rude.
Rose had had enough. Her mother was being awful and didn't care! Did she not see how hard this all was for her? She had lost her home, her father, her future was in limbo, and all her mother cared about was not being in the will! She really didn't care about her at all.
"Is that all, Mr. Simpson?" Rose pushed through her anger, ignoring her mother's tirade, or at least trying to.
"I just need you to sign these forms and then you are free to go," Mr. Simpson directed, pointing out what he needed Rose to sign.
Five minutes later, Rose and Ruth stood outside the office building, heading for Ruth's car. Ruth was still livid, but she kept her mouth shut this time. It was still uncomfortable for Rose. She couldn't understand why her mother was like this. Why was it that all she saw was the lack of her own funds and not the pain that her daughter was in. Rose couldn't take her anymore right now. The spitefulness. The tension. She just needed to be away from her mother before she did or said something that she would probably regret later on down the road.
"Mother, you go on ahead. I am going to call Jack to come pick me up. I need space right now," Rose sighed, taking out her cellphone.
"What? Rose, don't you think we should go home and discuss things first? Now that the funeral is over and we know what finances are coming in from your father's estate...," Ruth stared at her, taken aback that Rose was not wanting to return home right away.
"Really mother? I don't see what there is to discuss. I will only be receiving 1000 dollars a month to live on until graduation. I don't know what can be discussed about that. I can't return home...to the mansion because that's going to Katarina's parents...I don't know what you're wanting from me here."
"We need to discuss that monthly stipend. We should invest..."
"Mother, that 1000 dollars is to live off of until I leave school. It's barely enough to take care of myself. I mean, I assume that you're not going to want to support me while I live with you, seeing what big of a help you were during the funeral," Rose sighed, feeling worn out from the last few weeks. She couldn't believe this was her life now. What she had with her father and Katarina, it all seemed like a dream right now.
"You are being incredibly selfish right now, Rose. Your father had completely cut me off. He had left me with nothing but this measly job to support myself with. The least you can do..."
"The least I can do is not add to your burden by using the monthly allowance father left me to take care of my needs and not depend on you to fulfill them. I don't think I'm being selfish at all."
"Fine. If you want to call that boy. Go right ahead, Rose. I will not stop you. But I do have rules in my household. Your father may have allowed you to run wild, but I will do no such thing. I will not abide inappropriate behavior. I hope I am clear on that," Ruth clasped her gloves in her hand as a black car pulled up. She stepped towards the car, not paying attention until she nearly stepped into Nathan Hockley as he steppeds out of the car. "Oh Nathan! Pardon me, I didn't see you there."
Before Nathan could answer Ruth, Rose pulled her mother away and glared at her late ex's father.
"Don't think that I don't know that you were behind my father's death, Mr. Hockley! You may be able to get away with it, but I know what you did!" Rose angrily hissed, seeing red. She and Jack had discussed it numerous of times and had both come up with the conclusion that the millionaire was behind what had happened to her father and Katarina.
"Rose! You are out of line young lady! Apologize this instant!" Ruth gasped, horrified. "Nathan, I'm sorry. It's the grief...she's not herself."
"I can see that. Maybe the poor girl should be taken home and put on bed rest," Nathan frowned, taken aback. His dark eyes studied the younger red-head whose own eyes were flashing with anger and grief. He didn't feel sorry for her, after all, she had been the part of his own son's downfall. As far as he was concerned, the Dewitt Bukater family was getting what they deserved for all the trouble they had caused his family. "I assure you, Miss. Dewitt Bukater. I did not plant that bomb. I am not the only enemy your father had made in his career. Perhaps you should accuse one of them."
"Come along, Rose. You have made enough of a spectacle as it is," Ruth hissed, her face red with embarrassment.
Rose wanted to yell and scream. She wanted to list Nathan's Hockley's crimes in public so everyone could know, but she just didn't have the strength at the moment. Every time she looked at the man, she wanted to scratch his eyes out. So she allowed her mother to pull her out of the man's path and glared at his retreating back as he walked into the law office, as if he had done nothing wrong.
"You will not embarrass me like that again, Rose. Do you understand me?" Ruth angrily shook her arm. "Call that boy of yours to pick you up. I think it's best that you spend the rest of the day out of my presence so you can think about your behavior."
There her mother went again. Siding against her to kiss up to the rich criminal. She was not surprised. Not that she expected Ruth to care about her father's murder, now that she knew that it wouldn't benefit her financially.
"Gladly," Rose dialed Jack's number, ready to get away from her mother's hateful presence. She didn't know how she was going to be able to stand living the rest of the school year with the woman.
…..
"I just can't believe her, Jack. I mean, what did she expect? They hated each other, why would he leave her anything? Her expectations are way beyond me. It's like she's living in her own world."
Jack and Rose were at his house sequestered away in his room. She sat on his bed with her shoes off, leaning against the headboard as she ranted about her mother. Jack in the mean time was at his easel painting, while listening to his girlfriend's grievances.
"But what really takes the cake is when Nathan Hockley showed up. She did everything but lick his boots, despite the fact that everyone knows that he had something to do with what happened to daddy and Katarina," Rose balled her hands into fists, just at the thought of the man. "You should have seen him, Jack. All pompous and arrogant. Acting like he had nothing to do with it and my stupid mother eating it up!"
Jack frowned and placed his paintbrush down onto the painting tray. He did not like the sound of Rose being anywhere near Nathan Hockley much less confronting him. "You confronted him?"
"Of course. You don't expect me to not say anything when he showed up, do you?"
"Rose, that can be dangerous. If he thinks that you know something...if he in fact is responsible for your father's death...just think about what he can do to you," Jack walked over and sat on the bed, his blue eyes worried.
"Don't worry Jack. My mother's groveling and telling him that I was driven out of my mind by grief probably threw him off. I was just so angry...I still am. For once I was completely happy in my life. For once everything was good. I was getting over Cal's attack, I was in love, I had parents that loved me and a home where I felt safe and wanted. Everything was good for me at last...and it was all snatched away from in a second. No parents. No home. I'm back to being the miserable girl I was at the beginning of the year. So yeah, I was angry. I still am," Rose sniffed, looking down at her hands, a tear sliding down her cheek.
Hurting for her, Jack took one of her hands and squeezed it gently, making her look up into his eyes. "Hey, no you're not. Things aren't back to the way they were before Rose. You are still healing from Cal's attack. And unless I'm wrong and being presumptuous here, you're still in love. You still have me. You always will. Not to mention our plans for New York and you have a group of friends that care about you the person, not you, the girl with a lot of money. There are still good things in your life Rose. You've just suffered a big blow right now. But you'll heal, you'll go on, and you'll make it count. Just like your father and Katarina would want you to and I'll stay by your side the entire time."
"It just hurts, Jack. I feel like I'll never be happy again," Rose sniffed, her tears increasing. She hated crying. She loathed it really, but she couldn't help it. Her heart was broken. She had found her father just to lose him. She didn't know how she was ever going to get over this.
"I know, baby, I know," Jack scooted up to sit next to her and wrapped her in his arms, allowing her to lean against him and bury her face against his shoulder. "I'm so sorry this happened Rose. I really am. If I could take away this pain, I would. But it's going to be okay. I promise. Just hang in there."
Rose's sobs increased as she clung to him. She was in an ocean of grief and Jack was the only anchor she had to hold onto in order to keep from losing herself completely. He just sat there and held her, rubbing his back in soothing circles, kissing her hair and whispering that it was okay. That he would always be there for her.
A slight knock sounded at the door before Aunt Beth stuck her head inside and frowned to see the two teenagers on Jack's bed in each other arms. She relaxed a little to hear Rose's sobs, realizing that it as completely innocent.
"Jack, there is someone on the phone for you from Chippewa Falls...oh the poor dear, shall I send up some chamomile tea? It may relax her," Aunt Beth suggested.
"That's a good idea, Aunt Beth," Jack nodded, biting his lip. He was surprised that he was receiving a call from Chippewa Falls. He hasn't spoken to anyone from there for years, not ever since he had moved to LA. He wondered what it was about, but at the same time, he didn't want to leave Rose alone either.
Feeling Jack's reluctance, Rose sat up and wiped away her tears. "It's okay, Jack. Go answer your call. I'll be fine. I promise."
"I won't be long, alright? I'll be right back," Jack promised, still reluctant to leave her.
"Okay. Go. Don't keep them waiting or they might hang up and then we won't find out what it was about," Rose forced herself to smile, trying to be reassuring.
"Well...alright...but I won't be long, alright?"
Rose just smiled and nodded her head. "Don't worry, I'll be alright. This is probably the closest I'll feel to home again, to be honest."
"Rose," Jack gently touched her face, but was interrupted from doing anything else by the clearing of his aunt's throat.
"Phone, Jack."
"Alright, alright," Jack sighed, kissing Rose's cheek before getting up and leaving the room.
"I'll be back with your tea, dear," Aunt Beth smiled, her heart going out to the girl. She wished that they had the room to let her stay with them instead of with that horrible Ruth Dewitt Bukater. She didn't know Ruth, but she had heard enough to know that woman's house wasn't really a good one for a girl that had lost so much already.
"Thank you," Rose smiled, genuinely grateful.
Jack returned not over five minutes later. He returned to where he was sitting before, his face pensive.
"Who was it?" Rose asked, curious.
"It was my old school mate. He told me a teacher that we both had looked up to had died. He was our art teacher and he had really made me see that I had some real talent. He was kind of a mentor. He was the reason I hated leaving Chippewa Falls."
"Oh Jack, I'm so sorry..."
"He said it was cancer. He had it for a while," Jack sighed, feeling awful. He hadn't even attempted to keep in touch with anyone. Not his old friends, not even his favorite teacher. He had been so humiliated by Meagan, he had just wanted to disappear and not show his face in that town again. He was quite surprised to hear from Micheal, but he was glad that he had thought to contact him about Mr. Grant.
"Oh Jack, I'm so sorry," Rose wrapped her arms around her boyfriend. It seemed that the grim reaper was making it's rounds this month.
"He wanted to know if I wanted to attend the funeral. It's going to be this coming Sunday...which means that if I do go...I'll probably miss a day of school, I'll have to get a plane ticket...room and board, even though I can probably stay with someone. That is if Aunt Beth and Uncle Phil even let me go...not to mention...I kind of don't want to be away from you right now. Especially now that you have to stay with your mother."
"Jack, I'll be fine. If you have to go...go."
Jack didn't know what it was, why he really was so reluctant to leave LA. To leave Rose here alone, but he was. He knew it was silly, but she has become such a big part of his life here and going back to Chippewa Falls without her...it felt like he was going backwards, to someone he didn't want to be. Rose made him feel like he was...worth something. That he was smart and talented. Just the thought of Chippewa Falls brought back the scared, depressed young man he had once been. He had been such a different person then than he was now.
"Jack...if you really want me to, I'll go with you. I doubt my mother would care. She'd probably be relieved to be free of me for a few days and getting out of LA would be a nice change after all that's happened."
Jack stared at her in disbelief. "You don't have to do that Rose..."
"I want to. Besides, after all you've done for me, I want to do something for you. I want to be by your side," And like Jack, she didn't want to be away from his side either. Just the thought of a weekend away from Jack frightened her.
"Well...let me talk it over with my Aunt and Uncle tonight and then we'll see. It would give me the chance to show you around where I'm from."
"That would be extra nice," Rose smiled as he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. "I'd like to see the place where my Jack was born and grew up."
Jack just smiled and claimed her lips in a chaste kiss. He hoped that taking her back to Chippewa Falls wouldn't be a mistake. There was only two things that could ruin such a trip. Running into his sister's attacker and running into his ex-girlfriend. He sure hope that neither happened on this trip. He wanted to show Rose a nice time. Not more drama and angst. They both have had enough of that to last a lifetime.