Unable to sleep, Rose got up from bed and made her way downstairs and was surprised to see Sarah and Fabrizio in the kitchen. Sarah was sitting at the table while Fabrizio was at the stove, putting a kettle on to boil water.
"Fabri, Sarah? What are you two doing up?" Rose asked, sliding into the chair across from her friend. "I thought you two would be sound asleep by now."
Sarah sighed, looking embarrassed. "I couldn't stop tossing and turning. I can't help worrying about Cal and my father. I know Father is on his way here and...it's going to be a mess. Unfortunately, my tossing and turning were keeping Fabri awake, so we decided some hot chocolate might help. Do you want some?"
"I'd love some," Rose gratefully smiled. The way she was feeling, chocolate was definitely in order. "I couldn't sleep either."
"Fabri, make enough for Rose!" Sarah called out before turning her attention back to Rose. "Why? Is everything ok with you and Jack?"
Rose sighed and looked at her hands. "Things are ok with Jack. He loves me as much as ever. Every time he looks at me or wraps his arms around me, I feel like everything will be ok. That as long as he keeps me close, I'll be fine...but…"
"What happened?"
"Well...you remember how we found out that his father was really a member of the Boston Dawsons, right? Well...his aunt Enid arrived today...and to say that she was less than pleased to meet me is an understatement."
Sarah's eyes widened. "Don't tell me that the scandal of it all had even reached Boston!"
Rose simply nodded. "Unfortunately it had...and she had a lot to say about my mother...which made us both angry and we kind of tore into her."
Sarah gasped. "Oh, Rose! You didn't!"
Rose squeezed her eyes shut. "I did...she left but will be back because she simply adores Jack, who looks exactly like his father...but she hates me. Normally, I wouldn't care...but this is Jack's long-lost family. He wants to get to know them...but what if they all look at me like that, which will anger Jack and he'll walk away from this chance to have a family from his father's side again? It'll be my fault!"
Sarah placed a hand over Rose's, understanding her completely. "Rose, you mustn't think like that. It won't be your fault at all! Besides, you are Jack's family! To him, you and Lily are all the family he needs! If the Boston Dawsons can't accept you, Jack is within his rights not to want anything to do with them!"
"But I don't want him to lose out because of me."
Sarah giggled and rolled her eyes. "Rose...what would he be losing out on? You and I both ran away from that world for a reason and Jack knows that. What? Would he miss out on being expected to be a certain way? To believe the same as everyone else? To be locked away behind a desk wearing a suit and forgetting who he really is? To be living in a gilded cage? Is that what he would be missing out on?"
Rose winced. "Well...when you say it like that…"
"He'd be better off not experiencing any of it if you ask me. Right, Fabri?"
Fabrizio looked up with wide eyes and eagerly nodded. "Si! Jack would not be happy in a world like that. He belongs in modest settings like this. With friends and Rose!"
Rose gave a thankful smile. "I just...I love him so much. I just don't want him to regret marrying me."
"He won't. When a man looks at you the way Jack does...there are no regrets. No matter what. You're it for him, Rose."
"Si. I have seen Jack with plenty of girls before. All very beautiful, but he only climbs over barriers for you, Rose. He walk away from them, but he couldn't walk away from you. You two are fiamme gemelle!" Fabrizio went to the cupboards to pull down three coffee mugs.
"I love it when he speaks Italian," Sarah excitedly whispers.
Rose smiled. "What does that mean?"
"Twin flames," Fabrizio smiled as he poured the water into the cups and began adding the chocolate.
"Ok, I know what a soulmate is. But what is a twin flame?"
"It's similar to a soulmate. You are one half of the same soul. Yin and yang. Where you are regal and proper, he is laid back and down to earth. But you both communicate almost seamlessly, almost nonverbally. You understand each other without effort...but you both have a hard time before you can be together peacefully. First, the sinking. Then the separation. Now the upcoming thing with his newfound family. You are destined to have a hard road of it...but in the end...you be together and will eventually find that peace."
Rose frowned, not knowing how she felt about that. "I think I prefer soulmate."
"Regardless, you and Jack. Meant to be," Fabrizio happily smiled.
Rose couldn't help but return the smile, feeling a little better. "I bet you two think I'm silly, worrying about my future with Jack."
"It's understandable, Rose. It's human to feel a little insecure, no matter how strong the relationship…."
"Have you heard anything more from Cal?" Rose was curious. It's been so quiet on the Cal front. She didn't even know if he was still in town or not.
"Oh, I've received a few messages from him. Evidently, Father is on his way here."
"What? Nathan is coming? Oh wow...how did your father take the news that you got married?"
"According to Cal, Father is furious with me. I don't know what will happen once he gets here. I'm trying not to be afraid."
"Just remember that you're not alone. We're here to stand by you. Goodness, after taking on Jack's newly found Aunt, Nathan Hockley should be a piece of cake," Rose chuckled.
…..
Later near evening...
Cal met his father in the lobby of the hotel. It was obvious that the elder Hockley was not in the mood for any shenanigans. He was here for two things. His children and his business.
"Father, you've finally arrived!" Cal went over to greet his father.
"No thanks to you! Would it behoove you to meet me at the station, Caledon?" Nathan glared.
Cal winced and lowered his head. He hated it when his father chastised him, which was something he seemed to do daily.
"I'm sorry, Father. I would have been there, but Isabella had felt ill and…"
"I don't care what goes on with that woman! You were supposed to meet me at the station, not leave me to my own devices while you tended to that girl!"
"You're quite right, Father," Cal mumbled.
"Anyway, where is your sister? I want to have some words with her!"
"She's with her new husband. They are living with my ex and her husband at a quaint farmhouse a little ways from here. It's far too late to go there now. I say we wait until morning. That way Dawson and his friends will be at work and we'll only have the women to deal with. What are you planning to do to her anyway? Drag her back home?"
"No. No, I am tired of that disobedient girl. I know just how I'm going to deal with her. She wants to live like a peasant, so be it! She can remain living like a peasant!"
"Father? You're not disowning her, are you?" Cal winced, not knowing how to feel about that.
"Let's just say that she will not be receiving any money from me anymore. But that's not all of my plans. I'll fill you in once I've met with her. You'll see what my plans are, just be patient, my boy. Now, I'm off to my room to get settled in. I do hope that you and your fiancee will meet me for dinner."
Cal watched his father make his way to his own room. He tried to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He had a feeling that his life was again about to change and for the worse.