TWENTY SIX - TRUTH
"Hello Jack" Mary smiled and James shook his hand "Jack" he nodded
"I thought you weren't coming until April?" Jack asked "we thought we'd surprise you and the children by coming a little early" she smiled, still stood outside "are you going to let us in?" she laughed "oh, erm- sure" he stepped to the side "let me take your coats" "thank you" they both said as they passed them over. Jack hung them up. "I'm assuming the children are asleep?" Jack nodded, distracted "hmm" knowing he couldn't avoid not asking them in to the house further, he took a deep breathe and headed in to the living room, where Rose was sat on the sofa, clearly nervous.
"Oh, hello?" Mary looked at Rose confused, then back at Jack "Hello, I'm Rose" she stood and shook their hands, Mary eyed Rose, almost examining her. James replied "I'm James, this is my wife Mary" Mary sat down, she knew where this was going but she wasn't happy about it. She vowed to make this as difficult as possible for Jack and Rose. James sat next to Mary, and Jack and Rose sat on the sofa opposite me. "So, are you the Nanny?" Mary said passive aggressively. Rose stiffened up, becoming more nervous than she already was. Jack had to hold his tongue to keep his tone respectful "actually, no, this is Rose, my partner" "you're what?!" Mary said, in a loud voice to which James responded with "Mary, hush your voice, you'll wake the children" Jack was surprised by Jame's reaction. He seemed awfully calm and not at all angry with Jack. "I'll speak as loud as I like, thank you James! How disrespectful can one be, Jack?! Elizabeth has been dead less than a year and you've already started a relationship with someone else!" Jack just sat there, what could he say? Technically Mary was right, he had started a relationship less than a year after Elizabeth died, but equally, this wasn't some random woman to get over Elizabeth, this was Rose. "How did you meet this 'woman' then?" She said, her voice filled with disgust. "We've known each other years, since 1912. Rose arrived in town around a month after a Elizabeth passed" "do not tell me you've been seeing this woman since a month after my daughter, your wife, the mother of your children, died?!" Jack sighed, all of a sudden they all heard Teddy shout "Mummy! Mummy!" Rose sighed, now was not the time for Mary and James to learn that their grandchildren called Rose 'Mum'" "I see Teddy still calls out for Elizabeth then" she glared at Rose "actually-" Jack responded.
Rose didn't say anything, just stood up and walked up the stairs. "Please don't tell me my grandchildren call that home wrecker 'Mummy'" Jack glared at her, angry. "Don't ever call her that again. She is not a home wrecker! She is someone who helped me and the children through the most difficult time of our lives! She is not here to erase Elizabeth from their memory! She's here to help keep her there! Rose loves me, she loves the children and I know for a fact that Elizabeth would be grateful the 3 of us have someone like her!" "and how do you know that?" She snapped "because I knew her! I lived with her! She was my wife for goodness sake! I know stuff about her that you never will!"
"How dare you! How dare you imply we didn't know our daughter!" She shouted, and Eliza began to cry from upstairs. Jack stood up "I don't remember saying that at all. Now, you've woken both my children up this evening, so I suggest you leave. James, thank you for remaining so calm" Jack nodded to James. "I want to see my grandchildren" Mary demanded "if and when your attitude changes, and you can show Rose some respect, you're more than welcome to return to see the children. Until then, I politely ask that you stay away. Goodnight" Jack said as he walked upstairs to Eliza's bedroom where Rose was swaying her side to side "hey" Jack whispered "hi" Rose gave him the faintest smile possible "have they gone?" She asked timidly, he nodded. "I heard you defending me… thank you" she said. Jack walked over and kissed her forehead "you don't need to thank me" he held both her cheeks in his hands "we'll be alright, OK?" Rose nodded "was Teddy OK?" Jack asked "yes, he couldn't find his bear, it had fallen down the side of his bed when he was sleeping" Jack nodded "is she still awake?" Rose asked, Eliza's head on her shoulder so she was unable to see her face, Jack looked at her "no" he said as he stroked her dark hair. Rose kissed the side of her head then put her down in her crib. Rose sighed and hugged Jack, resting her head under his chin "I'm sorry" she muttered "for what?" He asked her, confused "the trouble I just caused you down there, I shouldn't have gotten up when Teddy shouted" "Yes you should. He was shouting for you. You came to comfort him, like a mother would. Come on, let's go to bed, I think we both need some sleep" Rose nodded and they went to their room.