FOURTY - LEAVING
Rose made it to the station around midnight, grateful that the trains ran late at night.
"Where to miss?" The man at the ticket desk said
"Erm…" Rose thought, she had no idea where to go "New York please" the ticket man printed the ticket and took the money "there you go. Have a present journey Miss" "thank you" Rose said quietly and walked away to board to train.
—
Teddy woke up around 7am the following morning. He climbed on to the bed and shook Jack "Daddy… daddy" he whispered "where's Mummy?" "Hmm?" Jack said confused as he woke up "mummy isn't here" Jack looked to Rose's side of the bed to see Teddy was right, Rose wasn't there. "Let me check the bathroom" Jack got out of bed to check the bathroom for Rose, but she wasn't there. He frowned confused and walked back towards the bed, then spotted the note, picking up he frowned. He read it in his head and began to panic.
"Teddy, get dressed, I'm going to ask Molly to look after you" "but I want to stay with you" he whined "Teddy, please. Just do this for me" Teddy sighed "OK" "thank you" Jack nodded and quickly got him and Eliza - who was still asleep - ready and rushed to Molly's hotel.
—
Jack knocked on her door with force and she answered quickly "Jack? Everything OK?" She asked concerned "can we come in, please?" Jack looked at her desperately "yes, of course" Molly stepped aside "Teddy, take your bear and go play over there" he pointed to the other side of the room, Teddy did as he was told. "Jack, what's going on? Where's Rose?" Molly asked "I- I don't know… she left in the night. She just left this note and now she's gone" Jack said, clearly stressed. "I know you go home tonight, but please could you watch the children for a few hours so I can go and try and find her? I'll be as quick as possible" "no rush Jack, just do your best to find her" Molly smiled a little "thank you Molly… thank you so much" he kissed Eliza's head and passed her to Molly before running over to Teddy "be good for Molly. I love you" "love you too" Teddy said still playing with his bear, not understanding that Rose was essentially 'missing'
—
Jack ran round everywhere, thinking of anywhere Rose might be. He searched for hours to no avail. He looked at the town clock and realised it was 5pm. He'd been looking since 8am but he told Molly he'd only be a couple of hours "shit" he muttered to himself, he needed to get back to pick up the children before Molly had to catch her train at 7pm "she can't be gone" he sighed and held back tears, burying his head in his hands. He sighed as he accepted he needed to go and collect the children. In the meantime, he hoped Rose would come back, if not, he would continue to search tomorrow.
—
He arrived back at Molly's hotel and she let him through the door "Daddy!" Teddy smiled an ran over to him "hey buddy" Jack kissed his head "can you go and get Mr Bear and your coat please?" He asked and put him back on the ground, watching as Teddy went to find them.
"Any luck?" Molly asked Jack quietly to which he shook his head "I have no idea where she could be, or why she'd leave…" "did you have an argument?" Molly asked "no… we went to bed as normal. She got back to the hotel a little late because she'd bumped in to-" he paused "Ruth…" "Ruth? her mother Ruth?!" Molly said surprised "yes… she must have said something to Rose, surely? She wouldn't leave of her own accord!" He said as Teddy walked back over "daddy, where's Mummy?" He looked up at Jack but he ignored the question "are you hungry?" He asked and Teddy nodded as Jack picked up Eliza "come on, we'll go and get some dinner. Say bye to Molly" "bye Molly" Teddy waved "bye darlin'" Molly smiled at him "thank you Molly, really" Jack forced a small smile "here" she passed him a piece of paper with her address on "please keep in touch, and keep me up to date on Rose. I'm sure you'll find her soon"
"Thank you" Jack nodded "take care of yourself Molly" he hugged her and left with the children.
—
Jack and the children arrived back at the hotel "come on, let's go to the dining room so you can have some tea" Jack said as he held Teddy's hand. They sat down at the table and Teddy began to eat whilst Jack fed Eliza "are you not having tea Daddy?" Teddy asked "no darling, I'm not hungry" Jack replied and Teddy nodded in response "where's Mummy?" Jack sighed, he had no idea what to say- he had no idea where Rose was "she's been very busy today, hopefully she'll be back tomorrow" Jack said but he wasn't convinced Rose would be back tomorrow "she won't be here to read me Peter Rabbit tonight?" Teddy looked at Jack with sad eyes "I don't think so buddy, but I'll read it… I know I'm not as good as Mummy, but I can give it ago" "OK" Teddy said quietly, clearly upset and began to push his tea around on his plate, not eating anymore "I'm finished" he said "good boy, do you want some dessert?" Jack asked "no thank you" Teddy shook his head sadly, Jack just ruffled his hair from across the table in response as he wiped Eliza's face after she'd finished eating. "Come on, let's go to the room" Jack said as he went to hold Teddy's hand, but he put his arms in the air, wanting to be carried, so Jack picked him up and they headed back to the room.
—
After Jack had bathed Teddy, he was brushing his hair "Daddy?" He said "hmm?" Jack replied, only half paying attention "Can I sleep in your bed tonight?" "Yes darling" Jack said, he needed Teddy with him just as much as Teddy needed Jack right now "come on, get in to bed, quietly though so we don't wake Eliza" Jack said as he grabbed the book from the desk and began to read it to Teddy, after a few minutes of starting the book, it was obvious Teddy wasn't paying much attention.
"You OK?" Jack asked him "I miss Mummy… she does the voices better Daddy… when will she be back?" He said sadly "soon, hopefully. Come on, should we read the rest of the book?" Jack asked, hoping to distract him. "No thank you" Teddy shook his head. Jack didn't know what to say, so he just put the book on the bedside table and held Teddy close to him, stroking his hair. "Get some sleep Ted, I love you" he kissed his head "I love you too Daddy" Teddy replied but stared up at the ceiling before falling asleep around 30 minutes later. When Jack was sure Teddy was asleep, he turned of the bedside light, laying there for what seemed like hours, once again wondering if Rose was OK, where she was, if she would come back…