Breakfast at the Dawson mansion was a busy affair. Much busier than either Jack and Rose were used to. Rose was used to quiet breakfasts with only her mother and father, when he was alive, in attendance, and when Cal came into their lives, he too would join them once in a while and all of them were quiet affairs. No one spoke of their day's plans or even about the night before as they gathered themselves and prepared themselves for the day. Jack's breakfasts were quite different. His parents held court at the breakfast table, informing him of his chores for the day and how he was to behave in school. There was no discussion. No talking back. Jack would just quietly accept those plans as something set in stone and follow his parents' well-laid plans...that was until the fire. After that, all of his breakfasts were as quiet as Rose's as he quietly mourned his loss and tried to just roll with whatever cards were dealt to him for that day.
The Boston Dawsons were a different animal altogether. There was discussion and plans and everyone at the table were expected to take part.
"Jack, father and grandfather want to throw a welcome gala for you and Rose! Are there any kind of decorations that you may prefer?" Charlotte smiled over at her cousin as he and Rose got Lily settled in her chair and then sat down in their assigned places as well.
"A gala?" Jack blinked in shock, a bit taken aback. He had never expected anyone to ask him for his opinion on such a thing. How did one go about planning galas? What did they entail? He looked at Rose, who wore a blank expression, but he knew that inwardly she was rolling her eyes. She had often lamented to him about how boring she found such affairs. "Um...I don't know. I never really thought about it."
"Of course you haven't!" Enid tsked. "My dear brother had really messed up raising his family away from high society the way he had. Poor Jack has to catch up on things he should have grown up knowing."
"Well, it's a good thing that he has Rose. I'm sure she knows all about galas and cotillions and all the other crap we hold so dear," Charlotte laughed. "Isn't that right Rose?"
Rose gave a nervous smile and nodded. "Yes, but I'm afraid that my mother was the one that handled all of those things. She hardly ever allowed me to plan anything...not even...well...she liked to be in control of everything."
"Oh, that's horrible. We all take part in planning the gala's here, so when the papers gush about them, we can all get credit. No one is left out," Charlotte happily explained. "Even Aunt Enid is included."
"Well, the galas would turn out to be a royal mess if I wasn't involved in some way," Enid sniffed.
Charlotte just rolled her eyes at her Aunt and turned her attention back to Jack and Rose. "Well, since this is your first gala with us, we'll make it easy. We'll go with your taste. Like what are your favorite colors, your favorite music, your favorite seasons and themes."
"I like red...all shades of red from bright red to deep blood red, like Rose's beautiful hair," Jack began, the artist in him coming out.
Rose blushed and looked down at the table. "Jack…"
"Really, Rose. Your hair is gorgeous...as well as the rest of you."
"I do believe that we are getting off-topic," Enid sighed.
"Oh shut up, Aunt Enid. Jack is in love and it's good to see," Charlotte again waved away Enid's comment.
"Well, we can't have the gala designed in all red. People will think it's Valentine's Day!" Enid again objected.
"My favorite color is blue and yellow," Rose smiled, finding herself gazing into Jack's eyes. "Jack looks divine in blue."
"Blue and green...I think that would be a great color scheme," Charlotte nodded in satisfaction, beginning to write things down on a nearby notepad.
"Really, you guys don't have to go through all of this trouble for us. We're just happy to be here and get to know my pa's family, really," Jack began to protest the family's intentions to throw a party.
"Oh nonsense, Jack. This gala is to announce your membership to the family. It's to be the talk of the season! Even when you go back to Chippewa Falls, you will have the respect of the family behind you...and even your wife…," Enid chuckled, but there was a frown in her voice at the mention of Rose.
"Enough about the gala! We'll be so busy talking about the coming party, that we'll forget to eat the food that the cook has worked so hard to prepare," Jeffery unfolded his napkin and placed it on his lap.
Rose had to admit, she was impressed with the Boston Dawsons. Not too many families even acknowledged the hard work that the house's staff went through in running a proper first-class home. It made her feel good that the Dawsons recognized that. The more she got to know this family, the more sure that she was that it was Enid who had sent Eric Dawson running for simpler pastures. She wondered just how well the twins actually got along.
"Father...I do want to take Steve shopping for a suit. It's time that he starts attending these functions as well, don't you think?" Charlotte sipped at her tea.
"He's not coming of course," Enid snorted. "Honestly, how embarrassing it would be, to have the family driver attend a gala such as this!"
"Steve is Charlotte's fiancee, Enid. Of course, he is welcome to attend!" Jeffrey glared at his sister.
"Oh my god…I am telling you. The way things are going, this family will be at the bottom of the heap with the way you are running it, Jeffrey!"
"I don't hear any complaints from anyone else, dear sister. Only you and after what happened with Eric, no one cares much about your opinion," Jeffery glared at his sister, unaware of the new frown that Jack now wore.
"What happened with my Pa?" Jack asked. Something was going on that no one was telling him about.
"Oh, it was just a little tiff. Nothing to concern yourself with. It was ancient history," Enid gave a nervous chuckle and gave her brother a pointed glare.
Rose also frowned. Something serious must have happened to make Eric leave home the way he had. She wondered what it was and what Enid Dawson had to do with it. She knew that Jack wanted to know as well. Heck, he deserved to know! This was about his father after all!
"Maybe someday, one of you can tell me about why my pa found it fit to leave home and tell me what had happened," Jack sighed, suddenly feeling weary.
"Yes, I'd like to know as well," Charlotte nodded. From what she was gathering, her Uncle Eric was the opposite of his twin. Something serious must have happened to cause such a split.
"Really, Jack. There is no need to bring up such a sorry event. It is sad that Eric felt the need to leave us and deprive us of your childhood, but you are here with us now and that is what matters after all," Enid gave a chuckle, obviously hoping to dismiss any more questions.
Rose leaned over and whispered into Jack's ears. "She doesn't want you to know. I bet she had something to do with it."
Jack simply nodded and gave her hand a squeeze.
"Do you like waffles, Jack? Cook makes the best blueberry waffles and I do believe that the berries are straight from Maine!" Enid questioned.
"I prefer flapjacks actually," Jack chuckled.
"Flapjacks?"
"Hot cakes, Enid. Or rather pancakes," Jeffrey chuckled.
"Oh...of course," Enid cleared her throat and forced a smile. "We'll have her make some tomorrow then. With real blueberries from Maine!"
Jack didn't smile this time. He just looked at his Aunt, wondering what she was hiding and if it was even worth looking for the answer. Did he even want to know, or was it better left alone? He just didn't know.