Jack returned home with his arms full of groceries, his mind still on what he had seen in the window of that hotel. Was that really Caledon Hockley glaring down at him? Had the bastard found them and was coming for Rose? Or was he here to drag his sister back into the world she had run away from? Or was his mind just playing tricks on him, making him paranoid? Should he even mention the possibility to Rose? It'd make her more careful, that was for sure. But it would also worry her and make her want to hide away indoors and not live her life, a life that she was loving so far. But when had Rose Dewitt Bukater ever hidden from anything? If Cal was here for Rose, Jack would be there to protect her. Cal wouldn't be taking Rose anywhere without a fight.
Hopefully, that was not Cal. Just someone who resembled him. Jack would feel pretty silly if that turned out to be the case, but it was best to be thought of as silly than to be caught off guard. If it was Cal...well hopefully Harold could reason with the man and get him to leave empty-handed.
"You're back," Rose came out of the kitchen. It had been a rather successful first day on the job at the Flowers. She and Violet got along swimmingly and the girl was rather sharp and was picking up on the language quickly. It seemed like she just needed the right teacher.
"Yes, I have returned and I come bearing groceries," Jack held up the bags in his arms.
"Oh Jack, you shouldn't have! We usually have them delivered!"
"I needed something strenuous to do, so I did that," Jack shrugged, carrying the bags into the kitchen. "Where's Tommy, Fabri, and Lily?"
"Oh, the guys took the day off and grabbed Lily. They took her on a picnic with Leah and Sarah...Jack watch out!" Rose gasped as he almost dropped a glass bottle of orange juice.
"Shit! I'm sorry, Rose. I must be pretty clumsy today," Jack's face grew red with embarrassment. "I don't know what got into me."
"Here, let me help you," Rose began unloading one of the bags. She frowned, noticing how distracted he looked. He was as tense as a board. "Why are you so tense, Jack? Is something the matter?"
"Nothing! Nothing is the matter! Everything is a-ok. No problems at all," Jack rambled nervously, giving a shakey laugh that sounded very wrong.
Rose frowned and placed her hands on her hips. "You are lying!"
Jack frowned, realizing that he was making a mess of everything. "No, I'm not. Why would I lie?"
"I don't know, Jack, but you are lying! Things are not a-ok! Something is wrong and you're hiding it from me! What is it? What's going on?"
"Rose…"
"Jack, there are no secrets between us and I don't want there to ever be. So please, just tell me what's going on. I can handle it, I promise."
Jack sighed in resignation. He should have known that he wouldn't be able to hide his suspicions from Rose. He was a terrible liar, especially when it came to her. "Ok...just so you know...it may have been just my imagination. My own paranoia playing tricks on me."
"Just tell me," Rose repeated, trying not to get annoyed, but failing. Jack was making the mistake of treating her like some fragile little doll who couldn't handle bad news. Something that she thought he was incapable of doing.
Jack took a deep breath and nodded as if committing himself to some form of action. "Ok. Here it is. I thought I saw Caledon Hockley today, glaring at me from the upper level of the Preston Hotel. I didn't get a real good look at him. I had looked away and when I looked back, the person who could be him was gone."
"What? Cal is here? Are you sure?" Rose gasped, her green eyes widening in shock.
"No, I'm not sure. I was with Harold, I told him that you had left Cal for me…"
"Jack!"
"I had to! Anyway, Harold said he'll ask around and see if A Caledon Hockley had shown up in town and if anyone was going around asking questions about you. If he can, he's going to confront Hockley and try to reason with him. Send him back to Pittsburg."
"Jack...you are forgetting that his runaway sister is here. He may not be here for me at all but for Sarah…"
"Well, if that was him glaring at me, he had probably put two and two together. We probably should expect a visit from him...I doubt very much that he'll listen to Harold."
"Right. The Flowers are most likely new money. Cal would see Harold as someone below him in status," Rose chewed on her bottom lip. "Damnit, I was so happy here! I was just beginning to relax! To feel like this was my home!"
"Hey, hey don't do that," Jack grabbed her hands. "This is your home. Never doubt that. There is nothing that asshole can do to change that. You and I are husband and wife. He has no more claim on you, not unless he wants an even bigger scandal, which I doubt."
"What about Fabrizio and Sarah? He definitely won't approve of an Italian immigrant being with his sister...and you know how violent Cal can be when he doesn't get what he wants."
"Tommy and I are here. We'll take care of it. We won't let him hurt Fabrizio or drag Sarah back to that town. She ran away for a reason. She wants freedom and she deserves to have it, as much as anyone. Cal cannot be allowed to get away with that."
Rose heard Jack's words and a part of her believed that he was capable of protecting them all from Cal's violence. But another part of her...the one that remembered being shot as they were being chased deeper into the bowels of Titanic...was terrified.
"I'm scared, Jack. I know I shouldn't be...but I am…," Rose hated the quiver she heard in her voice.
Jack felt his heart ache for his wife and he went to wrap his arms around her, holding her close. "It's ok. It's all going to be ok. I'm not going to let him hurt anyone, Rose. I promise."
"That might be a promise that you can't keep."
"Maybe not...but I can promise to try my hardest. I'm not going to let Cal hurt you and I'm not going to let him take Sarah back against her will."
Rose buried her face against Jack's neck as he held her close to his chest. Somehow, she believed his words. She trusted in them. How could she not when she felt so safe in his arms, so strong and secure.
"We'll be alright, Rose. Don't you worry. Trust me."
"I trust you."
…..
Harold entered the Preston Hotel, not sure if what he was doing was the wise thing to do. He had promised Jack that he would check and see if this Hockley was in town. The best place to start is at was the hotel where they suspected Hockley to be staying. He approached the desk clerk, trying to be the very image of a first-class gentleman.
"Excuse me, sir. May you be of some assistance to me?" Harold asked, taking tips from his mother on how to become the very model of a first-class gentleman.
"How may I help you today, sir?" The clerk asked, standing to attention. He had immediately recognized Harold as The Flowers' heir and wanted to make as good of an impression as possible.
"I am searching for an out-of-town business associate of mine. I had heard rumors that he had arrived today, but I am not sure. Has a Caledon Hockley checked in sometime today or the day before?"
"Let me check our check-in logs," The clerk reached for what looked like a notebook and flipped through a few pages, then he slid a finger down the page and came to a stop midway down. "Oh yes, he had checked in earlier today around lunch. A Caledon Hockley and his fiancee. Shall I send for him now? I do believe that they are still in their room."
Harold almost groaned. So Jack was right. Hockley was in town, but it couldn't be for Rose since the man had brought his new fiancee with him. Maybe the man was here for his sister after all? He did tell Jack that he would speak to the man. He couldn't back out now, not that he wanted to. He was curious about all of this.
"Will you please send a message up to Mr. Hockley? Tell him that Harold Flowers from the Wisconsin Flowers would like to meet with him at the Verona Gentleman's club tomorrow morning. I have a business issue that I would like to discuss."
"Yes sir…"
"Have him send a telegram to the Flowers mansion. I shall receive his reply there."
"Absolutely sir," The clerk nodded, writing down Harold's message.
Harold left the hotel, feeling stressed. Hockley's presence in town meant trouble for his friend. There was no doubt about that. He only hoped that he would be able to talk sense into Hockley. Make him see that going after Jack's family was not a good idea at all. Sometimes, it was better to just walk away.