Chapter 20

Rose's arm was wrapped around Jack's as they stood in the cemetery. A few days had passed since his father's death, and since his breakdown in the hospital after he first found out, he hadn't cried or grieved in any way. Rose tried to be there for him any way she could, but she couldn't help feeling like she wasn't doing enough.

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…"

Jack put his free hand over Rose's, giving it a slight squeeze. She smiled ever so slightly, glad to know that he knew she was there. She looked off to the right, where Anna was standing. Betty's arms were wrapped tightly around her mother, desperately trying to protect her and make her feel better.

They stood there for the rest of the funeral. Rose didn't hear anything that was said, her attention solely on Jack, as well as the baby who hadn't stopped kicking all day. Before she knew it, the service had ended, and they were walking away, back to the car.

Once inside, Rose reached for Jack's hand, holding it in hers. "I'm so proud of you, darling," she said quietly. He looked from his shoes up to her, smiling ever so slightly. "You're handling everything so well. But I want you to know, it's okay not to handle everything. It's okay to fall apart."

"I don't need to fall apart," he answered, taking one of her hands in both of his. "I'm fine. He wasn't in pain, and he didn't know he was dying. I got to see him again before he died, thanks to you. He and my mother had a whole life together. I'm okay, Rose."

She wasn't convinced. She knew sooner or later, his real feelings would come out, and that it was only a matter of time. "I'm glad, Jack," Rose responded, fake smiling. "But I want you to know, if you want to talk, to break down, anything, I'm here."

"I know, and I love you," he smiled, kissing her cheek. He placed his free hand on her stomach, and the baby immediately kicked. "How are you feeling?" he asked. "Is the baby still kicking every five seconds?"

Rose stared at Jack, perplexed. It wasn't unusual for him to put her feelings and health before his own, but she just wished that for once, he'd prioritize his own well-being. "I'm fine, Jack," she smiled. "Don't worry about me. I'm worried about you."

Jack sighed, looking out the window, and Rose stared at Jack, desperately trying to help him any way she could. "I'm not ready to grieve yet," he said, turning back at her. Rose nodded, understanding why he felt the way he did. She had never lost anyone she truly cared deeply for, but she knew that she had been fond of William in the time she had known him. "Worrying about you is helping me. Please, can I just do that for now?"

Rose nodded, scooting closer to him and wrapping her arms around him. "Of course you can," she said quietly, placing a kiss on his chest, right over his heart. "You can grieve however you need to. But I want you to know, you don't have to hide from me."

"Thanks," Jack leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

xXx

Betty sat in front of the fire, finally feeling warm after standing at the cemetery. Still, she couldn't help remembering the last time she sat in front of the fire. It was at Liza's house, and the two of them were cuddled together on the couch, warming up after walking in the cold.

She felt so much worse now than she had then. Part of it was because of everything that had happened this week, with her father's death, and the other part was her separation from Liza, the first woman she ever truly loved. Her life felt like a disaster, and she had no idea what she was supposed to be doing.

While Anna was resting, and Jack and Rose were taking a walk in the garden, Betty decided to look into some paperwork that needed tending to. She opened a folder to find various forms, contracts, and a small envelope with her name on it. Wondering what it was, she tore it open and began to read.

My dearest Betty,

If you are reading this, it's because I'm gone. In case I did not have the time to tell you everything you deserve to know, I have written you this letter. I hope it will shed light on some of the decisions I've made over the course of my life, and what I hope you have in the future.

I know I resisted leaving you in charge of the business, and I know that you think it's a reflection of either your capabilities or your gender. Well, my darling, I would like to tell you now that it is neither. The truth is, I knew Jack did not want the title and responsibilities he was born into, and that if you were left in charge, he would be free of both. However, I knew that Jack would stay and keep the title and responsibilities if it meant that you could do what you wanted. And having that would mean both of my children taking over where I left off and doing work they cared about.

I am ashamed that the only way I could make these plans was to implant doubts about your skills, but now that both of my children are back under one roof, working together and living together as you did when you were children, I cannot say that I regret my choices. I simply regret that it took a toll on you.

If Jack truly does not want to run the business, it is all yours. I know that you will be a benevolent, ambitious, hard-working leader, and I could not imagine a better successor than you. I mean that with my entire heart.

Now, for the next topic of discussion: your personal life and future. You and I are quite similar, in our beliefs, priorities, and the way we view the world around us. I know that you have delayed any romantic endeavors in order to prioritize your professional goals. That is a decision that I would have made myself. But as my parting message to you, I would like you to know that none of it is worth it if you don't have someone to share it with.

I never thought I would end up marrying someone I truly loved with my entire heart. Someone who I would throw everything away for, someone who made me question everything I thought I knew. But your mother did that for me. Our relationship was not accepted by my parents or society, but none of that mattered to me. I would have thrown it all away for her. I would have done anything to protect her and protect our life together. Even if it meant disobeying societal laws or expectations.

For a long time, I wondered why you never showed any interest in anyone. I did not understand why you asked me for an arranged marriage or why you continued to delay any conversation regarding your romantic future. But once you came back from Miss Calvert's home in Maine, it all became clear to me. You were never attracted to any man, and you were willing to put that aside in order to achieve your professional goals. You had fallen in love with Miss Calvert, and you put your relationship aside once again.

I respect your choice, and I cannot say I would not have made a similar choice if I was in your position, but I do believe the choice you have made is wrong. What you have failed to recognize, and what I had failed to recognize when I was in your position, was that there is a way to have everything. For some people it is harder than it is for others; after all, my parents slowly accepted my choice in a wife, as did society, and I never had to truly make a sacrifice. If you really love Miss Calvert, as I suspect you do, you'll find a way.

All my love forever,

Father

P.S.: Take care of your mother and brother. They're more emotional than either of us, and you've got a strength that I've only seen in myself.

Betty looked up from the letter, trying to make it all make sense. Her father had known about all of this for weeks and hadn't said anything. Even while knowing, he still loved her with his whole heart and respected her enough to give her the business. And he wanted her to make things work with Liza.

She held the letter to her chest, letting the first tears fall since she heard about his passing. All this time, she had been trying to protect everyone around her and putting her own grief aside. But now, she couldn't hold it in anymore. She was heartbroken that she could never talk to her father about everything he said in his letter, that she could never be herself with him. But now, she had the chance to make things right, and to be honest with her mother about herself.

On cue, there was a knock at the door, and Betty scrambled to fold up the letter and hide it under a pillow. "Come in!" She called, and the door slowly opened. Standing in the doorway was Rose. "Oh, hey Rose."

"Hi," Rose said quietly, staring at Betty for a moment. It looked like she had been crying, and while seeing her both heartbroken about her breakup with Liza and grieving for her father was an awful combination, she was pleased that Betty was no longer holding in her emotions. "Are you alright?"

Betty nodded, looking at the fire in front of her. "Just getting warm, thinking about things," she said quietly. Rose walked in, sitting down across from Betty. "My father left me a letter. He knew all along. All of it." Rose was too stunned to speak, so Betty continued. "I've messed everything up, Rose. And I don't know how to fix it."

Rose reached across the small table and squeezed Betty's hand. "I know something that might help," she said, a smile creeping onto her face. "You have a visitor. Come in!" She called from outside.

Liza appeared in the doorway, wearing a long, fitted black dress. It suited her perfectly, both matching her dark hair and accenting her creamy complexion, light eyes, and dark red lips. Betty stared at her, too shocked to say anything. "Hi," Liza said quietly.

Betty swallowed hard, not realizing how hard it would be to see Liza again and know that she had her chance to be with her, but that she had ruined it. Rose released Betty's hand, standing and heading for the door. "I'll give you two some time to talk." She passed by Liza, smiling at her. "Good to see you, Liza."

"You too, Rose," Liza smiled. She stood in the doorway awkwardly, not knowing if it would be a good idea to make sudden movements. "Can I come in?" She asked quietly, and Betty nodded, her eyes moving back to the fire. Liza walked over to the couch, sitting next to Betty, but leaving some space between them. "I was at the funeral. I was all the way in the back, and I didn't want to disturb you, but I just wanted to come and say how sorry I am for your loss. I know how much you loved your father, and in the time I knew him, he was such a nice man."

Betty looked over at her, her eyes filled with tears. "Thank you," she said quietly, her voice quivering as she spoke. She wanted to apologize for everything she said the last time they had seen each other, but she didn't know how to broach the subject. "H-How have you been?"

"I've been alright," Liza answered, giving Betty a soft smile. "It's been lonely up there without you. I forgot how quiet it could be. But things are okay."

The fire crackled, giving the room some gentle noise to fill the painful silences. Deciding that enough was enough, Betty looked back over at Liza. "I'm sorry about everything I said," she said quietly, and tears flowed down her cheeks. "I was awful, and I was scared, and… it's not an excuse, but I want you to know I'm so sorry, Liza." She paused, seeing the tears appear in Liza's eyes as well. "The truth is, no one has ever made me feel how you made me feel, and that scared me."

Liza nodded. "I'm sorry too," she said, reaching for Betty's hand. "I should have known how hard it was for you to make a decision like that. It was hard for me to leave my family, and I never liked them. I can't even imagine how hard it would have been for you to do that."

"I want to do it," Betty said quietly, and Liza looked up at her. "Everything that has happened this week has shown me that life is too short not to be with the people you love, or to hide who you truly are." She paused, turning to face Liza fully. "I love you, and these last few weeks without you have been torture. I can't do it anymore. I don't want to. I want to be with you."

Liza smiled, but then reserved herself, knitting her eyebrows. "How is this even possible?" She asked. "With your father's death, you and Jack are in charge of the business. You can't leave now."

"Yes I can," Betty answered. "I'll work on other things, and I'll have whatever paperwork I work on sent to Jack. And I'll come back here and visit occasionally to see everyone, and the new baby." She smiled at Liza. "This will work."

Liza shook her head. "No, we're not doing that." Hearing that, Betty's smile faltered and was replaced with a frown. "I'm not letting you give up your entire life for me. Not now, at least." Before Betty could argue, saying that she was happy to, Liza continued. "I was alone in that house the last few weeks, and it suddenly didn't feel like my home anymore, and I didn't know why. And then I realized, you're my home, Betty. Wherever you are, I'll be fine. I'll be happy."

"B-But how can we be together here?" Betty asked. "This is Boston. Everyone outside would see us together. And besides, even living here, everyone who works here would know."

Reaching into her pocket, Liza pulled out a small piece of paper. "Your father had this sent to me. I suppose he put it in his will to have it sent. I'm not really certain, to be honest," she stammered, handing Betty the paper.

55 Main Street

Cape Cod, MA 02556

Use it well. - WD

Betty looked up in shock. "What is this?" She asked.

Liza smiled. "It seems your father bought us a house in Cape Cod," she explained, and Betty's eyes grew wide. "It's only an hour drive from the office, but it's outside of Boston, on the water, and there are very few houses over there. We could live there, Betty, and have exactly what we want. What we both want."

Betty leaned forward slowly, placing her hand on Liza's cheek. Liza placed one of her hands on Betty's waist, one on her neck. "I missed you so much," she whispered, then closed the gap between them. The kiss was sweet and loving, while also reflecting the urgency they both felt.

They separated, and Liza smiled at her, touching her bottom lip. "Just never leave me again," she begged.

Betty grinned, pulling Liza closer again, ready to seal their future together with another kiss. "Deal," she agreed, kissing the woman she loved once again.

xXx

Rose peeked her head through the bathroom door, checking on her sleeping husband. He was on top of the covers, having collapsed and fallen asleep as soon as they entered, his suit from the funeral still on. She knew she'd have to help him get ready for bed, but she didn't want to wake him until she absolutely had to.

Finishing combing her hair and placing the comb back in its place, Rose switched off the bathroom light and returned to the bedroom. She drew all the shades shut, then switched off Jack's lamp, leaving only hers casting a warm glow on their room. She grabbed her kimono from the chair, placing her arms in and wrapping it around herself, then walked over to Jack's side of the bed and began untying his shoes. She pulled them off, then began unbuttoning his shirt, revealing his warm, toned chest.

"Rose?" Jack opened his eyes for a moment, focusing on her. He tried to help her with his shirt, but in his tired state, he wasn't much help at all.

"Shh, close your eyes," Rose whispered, finishing unbuttoning his shirt and sliding his arms out, leaving him shirtless. She unbuttoned his trousers, pulling them off of him, leaving him only in his briefs. She pulled the blanket out from under him, pulled it over him, and planted a kiss on his head. "Sleep well, my darling."

Smiling at how relaxed he finally was after the long day, Rose walked around the bed, climbing in on her side. Leaning back against the pillow, she stared up at the ceiling, wishing that she could take away all of his pain.

"Rose?" Jack's drowsy voice called for her. She turned to face him, placing one hand under the pillow and the other over her stomach. "Please. Never leave me. Ever."

Confused by Jack's request and its timing, Rose stared at him. "Of course not, Jack," she assured him. "I would never, ever leave you." She placed her hand over his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath her fingertips. "What brought this on? What's wrong?"

Jack still didn't look at her. His eyes were on the ceiling instead, and one tear left his eye, rolling down his temple and landing on the pillow. "I keep seeing my mother, and while she's holding it together, I know she's falling apart inside," he explained, and he finally looked at Rose, her blue eyes full of concern. "I can't deal with that, Rose. I can't deal with losing you. Because I won't be able to hold it together." He rolled onto his side, his arms pulling her closer. "I can't live without you. Ever. Please, please never leave me."

Rose sat up, pulling Jack into her arms. She held him in her arms, though he was also holding her, grasping at her as if she would disappear if he let go. "Shh, shh, it's alright," she whispered, her hand combing through his hair. "I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

The sobs that came from Jack each caused a crack in Rose's heart, and her own tears spilled down her cheeks. She continued trying to soothe him, wishing that none of the heartbreak and tragedy had ever happened in the first place.