Chapter 16

April 5, 1947

Breakfast with my parents . . .

I snuggled downin my bed while I thought about Jacob and how gentle he’d been last night. He had been so patient, so tender when he’d made love to me in his bed. He’d made me feel cherished and loved.

I’d promised to marry him and move to Boston. The thought echoed through me, and I couldn’t stop the smile shining on my lips. I could hardly wait. I wanted to be with him desperately. My heart was filled with so much love and hope when I thought about my future with him.

When he’d walked me home last night, we’d talked about our plans for Boston. At first, we would rent one of the rooms that his sister had available in her boarding house. Apparently, she only rented rooms to married couples so to begin with, until we could marry, we would pretend. Jacob had already spoken to his sister about me, and she had agreed to let us stay together and treat me as his wife.

Smiling to myself in excitement, I finally dragged myself out of bed, rushed to the bathroom to avoid everyone in the house, and then back to my room to dress for work. I was actually dreading facing Mother and Father at breakfast. If I could avoid doing so, then I would.

I took a deep breath for courage before I walked out of my room and down the stairs.

“Good morning… Mother… Father,” I said, acting as though nothing untold had happened last night.

I took my seat, where my breakfast was already waiting for me. While I buttered a piece of toast, my father cleared his throat. “Where did you disappear to last night?”

“Somewhere peaceful,” I replied and started to eat.

“Rose, dear, we thought that it would be a good match between you and Richard. He would be able to look after you,” Mother said, patting my arm, trying to justify what they’d done.

Father nodded. “Richard would be able to look after you very well. His family has more money than we’ll ever see.”

I pulled my arm out from under my mother’s hand and scared at my father with a stubborn glare. “Father, I’m sorry, but I’m not going to marry Richard. As your only daughter, you should want me to marry for love and to someone who can make me happy by being with them. Money shouldn’t be a factor at all.”

“You need money to live, Rose,” Father said, his words clipped, as his face grew red with irritation.

“That’s why there are jobs. I intend to marry someone who doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty, and who doesn’t mind working for his money. I have no intention of marrying someone who spends all day frittering away the family inheritance and doesn’t work a day in his life.”

Pushing away from the table, I looked at both my parents. “Please don’t expect me to marry him because I will always refuse.” I stormed out of the room, collecting my jacket and purse along the way, and then began walking slowly to work.

Unfortunately, my slow walk to work didn’t go as planned. No sooner had I left the front path, Richard pulled up beside me. “Rose, let me give you a lift to work.”

I ignored him and carried on walking.

“Rose, please talk to me,” he begged as he jumped out of the idling car and ran up to me. “I’m really sorry about last night. My father said something that made me do what I did.”

I sighed. “Richard, I’m sorry, too. I think it would be for the best if we don’t see each other again, for a while, that way your father won’t get the wrong idea about us.”

I walked past him, leaving him stunned behind me. Not long after, I heard his car screech away from the curb, obviously in a temper.

At the library, Mr. Young put me on the front desk, which could be even more boring than dusting shelves. Throughout the day, I helped around ten people.

It had just turned three when I looked up, having heard the door opening, and my heart missed a beat when I found Jacob’s gaze on me.

Standing, I straightened my shoulders and cleared my throat. “Mary, can you watch the desk please? I need to visit the restroom.”

Mary nodded.

I followed Jacob to the Philosophy section.

Jacob took hold of my face and pulled me to him for a soul-warming kiss. “I hated sleeping on my own last night after having you in my bed.” He kept kissing all over my face and finally came back to my mouth, slipping his tongue between my lips.

“I can’t wait for us to be in Boston…to wake up with you every day and to eat our meals together… Oh, Jacob, I’m so excited.”

“My Rose.”

He couldn’t stop kissing me. Not that I complained.

“I better go. I’ll see you again soon. Remember, I love you,” he told me.

I stood and watched him walk away, and out through the door.

The rest of the afternoon went really slow. All I wanted was to be with Jacob.

Finally, after a very long day, I left work and walked slowly home. I followed the path by instinct with my thoughts completely on Jacob and what our life would soon be like in Boston.

I entered the house, and both my parents greeted me. I froze with dread and looked from one to the other.

“Rose, please come in here a minute, I have something to say,” Father said.

Dreading what my father was going to say, I followed my parents into the front parlor.

“I’ve spent most of the day thinking about what you said this morning.” He looked very ill at ease. “We really don’t want you to be unhappy, and I’m sorry if we gave you the impression your happiness doesn’t matter because it does. Richard seems to care for you, and he would be able to make sure you are well looked after. Even if he doesn’t do anything.” Did my father smile? “Saying all that, we do want you to marry well, so please don’t get it in your head that just anyone will do because they won’t.”

I wasn’t sure what they expected me to say to Father’s little speech. “Thank you. May I leave?” Father looked ready to continue speaking but thought better of it and nodded his head stiffly.

* * *

April 7, 1947

My dreams are closer . . .

As I was checkinga book out for Mr. Willis, I looked up and saw Jayne walking into the library. She made me laugh as she looked around to make sure Mr. Young wasn’t lurking about anywhere. Something that she always did whenever she came into the library.

“Jayne, why aren’t you at work?” I asked, leaning on the desk toward her.

“I’m on an errand for one of the bosses. What’s going on with you? I have hardly seen you. You haven’t been to any of the local dances like usual. Are you seeing that, what’s his name, Jacob?”

I guess I didn’t hide my shock very well, my face giving me away. JT always said I made a terrible liar.

“Are you out of your mind? What if your parents find out?” she exclaims.

My face fell. “I know what my parents are like, but I love him, Jayne. I don’t want anyone else. I’m going to be with Jacob whether they agree or not. I intend on telling them soon, just not yet.” I really hoped she wouldn’t tell anyone.

Not long after Jayne had left, a student from the local school came in asking if I would help him with a paper on George Washington. I’d no sooner said goodbye to the grateful student when Jacob walked in. He came straight over to my desk.

“Are you free to meet me at my apartment tonight?” he whispered.

“Yes.” His eyes caressed my face, and I fought the shudder that wanted to ripple through me.

“I’ll see you later.”

“Who was that?” Mary questioned, her eyes following Jacob’s exit.

I didn’t really want to tell her, she talked about everyone behind his or her backs and I didn’t want her to talk about me. “He wanted to know if we had a new book he’d heard about.” I turned my back to her and started collecting some books that needed to be returned to the shelves. Thankfully, Mary didn’t ask me anything else.

I spent the rest of the day watching the clock, counting down the seconds to when I could be with Jacob. The day really dragged on, and once or twice, I nearly went to see Mr. Young to tell him I had woman problems. I didn’t though and I stayed until closing.

After brushing my hair and applying more lipstick, I dashed out of the library and quickly walked to Jacob’s apartment.

Jacob opened the door, took one look at me, and grabbed hold of my arm. He pulled me behind him and slamming the door in one smooth movement, he kissed me. He backed me into the wall, not an inch between us while he continued to kiss me until I became breathless. Holding him tightly around his neck, I felt his hands searching under my dress.

“I need you, Rose.” His voice broke with huskiness.

“Yes.”

He groaned.

He wasted no time and dragged my underwear down my legs and off. Seconds later, I heard the zipper on his pants go down before he reclaimed my lips. His hands grasped hold of my bottom, and as he lifted me up and onto him, I wrapped my legs around his waist, throwing my head back moaning. He felt amazing.

“This is going to be quick.” Without pause, he started thrusting, and white-hot pleasure heated my blood.

Suddenly, I felt that burst of ecstasy—that rapturous delight. I couldn’t stop convulsing and moaning while Jacob groaned and swelled inside of me before he shuddered.

He panted heavily into my neck while I caught my breath.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken you like that…up against the wall.” He shook his head.

“Jacob, you can take me like that any time you want, as long as we’re not in public… It was amazing,” I said brazenly.

He laughed, helping me to get my feet back under me. Then he fastened his pants before he picked up my panties from the floor and held them out to me on a finger.

* * *

I walkedout of the bathroom and found Jacob in his living room. He took my hand. “I want to show you something.”

After we were comfortable, he passed me a letter, “Read it,” and sat beside me.

The letter was from an engineering company in Boston, offering him an apprentice position that started on Monday, April 21st.

“Will you still come with me, Rose?” He looked so nervous.

“I love you, Jacob. I have already agreed to be your wife, so yes, I will still come with you. I’d go anywhere with you.”

He sighed in relief.

“Do you think you could be ready to leave a week today on the 14th? It would be easier for you if we were settled in Boston before I start the job. Eleanor has said you can help her with a few minor things around the house during the day if you’d like.”

I smiled at him. “I would love that, and I can hardly wait.”

“The money is good so we can save up and find ourselves an apartment fairly quickly. Or if you want to stay longer at my sister’s then we might be able to save for a deposit on our own home, but I would prefer that we get married fairly soon.”

I pulled his head down to mine and kissed him ever so softly. “I would marry you tomorrow if it was possible.”

We cuddled on the sofa, not talking for the longest of time, and then all too soon, I had to head home.

Jacob walked me part of the way while we made plans to meet at eleven, the night of the fourteenth—next Monday.

I planned to take some of my things to Jacob’s apartment on Friday, and then whatever else I wanted, I would have to sneak them out with me on the fourteenth.

My biggest regret was that I couldn’t take JT with me. I would miss him so much. I love you brother.

I will miss Mother and Father, but they have forced me to make this choice. If I thought for one minute they would accept Jacob, I would tell them about us.

Before going to bed, I needed to find a hiding place for my diary so no one would stumble across it and stop our plans.

I knew the perfect place.

I smiled to myself.