P.T.I. Part 10 by Snubby
"Because," Lily stammered, "because, well..."

The young girl reached to her left shoulder, and then her right, to remove her worn red backpack. She placed the sack upon the table and pulled open the drawstring to reveal an antique book; something that resembled a journal.

"Read this," she instructed Anna.

Anna accepted the faded leather-bound volume and gingerly opened the cover and fingered back the first few pages. She came to a soft scroll "It's about holding onto love; no matter what the circumstances. Love is hard to find, but when it's there, it will never leave you."

Over Anna's shoulder Lily stood, mouthing the words softly as she read along. She then interrupted Anna's curiosity by adding "And with all the weird things that have happened in my family, it helps to know that it was all because of love."

"This is the story my mother told me," she continued. "In the 1920's, my Great Great Grandmother, Rose, was visiting Paris with her family. She was only 16, but during one forbidden night upon the town, she met a strikingly handsome stranger in a jazz hall."

Anna continued to read the lovingly penned words as she faded into the hazy dance club she had dreamed of just last night.

-----

"Pouvons-nous danser?" the deep voice repeated with a hint of amusement. "Yes...Uh, I mean Oui," she glanced toward the floor, wishing she had quipped a more seductive response.

The eyes of her suitor twinkled magically as he gently placed her hand into his and guided her to the dancing frenzy.

"Je m'appelle Jean Luc," he laughed. "But, really, it's okay if you just want to call me John."

Her nervousness melted away with a warm giggle as she answered, "I am Rose."

"Ah, but no less," and he swirled her away onto the shiny marbled tiles of the dance floor.

No sooner than they joined hands and began to shimmy to the music, the heel on Rose's shoe broke and her knee buckled with a jolt.

John's strong hands held her tight as she looked up at him in an apologetic embarrassment.

"Perhaps, fate has more in store for us than just a dance." He whisked her off of the floor; draped his dark, tailored jacket across her shoulders; and they left for the fresh night air beyond the hall.

-----

"Into the wee hours of the morning, they walked and talked as if they had waited their entire lives for this chance meeting," Lily elaborated. "Over the next four months, they embarked on a magical, although dangerously forbidden, whirlwind romance along the banks of the River Seine. Soon, it was time for Rose to return to the states. John was to remain in Paris on business and she knew she would miss him dearly."

Anna flipped through a few more pages while Lily spoke behind her. Any eavesdropper would be amused at such romantic fantasy flowing from the mouth of an 8-year-old, but Anna knew that these passionate words before her were just the beginning of the mystery that was now hers to unravel.

Anna wanted to keep an eye out for Deputy Kaelin, but she was so mesmerized by this history, she couldn't bear to lift her eyes from the book. It was all so exciting, she just wasn't sure where to start. She thumbed through the pages, reading an assortment of lines here and there.

February 11, 1921... I received my first letter from John. His words are filled with such love, I know we will meet again!

August 29, 1921... Oh, how I miss holding him close!A The warmth and strength of his embrace. His words keep me strong, yet they make me long for him even more!

June 17, 1922... It feels like so long ago. And then I read his sweet words. And it feels like only yesterday that we held each other close.

March 16, 1923...A John says business is going well and he may return sooner than expected. I shall not slumber until I hear those magic words!

January 8, 1924... Oh, how I still await the touch of my John. I wish his business well, but I would rather love in poverty than wait for riches. John, come soon!

September 2, 1924... He is still waiting for some deals to come through, but he will return soon, and then nothing shall keep us apart.

July 29, 1925... John's letter says he is returning to Chalmette, Louisiana within a matter of months. Should I tell father about him?

April 22, 1926... John has returned to the states! As soon as he gets settled in, he will come to Alabama and we shall return to Louisiana to marry.

December, 13 1926... Father wants me to marry Clyde Canter. He thinks that this will further his holdings in the textile industry. I will hear nothing of the sort. John and I will be together shortly.

February 16, 1927... Leaving today to be with my beloved John down in Chalmette...

Anna looked up at Lily to question why such an important event was stopped so abruptly.

Lily continued as if on cue, "Rose didn't want to marry Clyde, so she ran to John. Although almost seven years had passed, their feelings for one another were just as strong in the swampy depths of the bayou as they had been under the moonlight on the River Seine.

John proposed to her almost immediately with a ravishing jewelry set that he had bought while they were in Paris together. He never had the chance to give Rose her gift then; so for seven years, John had kept the blue velvet case in his dark coat pocket. He knew they would be together.

He lovingly placed the pin upon Rose's breast and explained the inscription Omnia Vincit Amor meant they would never again be apart. He showed her the matching pendant, whose ruby shone like fire in the lamplight, and teased that it would be hers to wear upon her neck on their wedding night.

By morning light, the chance for love was again shattered by the cries of Rose's father. He and a pack of his drunken, heavily-armed partners grabbed Rose out of her bed and brought her back to the fields of Alabama.

Against her protest, the arrangements were made, and Rose was wed to Clyde Canter. Although a great union was created in the textile industry, Rose felt lost without hearing from John.

On her wedding night, Rose looked forlornly into her vanity mirror. Tears streamed gently and quietly from her reddened emerald green eyes as she slowly ran the brush through her soft, golden hair. Clyde came behind Rose and stroked her bare shoulders. Chills ran through her body as Clyde tried to calm her.

"Rose, please, give me a chance. Maybe one day you can love me as you have loved another. You will see that I understand."

Rose looked in the mirror towards his eyes reflecting down upon her. He reached his left hand into his pocket and returned it to her neck with a sterling silver necklace. He draped the chain around her neck and gently fastened it in the back as the ruby pendant fell towards her breast. Immediately, she gasped in recognition of this symbol of love from her John. She clutched the pendant with tears stinging in her eyes.

"You will see that I understand," Clyde repeated with a twisted smile upon his face.

Rose twisted the pendant to read the inscription "Memento Mori" and all the life drained from her body as she fell to a crumpled heap at the floor of her vanity.