LOVE BY CHANCE
Chapter Twelve
Tuesday, September 11, 2001
"Hello, Rose."
Rose looked up from her work to see Ruth
standing beside her desk. "Mother, what are you doing here?"
"I had nothing better to do, so I came
to see the place where you work."
"I thought you were going home."
"I called the airport, and there wasn’t
a flight back to Philadelphia available until this morning. Now, of course, all
flights are grounded, or didn’t you know that?"
Rose gritted her teeth at her mother’s
patronizing tone. "Yes, Mother, I knew that. I work for a newspaper, or
didn’t you notice?"
"Don’t take that tone of voice with me,
Rose."
"Mother, I’m trying to work. We’re
putting out an extra edition this afternoon, so I really don’t have time to
talk now. Why don’t you go find something to do? This is San Francisco. I’m
sure you can find something."
"The tourist attractions are much too
dangerous to visit right now. Some of them have been shut down."
"Then go shopping, or go out to eat, or
something. I’m trying to work."
"Rose, this is why I don’t want you
living out here alone in San Francisco. It’s too dangerous. If international
terrorists can attack such prominent places as the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon, think of the havoc they could raise with a regional newspaper. I
believe it would be in your best interest to return with me to Philadelphia and
seek a safer type of job."
"As if a national newspaper would be a
safer type of job than a regional one."
"If you married the right kind of man,
you wouldn’t have to work at all."
Rose shook her head, her eyes narrowing in
contempt. "Oh, Mother, I just can’t believe you. You’re turning a national
tragedy into another excuse to try to manipulate me. When are you going to
stop?"
"Rose, I have only your best interests in
mind."
"No, Mother, you have your best
interests in mind. If you’re so set on being wealthy, why don’t you find
a rich husband? I’m sure you could do it if you played your cards right. But
stop bothering me!"
"Rose, I insist you come back to
Philadelphia with me."
"And I insist you leave me alone, now.
I am not going back to Philadelphia with you. I am perfectly happy where I am,
in the job I have. I have friends and a life here, and I have Jack."
"Rose, after all I’ve done for
you…"
"All you’ve done is succeeded in driving
me away. Why do think I moved out here the first chance I got? It was to get
away from you and your manipulativeness."
"Rose, how dare you?"
"You’ve made my life miserable since I
was born. Now, I have my own life and my own career, and you are not going to
interfere." Rose slammed her hands down on her desk, making a few people
turn to stare. "Good-bye, Mother."
"Rose DeWitt-Bukater…"
"Mother, leave. Now. Or I’m calling
security. With all the nervous tension in the air, I’m sure they’d be glad for
something to do."
"You wouldn’t dare."
"Mother, I am sick of this. I am sick of
you trying to manipulate me, trying to run my life, trying to interfere in
everything I do. You even tried to ruin my relationship with Jack. Well, here’s
some news for you. You didn’t succeed, and Jack and I are back together and
happier than ever, and now I’m strong enough not to listen to you. You ask if I
would dare call security to remove you? You bet I would. Happily."
"I don’t have to put up with this."
"No, you don’t. You can leave. It’s your
choice, Mother. You can leave under your own steam, or I can have you removed.
Which is it going to be?"
Ruth stood stiffly, straightening her back.
"I’ll leave." She walked toward the door, then turned back to her
daughter once more. "I hope you’re happy, Rose. We won’t meet again."
"That’s your choice, Mother. If you ever
learn to stop manipulating me, and let me go my own way, we can try again. But
if you can’t, then you’re right. We won’t meet again. Good-bye, Mother. Have a
good life."
"Good-bye, Rose." Ruth looked as
though she were about to say more, but then she turned and left the room,
walking away and closing the door behind her.
Rose watched her go, then put her head down
on her desk for a moment, her fists clenching and unclenching. Then, she sat
up, returning to her work and pushing the conversation from her mind.