ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Chapter Sixteen

"Well, hello, Cora," Ruth said.

"Hey, darling. Did you get a good night's rest?" Molly asked.

"Yes, ma'am, I did," Cora replied.

"Well, that's good, dear."

"So, Cora, you're going to be the flower girl at Jack and Rose's wedding?" Ruth asked.

"Yes, ma'am. I can't wait!"

"Aw, you are going to look so precious with a little flower girl dress on!" Ruth said.

"Oh, yes, she is!" Rose agreed.

Liz came over, and they talked about the wedding arrangements.

The next day, they would all go shopping for the wedding dresses and gifts.

Jack and his father were going to get a tux, and Rose's wedding gift.

The Next Day

"Oh, Rose! That dress is beautiful!" Ruth said.

"Yes, darling, it's wonderful!" Molly said.

"Yeah, but I'm not sure yet."

Molly, Ruth, Cora, Liz, and Rose went to a store that sold wedding arrangements and dresses.

Cora's dress was ivory with a mauve strap at the belt line.

Finally, Rose found the perfect dress. It had a white satin skirt with rose sequin designs and a lace petticoat. The top was white, with lace rose designs. It fit her perfectly.

"Rose! That looks amazing on you! You will knock Jack off of his feet!" Ruth declared.

"Thanks, Mother," she said.

"Yes, darling, it's perfect!" said Molly.

"You and Cora look amazing," Ruth said.

Molly, Liz, and Ruth also got dresses.

Molly's was burgundy, Ruth's was lavender, and Liz's was mauve.

Molly insisted that she should pay, so Rose let her.

"Molly, you really didn't have to pay. I brought money," Rose said, once in the car.

"I know, darling, but I wanted to," she said.

"Now we need to go to Mary's Jewelry," said Rose.

"All right. What are you getting Jack?" Ruth asked.

"I was thinking a pocket watch for church and business," she said.

"Oh, that'll be good," Ruth said.

*****

Jack and his father went to get a tux and a gift for Rose.

After leaving the place where he got the tux, Jack said, "What do you think I should get Rose? I was thinking about a gold locket."

"That will be good, son. She will love it. Now, let's go to Mary's Jewelry," Brian said.

*****

"Rose, while we are here, I think we should get Jack's wedding ring, also," said Molly.

"Yes, I think so, too."

They got the items gift wrapped, and as Molly was paying, Jack and Brian walked in.

Cora saw Jack walk into the store, and jumped into his arms.

"Daddy!" Cora cried.

"Hey, Cora. Where's your Mom? Oh, there she is," he said, as he walked to Rose and kissed her.

"Hey, honey. How's your day going?" Rose asked.

"Just fine, and even better now," he said.

"Well, Jack, I hate to leave, but I don't think you want me to see anything you're getting here."

"All right, Rose. See you tonight. I love you."

"I love you, too. Bye, Jack."

"Bye, angel."

*****

"Dad, do you mind if I engrave something on the locket?" Jack asked.

"No, son, I don't mind. I'm going to go wait in the car," Brian said.

"All right."

Jack wrote the words he wanted to be engraved, and handed it to Nick, as his name tag said.

In fifteen minutes, he was out of the store with the gift in his hand.

When Jack got into the car, his dad asked, "What did you engrave?"

"Never let go. It's a promise Rose made to me. Remember, on the Titanic?"

"Oh, yes, of course. Anywhere else you need to go?"

"I need to get home before Rose does."

"All right, then."

In twenty minutes, they were home Jack ran into the house and hid the gift.

He was unaware of Rose in the other room.

"Hey, honey!" she said, startling him.

"Whoa...you scared me. How was your day?"

"Just fine. Liz, Molly, and Mother took Cora to a toy store. And I didn't feel like going, so they dropped me off. How was yours?"

"Fine. I missed you, though."

"I missed you, too."

Jack sat down on the couch, and Rose sat on his lap.

Rose laid her head on his chest and fell asleep.

Jack, noticing this, fell asleep also.

Chapter Seventeen
Stories