ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Chapter Twenty-Five

Five days had gone by, and still no sign of Jack.

If he doesn't love me, then I don't want to see him again! Rose thought, as she lay in bed.

Rose fell into a deep sleep.

She was on the Titanic, but it looked as if nothing had damaged it.

"Hello, young Rose." She heard a familiar voice, and turned around.

"Mr. Andrews!" she exclaimed, and hugged him.

"Miss Rose, I see there have been troubles in your waters, as well," he said.

"What? What do you mean?"

"Well, Rose, I meant that there are troubles in your life right now, aren't there?"

She looked down. "Yes, there have been."

"Oh, Rose, I saw the whole thing. I want you to see something. This way." He led her to the rail. "Look," he said, pointing to the water.

"At what? All I see is water."

"Look harder..." he said.

Rose gasped.

She saw Jack hugging Rose's pillow on their bed.

"He's been in a terrible depression, Rose. You need to help him."

"I can't, Mr. Andrews. I can't. Not now. He has to come to me. I still can't forgive him. I don't know him anymore."

"Rose, I can't force you to do anything. But I think you need to help him."

"He has to come to me. If he doesn't come tomorrow, I'll be on a train to California."

"I can't force you into anything, Rose. You need to get back soon."

"Wait! Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, young Rose. Anything."

"Where's Cora Cartmell's father? I wish to speak with him."

"Right this way." He took her to a bench, and saw Mr. Cartmell sitting there.

"Thanks, Mr. Andrews. Come back in my dreams and visit me?" she asked.

"Why, of course, Miss Rose. Now, hurry up. You don't have much time left," he said.

"All right. Good-bye."

"Good-bye."

"Mr. Cartmell?" Rose asked.

"Why, hello. I've seen you with my daughter every day. I want to thank you for adopting her into your family."

"You don't have to thank me. She's a wonderful child. I love her as if she were my own daughter. But what I want to tell you is, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for putting her through this disagreement with Jack and I."

"Oh, don't worry about it. All I can think of is the generosity you and Jack have given her. Thank you so much. I just wish I was there to watch her grow up physically. I miss her hugs, and those butterfly kisses." Tears came to his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"No. No, don't be. Do you come into her dreams?" she asked.

"Yes, sometimes. Oh, dear. You need to go. You've been here too long. Thanks again. Good-bye," he said, as she woke up.

"Whew, some dream," she said, as she sat up.

She didn't get out of bed this day, nor did Jack come.

She decided to leave tomorrow.

Rose fell asleep that night.

She tossed and turned dreamlessly.

She woke up at the crack of dawn.

She got up and went to her suitcase.

Nothing was in it. She figured Molly had put her clothes into the dresser, so she moved to it.

"Ah ha! Here they are," Rose said, as she picked out a dress to wear and began packing.

Later
1:00 PM

"Rose, I really wish that you wouldn't go," said Molly.

"Jack didn't come. He obviously doesn't want to. I want to do this," she said.

"Oh, Rose, I just hope you're making the right decision," Molly said.

"I'm going to go where the wind takes me, and right now I think the wind is leading me to California," said Rose.

"All right, darling. Be sure to write to me."

"I will. Bye, Molly. Thank you."

"Bye, doll!"

Molly secretly slipped one thousand dollars into Rose's purse.

At The Train Station

"I need one second-class ticket for Santa Monica, California," Rose said.

"All right, dear, that'll be five dollars and fifty cents."

Rose paid him and waited for the train.

Thirty minutes later, she saw a train come into view.

"Eau Claire, Wisconsin to Denver, Colorado," Rose heard the conductor yell.

"Santa Monica-bound train will be here in no more that twenty minutes," another conductor yelled.

*****

Jack stepped off the train.

He was going to try and get Rose back no matter what it took.

He saw a familiar red-haired woman in the distance, sitting on a bench.

Jack walked closer to her.

"Rose?" he asked.

Rose looked up. Could it be?

"Jack?" she asked, barely above a whisper.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I was going to Santa Monica," she said.

"What? Why?" he asked, raising his voice.

"Jack, don't start!" she said.

Jack came over to kiss her, but she turned away.

"Jack, don't think we can get through this by kissing. We need to talk, without screaming and fighting," she said.

"I know, Rose. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He began to cry on her shoulder, as she cried on his.

"Please forgive me, Rose. Please. I love you so much."

"I don't know what to think, Jack. It's so hard for me."

"How about we go to Santa Monica together? Work out the problems there?" he suggested.

"All right, Jack. Buy your ticket. I already have mine."

"Okay."

So they boarded the train with more hope for their marriage.

Somehow they'd get through this.

Somehow.

Chapter Twenty-Six
Stories