April 28, 1913
2:30 AM
"Jack...Jack, there's a boat," Rose said, dreaming of the tragedy that took place the year before.
Ever since the birth of the twins, which was the anniversary of the sinking, Rose was having nightmares.
Jack woke up by hearing Rose cry.
"Rose, are you all right? Rose?" he asked, gently shaking her.
"Jack, wake up. There's a boat," she sobbed.
"Rose, I'm here. I'm fine, Rose."
She opened her eyes, and he put his arms around her.
"Oh, Jack. It's horrible. Absolutely horrible," Rose cried.
Jack rocked her back and forth.
"Rose, it'll be okay. We're fine."
He lifted her chin and kissed her lips.
She gave him a faint smile.
"Now, go back to sleep. We have to pick up Molly and Ruth at the train station at noon," he said.
"I love you so much, Jack."
They then heard one of the babies cry.
"I'll take care of it," Jack said.
"I'll help you."
"No, you need--" he tried to say, but Rose cut him off.
"Jack, I'm fine," she said, placing her finger on his lips.
He kissed her finger and took her hand and led her to the nursery.
Josephine and Elizabeth were now both crying.
Jack went to Josephine's crib and Rose went to Lizzy's.
Rose sat in the rocking chair with Jack at her feet, and they sang the babies Come Josephine In My Flying Machine.
Once the babies were asleep, Jack and Rose went back to sleep.
This time, Rose didn't have any disturbing dreams.
In fact, no dreams at all.
Later, Around 10:00 AM
Jack, Rose, and Cora just finished breakfast.
Rose was now feeding the babies.
There was a knock at the door about thirty minutes later.
"I'll get it," Jack said.
He opened the door to find Ruth and Molly.
Cora came running up to the door.
"Ruthie! Molly!"
"Hey, Jack. Hello, doll. My, you've grown since the last time I saw you."
Cora smiled, and gave them both a hug.
Jack hugged them both and gave them kisses on their cheeks.
They walked into the living room, to find Rose sitting on the couch with both twins in her arms.
"Oh, my!" Ruth said.
"Aren't they just precious?" said Molly.
"Want to hold them?" Rose asked.
They nodded.
"Jack, get Josie and hand her to Mother."
Jack obeyed, and Rose handed Lizzy to Molly.
"This is Josephine Adele Dawson," Rose said, pointing to Josie.
"And that's Elizabeth Rose Dawson," Jack said, pointing to Lizzy.
"I got to hold them all by myself!" Cora proclaimed.
"Really?" Ruth asked.
"Yep! Sure did."
"Yeah. She calls them her baby dolls," Rose said.
They all laughed.
"All right. Mother, Molly, we won't take no for an answer. You're staying here tonight," Rose said.
"Yep," Jack agreed.
"Rose," Ruth said.
"Mother, don't even try it."
"All right, darling, we'll stay. But I just want you to know that we'll only stay for three more days," Molly said.
"Why? You aren't going to Europe, are you?"
"No, dear," Ruth said.
"I bought a house up here for Ruth. We wanted her to be closer for all of you. And for your next child."
"Oh! That's wonderful!" Rose exclaimed.
Rose hugged them both.
They spent the day catching up on things.
The next day, Molly got an urgent call from her son.
She left without an explanation.
*****
It was now April thirtieth.
The phone rang, and Rose answered it.
"Molly! Hi!"
"Sorry I left like I did. My brother had a heart attack."
"Oh, Molly, that's terrible!"
"Yeah. He survived. Thank God."
"That's good."
"Yeah...I won't be back up there for about a month. I'm sorry."
"Oh, Molly. Don't be sorry. It wasn't your fault."
"Yeah, I know. I have to go now. Bye, darling."
"Bye, Molly."
Rose hung the phone up.
Ruth walked in with Lizzy in her arms.
"Who was that, dear?" Ruth asked.
"It was Molly. Her brother had a heart attack."
"Oh, dear! Is he all right?"
"Yes, he's recovering."
"Oh, my."
"She'll be back in about a month."
Tomorrow was May first, and it was Ruth's moving day.
*****
Ruth didn't leave until two o'clock PM.
Jack, Rose, and the kids went with her.
"There it is," Ruth said, pointing to it.
They were in the car driving up to the house.
"It's beautiful!" Rose said.
Ruth smiled.
It was a two-story tan brick house.
They stayed at Ruth's house all day, and left around seven o'clock PM.
They went home, and Jack told Rose that he would cook.
While Jack was cooking, Cora came up to Rose and asked, "Mommy? Is Daddy cooking again?"
Rose laughed.
"Yes, darling."
"Oh, all right. What is he making?"
"I think chicken fried steak."
"Oh. Can I make some cookies?"
"After dinner. Now, go play."
Cora ran into her room.
Josephine started to whine a little, and Jack ran into the room.
"It's fine, Jack. I've got her," she said.
He smiled and walked back into the kitchen.
Ever since Rose had the babies, he was even more overprotective.
If he heard them give a faint whimper, he'd come running in the room.
Rose was getting a little annoyed at Jack.
Rose cooed to Josie and fed her.
She eventually fell asleep.
Right when she fell asleep, Lizzy started crying.
"Rose, let me help you," Jack said, coming into the room.
"Jack, you'll burn the food, darling. We'll be fine. She's just hungry."
"Oh, all right. I love you." He kissed her.
"I love you, too."
Cora ran into the kitchen.
"Daddy?"
"Hmm?" he mumbled.
"Can we make cookies?"
"Sure!"
He got the ingredients out, and Cora noticed the flour on the counter.
She put some on her fingers and put it in Jack's hair.
Cora started laughing.
"Cora!" Jack said, as he put some flour on her.
When they were done with the cooking, they walked out of the kitchen, trying not to get Rose to see them, but it failed.
"Jack! Oh, my gosh!" She laughed. "Y'all have flour all over yourselves. You know you're going to clean it, right?"
"Yes, dear." He came over to her and kissed her.
Now she had flour on her face.
He smiled.
"Cora, dear, you need to get ready for dinner."
"Okay, Mommy."
She ran into her room to get ready.
"Jack, you're a mess," Rose told him.
"She started it!" he joked.
Rose laughed.
"Now I have four children to take care of!" she said.
"Hey, now!" He laughed.
"I love you, Jack."
"I love you, too, Rose."
He kissed her, and when their lips parted, Rose gave him a weird look.
"You really need to wash that flour off," she said.
He laughed.