She was on the couch. He was across the room, a pencil and paper in hand. She was naked except for the necklace around her throat. He was very professional with his work. He focused on every curve on her body, on every detail on her face. Even the shading was perfect. He was quite the artist.
"You're blushing, Monsieur Big Artiste," she said. "I can't picture Monsieur Monet blushing."
"He does landscapes," he replied, still focusing on her and his drawing. "Keep your face still. No smiling." She shifted her face to a serious expression. Once the drawing was finished, he signed it with his initials, J.D., and handed it to her. She put the portrait into the green safe in the other room, then came back and kissed him.
*****
Rose sat on a chair in their room, staring out the window. Jack came up a few seconds later, disrupting her thoughts.
"Oh, hello, Rose. I didn't expect you to be up here," he said.
"It's fine," said Rose.
It had been three weeks since they had arrived at Joseph's, and Rose was showing early signs of pregnancy. She ran her hand over her stomach.
"Three weeks already, huh?" Jack asked. Rose shrugged and turned towards the window. "Your father and I are getting along well." He got no response, so he walked over to Rose and kissed her head. "Everything will be all right, Rose. I assure you, you'll be fine."
"That wasn't what I was thinking about," Rose replied quietly.
Jack sighed, not knowing what to say.
"Jack? Remember on the Titanic, when you did that drawing of me?" Jack nodded. "One of your best pieces of art is now at the bottom of the sea."
"Rose, it wasn't one of my best pieces of art. It was my best piece of art," Jack told her.
Rose was still looking out the window. "Jack, are you ready for a baby?" Rose asked him.
"Well, I'm twenty years old. I'm sure by the time it’s born I'll be well prepared," Jack replied.
Rose just continued to look away. Jack leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"I promise you everything will be fine."
Rose looked up at him. "I was reading the paper this morning," she said. "I saw an ad for a theater on Broadway that needs an actress for a play."
"And you're thinking about auditioning?" Jack asked.
"Thinking about it. Imagine it, Jack. Me, onstage!" Rose got up from her seat and placed her right hand on her forehead. "Or an artist, or even a dancer!" Rose walked over to Jack and started ballroom dancing with him across the room. She stopped and kissed him. "There are endless possibilities!"
"Rose, how long do you expect to hold an acting job while pregnant?" Jack asked her.
Rose shrugged. "However long it takes for us to get a home of our own," she said. "Jack, this is Broadway! This is the place where stars are born! Think about this, Jack. We could be a famous young couple in love."
"Rosie, you are going to be a star, and I'm going to make sure you get a part in this play," Jack told her. He kissed her forehead. "You're going to be a star."
Rose smiled at him and threw her arms around his neck.