The ship was almost vertical. He held onto the railing and onto her the best that he could. He'd never let go of her, even if that meant that he had to let go of the ship. She looked to the left and saw a woman assuring her daughter that everything would be all right. She looked to her right to see a worried woman shouting below.
"Cora! Cora!" she shouted below.
"Excuse me. Are you Cora’s mother?" he asked her with a worried expression.
"Yes! Yes, I am Lynette!" exclaimed the woman.
"Jack, this is where we first met!" Rose exclaimed.
He kissed her forehead. "Rose, you're going to have to hold onto the railing. Stay on the ship as long as possible. The ship will suck you down. Actually, you and Lynette stay together. Find something to float on. The water is so cold, it could freeze you. I'll meet you in New York," Jack said, allowing Rose to grab onto the railing.
"Jack, no! Don't leave me!" Rose cried.
It hurt Jack to do this. "Rose, it hurts me a lot to do this, but it will be worth it," he said. He kissed her once more before climbing on top of the railing. "You and Lynette keep each other safe. If I don't see you again, I love you, Rose." And with that said, he scurried off.
"Jack, no! Jack!" Rose cried, but it was too late. He was already gone. "Jack!"
"Cora!" cried Lynette.
*****
Jack was in the kitchen, rushing to make a cup of coffee and trying to leave the house before Rose woke up. He'd left a note beside the bed, saying that he would love to marry her, and that he loved her with every bit of his heart. He also added that he was out searching for a job, when really he was going to speak to Martin about it. He hurried and was stirring the coffee with a spoon when he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. He picked up the coffee quickly and ended up spilling it all over himself.
"Oh, Goddamn it!" he cursed at the heat burning down his chest. "Damn it, that's hot!" Rose ran into the kitchen and threw herself onto him.
"Oh, Jack! I'm so happy you said yes!" she exclaimed, kissing his face all over.
Jack pressed his lips against hers. "Hey, sweetie," he said quickly. "I have to get out of this shirt before I go off searching for a new job." He headed for the stairs, Rose at his heels.
"Jack, I am so excited that we're getting married! All my life, I've dreamed of marrying the perfect man, and I am!" she exclaimed as Jack took off the coffee-stained shirt. Rose wrapped her arms around his bare body and kissed his neck. "I love you so much, Jack. You've made me so happy."
Jack grabbed a shirt from his half of the closet and kissed her cheek. "I love you, too, Rosie," he said. He slipped his shirt over his head, making sure to tuck it into his pants as Rose sat on the bed. Jack looked at her and cupped her face in his hands. "Love you." He kissed her face and he left the room.
"Jack! Jack, wait!" Rose called. Jack looked up at her from halfway out the door, putting the black bowler hat on his head and slipping on a black coat. "Good luck out there." Jack smiled at her, and closed the door behind him.
*****
"Martin, what do I do?" asked Jack, taking a sip of Irish beer. Martin was cleaning out a glass. "Rose wants to marry me and we both lost our jobs and we have a baby on the way! I just don't know what to do anymore. She thinks I have everything under control, but I don't! Help me, Martin. Please."
Martin looked at him. "I remember the day Lynette asked me to marry her," he said, setting the cup down. "It was aboard the Carpathia, the day before we docked. We were married the next day in Central Park."
At that moment, Lynette came down with a small baby wrapped in a blanket. "Martin, I need your help with Elizabeth. Can you change her for me?" she asked.
"As long as you tend the bar," replied Martin. He took the infant and brought her upstairs. Jack's eyes went wide. Lynette appeared to be thinner than she had been.
"Oh, hello there, Jack! How's the artist job?" asked Lynette.
Jack shook himself out of his trance. "Oh…uh…actually, I got fired due to that damned article," he said. "You had the baby?"
"Yes. She was a month early, actually. The hospital had to keep her for two weeks," replied Lynette. "How is Rose doing?"
"Not too good. She doesn't have anything to do anymore. She got fired from her acting job due to the article as well," Jack replied.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! How are you going to support the child?" Lynette asked. Jack shrugged. "Anything else new in your life?"
"Well, yes, actually. Rose has asked me to marry her," Jack told her.
Lynette gasped and covered her mouth. "She did?" she exclaimed. "I cannot believe that! Oh, Jack! I'm so happy for you!"
"Yeah. I'm not exactly sure I'm ready to marry her," Jack replied, taking a sip of the beer. Lynette took his hands.
"Jack, do you love Rose?" Lynette asked him.
"Yeah. With all my heart! But…" Jack replied.
"Do you want to spend the rest of your life with Rose?" Lynette asked him.
"Yes! Of course! But…" Jack said.
"Will you protect her, keep her safe under any conditions, and be willing to die for her?" Lynette asked.
"Always. I'll never let her out of my sight, but…" Jack said again.
"Then you're ready to marry her," said Lynette, letting go of his hands. "I want to see you two happy, and the only way for that to happen would be to see you married." Jack looked away from her and down at his hands. I guess I am ready to marry the woman I love, he thought to himself.
"Thanks, Lynette. I'd better head home, then," said Jack. He jumped off the chair and ran out of the saloon.
Lynette followed him and shouted at him from the door. "Good luck, Jack!" she called.