March 23, 1919
NYC
Rain fell hard and tapped endlessly on the windows. Jack was waiting for the weather to clear so he could run some errands. It had been almost two weeks since he had last seen Rose, and he was hoping to see her. He missed her endlessly. It was early afternoon when a knock sounded on the door of Jack's small apartment. Wiping his dirty hands down his khaki pants, he ran his fingers through his shaggy hair before opening the door.
“Rose? Hey, come on in.” Jack smiled. He was both surprised and excited to see her. Her dress was drenched from the pouring rain. Her hair, long and blonde to her shoulders, had straightened from the rain. Her face was red and she was quiet. Something was wrong. Jack knew that. She almost refused to look him in the eye.
“Jack, I cannot stay long. I just have to speak to you,” Rose spoke to the point, trying her hardest to focus on her reason for being there. She wanted to get this over and done with. She knew she would break Jack's heart, but for his own sake, it had to be done. Upon hearing Rose's words, Jack's heart sank. He had a feeling something was wrong.
“Rose? What is the matter?” he asked. He came towards her slightly, but she backed away, her eyes not leaving the floor. “Rose?” He frowned. He wanted to take her in his arms, but he knew she wouldn't allow him to. Something was wrong.
Looking Jack straight in the eye, Rose silently composed herself. She could already sense he was hurting in one way or another. The silence between them was unbearable. “Jack, I am moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.” She trembled silently.
“What? Why?” His face crumpled and his eyes were full of hurt.
“The family is moving there and I must move on with them now. You and I both know I couldn't stay in New York forever. The Hippodrome only runs plays for eight months of the year and I am no longer needed.”
“There are other studios. People will want you. You're so talented Rose,” Jack argued. He touched her hand and Rose closed her eyes in an attempt to compose herself. Her breathing was unsteady.
“It’s not just about that, Jack. I must leave.” Rose backed away and reached for the door.
“What about us, Rose? Did I not mean anything to you? After all we have said and done?” Tears began to fall down Jack's cheeks, and Rose wanted to do nothing more than go to him and kiss him better, kiss him with a passion no one ever had before. She placed her hand shakily over her stomach, knowing his unborn child was growing within her, and felt her heart beat in her head.
“Jack, I have to go. I'm sorry,” was all Rose could manage. She had to think of what was best for everyone. She had to keep on pretending.
“Rose, don't go. I love you so much, Rose. I love you!” he cried, and Rose turned away from him as tears fell down her own cheeks and she quickly wiped them away. Turning, she found Jack on one knee, his handsome face crying for her, for she knew she had hurt him again, she had broken his heart. “Rose, marry me. I will love you forever. I want to marry you, Rose.”
“No, Jack. No.” Rose stepped towards Jack and grabbed his hands in an attempt to pull him from his knees, but she couldn't. “I cannot marry you.” Rose knew there and then that she loved Jack. She wished with all her heart she could say yes and become his wife.
“Why not? Don't you love me?” His voice was low, and almost like that of a little boy. Jack had been foolish to believe that since the time they had met again in December Rose had grown to love him.
“Jack, I cannot marry you…because I am already a married woman. I married Robert Calvert this morning.” Taking a deep breath, Rose let go of Jack's hand. She glanced down at him almost icily. She had to let him go. She could not live her life wanting Jack Dawson. “Good-bye, Jack,” she spoke before exiting back out into the pouring rain. She left Jack on his knees crying for her, begging and pleading for her not to leave him. The pain Jack felt was not even describable. He ran to the door and out into the pouring rain. He felt the wetness over his skin and the coldness on his body, but he did not flinch. Rose was no longer in sight. He sank to the ground, where he remained for a long time, just crying.
September 5, 1919
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
A loud wail sounded from the back bedroom of the Calvert mansion. A little boy had been born just that morning--Charlie Luke Calvert. The small boy was the reason for Rose Calvert's joy, for in the months leading up to his birth, she had done nothing but cry and wait for the arrival of her child, but now that he was here, he was perfect. His tiny hand waved in the air, and Robert kissed it delicately.
“He's so cute.” Lizzy smiled, stroking her new brother’s blond hair. “He cries a lot,” she complained, her large blue eyes taking in the new arrival. Robert set three-year-old Olivia on the bed beside Rose and the new baby. She touched his hand and then his chubby face before smiling up at Rose. Planting a small kiss on Olivia's forehead, she turned her attention back to the new baby. The labor had been long and hard. She had had to be cut so the baby could come out and now was having difficulty sitting up without experiencing the worst pain she had ever felt. Rose's first two pregnancies had been magical, but the third proved to be long and exhausting. Her hormones had run wild and she felt she had done nothing but cry. Images of the last time she had seen Jack haunted her, and as she felt the baby kick inside her womb, she thought of how different her life would be if she had told Jack she was to have his child. Charlie was the mirror image of Olivia when she had just come into the world. She felt Charlie would have a special bond with Olivia as they grew. Glancing up at Robert, Rose saw his large smile. He was happy. He gently touched her copper curls before planting a small kiss on her lips. It was the most affection he had shown her in a long time.
“When will he walk, Mama?” Olivia asked innocently, her large blue eyes taking in her new brother.
“Not for a while yet, darling, but when he does, he will be chasing you around.” All the children laughed with Rose.
“Does he only sleep?” Olivia asked.
“For now, darling. He's only a baby. He has to grow like you and Lizzy. He will grow to be big and strong and will take care of his big sisters.” Rose smiled. Charlie wiggled about in his blue blanket in Rose's arms.
“He won't grow bigger than me,” six-year-old Lizzy announced. She seated herself on the bed beside Rose and twiddled with her long black curls.
“He will one day.” Rose turned to Lizzy. She placed her left arm around her eldest daughter. “But you will still have to look after him because he's always going to be your little brother.” Lizzy nodded and smiled.
Robert bent down in front of the bed and smiled at Charlie. He felt an overwhelming amount of love for him, as though he was his own son. Pulling the blanket away from his face slightly, he touched the baby gently. Without warning, Charlie let out a loud cry and showed his gums to his mother, father, and siblings.
“I think he's hungry.” Rose laughed.
“Come on, you two. It’s time for your brother to have his dinner. Go and play downstairs,” Robert ordered Lizzy and Olivia. He felt seeing their mother breastfeed their new brother was not something they should be doing. Doing as they were instructed, the two girls left the room.
Settling on the bed beside Rose, he watched as Charlie suckled on Rose's breast. “How you feeling?” he asked quietly, not wanting to disturb the infant again.
“Just sore, and getting used to a baby again. It’s been a few years since I have done this.” Rose laughed. Her face crinkled at the weird sensation of breastfeeding. It was something she had not felt in a long time.
“He's perfect, Rose. So much like you.” Robert smiled almost dreamily. He smiled proudly at Rose and gently pecked the end of her nose. “I love you,” he whispered, looking into her eyes. It was a moment of tenderness neither of them had shared with each other before.
“I love you, too.” She smiled before leaning forward to kiss his lips just once before turning her attention back to her new son. She had made the right decision. She knew she had. Life was good now.