March 22, 1919
NYC
Settling into the parlor chair, Rose waited for Robert to bring the children home from school. A million thoughts ran through her mind. She brought her shaking left hand to her head and touched it gently, feeling a migraine coming on. The day had been long and Rose did not know what her next steps would be in life. For almost three weeks now, she had felt the familiar nauseous feeling and had known it only meant one thing–she was pregnant with Jack's child. How on earth would she tell Jack? Robert would be crushed, and it obviously spelled the end of their engagement. Her acting career would be put on hold until she had given birth. So many decisions Rose had to make in so little time. Memories of the last three months came to Rose. She and Jack had been so carefree and had acted like young teenagers in love. All of that was over now. She had to take responsibility and not allow herself to act in such a way again. She was a mother and in eight months’ time she would have another baby.
The front door banged, and Rose's eyes darted to the door. Olivia ran in, her blonde curls waving about her face. Lizzy followed and Rose kissed each of their cheeks, smiling down at her children. Robert entered, carrying some groceries in a brown paper bag. He wore his gray work suit and his dark hair was pomaded masterfully. He was a handsome man. He smiled at Rose, oblivious to her feelings.
“Can you go out and play, girls?” Rose asked the children. Nodding, they removed their heavy coats and proceeded to the garden. Rose turned her attention back to Robert, who had proceeded to the kitchen to put away the groceries. She knew she had to speak with him, to clear away the mess she had made for herself. She had been irresponsible in the months leading up to the day she had found out she was expecting a baby, and now she was going to make any attempt she could to put it right. She would have to leave New York City and start afresh somewhere else, maybe back in Santa Monica.
“Robert?” Rose asked. She peered in the doorway of the kitchen. Robert’s head was in the icebox, sorting out the eggs.
“What's wrong, honey?” he replied, obviously not paying full attention.
“Robert, I need to talk to you.” This time, Rose's voice was more forceful, and Robert closed the icebox door and frowned heavily.
“Oh, right. Well, go and sit down, darling.”
Sitting on the couch, Rose didn't know which way to tackle this. She had to be honest. How could she tell Robert? He loved her. She knew that.
“Robert, I am leaving New York and taking the children with me.” Rose squeezed her eyes shut as she spoke. She couldn't bear to see the look on Robert's face. “I have to leave…Robert, I'm pregnant.” The familiar sick feeling churned Rose's stomach. She placed her hands over her flat stomach. She felt as though she could heave. She was shaking.
Robert felt the anger overcome him. Pregnant? The child was obviously not his. He and Rose had not made love once. The pain he felt seemed unbearable. “Pregnant?” he questioned, almost to himself. “But that's impossible, Rose. We…we…haven't…” He could barely speak. He didn't know what he could say.
“No. I know we haven't. Robert, I'm sorry I hurt you, which is why I have to leave.” Rose stood and walked to the far window. Outside, she could see Lizzy and Olivia chasing each other around in the garden, and she smiled. They were so innocent and oblivious to the mess she had caused. She would have to disturb their lives yet again, but she had to move away from New York, away from Jack. She couldn't live here, knowing she was carrying his child yet again. She couldn't tell him. She would just bring him down. She was the one who had caused this mess. Robert had barely heard Rose's words. He stood and slowly came beside Rose. He stood over her shoulder as she watched the children play outside, the children he had grown to love as his own. He could feel tears threatening to fall from his eyes. Rose had never seen him show much emotion. Never.
“It's Jack Dawson, isn't it?” he asked. The question shocked Rose, and the air turned silent. Turning, Rose could do nothing but nod once as her unshed tears finally fell. Robert, too, nodded, taking in the information. Jack Dawson, the old family friend. But then again, Robert should have known. From the way Jack Dawson looked at Rose, he knew he was in love with her. “I should have known, Rose. I think a part of me always did. The way he looked at you…he loves you, doesn't he?”
“Yes. Jack has loved me for a very long time.” Rose confessed the truth. Since the night they had met on the Titanic, Rose had known he was in love with her. The way they molded together, the way he kissed her…it was real, the love he felt for her.
“And do you love him?”
The room fell silent. Rose hesitated to answer. Did she love Jack? Yes, she had feelings for him, but were they feelings of love? She did not know. Her whole world seemed messed up. What she did know was that Jack would never know.
“No,” Rose replied simply. It was the best answer. At least this way she could forget the feelings she had for Jack, and forget the nights of endless passion they had shared. “No, I do not love him, nor will he know about the baby. I do not plan to tell him at all.”
Robert nodded. He felt like crying until his heart gave out. He felt anger towards Jack, but he was not one for violence and never would be. He also felt anger towards Rose, but as he glanced at her beautiful, crying face, he loved her so much. Life without her would be unbearable. He couldn't even begin to imagine it. He wanted to be the one to make her happy. He felt he had not treated her the way she was supposed to be treated. It was obvious she would find love somewhere else. Deep down, Robert knew that if Rose left he would never be the same. “Rose…would you stay with me?”
“What?” Rose asked in disbelief.
“Stay with me, Rose. We will leave New York and get married. I don't want to lose you.” Robert came towards Rose and took her hands in his. His eyes pleaded with her. His face was red from crying. He touched her cheek gently and when Rose closed her eyes, she pictured Jack. Tears escaped her eyes. She was surprised at his words. How could they get married? She was to have a baby, a baby which wasn't his.
“Robert, the fact will still remain that I'm going to have a baby.” Her voice was almost a whisper.
“We'll raise it together, Rose. I will do anything, I swear. I just do not want to lose you. I love you.” Rose's eyes scanned Robert’s face and she saw he was deadly serious. Could she do that? Could she allow Jack's child to be raised by someone else?
“Robert, it’s not that easy. It's going to be hard. I cannot work. I will have barely any money to support myself and the child. I would not expect you to support us all.”
“It would be my duty, Rose, as your husband and the baby's father.”
Rose's whole body shook. She could not understand Robert. He should hate her, not want to spend his life with her and raise her child as his own. Was this the wrong thing to do? She did not know. She had few options. Robert pulled Rose's body towards him. She rested her head against his chest and he gently stroked her hair. “I love you, Rose,” he whispered gently into her ear. Closing her eyes, Rose felt her head throb and her heart sink. Robert gently pulled his body away from Rose's and his brown eyes looked into her own. Ever so slowly, he leaned towards her lips hesitantly and pecked them just once. It was a simple kiss, nothing which could set her heart on fire, but it was enough for him to let Rose know he much he wanted her.
Without thinking, Rose slowly began to nod her head. “All right,” she whispered. “We'll do it. We'll get married and move away from New York.” Rose smiled. She knew she wouldn't have to do this alone. She had Robert and she would marry him and grow to love him, just as she had told Jack months before.
That night, Jack's face never seemed to leave Rose's mind. She could envision his smiling face, the boyish grin which never ceased to make Rose smile, too. His kiss, which made her weak, the way he held her, danced with her, and looked at her. She knew he loved her probably more than Robert did, but she knew she would have to hurt Jack to save him. He wouldn't want Rose. She was going to be a mother three times over by September. She would just bring him down and waste his life. Jack had so much to give–his art and his passion for life–and Rose knew if she was a part of his life for much longer, he wouldn't have much of a life. She was doing the right thing by marrying Robert. She knew it.