AFTER TITANIC
Chapter Five
Rose got back from work and sat
on her bed. She lay there for a few minutes, trying to think happy thoughts.
All of a sudden, Rose felt overcome with nausea. She ran to her bathroom and
threw up. Disgusted, she washed out her mouth and began to walk slowly back to
her bedroom. But then, dizziness took over and she collapsed on the floor.
The next thing Rose knew, Meg was
standing over her, shaking her wildly. "Oh," Rose said. "What
happened?"
"You fainted or
something," Meg explained in a worried tone. "I don’t know. I came by
to borrow that book, and when I knocked, you didn’t answer, so I just came in
and I found you here. I was so worried!" Rose sat up and put her hand on
her aching head. "You need to get to a doctor, Rose," Meg told her.
Rose nodded. Maybe I’m dying, she thought. Oddly enough, the thought was
not a troubling one.
Later that day, Rose sat in the
doctor’s office while Dr. Johnson examined her and asked her some questions. He
finished, and said, "Well, Mrs. Dawson, I’m afraid there’s nothing I can
do at this point." Ha! Rose thought. I am dying. The doctor
smiled. "There’s nothing I can do, because you’re with child."
Rose was perplexed.
"What?" She almost breathed the word.
"You’re pregnant," he
said. Rose said nothing. The doctor gave her some instructions as to what she
should be eating and how to prevent nausea. Then he said, "And do you know
when the baby was conceived?"
Rose nodded. "April
fourteenth," she whispered. He told her around when she should expect the
child.
"And your husband?" he
asked.
"Dead," she replied.
"I’m sorry to hear that. But
at least you have your baby. Now, get home. I want you to get some rest."
He dismissed her and Rose stood up. She left the office and walked home. She
was shaking the whole time, but not because of the cold. Pregnant? But how?
she wondered. She got to her door, but didn’t go in. She turned around and
stood in front of Meg’s door. She deserved an explanation. Without even
knocking, Rose burst into Meg’s living room.
"Rose? My God, you look a
mess. Is everything okay?" Meg shooed her children into the next room and
sat and stared at Rose.
"I’m pregnant!" Rose
cried. "I’m having Jack’s baby!" Rose burst into tears. Meg rushed
over to her and held her close. Rose hugged her back. "I don’t understand.
We were only together the one time. And it wasn’t very long…I mean…how?"
"Maybe," Meg said,
"maybe Jack sent you this baby. So you could truly go on. And so you would
always have a little piece of him." Rose smiled through the tears.
"I think I like that
answer." Rose hugged Meg again. "Oh, you’ve been such a great friend.
I don’t know what I would have done without you." Little Elin walked in.
"Mama," said the
four-year-old, "Is Mrs. Dawson okay? She’s crying."
"I’m fine, Elin," Rose
told her.
"Children are God’s greatest
gift," Meg said, and kissed her little daughter. Rose agreed. And maybe
there was a God. She could never fully forgive whatever higher power that
existed for robbing her of her first love, but she was so very grateful for her
pregnancy.
Rose remembered her time with
Jack in the Renault.
*****
Jack sat in the front seat after
opening the back door for Rose. She smiled when she noticed two roses in a
crystal vase on the inside of the car. Rose leaned forward and slid down the
window that separated the front from the back. Jack beeped the horn twice.
"Where to, miss?" he asked in a pompous voice.
Rose leaned her face to his and
whispered in his ear. "To the stars." She grabbed hold of him and
lifted him through the window, both of them laughing. They sat there together,
holding hands.
He stroked her face, cherishing
her. "Are you nervous?" Jack asked.
Rose shook her head.
"No," she said. Rose brought Jack’s hand to her lips and kissed his
artist’s fingers. His hands were so gentle, but roughened by work. She would
never forget their touch. Her heart pounding, Rose made a decision. "Put
your hands on me, Jack," she said. Rose moved his hand to cover her
breast, they began to kiss, and she slid down under his welcome weight.
Rose began to unbutton his shirt
while Jack started on her dress. They made love for the first time inside the
car. In a moment of passion, Rose’s hand slammed against the fogged up back
window and slid down in a veil of condensation. Rose touched Jack’s face, as if
making sure he was real. He was shaking all over. "You’re trembling,"
she said.
"Don’t worry," he said.
"I’ll be all right." They were both bathed in sweat, all of their
clothes off. Jack’s coat covered them like a blanket. They were huddled
together, intertwined. Rose kissed Jack on the lips and then leaned forward and
kissed his forehead. She hugged his head to her chest, and just held on for
dear life.
Then they heard voices and foot
steps. "Shit..." Jack began. They quickly dressed in their
undergarments and slowly opened the door so that the creaking hinges wouldn’t
give them away. Hiding behind some crates, they finished dressing.
Jack and Rose tried
unsuccessfully not to laugh while they watched two stewards searching for them.
Their search light fell upon Rose’s handprint. One of the stewards snapped his
fingers and indicated the print. The two men stood together and one of them
gripped the handle of the door. He thrust it open, saying "Got yer!"
But their searchlight fell upon an empty seat, and the stewards stepped back,
their expressions revealing pure shock and disappointment. Rose let out a snort
of laughter and Jack held a finger to his smiling lips. The stewards composed
themselves and began to search some more, coming in Rose and Jack’s direction!
"Go!" Jack whispered
and they ran to the nearest door. They opened it and found themselves on the
boat deck, both of them laughing so breathlessly they could hardly stand. They
held each other’s hands and spun around. "Did you see those guys’
faces?" Jack cried. "Did you see their faces?" Rose put her hand
to his lips. She stopped laughing, but her smile lit up her face.
"When this ship docks, I’m
getting off with you," Rose said. Jack held Rose by the waist.
"This is crazy!" Jack
told her.
"I know," Rose said,
laughing again. "It doesn’t make any sense!" Then, entirely serious,
she said, "That’s why I trust it." Jack looked at her for a long
moment, then brought her into a kiss. The kiss went on and on, both of them
filled with strange thoughts. Rose loved Jack so much, and she knew Jack
returned that love in full measure. Rose could have kissed him forever. She
knew it was freezing out, but in Jack’s arms, she wasn’t even bothered by the
cold.
But then, they felt the ship
beneath them tremble. They pulled apart and looked around for an answer. They
found it. Stunned, Jack and Rose rushed to the starboard rail in time to see an
iceberg moving aft down the side of the ship.
*****
These were painful memories.
Rose’s heart hurt. But then she thought of the baby she would soon have, and
the knot in her heart loosened.