It was now the summer of 1920. Rose had decided to stay in Washington, D.C. and make a home for herself there. She was still supervisor of the art gallery and enjoyed working there very much. She especially loved the fact that she was able to choose artists for the gallery. She would tour attractions and find artists on the sidewalk who were just trying to survive. It warmed her heart dearly when she could change the life of a person. It made her remember Jack so much that sometimes it hurt. She would just go about her days, living her life and working and dabbling in theater work.
It had been eight years since she had lost the first love of her life, and though it had gotten somewhat easier, she still walked around with emptiness in her heart. No one ever noticed because she would put on such a wonderful act to hide her true emotions. Maybe one day she would get paid for the great acting.
Jack had told her to live her life and to move on. She had moved on, but she could never really let go.
I'll never let go, Jack.
The tears started to come up. She felt somewhat stupid about it and brushed them away with the back of her hand. It had been eight years, and most people would say that she should be over it by now. She knew she had promised to get married and have lots of babies, but how was she supposed to do that when she still loved and missed Jack dearly?
Rose had traveled quite a bit in her eight years. She had visited Paris for another gallery opening and helped with the hiring. Paris was so different from anywhere else she had been. The art was different, too. A lot more women were willing to take their clothes off was what Jack had said. And he had definitely been right.
She still hadn't gone to California, though; she just couldn't bring herself to do it. That was the place where she and Jack were supposed to go, and something about it just felt sacred. She didn't know if she would ever visit California.
Rose had met a few people throughout Washington, D.C. that she called her close friends. They were tight knit group of women, really. She had met some of them when they were having some protests involving women's rights. Rose was one of the first to speak about women's rights. She had been in a life and a relationship where she had no rights. The least she could do was fight for other women's rights.
Rose decided she would just rent a home in case she wanted or needed to move elsewhere. She still wanted to see more places, but until work spread out into more states, she would stay where she was.
*****
Rose had had a long day of paperwork at the gallery, but finally it was time to go home. It had been a rainy day and had been a bit hard on her. Most times she was well and dealt with what had happened, but other days, like today, weren't good at all. She still missed Jack terribly.
"Rose? Rose…" Her co-worker, Lisbet, called out.
"Thank you for calling…um…yes, Lisbet?" Rose put her hand to her head and shook her head.
"You work too much, Rose."
Rose giggled.
"It's what I do best."
"Well…you've been in quite a fog today. Is everything okay?"
Rose put on a fake smile.
"Yes, I'm fine. Just don't like the rainy weather too much."
"Hmm…yes. Nor do I…" Lisbet said.
Obviously, Lisbet knew that Rose was lying. They had worked together since the store had just opened, so Lisbet had begun to understand Rose's moods.
"What do you say we have a girl's night in tonight? Perhaps some wine?"
Rose bit her lip. She really just wanted to go home and think about Jack. But Lisbet was very persuasive.
"I don't know, Lisbet…"
"Nonsense. You're coming over tonight. I'll make some pasta and we'll both have some red wine."
Rose knew she was defeated. She was happy that Lisbet was so caring towards her.
"All right. Let's close up shop and get going."
Lisbet smiled at Rose and skipped away to finish her work.
Later That Evening
Rose and Lisbet were sitting on the couch, both with glasses of red wine in their hands. Rose was enjoying herself and was relieved to just relax and have a bit of fun.
"Lisbet, that pasta was wonderful! You'll have to give me the recipe for your sauce!"
"Well, it's my grandmother's recipe…but if you have another glass of wine with me, I'll think about it!"
Rose laughed as Lisbet clumsily got up and grabbed the bottle, obviously a little drunk. She filled Rose's wine glass and took a swig from the bottle. Rose laughed. She hadn't had this much fun in ages. It reminded her of the steerage party on the Titanic. She just smiled at the memory…she wasn't going to have anything get her mood down.
"So, Lisbet…it seems like that local artist Tom has taken a liking to you!" Rose said playfully.
Lisbet rolled her eyes and laughed.
"Yes, I suppose so…"
"Well? Do you like him?"
Lisbet plopped back down on the couch next to Rose.
"Honestly…I do. But my parents are just so hung up on me marrying a doctor, or a lawyer…someone who has money, I guess. I don't agree at all. If I like someone, I feel it's my choice if I want to marry them, not my parents’. But arguing with them is really like speaking to a wall. It's useless…"
Lisbet looked a bit sad as she took another sip of wine from her glass.
Rose shook her head. She knew where this was going.
"What do you think I should do, Rose?"
Rose set her glass down and looked at Lisbet.
"I can tell you…from experience, mind you…that you should do what you want and be with whoever you want to be with. You can't let your parents dictate your every move. They have you trapped, and if you don't get out soon, you'll die. Trust me."
Lisbet eyed her with worry.
"You must be serious about the experience part."
Rose nodded and gulped.
"Rose? What happened?"
Rose shook her head and looked away. She trusted and favored Lisbet as one of her closest friends, but she hadn't told anyone the whole truth. But maybe now was the time to finally start to let go.
Rose took a long drink of her wine and set it back down on the table.
"Have you ever heard of the Titanic, Lisbet?"
Lisbet cocked her head to one side.
"Yes…it was that ship that went down in the Atlantic, right?"
Rose nodded.
"I was on it."
Lisbet was wide-eyed.
"Everyone called it the Ship of Dreams, but to me…it was a slave ship…"
Lisbet sat there like a young child waiting to hear her favorite fairy tale. This story, however, didn't have a happy ending.
A Few Hours Later
"And I told the officer my last name was Dawson…"
Lisbet was in tears, her hand over her mouth in utter shock.
By now the entire bottle of wine was gone; both had sipped it throughout the story.
"You're so strong, Rose. I wish I could be that strong."
Rose shook her head.
"I'm not strong…I'm just…dealing with it all," Rose said.
"No, Rose…you are strong. I can tell. I can also tell that something good will happen to you by 1930…"
Rose laughed out loud.
"1930? That long?"
Lisbet rolled her eyes.
"Not like that. Good things will come, but I feel like something big is going to happen around then."
Rose looked at her like she was crazy.
"You're drunk, Lisbet."
"That I am. But I see things…well, feel them, really. Like a premonition?"
Rose looked at her with disbelief.
"You won't accept it at first…" Lisbet said.
"Okay, Lisbet…enough wine for you. I suppose I should get going…it's getting quite late and we both have to do inventory tomorrow morning."
Lisbet cringed.
"Oh, yes…inventory..." Lisbet groaned.
Rose laughed.
"Okay, Rose…I'll get a carriage for you so that way you aren't walking home alone."
"That sounds good to me. Thank you again, Lisbet…for dinner, wine…and for being there for me."
Lisbet hugged Rose.
"That's what friends are for."
As Rose walked towards the door, Lisbet came up behind her.
"And thank you, Rose…for telling me your story. I think I'll call Tom tomorrow."
Rose smiled. It made her feel good that she could help someone…especially when it came to love.