AFTER TITANIC
Chapter Twenty-One

Dinner was over. Jack, Rose, Eliza, and Maxwell were all standing up from the table, full from the delicious meal Rose had prepared.

"Wow, Rose. I have to say you cook good for a girl who wasn't allowed near a stove until recently." Jack laughed.

"It was all the practice she had at Mother's." Eliza nodded. "She had no choice but to learn."

"Cut it out, you two. In fact, I learned to cook this dish when I was fourteen and my father was still alive. I remember it perfectly. It was Thanksgiving, and he woke me up and dragged me downstairs to the kitchen, where our cook, Mrs. Worthingsmith, was waiting to teach me how to prepare the perfect dinner. He said that he wanted his daughter to know how to cook at least one big meal for the holidays," Rose reminisced. "Mother had a cow when she found out."

"I bet she did." Jack had to smile at the story.

"But anyway. Rose, the dinner was delicious. and I'd like to thank you for inviting me." Maxwell took her hand. "It's been a long time since I had a home-cooked meal such as that one."

"Thank you, Dr. Calvert." Rose smiled, her eyes falling on Eliza, who was standing beside Jack, her hands behind her back. That was when she remembered her whole reason for inviting Eliza to dinner, and she had the perfect idea.

"Oh, Jack, I just had a idea. Why don't the four of us take a walk down by Lake Wissota?"

"Lake Wissota?" Jack asked, confused. "Why there?"

"Well...believe it or not, I haven't had the chance to go down since I've been here...and I've heard so much about it. I just have to see it." Rose pleaded with her eyes. She was determined not to take no for an answer.

"But, Rose...I'm sure Maxwell and Eliza would rather stay here and relax, after that big meal you fixed."

"Well, actually, Jack, I think a walk by the lake is the perfect idea." Maxwell sided with Rose. "I mean, it's beautiful outside now. Just think how much more beautiful it is down there by the lake. I think your beautiful wife deserves to experience the view after the delicious meal she made."

"Eliza?" Jack turned to the girl, who was glaring daggers at Rose.

"I have no arguments." Eliza shrugged, not daring to look at Maxwell. She instantly knew what Rose was up to, and she didn't really appreciate it. She wasn't ready to be alone with Maxwell again just yet.

"Okay, then. Fine. We'll walk down by Lake Wissota." Jack shrugged, grabbing both his and Rose's sweaters. "Here, Rose. It gets pretty chilly down there. This should keep you warm."

Once outside, they broke off into pairs. Jack and Rose, who walked in front, and Maxwell and Eliza, who walked behind them.

"So...what does my little Rose have up her sleeve?" Jack asked, once they were out of earshot of Maxwell and Eliza.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Oh, come on, Rose. I know you...especially when you're up to something." Jack laughed. "This walk by the lake is something you've come up with, and I want to know why."

"Jack..."

"Rose, tell me what you are up to, and what it has to do with Eliza and Maxwell Calvert."

Rose looked into his penetrating blue eyes and knew she had to tell the truth. She couldn't lie to him when he had those eyes on her. "They're attracted to each other, and I'm just giving them a little push."

"They're attracted to each other? Where did you get that idea?" Jack asked.

"Eliza told me before you came home. She and Maxwell had a connection."

"Rose...I don't know. I mean, you're treading on dangerous territory here. Lee Conway isn't to be fooled with." Jack was immediately concerned. He knew that he could handle Lee Conway. He had grown up handling that jerk. But Rose...he wasn't so sure. He didn't want Lee getting any ideas that Rose was behind a breakup between him and Eliza.

"Jack...you're forgetting that I was once engaged to a man just like Lee Conway. In fact, you can say that Lee Conway is Chippewa Fall's version of Cal. I can handle him...just like I handled Cal."

"One difference, Rose. Cal at least had some feelings of protectiveness towards you...Lee doesn't. Like you said earlier, he's worse than Cal. Rose, what I'm saying is don't get too involved with Eliza getting involved with another man. If she's meant to be with Maxwell...it will happen. It did with us."

"I know, and that's why I want this, Jack. I want Eliza to experience what we have. I want her to be completely in love with her husband, and feel secure in the knowledge that he'd never harm her. That's something she doesn't have with Lee, but something she could have with Dr. Calvert. Do you see what I'm saying?"

"Yes, Rose, I do. But that doesn't stop me from worrying about you. I love you and this baby. I don't want anything happening to you. I mean, you've just escaped a dangerous man...I don't want you to put yourself in a situation where you're in contact with another. And trust me, Lee is dangerous."

"But you're not afraid of him, Jack..."

"Well, you know me. I'm not afraid of anything. If I survived being shot at by your ex-fiancé...well, I say I can survive anything...even confrontations with Lee Conway."

"My husband, the hero." Rose giggled, snuggling closer to Jack as they walked, trying to stay warm as the chill in the air intensified. Jack just pulled her closer and enjoyed the silence of the woods. He didn't want to think about Lee Conway any more that night. The rest of the evening was going to be dedicated to his wife.

Eliza walked beside Maxwell Calvert in silence, not knowing what to say or do. This was the first time they'd been alone together tonight, and she could kill Rose for setting this up.

"You're awfully quiet tonight, Eliza," Maxwell said, his eyes examining her face.

"What do you expect me to say?"

"Anything. Just talk to me." Maxwell laughed. "Let me know that you're still breathing."

"That was a delicious dinner Rose made. Don't you agree?" Eliza asked, trying to avoid the subject of last night.

"I agree. She outdid herself. Jack's a lucky man to have married such a good cook." Maxwell was now serious, and stared straight ahead. "But that's not really what I wanted to talk to you about, Eliza. I wanted to talk about what happened yesterday."

"Maxwell...nothing happened. We just talked about your practice, and that's all," Eliza lied, not daring to look into his eyes out of fear that he'd know that she was lying.

"Eliza, you know good and well that that's not all that happened." Maxwell stopped, grabbed her by the shoulders, and turned her to face him. "Something more happened. We connected."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Eliza stammered, still avoiding his eyes.

"Eliza! Of course you do. We connected somehow. For some reason, I can't get you out of my mind. You're all I've been thinking about since yesterday, when you left me. I could tell you felt the same way...I saw it in your eyes yesterday, and I see it again now. This is something neither of us can deny."

"Maxwell...please...I can't do this." Eliza jerked out of his grip. "I'm engaged to Lee Conway. We're going to be married soon."

"Do you love him?"

"What kind of question is that?" She immediately got defensive. Why was he interrogating her like this?

"A simple one. Do you love him?"

"I don't want to talk about this anymore. I suggest we catch up with Jack and Rose and forget that yesterday ever happened."

"Eliza..." Maxwell sighed as she walked away from him. He had to admit it to himself...he was in love with Eliza Hathaway, whether she was engaged or not, and he was going to find a way to have her. No matter what might happen.

"Here we are. Lake Wissota," Jack announced, as he and Rose stepped in front of a body of water.

Rose stared at the water that was now black from the darkness of night. She shivered as she was suddenly transported back in time into the north Atlantic Ocean. All the screams...the cries for help. And the utter helplessness she felt at being unable to help all the dying people. She could even see their bodies floating in the water, staring at her with dead eyes. She closed her eyes and willed the images away, but when she opened them, not only were the images still there, there was one body bobbing among the others. She stepped closer to the water, and found herself staring into Jack's dead and accusing blue eyes.

"Jack, no!" Rose screamed, and took off back into the woods, trying to get away from the awful scene before her, hot tears streaming from her eyes.

"Rose!" Jack called after his fleeing wife. He had no idea what had just gotten into her. One minute she was nice and calm, staring out at the water, and the next thing he knew, she suddenly turned pale, screamed his name in utter horror, mixed with heartbreak, and ran away like her very life depended on it.

"Jack! What happened?" Eliza ran up to him, staring after her fleeing friend.

"I don't know. I don't know what just happened here. One minute she was just staring out at the water, and the next, she's running away," Jack explained. "I better go after her."

"Wait for us!" Eliza called, running after Jack, who'd taken off after his wife. They found her not too far away, lying in a fetal position, sobbing.

"Jack...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Rose sobbed uncontrollably.

"Rose. Rose, what's wrong? What are you sorry about?" Jack knelt down next to his wife and took her into his arms, hugging her close to him.

"Rose? What's wrong?" Eliza asked, staring down at her friend, who was now clinging to her husband, not showing any signs of stopping crying.

"I'm sorry, Jack. I'm sorry I couldn't help you...all of you." Rose continued to sob.

"Rose...what are you talking about? Help me do what? Maxwell...what's wrong with her?" Jack turned to the doctor, who was silently standing beside Eliza, watching the scene.

"I don't know. But I suggest we get her back to the house and up to bed. This can't be good for the baby." Maxwell sighed.

*****

"I gave her a mild sedative. It won't hurt the baby, but it'll relax her and help her get some sleep. But, Jack, one thing confuses me. She keeps saying it's so cold. What's that all about?" Maxwell asked, as he came out of Rose's room.

"We were on the Titanic when we met...and we ended up in the freezing water when it sank." Jack sighed. Then the connection hit him. The lake...the ocean...at night they looked exactly the same. "Do you think her freaking out like that has something to do with our experience on Titanic?"

"I think it does. Jack...it may be none of my business...but I think it'd be a good idea if she talked to a professional about this." Maxwell hesitated.

"You mean she needs a headshrinker...right?"

Maxwell just nodded. He hated suggesting such a thing, but obviously Rose had issues she needed to sort out, and she'd need qualified help to do so. "Listen, I have a friend over in Eau Claire. He'd be glad to see Rose. Here's his phone number and address." Maxwell handed Jack a card. "Don't worry, Jack. She'll be fine. She just needs help healing from such a horrible experience."

"Thanks, Maxwell." Jack sighed, staring at the card with mixed emotions. He hated the idea of sending Rose to a shrink, but he wanted her to be happy and healthy again. For all their sakes. He couldn't allow Titanic to haunt her any longer. "I'll check this out."

"Is Rose okay?" Eliza appeared at the top of the stairs.

"Yes. She's sleeping peacefully right now. She'll be fine by morning." Maxwell smiled reassuringly. "So, Eliza...shall I walk you home?"

Before she could answer, there was loud banging at the door. "Eliza! I know you're in there! You might as well come out and face the music!" Lee's angry voice called up.

"Oh, no. It's Lee." Eliza groaned, unsuccessfully trying to hide the fear in her eyes. "I better go before he wakes Rose up."

"Eliza..." Jack tried to stop her. "You don't have to go with him. He doesn't own you. I don't care if you've been engaged since...you were babies."

"Jack, please...let me go."

"Eliza!" Lee called again.

"He's right, Eliza." Maxwell sided with Jack. "Don't let him control you like this."

"I don't want to hear this. Especially from you, Dr. Calvert. I'm leaving, and that's that." Eliza headed back down the stairs and out the door, leaving both Jack and Maxwell staring after her.

"You love her, don't you?" Jack turned to the doctor. "Rose was right."

"I can't help myself, Jack." Maxwell sighed. "She's an amazing woman. That jerk doesn't deserve her."

"I know how you feel. I felt the same way about Rose. But be careful, Maxwell. Lee Conway is a dangerous man. He's very protective of his possessions, and he considers Eliza his most precious possession."

Maxwell nodded at Jack's warning. He knew very well how dangerous the Conways were, and he did consider the consequences of tangling with them. But once he had Eliza in his arms forever, they could leave Chippewa Falls and live elsewhere. Perhaps California would be nice. Eliza would love the ocean and the California sunsets.

"I'll be going now, Jack. I'll be back tomorrow morning to check up on Rose's condition. Take good care of her." Maxwell began for the stairs.

"I will. Thank you, Maxwell. We appreciate this." Jack escorted his friend to the door and watched him leave. He wished Dr. Calvert the best. He deserved the same happiness that he now shared with Rose, and so did Eliza. He hoped that they both find their way to each other safely...without any problems from Lee Conway and Eliza's mother. But that was unlikely. It was a safe bet to say that Maxwell and Eliza were going to be another Jack and Rose, without the sinking ship.

Chapter Twenty-Two
Stories