AFTER TITANIC
Chapter Twenty-Five

Rose woke up to an empty house. Jack had already left for work. He must have let her sleep late since she had had a hard time sleeping last night. She had kept waking up at every creak and groan of the house. She must have driven him crazy last night, but he had never complained. He was a great husband. She loved him so much.

Stretching tiredly, she got up out of bed and slipped on a simple yellow dress and went downstairs to fix herself some breakfast. Her mind drifting off, she began humming Come Josephine to herself. She had decided to put the fears of last night behind her. She knew the house wasn't haunted. She had lived there for seven months now, and she hadn't seen a ghost, or anything else, for that matter.

"Come Josephine in my flying machine," she sang.

"Up she goes, up she goes," another voice whispered in her ear.

Rose was again alert. Now that wasn't her imagination. She had felt the person's breath tickle her ear. "Hello? Who's there?"

No answer. It seemed as if she was alone. But she knew she wasn't. She couldn't have imagined that breath in her ear.

"Jack? Are you here?"

"Up she goes," whispered the voice again, a little louder this time.

Dropping the spatula she was stirring the eggs with, Rose screamed and darted out of the house. She was halfway down the dirt path when she ran smack into Eliza and Amanda.

"Rose?" Eliza asked, stopping Rose from going any further. "What's wrong? What happened?"

Rose stared at Eliza with big, frightened eyes. She couldn't seem to get any words out of her mouth.

"She's as pale as a ghost," Amanda observed, glancing up at the Dawson farm. The front door was wide open, and for a second she thought she saw a figure standing in the doorway, but when she looked back, the figure was gone. "Rose...what happened?"

"I heard a voice, but no one was there." Rose forced the words out of her mouth.

"What do you mean, you heard a voice but no one was there?" Eliza asked.

"She means she saw a ghost, Eliza," Amanda answered for Rose. "Or rather heard one."

"That's not what she's saying, Amanda. We've discussed this before. There are no ghosts. Especially here at the Dawson farm."

"Rose, did you see a ghost?" Amanda flat out asked, her hands on her hips.

Rose looked at the girls, her eyes frightened, and simply nodded yes. She did see a ghost. That was the only explanation she could come up with for what had happened last night and that morning.

"Told you." Amanda smiled smugly. "Was it Mrs. Dawson, Rose?"

"Shut up, Amanda!" Eliza shouted, putting an arm around Rose. "I hope you're happy with yourself. Scaring Rose with that stupid story of yours, and now you're trying to confirm it. Come on, Rose. Let me take you home."

"No." Rose's voice was firm and to the point. "I don't want to go back there...not alone."

"You won't be alone. Amanda and I will be with you. We'll stay with you until Jack comes home. Okay?" Eliza tried to comfort her frightened friend, who was now in tears.

"Eliza, I don't think you're right in forcing her to return to that house when she doesn't want to." Amanda shook her head. "We can go to your house, then send for Jack when he gets off."

Eliza didn't answer. She just took Rose's hand and led her back up to the house. "Come on, Rose. We need to get you out of this weather. It's not good for the baby." Eliza ignored Amanda and took Rose’s hand and led her back to the house.

Amanda just rolled her eyes and followed.

The house was once again empty as they entered the house. The stove was still on, burning the pan. "I'll fix some tea. Amanda, why don't you take Rose back into the living room and help her relax." Eliza looked into the cabinet to search for tea packs.

"Sure. Come on, Rose," Amanda said, leading Rose back into the living room.

"You think I'm crazy, don't you, Amanda?" Rose sniffed, looking at the other girl.

"No, Rose," Amanda answered. "I don't think you're crazy. I believe you. I saw her myself, remember?"

"Jack will. I know he will. He'll probably think I've lost my mind and will have to be put into an insane asylum."

"No, he won't. He'll probably blame me for putting the idea of ghosts in your head. Rose...tell me...what happened? What convinced you that this place was haunted?"

Rose was silent at first, not sure that she wanted to share this information with a girl she hardly knew. But she had to tell someone. "Last night I felt a cold hand on my shoulder, but no one was there. Then today, when I woke up...someone was singing in my ear. I know it wasn't my imagination. I could feel their breath in my ear."

"Here's your tea, Rose." Eliza came in, carrying a tray with three teacups on it.

"Thank you, Eliza." Rose shakily took the cup.

"No problem. And don't worry. We'll stay here with you until Jack does return."

Jack didn't return until six o'clock that night. He was late, hungry, and exhausted. Amanda was the first to see him approach the house. "Here comes Jack now." She got up, ready to leave. She was sure that she felt a pair of eyes staring at her all day, and they didn't belong to Rose or Eliza.

"See, Jack's home. You'll be fine now, won't you?" Eliza asked, ready to follow Amanda out the door.

Rose nodded somberly. Eliza and Amanda's presence didn't cheer her up any. She could still feel the cold breath tickling her ears. "I'll be fine."

"We'll see you later, then." The girls waved, disappearing out the door, leaving Rose alone with her unborn child.

"Don't you worry. We're going to be just fine." Rose tried to soothe both the baby and herself. Jack would be here soon, and she wouldn't be alone anymore.

"Was that Eliza and Amanda leaving just now?" Jack asked, coming through the door.

Rose nodded. "They spent the day with me. We drank tea, talked, they helped me cook dinner, and we straightened up some."

"Well, that's great. I was feeling concerned with you here by yourself and the baby's due date being in a couple of months. I hope they make this a habit, at least until the baby's born." Jack collapsed into the recliner beside the door, his blue eyes exhausted. "I'm so tired. It's been a hard day."

Rose slightly smiled as she saw her husband lean his head back and close his eyes, his lips totally relaxed. She quickly moved closer to him. "Jack..."

"Hmm?"

"I love you, Jack, more than life itself. I hope you know that."

"I do, Rose. I've known that since we said I do." He halfway opened his eyes and stared lovingly at her. His beautiful Rose. Her red hair was pulled up in a bun, just like she wore it on Titanic. Her green eyes were filled with love, but he sensed something else...fear? "Rose...is something wrong?" He sat up, completely awake now.

Of course he would be able to tell something was wrong. She could never hide anything from him. But how could she possibly tell him that she thought the house was haunted...by his parents, of all people?

"Nothing's wrong...I've just missed you so. That's all." Rose forced a smile. But Jack was not fooled. He pulled her over and into his lap and stared into her emerald green eyes.

"It's okay. You can tell me, Rose. Remember, no more secrets. What's bothering you?"

That was when Rose finally burst into tears and leaned into Jack's arms. She had never felt so frightened and alone in her life. How could she make Jack understand? "Jack...the house...it's haunted...I just know it is."

"Haunted? Rose, you've lived in this house for seven months now. Have you ever seen a ghost since you've been here?"

"No, but..."

"It was only after Amanda's story that you started thinking this place was haunted, right?"

"But, Jack, listen to me. I have proof that it's haunted. I really do. Last night when you went looking for a light switch, I felt a cold hand on my shoulder. At first, I thought it was you. Then, when you turned the lights on and I turned around, there was no one there. But I dismissed it as my imagination."

"And that's what it was."

"No, Jack, no. It wasn't just my imagination. This morning when I woke up and went downstairs to make breakfast, I was singing our song...alone. Then someone else sang the second part of the song...twice, Jack. The second time louder than the first. I know it wasn't my imagination, because I could feel their breath tickle my ear." Rose was now in tears. She was convinced that Jack thought she had lost her mind again. She could tell that he was having a hard time believing her.

"Rose...you could have been dreaming," Jack replied in a soft voice. "That happens, you know. It happened once before down on Lake Wissota...remember?"

"That was different, Jack. What do I have to feel guilty for now?"

"I don't know, Rose. But what you're saying...it's impossible. It has to be."

"Why does it have to be impossible, Jack?"

Jack looked away from her, trying to hide the pain in his eyes. "It just has to be. Okay? Now, let's drop the subject. I don't want to talk about it anymore."

"But, Jack..."

"No, Rose. I don't want to talk about it!" Jack's voice was harsh, but when he saw the hurt on Rose's face, his voice softened. "I'm sorry, Rose. I didn't mean to yell at you. It's just been a long day. Plus, I'm hungry and tired."

"That's okay, Jack. I should have dropped the subject. I'll go make you a plate." Rose got up and disappeared into the kitchen. Jack sighed deeply as he watched her leave. He really didn't mean to yell at her. He loved her so much, but the subject of his parents was a sore point for him. He wished Amanda had never told that story and got Rose spooked like that.

"Jack." A soft voice spoke from behind him.

"Yes, Rose?" Jack didn't look behind him. He just closed his eyes again.

"My Jack," the voice said again. A soft but cold hand caressed his cheek.

Rose stepped out of the kitchen with the plates fixed. She gasped and dropped both of them on the floor. Jack was still in the recliner, his eyes closed, and hovering behind him was a woman with blond hair pulled back into a bun. The woman looked up at Rose, her intense blue eyes staring into her very being...just like Jack's. The woman just lifted a finger to her lips, as if she's signaling Rose to be quiet and not wake Jack. Then the woman disappeared.

Jack woke back up to see his wife standing in the doorway leading into the kitchen. Her face was ghostly pale and she was hyperventilating. There were broken plates of food at her feet where she must have dropped them.

"Rose?"

Rose pointed behind him, but there was nothing there. "S-she was right there."

Jack got up and went to his wife. He led her to the couch and tried to calm her down. "Rose, you've got to calm down. This isn't good for the baby."

"B-but..." Rose burst into tears and fell into Jack's arms. "I want my mother!" She cried like a scared child and clung to Jack. She'd never been so scared in her life. "I want my mother!"

"Shh, Rose. It's okay. I'll get her. I'll send for Ruth right now." Jack held her. "But right now, let me take you upstairs where you can get some rest. Okay?"

Rose nodded, allowing Jack to lead her up the stairs and tuck her into bed.

"Try to get some rest. I'm going to have a telegram sent to Ruth and Molly and let them know you need them here." Jack tried to smile. "Will you be all right here by yourself?"

Rose didn't say anything. She just stared straight ahead. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"I'll be back, Rose," Jack said, going downstairs to see Maxwell at the door. "Maxwell, I'm glad you're here."

"Is it Rose and the baby? What's wrong?"

"It's Rose. She's upset and is asking for her mother. So I'm going to send for her now, but I don't want to leave her here by herself. Will you stay here with her?"

"Sure I will, Jack. Listen, I'll go up and tell her. You just go send that telegram."

"Thanks, Maxwell. I owe you one." Jack smiled gratefully before darting out the door.

*****

Rose was laying in her bed, her eyes wide open and staring straight ahead. Maxwell was in the chair next to the bed, fast asleep. Jack wouldn't be back for another hour. The woman...she now knew who she was. She was Emma Dawson...Jack's mother. But why was she here? Why now? What could she possibly want?

"All I want is for my son to forgive himself," a soft voice replied in front of her. Rose blinked and saw the woman standing before her. Her eyes were as deep and blue as Jack's, her hair the same golden blond. It was wise to say that Jack favored his mother a lot.

"He has forgiven himself." Rose forced out the words.

"For Titanic he has. But not for the fire. He's never forgiven himself for that."

"But why does he blame himself for the fire? It wasn't his fault."

"I know," was all the woman said, before disappearing again.

"Wait! Don't go!" Rose called, but Emma didn't return.

"Rose! Are you okay?" Maxwell was wide awake. He had heard Rose calling out.

"I'm fine." Rose nodded, a tear falling from her eye. "I'm just fine."

Chapter Twenty-Six
Stories