AFTER TITANIC
Chapter Nine

The next morning, Rose woke up to find Jack standing at the window, looking out. His eyes shone with a certain unhappiness that she had caught only one time...on the Carpathia. He must have been thinking about Fabrizio and Tommy and Cora again. But why now? Then, she saw the newspaper lying on the table. She got up and strolled over to the table and reads the headline: Titanic Inquiries Underway.

Oh, would it ever end? Would Titanic ever stop haunting them?

"Jack...I know how you feel." Rose wrapped her arms around her husband's waist. "But you have to stop dwelling on it. I know that's hard to do with the newspapers always printing something up on it, but still...you have to stop letting it get to you. Fabrizio wouldn't want you to be sad. He'd want you to be happy and getting on with your life."

"I should have died, too, Rose." Jack sighed, turning to face her, tears welling up in his blue eyes. "I should have died along with them. It's not fair...it's just not fair."

"Jack..."

"Ever since we were rescued...I've felt like I've been living on borrowed time," Jack confessed, glaring down at the floor. "I think the only reason I did survive was to make sure that you would be all right and keep your promise to live life to the fullest. If it wasn't for that...I probably would have died."

"Oh, Jack...you survived because it was meant to be." Rose caressed his cheek. "Believe me, being in that cold water almost did kill you. I'm so happy it didn't...that you survived."

Rose pulled him into a warm hug and squeezed him tight. She had no idea he was feeling like this. What kind of wife was she? She should have been more in tune to his feelings; she should have comforted him more than just the other way around. "Jack, please don't be sad any longer. I love you, and the man I love deserves to be happy. Do I make myself clear?" Her voice was strict, firm, yet loving. She had to get him to cheer up. She didn't want him feeling sad any longer.

"Yes, Rose. You make yourself perfectly clear." Jack smile,, wiping a stray curl away from her eyes. God, he loved her so much...more than he loved anyone.

"Now, get dressed. We both have a lot of job searching to do." Rose smiled, turning back to the bed and changing into a simple yellow dress that she had bought the day before.

The job search was long, yet fruitful, for Rose. After two hours of looking, she had found the perfect job in a small cafe in the nice part of New York, as a waitress. She'd be making a dollar per hour, but it was better than nothing. Returning home, she found Mrs. Hitcherman sitting on the bed, eyeing the Heart of the Ocean Rose had accidentally left out on the dresser. How could she have been so stupid? Why hadn't she hidden the necklace where no one would find it?

"I see you're not exactly what you say you are, girl. I knew there was something different about you, girl." The old woman took a puff of her cigarette.

"Mrs. Hitcherman..."

"Now, that boy I could tell was never rich in his life. I can tell by the way he holds himself. But you...you have upper class snob written all over you." The old woman snorted. "And this diamond necklace proves my suspicions. What are you doing here girl...and with him? The boy couldn't even afford a nicer place. I'm quite surprised that you've agreed to live here."

"Mrs. Hitcherman..."

"Were you curious? Is that why you married him? Curious about how the other half lived? Come down here to laugh at us?"

"No. That's not the reason I married Jack at all. I married Jack because I love him." Rose was feeling the hot anger burning deep within her. How dare this strange woman accuse her of not truly loving Jack? How dare she even insinuate that?

"That's bull, and we both know it. There's no way a rich gal like you could ever truly love someone beneath her. Believe me, I know how you rich bitches work. You come down here to the wrong side of the tracks, pick a poor unknowing boy to marry. Experience hardship for a week, then file for a divorce within the week and run off to marry a rich man. And I hate to see that happen to such a sweet boy as Jack."

"I would never do that to Jack, for one thing, and you have no idea how we met, nor how we feel for each other. I suggest you do your research before jumping to conclusions about things," Rose replied, anger burning in her forest green eyes. She had only felt this anger once before, when her mother had commented about the lifeboats being crowded.

"Oh, Mother, shut up! There's not enough boats. Not even by half! Half the people on this ship are going to die!"

"Conclusions? I don't think so. I know what I'm talking about and what I see. And I'm not going to stand by and let a rich whore like you take advantage of a sweet boy like Jack just so she can see how the other half lives! I suggest you drop this charade now before it's so deep his heart will be broken."

"Get out!" Rose pointed towards the door. "Get out right now!"

"You better learn your manners, girl. This is my house you're living in. Plus, I'm not one of your maids you can order around. I'll give you five days to leave the boy, or I'll find out where this necklace came from and inform your people where you are." The woman held the Heart of the Ocean above the bed, letting it swing like a pendulum. "It's your choice."

The woman got up and left the room, with the Heart of the Ocean in her hand.

Rose slowly lowered herself to the bed. She'd never been so scared in her life, even when the Titanic had lowered her and Jack into the water. And she'd never been as hurt when Cal had called her a whore after they took Jack away. What was she going to do? She couldn't leave Jack...but she couldn't let Cal find her, either.

She didn't know why the woman was so angry about Rose being from an upper class family and married to Jack. What business of it was hers, anyway? But the woman was serious. She could tell that by the cruel hardness in the woman's eyes when she told Rose to leave her husband.

"Oh, Jack," Rose whispered, fresh, hot tears burning in her eyes. One thing was certain. She wasn't going to tell Jack what happened. He had so much on his mind already; he didn't need to worry about the old woman blackmailing her. There was only one person Rose could talk to. Grabbing her coat, Rose headed for the richer side of town, where the neighborhood the hotel Molly had set up in was. Taking a deep breath, Rose headed for Molly's room, praying that she'd be home. Yes, Molly would know exactly what she should do.

"Hold your britches! I'm coming!" Molly hollered, as Rose kept ringing the bell in her growing desperation. "God almighty, Rose!" Molly exclaimed, when she opened the door. "You look a fright. Come on in! Where's Jack?"

"At work, I guess." Rose sniffed, trying to keep her raging emotions under control. "Molly...I have to talk to you about something that's happening to me. I can't talk to Jack. He already has enough on his mind. You're the only person I can come to with this."

"Rose, honey, what is it? What's so bad that you can't possibly tell Jack?" Molly gently led Rose over to the sofa. "Whatever it is, it sure has spooked you something awful."

Rose couldn't take it anymore. The concerned expression on Molly's face made her burst into uncontrollable tears. All Molly could do at the moment was hold the sobbing girl and rock her like she did with her own children when they were upset. "There, there, Rosie. It's okay. Everything will be okay. Just tell Molly what's ailing ya."

"Oh, Molly. It's this horrible landlady we have." Rose told her about the woman's accusations and threats, and the final outcome if Rose chose to ignore them. "Oh, Molly, what am I going to do?"

"Tell Jack. That's what you're going to do. He needs to know about this, Rose. He needs to know what this mad woman is doing to you." Molly stroked the girl's hair. "I know that you don't want to load him down with your troubles, but this threat doesn't only involve you. It involves him as well."

"But, Molly...you didn't see how miserable he was this morning. He blames himself for Fabrizio's death. I had to practically force him to smile for me this morning. I don't think he'll be able to handle this."

"Rose, it's not up to you on whether Jack can handle this or not. It's up to him. How about this? I'll go talk to this woman and get some sense into her. And if push comes to shove, you and Jack can come back here to stay until you can get a nicer apartment."

"Molly," Rose began to protest.

"Don't let that woman break up your marriage, Rose. You two have come through too much for that." Molly gripped Rose's shoulders. "Now, let me get a coat, and we'll head on over there."

"No, Molly. No. There's no need for you to come with me. I'll be fine." Rose forced a smile. "Really. I know what I should do about Mrs. Hitcherman now."

"Rosie...I don't know. I don't like the sound of this woman." Molly sighed. "Fine. I won't come with you, but you have to promise me that you'll tell Jack when he returns. He needs to know about what she's doing to you."

"Thank you, Molly. I really did need someone to talk to." Rose wiped away the few remaining tears. "But I know what I must do now. Good-bye, Molly, and thank you for everything." Rose got up and left the room.

"Rose, wait!" Molly got up to follow her, but it was too late. Rose had disappeared. "Please, God, look after that poor girl and help her do the right thing." All Molly could do now was pray for both Jack and Rose.

Jack wasn't back by the time Rose returned. Good. This way she could do what she had to do more easily. She didn't have to face him. But where was she going to go? Not back to Cal and Mother. That was for sure. That would be defeating her purpose. Plus, she wanted to go somewhere where Jack might be able to find her...if he didn't end up hating her after all this was over. But where would that be?

"Have you ever been to Wisconsin? They have some of the coldest winters around..."

Of course! Chippewa Falls! It was small and nobody knew her, but they knew Jack, and it was a place where she could still feel close to him. Plus, if he did return there...maybe there was a chance they could salvage their relationship.

"Chippewa Falls, here I come," Rose said to herself, getting out a pen and paper. She had to say good-bye somehow. She couldn't just leave him without an explanation; she loved him too much for that.

Taking one last look around, with the few belongings she had, she exited the apartment and headed for Mrs. Hitcherman's room. There was one last thing she had to get back...the last reminder of her and Jack's relationship on the Titanic.

"Oh, it's you." The old woman snorted. "And I see you chose to follow my advice. Well, good. This is all for the best. It'll save Jack a whole lot of heartbreak later on."

"Oh, shut up. You'd know nothing about heartbreak if it bit you in that big ass of yours. I just came for the necklace you stole and that's all...after that, I'll be leaving," Rose growled, not wanting to get into a conversation with the woman who broke up her marriage.

"Very well, then," Hitcherman coldly replied, disappearing into the room and reemerging with the Heart of the Ocean. "It's a shame I have to give it back. It's the most beautiful piece of jewelry I have ever seen."

"Good-bye, Mrs. Hitcherman." Rose turned and left when she had the necklace back in her possession. "Good-bye, Jack," she whispered as she left the building, tears spilling out of her eyes. She now realized that Titanic would always be something she wouldn't forget. It was the one place that she and Jack were truly happy.

*****

Jack skipped into the apartment in the best mood he'd been in since the day he married Rose. Today was great; he had done about seven sketches and made about thirty dollars in all that day. That was enough to last them for a good while. Tonight he was going to take Rose out to celebrate.

"Rose!" Jack called, looking around the apartment for his wife, but finding it empty. Oh, well, maybe she had found a job, and they had made her start today.

He strolled over to the bed and was about to lay down when he spotted the tear-stained letter Rose had left on the pillow.

"Rose?" he asked, picking up the letter and reading.

My dearest Jack,

I'm sorry to be leaving this letter, but it's the only way I can say good-bye to you. I'm leaving for both of our good. Let's face it, Jack, I'm a burden to you, an extra person you have to worry about, and I'm an upper class girl who can't possibly take care of herself, much less a family. You deserve a girl who can do just that. Our time together on Titanic, and the past couple of days, will always be in my heart, and so will you. Please don't try to find me. Just let me go. You'll see that this is all for the best. I'll always love you, Jack Dawson, and will never forget you. Good-bye and good luck.

Love,

Rose DeWitt Bukater Dawson

Jack didn't know what to do except stare off into space. How could she do this? How could she just leave him alone like this, not even bothering to say good-bye in person? How could he ever forgive her?

"Why, Rose? Why did you do this? Why didn't you just talk to me?"

Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door. Maybe it was Rose. Maybe she'd decided to come back. "Rose?" he asked, opening the door to Mrs. Hitcherman.

"No, dear. It's just me. Is everything all right in here?" the old woman asked.

"Uh...not really...I just need to take a walk." Jack grabbed his coat. "Will you keep a eye out for my wife...if she returns, tell her not to go anywhere, to wait until I come back."

"Sure." Hitcherman nodded, her heart going out to Jack. Poor boy, he should have known better than to get involved with a high society girl. Now that her own daughter was returning home tomorrow, maybe she'd be able to mend his broken heart.

*****

Molly was in the midst of packing her bags to return to Denver. It was time to leave New York and the tragedy behind. But before she left for good, she wanted to stop by Jack and Rose's to make sure that everything was all right with them two, make sure that Rose told Jack everything and they both had taken care of that nasty landlady. She closed the suitcase when there was a slight knock on the door.

"Now, who can this be?" Molly grumbled, opening the door to reveal Jack, whose blue eyes were red from crying. "Jack? What's wrong, sugar? Where's Rose?"

"I don't know, Molly. She left me, only leaving a letter telling me good-bye." Jack sniffed. "I combed the city for her, but I couldn't find her anywhere." Jack handed Molly the letter to read. "Why, Molly? Why did she do this to me?"

"Oh, Jack..."

Jack spotted Molly's packed suitcases. "Oh, you're leaving. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you. I better go." Jack took the letter back after Molly read it.

"No, Jack. You don't understand...come in and we can talk about this. You have to understand why Rose did what she did."

"Oh, I do understand, Molly. She wasn't strong enough for life on the streets. I can understand and even forgive that, but she should have told me in person, not in a letter...not like this." His voice was full of disgust. His eyes teared up again. "I've bothered you enough...I better be going." He turned and left.

"Jack, wait!" Molly called, as Jack turned around one more time.

"Oh, Molly, if you see Rose again...tell her that I'm not angry with her. Just tell her I'm disappointed. That's all. Good-bye, Molly." Jack turned around and disappeared down the hall.

"Jack, wait!" Molly called out, one more time, but it was too late. He was gone. "That poor boy. And poor Rose. Her heart must be in pieces after all of this."

Chapter Ten
Stories