CALIFORNIA PARADISE
Chapter Two
Rose, calm down, she told herself. Jack is an extremely common name.
But I know that I felt something when he said it. A part of Jack Dawson that I
could never forget. She took a deep breath. No, I’m not getting myself
all excited just to be disappointed. She went over to her closet and picked
out a beautiful crimson dress that Rich had bought as a birthday present for
her. She put Jack out of her mind as best she could.
An impressive staircase. Sweeping silk gowns
and men in tuxes. Waltz music. Tears came to Rose’s eyes. Rich felt her
stiffen.
"Are you okay? What’s the matter?"
She smiled. She wasn’t going to spoil this
night for him. "It all just looks so elegant. I’m not used to it."
She smiled. Inside, she knew that she had been to parties a thousand times more
elegant during her childhood, but she couldn’t possibly tell Rich that. He
wouldn’t understand.
"I’m going to go mingle," she told
him.
"What about Jack?" He caught the
golden flash as her eyes lit up, then dimmed.
"Later." She couldn’t possibly deal
with that now.
*****
"Okay. When can I meet the famous
Jack?" she finally asked Rich.
"Um...oh, there he is. He must have just
arrived. He pointed to a handsome man at the bottom of the stairs, already
entertaining a small group of fans. Was that him? Rose asked herself.
Too many people. And his back was turned.
"Come on." Rich grabbed her hand
and led her toward him.
No, it can’t be him. Jack’s dead. Face it.
Twelve feet away. Now ten, eight, six, four,
two feet.
"Excuse me." Rich tapped the man on
his shoulder. He turned around.