TITANIC CONTINUED
Chapter Twenty-One
Rose felt as if her heart would
explode if it beat any faster. Pride and happiness surged through her veins.
She had done it! It had been a lot easier than she'd expected.
Every few steps, however, she
would turn her head to make sure Cal wasn't following her, planning to get her
alone to attempt to change her mind—using physical force, of course.
When she got back to Jack's room,
he opened the door and she ran into his arms.
"I guess it went well!"
Jack said, trying to keep from falling over backwards.
Rose looked up at him. "I
didn't even give him a chance to argue!"
Jack was deliriously happy at
that moment, but somehow it all sounded too easy. Surely Cal would have some
trick up his sleeve.
Rose kissed him and told him she
had to get going. It was getting late.
"Let me walk with you,"
Jack offered.
The two strolled happily along,
hand-in-hand. They reached her stateroom, and Jack pulled her to him for a kiss
just as the door opened. Ruth stood before them.
"Get in here this instant,
Rose."
Rose looked at Jack and then at
her mother. She couldn't think of anything to say. She felt it was time to tell
her mother that she had broken off the engagement to Cal and that she planned
to marry Jack.
"Mother, I have something to
tell you. And I want Jack to be here when I tell you. Jack, come in."
Ruth scowled at Rose's
effrontery. She glared at Jack as he hesitantly followed Rose into the
extravagant sitting room.
Rose seated herself on the
loveseat and gestured for Jack to sit down beside her. She took his hand.
As Ruth walked across the room,
she eyed Jack. Her gaze was cold. Then she turned her eyes to Rose.
"I think I know what you've
come to tell me. I already ran into Cal."
She sat stiff, upright on a chair
directly across from Jack and Rose.
Jack breathed a silent sigh of
relief. Maybe the fact that Ruth already knew would make it easier for Rose.
"Yes. Cal tells me you think
you're breaking off the engagement."
"No, Mother. He's
wrong."
Ruth looked confused.
"I'm not thinking about
breaking off the engagement. I have broken it off."
Ruth shook her head. "Rose,
you don't know what you're doing. You know how important this marriage is! To
both of us!"
"It's too late,
Mother."
Ruth was looking at Jack now.
"I suppose you have something to do with this."
"And what if he does?"
Rose shouted.
Ruth took offense. "Don't
you dare raise your voice to me, young lady!"
Rose stood up, her voice loud as
ever when she said, "He has a lot to do with it! I'm marrying him!"
The room fell silent. Rose
remained standing.
"And there are two things
that you can do, Mother. You can give us your blessing, and we will keep in
touch with you, visit you, and your grandchildren will know you and love you.
Or, you can sit there and argue and shout and tell me that I am going to marry
Cal, and the two of us, Jack and I, can walk out of this door hand-in-hand, get
off this damned ship hand-in-hand, and by God, you'll never see or hear from us
again!"
Ruth was speechless. Actually,
Jack was speechless also.
Rose finally sat down.
"I..." Ruth started.
Jack spoke up. "Mrs. DeWitt
Bukater, I know what you think of me. I know you think I'm a nothing because I
don't have a fortune or an honorable name. But I love your daughter. Her
happiness is more important to me than anything in this world. I know you feel
the same way." He paused. "But you have my promise that I will take
care of your daughter."
"I told him about the
money," Rose said.
Ruth looked at Rose accusingly,
as if their secret was out because Rose had told one person. "Mother, we
will think of something. You can cash in the bonds and...and there's still a
little money left from the insurance..."
Ruth actually appeared as if she
might cry. "Then what?" she asked quietly. "What will I do when
the money runs out? I have no one to support me, no one to love me." Her
voice was nearly inaudible.
Jack was shocked. He couldn't
imagine a woman who seemed as cold and emotionless as Ruth being so
sentimental, so close to tears. His heart went out to her suddenly. He knew
what it was like to have nothing. But here was a woman who had been spoiled
with wealth her entire life, and all of sudden she would be left with nothing
for the first time in her life. It must be a scary feeling.
"We will think of
something," Rose said encouragingly, but Ruth continued to be silent,
quickly wiping away every tear that tried to escape down her cheeks.