TITANIC CONTINUED
Chapter Twenty-Three

Rose sat beside her mother, trying her best to comfort her. She kept coming up with optimistic things to say, but deep down, she had no idea what was going to happen.

Where would they live? She wondered if Jack had any money saved away. Rose had a couple hundred dollars in her bank account at home put away for a rainy day, but that wouldn't buy them a house. It might cover about six months rent and food. And then what? And what about her mother?

All I want is for Jack and I to be together, Rose thought, putting a comforting arm around her mother's shoulders. But things weren't looking bright at all. Running away with Jack had seemed like such a wonderful fantasy...when it was only a fantasy. Now, it was about to be her reality. And it was turning out to be full of doubts and painful decisions.

She hoped with all her heart that things would get better. They had to. There wasn't much time left.

*****

The man put down his glass and turned to get a closer look at the young man standing to his left.

Jack watched his eyes closely. After a few seconds, he saw those eyes recognize him. He breathed a sigh of relief. It was his Uncle James!

"Jack? Little Jack? I'll be damned! Won't I just be damned!" Uncle James immediately stood up and gave Jack an affectionate handshake. "You're all grown up! Look at you!"

Jack smiled at his uncle. "You, too, Uncle James. It's been a while!"

Uncle James was still shaking his hand. "It has! The last time I saw you, you were just a little bitty thing! And look at you! A grown man! Everyone look! Meet my nephew, Jack Dawson. Jack Dawson, meet...everyone!"

Introductions went around the table, making Jack feel very welcome. He was immediately offered a chair.

As he sat down, Jack saw that Molly had returned from the ladies' room. He mouthed the words go ahead and start without me, and she gave him a wink and a nod.

"So, what are you doing here, nephew? You've obviously done well for yourself!" He was referring to the expensive tuxedo Jack was wearing, not to mention that fact that you had to be quite well-off to hold a first class ticket on the Titanic.

Jack almost wanted to go along with it, just so his uncle would be proud of him for turning out so well. But he explained that the tuxedo was borrowed from a friend, and that he was a third class passenger, actually.

But no look of disappointment crossed his uncle's face. He was still good old Uncle James, although he did look quite different.

The last time Jack had seen him had been when he was seven or eight. It was that last visit when Uncle James had given him the old coin, which now belonged to Rose.

"So, what are you doing here? Did you win a lot of money or something?" Jack asked his uncle.

Uncle James laughed. "No, no. Nothing like that. See, about twelve years ago, I went to work for a little oil company. It was the first job I actually held onto for more than a few months. Anyway, every two weeks, when I'd get paid, I would take out a little bit for myself, and all the rest, about eighty percent of my pay, I'd invest in the company. That had what you call stocks. And after about nine or ten years of doing this, I had built up quite a fortune there. And it turns out, because of a little putting back out of every single pay envelope, and buying more and more of those stocks, I'm a millionaire now! So, what do you think about that?"

Jack was incredulous.

"And I now own that little oil company, and I'm doing pretty well."

"Wow," Jack said. "That's…well…that's great, Uncle James!"

Uncle James took a puff off his cigar. "So what about you? What are you doing these days?"

All the other people at the table had their own conversations going, obviously no longer interested in this reunion of uncle and nephew.

"Well, I'm kind of drifting around, doing freelance stuff...well, I'm an artist, actually."

Uncle James nodded. "An artist, ya say? Well, I'll be damned if I would've ever guessed this family had a touch of artistic ability in it! I guess I was wrong! Say, what kind of drawings do you do?"

"I do portraits, mainly, candid portraits...you know, of people doing everyday things."

"Well, the question is, are you any good?"

Jack didn't know how to answer such a question. "Well...I guess I'm pretty good at what I do, although it doesn't bring in much money. But I love doing it."

"Well, maybe you're not making much money at it because you don't know the right people," Uncle James stated matter-of-factly.

"I don't quite catch your meaning," Jack said.

"Well," Uncle James explained, "I'm quite the art entrepreneur myself. I mean, I collect art. I'm not an artist. But I appreciate it. I have a small gallery at home, in fact, filled with work from my favorite painters--Da Vinci, Van Gogh, Picasso...I'm no professional--it's just a hobby--but I know lots of people who are. If you could bring me some stuff you've done, let me take a look at it, and if you didn't mind me showing it to some people...well, if it's good...I'm sure I know some people who just might be interested."

Jack was ecstatic. "Are you kidding? I can get you some of my drawings right now! This minute!"

Jack walked quickly all the way back to his room. He couldn't believe what had just happened. He had a real chance at something big! If Uncle James had friends, rich friends who might actually be interested in--imagine it--his drawings…well…he and Rose would be set! Or at least they'd be better off than they were now.

In high spirits, he grabbed his portfolio and went back out into the corridor.

He arrived breathlessly back in the dining room. Uncle James was still there. Jack noticed that Molly had already gone. He felt bad, having borrowed her son's tuxedo, escorted her to dinner, and then left her there to eat alone. But he would explain later, and she would understand.

"Here they are," he said, handing the folder to Uncle James.

Uncle James took it and began leafing through it slowly. He stopped to study each and every picture. When he was finished, he put the portfolio on the table and looked at Jack.

"I can definitely help you out, young man."

Jack was filled with excitement. "You mean they're good? You mean--oh, are you sure you're not just saying that because I'm your nephew and..."

Uncle James shook his head. "No. Uh-uh." He spoke very seriously. "Jack, why, these are masterpieces! I can't believe you're carrying them around in this tattered thing! They could be damaged, torn--"

He paused, remembering that Jack couldn't afford much better than the faded, tattered folder he kept all his drawings in.

"Sorry," he said apologetically.

Jack held up his hand to wave it off. "No, don't worry about it. But listen, Uncle James. The thing is, I'm engaged."

Uncle James immediately stood up and gave him a good pat on the back. "Congratulations, my boy! Everyone! Attention, everyone!" He tapped his spoon on his champagne glass to get the table's attention.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked their way.

"My nephew Jack is engaged to be married!"

There was a round of congratulatory applause, and Uncle James sat back down.

"You didn't have to do that, Uncle James," Jack said, blushing.

"Why, yes, I did! You're my only nephew, and I'm proud of you!" was Uncle James' reply.

Those words made Jack feel good. He hadn't heard them in a very, very long time.

"Now, back to business. When we dock in New York, you will come to my office and we will start arranging some meetings. I have several friends in the city who will be knocking your door down once they see these," he said, patting the portfolio. "I need you to write down your address for me, if that's no trouble."

Jack frowned. "Well, I don't really have a place to stay yet."

Uncle James frowned, too. "What do you mean? You're coming home with your fiancée with no place to live?"

Embarrassed, Jack nodded.

"Then it's settled. You, and your fiancée will stay with me until you get on your feet."

Jack started to refuse, but before he could, Uncle James continued. "Don't even try to get out of it--I've got plenty of room, and once you start selling these drawings of yours, you won't be there for long, believe you me!"

Jack thought about it. It was so wonderful what Uncle James was doing for him, and he wanted to accept the offer right then and there, but he needed to talk it over with Rose first. This was an important decision that he couldn't make without her.

"Uncle James, I can't thank you enough. But I need to talk it over with Rose--my fiancée--before we make any real plans. Is there any chance I could talk to you before we dock tomorrow? At breakfast maybe?"

Uncle James nodded and smiled. "Of course. Talk it over with her. We have so many years to catch up on, you and I. It would be an honor having the two of you stay in my home."

After a handshake and a hug, Jack said good night to everyone at the table, and to Uncle James, and thanked him again for what he had done.

Walking out, he realized he still hadn't eaten dinner! He turned back around and asked the nearest waiter if he could bring him a couple of sandwiches.

It was late, almost midnight. Jack could tell most of the ship was already asleep. He was tempted to go right then to tell Rose the good news, but he didn't want to disturb her or Ruth. So he headed in the opposite direction for his cabin.

But at his door, he changed his mind.

Walking to Rose's suite, Jack thought to himself, Getting on this ship is the only right thing I've ever done in my whole life. It brought me to Rose, and now look what's happened--I'm finally getting a break! I am sure glad I ran into Molly in the elevator, or I might have never run into Uncle James and I'd still be looking for a way to make some money to live on. Fate sure is a funny thing.

After a few knocks on the door, Rose opened it.

She was wearing her nightgown, no makeup or jewelry, and her hair was wild and rumpled. He'd never seen her look sexier.

They kissed, and Jack came in.

"Mother's in bed."

"I see you were in bed yourself," he said playfully, and gently ran his fingers through her hair.

"She sat in here crying for about half an hour after you left before I finally got her to lay down. Jack, what are we going to do? I can't just abandon her. I'm so confused..."

Jack held her.

He looked into her eyes and she saw the excited smile he was trying to hold back.

"Jack Dawson, you'd better confess! What is it you're hiding from me?" she asked laughingly.

"Oh, it's nothing," he said, smiling.

"Tell me!" she said, tugging on his arm. "Is it good news?"

He told her everything, about dinner with Uncle James, about the people Uncle James knew, and how he had practically guaranteed that Jack's drawings would be worth big money.

He also mentioned the fact that the next morning, he planned to ask Uncle James if Ruth could stay with them temporarily until she could get on her own feet as well.

Rose squealed and threw her arms around Jack.

"Everything's going to be all right, isn't it?" Rose whispered, unable to hide her happiness.

"Yes," Jack whispered.

"I knew it would be..." Rose whispered back.

"I love you," they said.

Epilogue
Stories