THE COST OF BEING RICH
Chapter Seventeen
There they were. Oh, so very, very close.
"I’m not going without you." Anger
and sadness swirled inside and out of me as I saw her gaze lovingly at Dawson.
"Get in the boat," he told her.
I walk up to them, and I’m close enough to
gather her up in my arms and hug her. "Yes. Get in the boat, Rose." I
firmly command myself to speak.
My heart broke once again as she stepped to
Dawson. Protectively, I give her my coat. There. What can he offer her?
"Go on. I’ll get the next one,"
Dawson said.
"No. Not without you."
I have to do something. I can’t let this
happen to her. "There are boats on the other side that are allowing men
in. Jack and I can get off safely. Both of us."
Rose was finally in the boat, just before
they had to lower it. I was left standing next to Dawson. He was everything I
wasn’t, and I hated him for it. "You’re a good liar."
"Almost as good as you."
"I always win, Jack. One way or
another." Liar! a voice inside me screamed.
I looked down at Rose, the tears streaming
down her face. I watched in horror as she began to move and climb the gunwale.
She hurled herself out of the boat to the rail of A-Deck and scrambled over the
rail. The lifeboat continued its descent. But Rose was back on Titanic.
*****
I know what happened, but I can’t remember
it.
I know Jack ran after her with me behind. He
met Rose at the Grand Staircase and by then I might as well have had my brain
hurled from the ship. I madly grabbed Lovejoy’s gun and ran after the two of
them, shooting as I went. My mind was focused on getting Dawson; it never even
occurred to me that I might hit Rose.
I waded into the water after them, but the
gun ran out of bullets soon enough. I must have thrown it on the ground and
lost track of them. Of Rose.