DUST IN THE WIND
Chapter Thirteen
A scream rang out through the
house on a cool Sunday morning. Two hours earlier, Rose had gone into labor.
Jack was now kneeling beside Rose, tightly holding her hand in his. It had
taken a half hour of begging and pleading for the doctor to let Jack stay.
"You’re doing great,
sweetie." He kissed her head.
"Jack," Rose growled,
grabbing hold of his shirt. "If you ever come near me again, I’ll kill
you."
Jack looked at his wife, looking
a bit hurt at the statement. The doctor laughed as Jack’s gaze fell on him.
"That’s the pain talking. Don’t worry." The physician grinned before
turning his attention back to Rose. "Okay, Rose. I’m going to need you to
push. On the count of three! One…two…three! Push!"
Rose screamed as she pushed,
trying to ignore the pain, but failing. Exhausted, she leaned against Jack.
"I can’t…I can’t do this anymore. I’m too tired."
"One more time, Mrs. Dawson!
I see the head now! I just need you to push one more time," the doctor
ordered.
"I can’t!" Rose cried,
panting against the pain. Jack’s heart broke for her. She was in so much pain.
He’d do anything to trade places with her.
"Rose, remember how tired
you were on the Titanic? You managed despite that, didn’t you, sweetie? You can
push this one last time. Just grip my hand and lean against me if you have to.
Our baby is almost here, Rose." He rubbed her sweaty hand.
Finding strength in Jack’s voice,
Rose leaned against him and used the last of her strength to push the tiny
being out of her body. She felt a wave of relief as a tiny cry filled the room.
Soft and tiny, but loud. Their baby had arrived.
"You have a daughter,"
the doctor announced, holding up a red, tiny newborn. "Let me get her
washed off, and then she’s all yours."
Jack gasped in amazement as his
daughter was lowered into Rose’s arms. Blue eyes met his in mute curiosity as a
tiny fist was pressed into her tiny mouth. She was perfect. From the tiny red
fuzz on top of her head to her tiny feet.
"Come Josephine in my
flying machine…" he sang.
"She’s so tiny," Rose
whispered, completely mesmerized.
"She’s perfect." Jack
looked at his wife and felt the familiar wave of love he felt whenever he
looked at Rose. "We should name her Josephine. She looks like a
Josephine."
Rose nodded, a tired smile on her
face. Josephine was perfect. "I love it."
"I love you. Both of
you." He kissed her. "I’d better go telegraph Molly. Tell her about
Josephine’s entrance into the world." He gently let go of Rose and went to
send the telegram.
The future seemed bright and
trouble free for the Dawsons. Little did they know that trouble was right
around the corner.