DUST IN THE WIND
Chapter Twenty-Two
Dear Jack,
This is just the first letter
of many, I suppose. Things have not been the same since you left. Josephine
keeps asking me when you’re coming home, and I don’t know what to tell her. So
I use my mother’s tactic whenever an uncomfortable subject came up in polite
conversation. I changed the subject. Don’t look so disappointed. What would you
have me tell her? She doesn’t understand the concept of war, and really, Jack,
she’s too young to know of such things. We’re all too young, really. Why is there
a need for war, anyway? Why can’t the government just solve things by talking
to one another? Why is it necessary for them to take the love of my life away
from me?
Well, enough with my whining
about how unfair this war is. I should ask you about yourself. How are you,
darling? How was your journey across the sea? I kept thinking of you on that
ship. Your first since Titanic. I wish I were there with you, Jack. Holding
your hand…hearing your voice. To be honest, I don’t know how I’m making it
without you right now.
Oh, by the way. You’ve
received a letter from Maria. One of many, it seems. Why didn’t you tell me you
were in contact with her, Jack? I’m not angry. Just…concerned. You could have
told me. I’m completely over what happened all those years ago.
Well, anyway, I opened it,
knowing that you would probably want to know what she has said. She’s fallen in
love, Jack. With Molly’s nephew! Can you believe it? It’s so wonderful that
she’s found someone who can love her back. I truly am happy for her.
Well, my darling Jack. It’s
getting late and I need to feed our daughter. She sends hugs and kisses, and so
do I. We love you, Jack. Please hurry home soon.
Love,
Rose
*****
Dearest Rose,
I’ve just received your
letter. I can’t tell you how good it is to hear from you. I miss you and
Josephine so much. I wish I could be there with you right now. Hearing your
voice, touching you…maybe even singing Josephine to sleep.
My dear, sweet daughter. Tell
her that Daddy is on a quest for the perfect gift to give his little girl and
that he won’t return until he’s found the perfect present. That should satisfy
her. You’re right. She’s much too young to learn about the war.
This war doesn’t make sense,
Rose. None of it does. I can’t understand why it’s necessary for me to be away
from you and our daughter. I miss you so much, Rose.
I’m sorry I didn’t tell you
about Maria’s letters. I didn’t want you to be upset. But I’m happy for her.
Finally, she can be happy.
I’ll leave off here, Rose.
We’ll be moving into France tomorrow, and they want to give us another drill.
Remember that I love you, and tell Josephine that I’m thinking of her every
day. Write again.
Love,
Jack
*****
It was a Monday, when my lover
told me,
Never pay the reaper with love only.
What could I say to you, except, I love you.
And I’d give my life for yours.
I know we are-we are the lucky ones.
I know we are-we are the lucky ones.
I know we are-we are the lucky ones, dear.
The first time we made love, I-I wasn't sober.
And you told me you loved me over and over!
How could I ever love another, when I miss you every day-
Remember the time we made love in the roses?
And you took my picture in all sorts of poses!
How could I ever get over you, when I’d give my life for yours?
One month. One full month since
Rose had last laid eyes on her husband. Rose sighed as she sat on the porch in
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, braiding her daughter’s hair. She couldn’t keep her
thoughts of Jack away as her mind played back memories of their time together.
It was a Monday when Ruth DeWitt
Bukater called her newly discovered alive daughter. She had somehow found the
Dawson phone number and called. Unfortunately, Rose had answered the phone, and
Ruth had lit into her. Ruth had gone about yelling at Rose, telling her
daughter that she was selfish and that she wished that Rose had gone ahead and
died on that ship. By time Ruth had hung up, Rose was a quivering mess.
Jack had came home early that
day. He tried to get Rose to talk to him, but she was still too upset, so he
went upstairs and ran a bath of warm water. He got some candles and set them up
around the tub. Quickly, he went back downstairs and scooped Rose up into his
arms and carried her into the bathroom. He had undressed both her and himself
and lowered both of their bodies into the soothing water. After a half hour,
Rose had relaxed enough to tell him what had happened.
At first he had been angry with
Ruth. He had wanted to punish the woman for hurting his wife. But then they had
both decided to cut the woman completely out of their lives. She’d never see
her grandchildren. That was punishment enough. So they had enjoyed the rest of
the night in each other’s arms.
Rose sighed as the memory faded.
Jack had made a beautiful memory out of something awful. That was one of the
many things she loved about him. One of the many things she missed.
"Hurry home, Jack," she
whispered, closing her eyes. "We need you."
I know we are...we are the
lucky ones.
I know we are...we are the lucky ones.
I know we are...we are the lucky ones.
I know we are-we are the lucky ones, dear.
*****
Rose and Josephine sat on the
porch, their eyes sparkling with happiness. He looked up every now and then as
he sketched their portrait.
"Can we move now?"
Josephine asked, looking up at her mother.
"Not yet, sweetie.
Daddy’s not finished." Rose kissed the top of their daughter’s head.
"Just a minute."
Jack grinned, signing the picture. "There. All done."
"Let me see!"
Josephine ran up to her father. She grinned widely as she saw the drawing.
"Can I draw like you, Daddy?"
"Maybe. We’ll find out
when you’re older." Jack patted her head lightly. He looked up into Rose’s
eyes and smiled. He was truly thankful for his family. It all seemed like a
dream that they were in his life.
Rose got up to walk towards
him when gunfire erupted out of nowhere.
My dear, it's time to say I
thank God for you.
I thank God for you in each and every single way.
And, I know...I know…I know…I know...
It's time to let you know. Time to let you know.
Time to let you know. Time to sit here and say…
Jack bolted awake to gunfire and
shouts for action. He groaned, realizing what had happened. He had fallen
asleep in the trench while awaiting the enemy’s arrival. All that about Rose
and Josephine had been just a dream. One beautiful dream that he had had to
wake up from.
"Get it together, Dawson!
We’re fighting a war here!" an older soldier yelled at him.
Putting the dream behind him, he
picked up his gun and began to fire. Fighting to keep his one promise to Rose.
To come back alive.
I know we are...we are the
lucky ones.
I know we are...we are the lucky ones.
I know we are...we are the lucky ones.
I know we are-we are the lucky ones, dear.
We are the lucky ones, dear...
Lucky
Bif Naked