"Rose, do you want to join me in dinner tomorrow evening?" asked Jack. It was late that night around midnight. Jack found out that Rose was a writer and loved art. Though she wasn't any good at painting or drawing, she was an artist with her words. She was alone, except for Gabbie. No one in the world to care for her.
"I don't think your fiancée would appreciate that." she answered reluctantly. She liked him. A lot. She wanted to go, badly. Just to see him once more. "But...if I don't go, will I see you again?" she asked. She didn't think twice about asking that. But once she did, she blushed.
She told him of some of her poems and he seemed to be interested. He had an adventurous spirit, she could tell. But she didn't think he wanted to give up all of that money.
"I'm not going to marry her anyway. And you will see me again. If that's what you want. To tell you the truth, that is what I want." his face turned slightly red.
Rose giggled. "That's what I want. But I need to get Gabbie to bed. You do want me to go tomorrow?" she asked, he nodded. "What will I wear? I don't have anything fancy." she told him.
"I'll get a dress for you. You'll look stunning. Trust me," he smiled.
"I trust you." she smiled too.
"Can I walk you to your berth? I don't think it's safe for you to be alone this late." he asked, not wanting anything to happen to them.
"All right." Rose said, but then Gabbie woke up.
"Mommy?" she said.
"It's okay, Gabbie...Go back to sleep." Rose told her then looked back up at Jack. He was smiling.
"I thought she was your sister." he said.
"She is. But our parents died before she called my mother 'mommy'. So I'm her mother really. I don't mind at all." Rose said.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Rose." he said, taking her hand and squeezing it. He felt something. Electricity. That's it! So did she. There were fireworks everywhere. Sparks flying.
"It's okay... um...My mother never really cared for us. And daddy was always to busy for us. I'm more of a mother than my own mother ever thought of being." she explained.
"That's terrible...how'd they die?" he asked.
"My father died of cancer and my mother committed suicide. My nanny and I found her in the tree in the backyard where she hung herself." Rose said. She didn't show any emotion towards her mother.
"Why would she do that when she had two beautiful daughters? That's a horrible thing to do." Jack said.
"I don't know, Jack. I loved her because I had to. I don't think she loved me. They left me without any money. It was really hard. I went without food for days so I could feed Gabbie. It was something I had to do. I couldn't be selfish and starve her. Like my mother was selfish and killed herself. We at least had some money when they were alive. But now all I have is twenty dollars." Rose explained.
"I'm sorry Rose. You don't deserve that. Neither does Gabbie." he said, still holding her hand.
He walked her to her room. "Goodnight Rose."
"Goodnight, Jack. I had a nice time. Thanks for listening to me. Thanks for caring. And I'm sorry for being so rude." she smiled shyly.
"I had a nice time, too. You're welcome. And thanks for listening to me too. Don't be sorry. Goodnight." he said. And then he kissed her cheek and walked away, looking back one more time and disappearing down the hall.