A LOVE NEVER FADING
Chapter Fourteen
Jack smiled. "You see, Rose? It's fate.
All of this happened for a reason. We're going to be all right."
Without warning, Rose threw her arms around
him. "I'm so happy. Things are going to work out, aren't they? You were
right all along."
He hugged her tightly. "Come on. Let's
go downstairs. Maggie and Brian will be able to help us." Jack ended the
hug and looked into her eyes. "I love you."
Rose's smile grew bigger. "I love you
more."
Jack shook his head "Not possible."
She looked at Jack. "You better put
something on your feet. I can't imagine the streets of New York are kind on
bare feet."
He looked down. "You have a point."
Rose giggled. "I'm going
downstairs."
*****
Rose left the room. Walking down the stairs,
she heard murmurs coming from the kitchen. "Hello!" she said, bubbly
upon entering. Both Brian and Maggie looked up in complete shock. What they saw
in front of them was not the frail, weak thing that had come to them last
night. Standing in the doorway was a beautiful flower. Her long red curls
flowed freely down her back. The dress she wore, though tattered, seemed to
glow. Her smile immediately warmed their hearts. And her eyes sparkled
brilliantly, lighting up the room. For the first time, they both realized how
breathtaking she was.
"Rose, dear! How are you feeling?"
Maggie asked.
"I'm feeling wonderful. Look what I've
found." She placed the money and necklace on the table.
The couple's jaws dropped. Brian spoke up.
"That's...that's...that's the necklace you were talking about."
Rose nodded. "Yes. And look at the
money. Cal must have put it in the pockets along with the necklace. Jack and I
can pay you rent now."
Brian shook his head in protest. "What
did we tell you? We don't want your money."
She stared at them. "Are you sure?"
Maggie smiled broadly and nodded.
"Positive."
Rose's eyes were teary. "What's
wrong?" wondered a concerned Maggie.
"It's just that you don't even know us,
but you've already taken care of us more than you could know." She smiled
brightly. "You're so wonderful."
Brian smiled. "Anyone would have acted
this way."
"Come sit. I'm sure you're hungry. Is
there anything I can get you?" Maggie started to move around the kitchen.
"I am hungry. Anything you have is fine.
Don't trouble yourself."
Brian started to laugh. "Well, while
she's busy doing that, I have something to show you." He handed her the
article he had been reading earlier. "I'm sure you don't feel the need to
relive your tragedy. But I thought you might find that interesting."
Rose read the story, because that's exactly
what it was, a story. She could never call the lie published about her a
legitimate article. She was surprised about how much they made of her death.
There were as many stories about her as there was about J.J. Astor and the
Strausses. Placing the paper on the table, she sighed. "I was looking up
at Jack, not Cal. I jumped off to be with Jack."
Brian nodded. "I know, love. I
know."
*****
Upstairs, Jack sat on the bed. He slipped his
socks on and tied his shoes. Looking over at the coat, something told him to
check the pockets again. Jack walked over and stuck his hands in the pockets.
In the very bottom of one of the pockets, snuggled under fabric, was a ring. He
pulled it out. "God, look at that thing. You would've gone straight to the
bottom." In his hand was the engagement ring that had held Rose prisoner.
He stared at it. It was a symbol of her old life. Expensive, beautiful, and
cold. It was everything Jack knew he could never give her. He slipped the ring
into his pocket and headed downstairs.
*****
"Hello, Jack." Maggie looked up
from the bread she was slicing. "Good morning. Well, I guess I should say
good afternoon."
Brian smiled. "Come sit down."
Jack went and sat next to Rose. "Has
Rose talked to you yet?"
"No, I was waiting for you to come
down."
"Oh, well, we were wondering if you
could help us. You see, we have no clothes, no personal belongings, no
anything. So we need to go out and get those things. Thank God we found that
money. Now, we can afford to start our life." Jack looked at Rose, then
back at Brian. "It really helps us that the apartment is fully furnished.
But we were wondering if you could show us places to shop. Cheap."
Maggie piped up. "I can take you
shopping. I love shopping." She walked over to the table with a tray
covered with bread and cheese. "I can show you all the best places. There
are lovely little shops. You can get lots of things very inexpensively. We'll
have so much fun."
Brian rolled his eyes. "You two ladies
will have fun. I am not letting you take Jack shopping. Especially not clothes
shopping. We want him to stay our friend, don't we? I'll take Jack around and
get him what he needs." He smiled at Jack. "I've got you
covered."
Maggie shook her head. "Men." She
laughed. "All right, I'll take Rose. You take Jack." She looked at
them. "Eat up, you two. You'll need your energy."
While they ate, the four of them discussed
the daily plans. Rose and Jack split up the money. They each would have two
hundred fifty dollars. Jack told Rose that was too much money. But he knew she
was used to shopping in Paris boutiques, so really she had no concept of money
in the real world.
In about an hour, the roommates stepped out
into the April afternoon. Jack kissed Rose good-bye. Each of them headed their
separate ways. "This is wonderful. I haven't had a girlfriend in
years." Maggie beamed.
"I haven't had a real friend, ever.
Mother didn't approve. I was too good to play with other girls. And playing
itself was frowned upon." Rose looked down at the sidewalk.
"Don't think about that stuff anymore.
We'll have so much fun that it will make up for that. And Jack will help you
get over those times."
She smiled. "Yes, he will."
*****
Brian looked over at Jack. "How about
those women? Already gabbing it up. I know when we get back they will have
swapped life stories and will have secrets that they're keeping from us."
Jack laughed. "I hope so. That would
good for Rose. She hasn't had a real life, with friends and people to talk
to."
"What about you?"
Jack looked at Brian. "I've lived life.
I've seen this world. I've had those experiences. But Rose...she's lived in a
cage. She was trapped. I want to see her break free and fly."