A LOVE NEVER FADING
Chapter Twenty

The driver let them off back at the restaurant. Jack paid him and he drove off. They started back home. Rose gazed up at the stars. She saw a light fly across the sky. Instinctively, she closed her eyes to make a wish, but nothing happened.

Jack looked over at her. "What did you wish for?"

"Nothing. Everything I could ever want is right here with me."

Jack smiled. "You know what I wished for?"

"What?"

"A dance." Before Rose could respond, Jack grabbed her arms and began to twirl her around. "Now, remember, we have to get close." He pulled her to his body and they did indeed dance all the way home. They didn't care what the few strangers who passed them thought. They didn't even notice them.

In their bedroom, Brian and Maggie heard the two young lovers burst through the front door. Their laughter was the only sound in the house until it disappeared into their tiny apartment. Maggie smiled and curled herself next to her husband. She sighed and quietly fell asleep.

"Jack, this has been the best night of my life."

Jack laid his finger on her lips. "It's not over yet." He moved his hand to her hair and ran his fingers through it gently. "You're so beautiful." Jack pulled her mouth to his. Rose wrapped her arms around his neck. Then he literally swept her off her feet and carried her to the bedroom. He laid her on the bed.

"Take me back to the stars, Jack."

Three Months Later

"Jack, come look at this."

Jack walked over to the kitchen table and stared down at the newspaper Rose was reading. "What am I supposed to be looking at?"

Rose pointed to a tiny ad. Jack read it out loud, but really to himself. "The Backstage Players Theater Company--WANTED--Sketch Artist for actor portraits." He looked back up at Rose, who was smiling.

"Jack, doesn't that sound perfect? I know we don't need the money, but you still want to work, don't you? You must be tired of sitting around the house with me all day."

Jack kissed Rose. "I could never get tired of you." He sat down across from her. "But you're right. I should get a job. I feel almost inadequate not providing for us."

"Don't ever think that. Jack, you're not inadequate!" She laid her hands on top of his. "There's an address in the paper. Take the job or don't take the job. We don't need the money, but it will give you the opportunity to sketch."

Jack smiled. "I think I'll give it a shot." He sighed and sat back in the chair. "I'll get together my portfolio and bring it down to them. Who knows, maybe they'll think I'm not good enough."

Rose laughed. "I highly doubt that. Your new sketches are beautiful."

"Well, that's because my subject was beautiful." Jack stood up and kissed Rose. "I'm going to pick out some." He walked into the living room.

Jack had set up a table next to the window, and over the past three months it had been covered with sketch after sketch. Most of them were of Rose. Jack wasn't afraid to admit that those were his best, and his favorite. His drawing skills had improved significantly since he and Rose met. He had never been prouder of his work. He started to shuffle through the papers. Until now he hadn't realized how many sketches he had actually done. Rose inspired him in a way Paris, California, England, and Italy never could. Since the ad said it was for portraits, Jack tried to find his best. Not surprisingly, he ended up with five pictures of Rose. He also had two of Maggie and Brian together, and one of each of them separate. There was one of Rose and Maggie together, and three of strangers Jack had sketched in the park. All in all, he had thirteen sketches to show. He hoped they would get him the job.

"Rose, I'm going down there now. I should be back soon," Jack called out, and put his hand on the doorknob.

"Wait!" Rose came running out into the living room. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a long kiss. "You don't think I would let you get away from me without a good-bye, do you?"

Jack smiled.

"Oh." Rose had cut the ad out of the paper. She put it in his pocket. "The address is on there. I don't want you getting lost again."

Jack laughed. "I get us lost once and you never let me forget it."

"Jack, it took us three hours to find our way home!" Rose teased. She gave him a small, sweet kiss. "Good-bye."

Jack smiled and walked out the door. As it was shutting it, he heard Rose. "And good luck!" He laughed and went down the stairs.

The hot July air surrounded Jack. He had only gone a few blocks and beads of sweat were forming at his brow. He pulled the ad out of his pocket. And started to calculate where he had to go. "This shouldn't be too hard to find."

Jack was right. He was soon in front of a rather large theater with a marquee that read: "THE COURTYARD PLAYHOUSE--The Backstage Players proudly present 'Love and Laughter on Lavender Hill'. He sighed and walked in. It was a very nice theater. The box office was lined with brass and was gleaming. Staircases were in the back, that led to the balcony seats. Another staircase ran along the wall, which led up to the manager's office.

Out of nowhere a voice spoke to Jack. "Can I help you, son?" He turned to his side and saw a man in his mid fifties staring at him questioning. "Um...I'm here about the ad in the paper. Somebody's looking for a sketch artist?"

"Ah, yes. Whew, you move quick, don't you boy? I only placed that ad this morning." He laughed. "Come up to my office. There are fans up there." He turned around and started up the stairs. "Can't take this heat. It's death on an old man like me."

Jack followed quickly behind. The man opened the office door and breeze of cool air rushed out. Jack smiled and walked in. The office was large. A big mahogany desk sat at the back in front of a gigantic window. There was a couch on the side wall and two chairs in front of the desk.

The man took a seat at his desk. "Sit down, boy." Jack went and sat in one of the chairs, but then he quickly got up and put his portfolio on the desk. "That's a sample of my work." Jack sat back down.

The man took the portfolio and started to flip through. He gave nods and looked each over. Jack became a little worried when the man started intently at one of the sketches. Finally the man spoke up. "I've never seen such beauty."

Jack smiled. "Thank you, sir." The man looked up and laughed. "Not the sketch, son. Though it is extraordinary. I'm talking about your subject." He held up one of his sketches, and Jack was not surprised when he saw it was one of Rose.

He smiled. "Rose. Her name's Rose."

"Rose. That's the perfect name for her." He looked it over. "Well, I think I've seen enough. The job is yours."

Jack smiled. "Thank you, sir." He stood up and shook the man's hand.

"Now that you have the job you'll have to knock off that sir stuff. The name's Kelly, Erik Kelly. You just call me Erik. But what shall I call you?"

"Jack...Jack Dawson, that is." He paused. "So what exactly will I be doing?"

"Well, this theater is home to the Backstage Players. They put on plays over periods of time. Your job will be to sketch all the actors as themselves and sketch them as whatever character they are portraying in whatever play they're doing. And finally, you will be responsible for drawing the poster for each production. Does that sound good?"

"It sounds wonderful. When do I start?"

"Whenever you want. Actually, I would like you to get to know the actors before you draw them. Would that be a problem?"

"No, not at all."

"Good. Well, they're in rehearsal now, so let me introduce them to you."

They left the office and were back in the lobby. Erik walked Jack to a large door and pushed it open. They were inside an elegant theater. Actors were up on the stage going over lines. Other actors were lounging in the audience seats. One of them looked back the door. "Hey, Erik! Who's that you've got for us?" That caused everyone in the theater to turn and stare at Jack. "This here is Jack Dawson. He's our new artist."

By now Erik had walked Jack to the front of the theater and they were standing on the stage. Every one of the performers congregated around them. "It's good you brought in someone new. That old guy was a miserable thing."

"Well, Jack here is a fine artist. I'm sure you'll like him much better than Mr. Nevil. I want him to get to know you all before he draws you. So why don't we all go over to Craws after rehearsal? We can have dinner." All the actors and Jack agreed.

"Allow me to introduce myself." A pretty young girl smiled sweetly at Jack. "My name's Jean. Come sit down." She led Jack to the audience seats. The rest of the actors got back to work. "I'm so glad you will be our new artist. Mr. Nevil was a dreadful man, who barked at all of us to sit still and don't talk. I can tell you'll be different." Suddenly two other girls came and sat in front of them. They turned around. Both were pretty. "Hello. I'm Ella and this is Anita." They both smiled.

Jack smiled back. "It's nice to meet all of you. I'm sure it will be nice to work with you." The three girls giggled.

"It will be very nice to work with you, Jack," said Anita. All three started to smile and gaze at Jack. They also moved closer to him. He could help but smile at their actions.

"Well, ladies, it was nice meeting you. I'll see you at dinner." He stood up and walked into the aisle.

"Oh, but Jack, wouldn't you rather just stay here and leave with us to go to Craws?" Ella tried to persuade him to stay.

"Sorry, ladies, but I would really like to get home to my wife." Jack smiled at their actions.

All three of them frowned. "You have a wife?" Jean asked quietly.

"She's not just my wife. She's my best friend and my soulmate. I'll be back in a little while."

"Bye," they all said in unison.

Jack turned and started towards the door. Erik was there. "Leaving so soon, Jack?"

"I'm going to tell my wife about the job. Is it all right if she comes tonight?"

"Of course it is. And what is her name?"

Jack smiled. "Rose."

Erik face formed into a huge smile. "Ah, the lovely Rose is your wife. Well, then, I would take it as a personal offense if she didn't come along tonight." He patted Jack on the back. "See you later."

Jack stepped back into the busy New York afternoon. He felt very revived. "I can't wait to see Rose." As he walked home he laughed to himself about the three girls. It was obvious they were trying to get Jack interested in them. He felt sorry for them. Maybe he would have been interested, if he didn't have someone as amazing as Rose to come home to.

Chapter Twenty-One
Stories