A LOVE NEVER FADING
Chapter Twenty-Four
A light breeze danced around Rose. Her eyes
opened gently. She sat up and saw that Jack was gone. She smiled. He had told
her last night that for good luck he wouldn't see her until the wedding. She
sighed and laid herself back down. All of the windows were open, so the
apartment was nice and cool. Rose looked over to the window and saw what a
beautiful day it was. Yes, this was indeed going to be a perfect day. Her
thoughts were interrupted by a light tapping on the door.
"Good morning, sunshine." Maggie
smiled, walked right past Rose, and plopped herself down on the couch.
"So, are you ready to get married? Or do I need to buy you a train ticket
so you can run away?" Rose laughed and curled up in the big chair.
"I'm ready to get married."
"Good, because we have so much to do.
You go take a shower and I'll make us some breakfast."
"You are too good to me," Rose said
as she walked down the hall. Maggie smiled and went into Jack and Rose's tiny
kitchen.
About forty-five minutes later Rose was in
her bedroom. She had put on a long skirt and blouse, and decided to leave her
hair down because she was going to have it done anyway. Rose walked over to the
dresser to get her locket, but instead gasped when she saw a box with a card. The
envelope simple said 'Rose'. She opened it and found a card with flowers on it
that read:
For My Dearest Rose,
I'm afraid that at any minute I will wake
up and find out that all of this has been a wonderful dream. I love you. I will
never be able to put it into words how I feel about you. The sight of you sets
my soul flying. Your scent calms me like a mother's touch. To feel your lips
against mine is to discover paradise. Maybe one day it will all come out. At
least today I will finally be able to take you into my arms as my wife.
Remember that as long as you have me I am yours. My love for you will never
fade.
Eternally yours,
Jack
Rose felt the tears in her eyes as she began
to unwrap the present. Her breath was taken away. A beautiful jewelry box of dark
wood sat in her hands. Vivid red roses were painted on the top. Painted
alongside of them were the words 'To The Stars'. When she opened it, her heart
skipped a beat. The music to Come Josephine In My Flying Machine played
clearly. She ran her fingers along the red velvet inside and smiled to herself.
She began to quietly sing the song that meant so much to her.
*****
"Are you ready to go?" Maggie
asked. They had finished eating breakfast. During the meal Maggie had talked
about her wedding day and how hectic it was. All of her brothers, Brian's
siblings, their cousins, and parents, of course, were there. She said she liked
Rose's much better. Everyone she cared about was going. And it didn't matter
how few people that was.
"Yes, I'm ready." They were going
to go down to Sarah's and have everything done there. Sarah said she would
close the shop so they would have it all to themselves.
"Let's go then." Maggie took Rose's
hand and the two girls left the house and headed out for a day of preparation.
*****
"So where are you going on your
honeymoon?"
Jack looked up from his stack of pancakes.
Brian had offered to take him out for breakfast. That way, they would be out of
the house, and by the time they got back, Rose and Maggie would be gone.
"Santa Monica."
"You're going all the way to
California?"
"It holds a special meaning for me and
Rose."
"Still, that must have cost you a
fortune."
"Not exactly. I was all set to pay. You
know we have all that money from Cal, the ring, and now my job. When I told
Erik about where I was going he insisted on paying. He bought us first class
train tickets and rented us a tiny bungalow on the beach. Plus, he booked us
into a honeymoon suite at a hotel for tonight."
"Oh, my God. That's incredible. Erik
sure does care about you guys."
"He's wonderful. Especially to Rose. I'm
glad I met him." Jack's mind went back to Titanic. Erik reminded him so
much of Mr. Andrews. The way they both were with her. Of course, Erik had more
time be with Rose, but Mr. Andrews was still one of the most compassionate
people he had ever met. He had a gleam in his eye when it came to Rose.
"Is Rose really excited?"
Jack smiled. "She doesn't know about any
of it yet. She knows we're going away for two weeks, but I haven't told her
where. I'm going to tell her tonight."
"She'll be ecstatic."
"I hope so." Jack and Brian shared
a laugh.
*****
Sarah unlocked the door, and let Rose and
Maggie in. "Oh, it's a beautiful day for your wedding, dear," she
exclaimed. Sarah hugged them both and gave them kisses on the cheeks.
"Come. Let's get you ready."
During the day, the girls had been all around
the city. They picked up flowers and checked the restaurant to make sure their
reservations were made. They went down and checked their carriage. Jack and
Rose both thought it would be a marvelous idea to rent a large carriage that
all the guests could ride in to the photos and the restaurant. It would also
take the three girls to the church. They even managed to get the same driver
that had driven them through Central Park. Maggie and Rose stopped off for a
light lunch and finally went down to the Ashes and Roses Ladies Shop.
They walked to the back of the store. Rose's
dress hung beautifully from a stand. Immediately, Rose noticed a difference.
"Where did that come from?" she asked, pointing to the brooch that
was pinned onto the dress.
Sarah smiled. "That, my dear, was
dropped off this morning by a very dashing gentleman. He said that I was to put
it on the dress of Ms. Rose Dawson, and that he would explain it all at the
church."
"Well, it looks incredible on the
dress," Maggie exclaimed.
"Yes, it does look lovely." Rose
smiled to herself.
"I'm sure it will look even better when
it's on you," Sarah said.
Rose giggled. "This is so
exciting." She took the dress and went into the dressing room.
Five minutes later...
"Okay. I'm ready." Rose opened the
door and stepped out.
They didn't say anything. Since Rose had
tried it on last, Sarah had sewed pearls onto the skirt and onto the top. She
literally glowed. Her brilliant red hair, in contrast to the white, made her
face seem like a porcelain doll's. Neither woman had seen a more beautiful
picture in their entire life.
"Well?" Rose asked anxiously.
"You look amazing," Sarah said in
awe.
"You do." Maggie nodded in
agreement.
She smiled and walked over to the mirror.
Rose couldn't help but smile. She was so happy. Suddenly, Maggie came up behind
her and placed a string of pearls around her neck.
"Maggie, what are you doing?" Rose
asked.
"It's the tradition. Something old,
something new, something borrowed, and something blue. The pearls are borrowed.
My mother gave them to me on my wedding day."
"Thank you." Rose hugged her.
"Now, you go put your dress on." Maggie was serving as matron of
honor.
"All right. I'm going." She laughed
and took her dress.
While she was changing, Rose put on her
something new, which was a pair of long white opera gloves. Sarah pinned her
hair. She made it loose so that Rose's curls hung freely. The something blue
was a light-colored ribbon in her hair. Finally, they placed the veil on her
head. The lace hung gracefully down her back. Now she was the beautiful bride.
She looked so delicate that you would think a light breeze would blow her away.
"Rose, you look gorgeous," Maggie
exclaimed.
"So do you!" she replied. Maggie
had just stepped out of the dressing room. She was wearing a dark green dress.
Her long auburn curls were half up, and her brilliant hazel eyes glowed.
"You both look astonishing. Your
husbands won't know what to do with themselves." Sarah smiled.
All three women turned when there was a knock
at the door. "Oh, it's the driver," Rose said.
"Well, I guess it's off to your wedding
then, Ms. Rose." Sarah smiled.
"I guess so. Just let me get my
bouquet." Rose picked up her flowers. She checked herself over in the
mirror. "Okay, I'm ready," she said with a sigh.
"Everything will be fine," Maggie
whispered in her ear, and took her arm. "I'm here for you."
"Thank you." Rose smiled gently.
The three women walked onto the street. A
light breeze was still in the air. "Up you go." The driver helped all
of them onto the seat. When they started to move a smile played at their
mouths. No words were needed. The moment was too perfect and precious to spoil
with inadequate words. Everything had now come into a symphony of grandeur, and
nothing was going to spoil it. Nothing.