A LOVE NEVER FADING
Chapter Twenty-Five
Rose stood in the bridal ready room. Sarah
had taken her seat, and Maggie was still outside talking to the priest. The sun
filtered through the stained glass window, casting a rainbow of images on the
floor. Rose wanted this more than anything, but was still nervous. She was
terrified that she wouldn't be a good wife to Jack. She didn't know how to be a
wife. What if Jack got tired of her? She would rather die than have him leave
her. Rose's breathing quickened. She swore the walls were closing in around her.
Her head filled with thoughts. "This isn't happening. I'm not ready for
marriage. I'm not even eighteen. Oh God, I can't go through with this. I can't,
I have to get out of this."
*****
"Lets see...ah...today is the first day
of the rest of your life." Brian smiled at Jack. "That's what my
father said on my wedding day."
Jack laughed. "Well, do I look
presentable?"
"Like a million bucks. Oh!" Brian
took out a small box from his pocket. "I was supposed to give you this.
It's from Rose." He shrugged. "I don't know what it is."
Jack opened the small, dark blue velvet box.
"Oh, my God. She remembered." He took the small gold cufflinks out of
the box and put them on.
"Those are nice. What did she
remember?"
"When we went shopping for wedding bands
I saw these. They look exactly like my father's. I was supposed to get them,
but of course they were destroyed in the fire." He smiled. "She's
amazing, isn't she?"
Brian smiled brightly and nodded. "She
is Jack, she is. You're made for each other."
*****
"How is the beautiful bride?"
Rose quickly turned to see who it was.
"Erik!"
"Oh, Rose, you look beautiful."
Erik gave Rose a kiss.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
"You would look even more beautiful if
you were wearing that smile I love so much." Erik smiled gently. "Rose,
honey, what's wrong?"
She didn't answer. She just looked down at
the floor. When she finally decided to speak, Erik could barely hear her.
"I'm afraid I'll disappoint Jack. I couldn't bear for him to leave
me."
"Oh, sweetheart." Erik gave her a
comforting hug. "No, no. You could never disappoint Jack. You just have
the jitters. Everybody gets them. It's normal. I had them." He put his
hands on her cheeks. "Your going to marry Jack and be happier than you've
ever been before. There will be tough times. You'll fight and disagree. But it
will be a wonderful marriage. Believe me. The minute you see Jack at the end of
the aisle, all your doubts will be gone."
Rose let his words sink in. "Thank
you." She hugged him. Erik had managed to wash her worries away. She was
still nervous, but it would go away.
"I see you got the brooch."
"You were the one who gave it to
me?"
Erik nodded. "It was my wife's. She got
it from her grandmother. She wanted to give it to her daughter, but we never
had children. I want you to know that I think of you as my daughter. If you
ever need anything, I'm here for you."
Rose's eyes became teary. "Thank you,
Erik. For everything." She gave him a long hug. "You mean the world
to me."
"It's time."
Erik and Rose turned to see Maggie waiting at
the door. Rose heard the music start. Erik smiled at her and took her arm.
"Come on."
Maggie walked up the aisle. The bridal march
began to play, and the doors opened. Rose sighed and began her descent towards
Jack. Erik was right. Now that she saw him, her doubts were gone. He looked so
handsome in his suit, with his hair slicked back. Rose had to restrain herself
not to run into his arms.
Jack was blown away by Rose. She looked
magnificent. The sun poured down on her from the windows. He couldn't believe
his eyes. She looked like an angel floating towards him. Jack was ashamed of
himself for being nervous. Now that he saw her he knew he was making the right
decision.
She approached the alter. Erik gave her a
kiss and shook Jack's hand. Jack led Rose to the priest. The ceremony began.
They exchanged their vows through tears. When it was time to kiss, he whispered
"I love you" and captured her lips into the sweetest kiss Rose had
ever experienced.
The guests watched in awe as Jack and Rose
walked back down the aisle as man and wife. They didn't even seem to notice
that there were other people in the church. When they were outside, they were
alone. Jack kissed Rose again, this time a long, deep kiss. She had to lay her
head against his chest, she was so enamored by it. "Jack, before the
ceremony, I was ready to run away." She sighed. "I was scared that I
would disappoint you."
Jack smiled. "Well, first of
all..." He lifted her chin so she was looking into his eyes. "You
will never ever disappointment me. I love you to much for you to do that. And
second, I was scared, too. I was afraid you would become tired of this poor
life and go back to Cal."
Rose smiled. "I have a very rich life
with you. You don't need money to be rich. You need love, acceptance, and
respect. I have that in millions with you."
Jack kissed her again.
"Get a room," Brian called from
behind them.
Jack and Rose turned and saw all their guests
standing with huge smiles on their faces. "We have a room, thank you very
much. At the Plaza hotel, and not just a room. A honeymoon suite," Jack
said with a laugh.
Rose looked at Jack, puzzled. "What do
you mean, we have a suite?"
Jack smiled. "I wanted to surprise you.
As a wedding present, Erik paid for a suite for us tonight."
"Oh, Erik. You shouldn't have."
"Sure I should have. Nothing is too good
for you two."
Rose gave Erik a hug.
Jack smiled at her affection. "I'm sorry
to break this up, but a table awaits us at Sophia's."
They climbed into the carriage, which had
been waiting for them. Maggie, Brian, and Sarah sat on one side. Jack, Rose,
and Erik sat on the other. They trotted down the street and smiled. Jack held Rose
in his arms with quiet pleasure. He couldn't think of a better moment in his
entire life.
*****
When they reached the restaurant, Jack told
everyone else to go inside. He had something to say to Rose. She looked up at
him. "I wanted to tell you now where we are going tomorrow."
"Really?" she asked playfully.
"Yes. Well, I thought I would take my
new wife to drink cheap beer, go on the roller coaster until she throws up, and
then ride horses on the beach...right in the surf...but I can only take her if
she will ride like a cowboy, none of that sidesaddle stuff."
Her eyes grew wide and her smile dazzled
Jack. "Will you show me?"
"Of course."
"It's the best honeymoon any woman could
ever have."
"I'm going to teach Ms. Rose DeWitt
Bukater to ride, chew tobacco, and spit like a man. Well, it seems you already
mastered that last part." He smiled.
"I love you."
"Rose, believe me. However much you love
me, I love you more." They kissed for a moment and then finally went
inside.