A LOVE NEVER FADING
Chapter Forty-One
October 10, 1917
Rose clung tightly to Jack. Neither one of
them even noticed the hundreds of other people who were crowded into the train
station. Mothers kissing their sons good-bye. Wives and husbands. Fathers and
children. It was a sad sight. There was barely a dry eye. Many people realized
this would be the last time they would see each other.
Rose let Jack's scent wash over her. She
needed to remember every detail about him. Even though every curve of him was
permanently stamped in her memory. She could hear his soft breathing in her
ear. Its warmth tickled her neck. Rose sighed. She wished she could freeze
time.
"I'm going to have to leave soon,"
Jack said in a whisper.
"I know, but not yet." Rose looked
up at him. "Here." She pulled a tiny picture of herself from her
pocket, and placed it in his jacket pocket. "So you don't forget what I
look like...or at least to remind you of me."
Jack smiled sadly. "I could never forget
what you look like. And everything reminds me of you...it's good-bye for a little
while, only for a little while." He kissed her.
"Jack. I love you." Rose kissed him
deeply. She said "I love you" over and over. She wanted him to know
how deep her feelings were.
"I love you," Jack said tenderly.
He put his hand on her cheek. "Listen to me. I'm coming back. I can feel
it. I swear to you...I promise you, I'm coming home. Have I ever broken a
promise I made to you?"
Rose shook her head gently.
"I would never start breaking them now.
So if you ever doubt it, even for a second, remember this moment. I will come
home. No matter how hopeless things seem, I swear I'll be home. Never lose
faith. Promise me you'll never doubt it."
"I promise," she said with a voice
full of emotion.
He wrapped his fingers around her locket.
"Never let go, Rose. Never."
"I won't, Jack. I won't."
He kissed her passionately. They stayed that
way as long as time would permit. Jack ran his fingers around her face over and
over. He kissed every inch of it. If his mouth wasn't against her body it was
saying "I love you." Jack ran his hands up and down her back.
Much too soon for both of them, the train
whistle blew. Rose hugged Jack tightly. He kissed her tenderly as long as he could.
"Last call for boarding!" a man yelled.
Jack smiled. "Don't worry. I'll be back
before you can miss me." He kissed her once more and started to walk off.
"Jack!" Rose called.
He turned around quickly and stared at her
with question.
"I miss you already," she said,
half sadly, half sweetly.
He nodded. "Don't worry about me. I'll
be all right. I'm a survivor, remember?"
They stared at each other for a few seconds.
The few feet between them seemed like miles. Finally Jack turned and headed for
the train. As he stepped into the car, he wiped the tears from his eyes that he
had promised himself he wouldn't let Rose see.
Rose watched the train pull out of the
station. After a long while she headed for home. She had no idea she was about
to embark on what would be the most difficult time in her life.
November 5, 1917
"Rose, what is it?" Maggie had
walked to the door when she heard her friend enter. Rose was leaning against
the door. The expression on her face was one of pure shock. At first Maggie
thought she had received horrible news from the war, but then she realized Rose
would probably be in tears if that had happened. Maggie wondered if she should
dismiss it. Rose had been very emotional since Jack left. She had thrown
herself into to work to take her mind off of his absence. Of course Brian had
been gone for four months so she, too, had not been herself. She was happy she
had Andrew to keep her busy.
Rose walked over to the stairs and sat down.
"Maggie..."
Maggie quickly sat down next to her friend.
"Is everything all right? Nothing happened with Jack, did it?"
"No, thank God," Rose said.
"It's something else."
"What?" Maggie asked anxiously.
Rose was silent for a minute. "I'm
pregnant."
Maggie gasped. "That's wonderful!"
She got very quiet again when she realized why Rose didn't seem as happy. She
was pregnant, but Jack wasn't here.
"It must have happened the night before
he left." She put her face in her hands. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I'm happy. I am. It's a blessing. But it's not supposed to be like this.
Jack is supposed to be with me. He's supposed to share this wonderful thing
with me."
Maggie wrapped her arm around Rose. "I
understand. But who knows? Maybe Jack will be back before the baby is
born."
"Maybe," Rose said quietly. She
sighed. "But I need to be strong. For the baby. And for Jack. I promised
him I would be, and I will."
Maggie looked over at her friend. "How
are you going to tell him?"
"Well...I'll just write him saying I
have some news, and let it gradually come out." She stared at the floor
and began to gently cry. "I just wish he was here. He should be
here."
Maggie hugged her tightly. "Everything
will be fine. You'll see. And Jack will be here...eventually. Don't
worry."
The two friends sat with each other for a
long time. No words needed to be spoken. They knew how important they were to
one another. They had no idea how they would manage without the other.
Eventually Maggie heard Andrew's cries coming from his room. Rose told her to
get him. She was going upstairs to write Jack a letter.
Once upstairs, Rose pulled out the letter
Jack had sent her. She had read it about one thousand times. She laughed
slightly to herself. The very first letter she would send to Jack would
certainly have some incredible news for him. She sat at the table, and to her
surprise, the words came as effortlessly as breathing.
My Dearest Jack,
I miss you, my love. When I received your
letter, I felt like a part of you was here with me. I truly hope this letter
finds you well. Maggie and I have been managing without you and Brian. Erik
invited us to dinner at his house twice already. I know you've only been gone a
few weeks, but it feels like an eternity. The night you left was hell. I never
thought I would lie in that bed without you. I'm getting used to it, but it
will never feel right. The apartment is colder without you. The autumn has set
in, and at night I shiver from the cold. I've caught myself expecting to feel
your arms wrap around me. But sometimes I swear I can feel you. Your scent is
still on the sheets. I've taken to sleeping on your pillow. Anything to be
nearer you.
My twenty-third birthday passed without
much event. Erik, Tim, Ben, Jean, Anita, and Ella came over for cake and such.
There wasn't much to celebrate without you. I have big news for you, though. I
went to the doctor's today and he confirmed my suspicions. I'm going to have
our child. A gift from the night before you left. I'm happy beyond words to
know that a part of you is inside of me. But I must admit that when I first
heard the news I was upset. Pain is not even the right word to describe how it
feels to know that you won't be here with me during this time. Please, Jack. I
beg you. Now, more than ever, keep yourself safe. You have a son or daughter to
worry about now.
You know I could write to you forever. I
would tell you about little, non-important things. But I know you only have a
short time to read. Just remember this: I love you. Not a moment has gone by
without me thinking of that. I'm staying strong for all three of us now.
Love Always,
Rose
Jack felt a lump in his throat as he reread
the letter. Rose is going to have a baby, he thought. Now he wanted to
be home more than anything. He put the letter up to his face. He could smell
Rose's perfume. Jack closed his eyes. He remembered all those nights when Rose
would lay in his arms. Her hair would cascade gracefully down her back. The
scent of it would intoxicate him. The soft hair against his face put him at
peace. Her gentle breathing made him smile.
"Dawson!"
Jack was snapped back into reality. He looked
over at some of his fellow soldiers.
"Why, don't you get some sleep? God
knows when you'll get a chance to do it again," one of the men said,
before laying back down.
Jack knew he was right. It's just this was
the first chance he had to read the letter. He couldn't believe the news. Jack
pulled the thin blanket over himself. He hadn't had a good sleep in days. It's
only been a month, he thought. Jack closed his eyes. In no time at all, he
was having a much needed sleep. His dreams were of Rose. The letter triggered
something in his mind, because the visions of her seemed more real and clear
than any time he had ever dreamt of her before.