A LOVE NEVER FADING
Chapter Seven
As Rose watched Cal fade into the distance,
she felt a tremendous weight lift off her shoulders. Now she was finally free.
She could spend the rest of her life happy. Everything was taken care of. That
horrible chapter of her life was over. Anything she ever needed or wanted was
right there with her. A much-welcomed weight began to press down on her.
It was Jack. He pressed his hands down on her
shoulders as a sign of support. What was running through his mind was a far cry
from Roses thoughts. Maybe Cal was right. Did Rose belong in that world? He
wanted her so badly. However, he had nothing to give her or offer her. In the
first class world she would have everything. He began to feel sick at the
thought of Rose being unhappy with him in a few years. Things were fine now,
but would she grow to resent him?
Rose must have felt Jack's discomfort. She
turned around and saw a terrible look of fear in Jack's eyes. She lifted her
hands and placed them gently on his face. "What's wrong?" she spoke
in a very neutral tone.
"Rose..." Jack voice was trembling
with fear. "I don't want you to hate me. I have nothing to offer you. Nothing."
"Oh, Jack, you are such a liar. You have
more to offer me than anyone or anything in the entire world." She looked
at him with tenderness.
"What? Rose, I have nothing. Do you
understand me? Nothing. I told you that I have ten bucks in my pocket. And
that's it."
Rose placed her finger on Jack's lips.
"Your love, Jack, that's what you have to offer me. Love. You have given
me freedom, hope, life. But most importantly, love. That's all I want and could
ever want."
She leaned in and kissed him. In a brief
second, all of the fears Jack had disappeared.
As the kiss deepened, both Jack and Rose
thought about the life they would have. And how nothing mattered, not money,
not living accommodations, not anything. Except each other. As long as they had
each other, everything would be perfect.
For another few hours, Jack and Rose just
walked around the deck. They stared into each other's eyes. Held one another,
and kissed. Each time the passion and love grew stronger and stronger between
them.
Finally their bodies succumbed to nature and
they grew tired. "Do you want to go inside and sleep now, Rose?"
"No, I would rather stay out here."
They walked over to a bench and lay down.
Jack held Rose tightly and they wrapped the thick coat and blanket that Rose
had been using around each other. The last words they spoke to each other
before drifting into a peaceful slumber were "I love you."