Jack had positioned the divan to face him and had settled himself in a chair. He had removed his jacket, waistcoat, and bowtie and relieved himself of the shirt collar digging into his throat by unbuttoning his shirt almost halfway. He was never one for dressing over the top, but this society required him to. Two cameras had been positioned next to the divan. This whole thing seemed like a déjà vu to Jack, and at that moment in time, he couldn’t get Rose out of his mind.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a tin that contained his cigarettes. He put one between his lips before lighting it. He puffed out the smoke before taking another drag. When he closed his eyes, all he could see was Rose, laid out nude before him. Even though he was surrounded by agents, a few maids, and the chairman of the acting company, he still felt alone in the room and had to think why he had agreed to this.
The Sun Room was named that for a reason. It overlooked the bay with large windows, sunlight streaming through them. Jack fiddled with the camera, looking through the lens and adjusting the focus. His suspenders were loose around his knees and his cigarette hung from his lips.
“I’d like to get underway soon.” Derek approached Jack. He broke his concentration and felt as though his head was in the clouds. He had to remember he had come here to do a job.
“Sure,” was all Jack said. They had been waiting around for the actress to arrive, but her beauty rituals had kept them waiting. Jack was expecting a sickly beautiful girl, very tall and slim, maybe very hard to work with, as most actresses were depicted in the headlines.
“Hey, Dawson…” Derek started, a puzzled look on his face. “I was just thinking to myself. You don’t have any relatives out here, no?”
Jack curved his lips, shaking his head. “No, sir. I am the last of the Dawsons that I know of.”
“Ah…right. It’s just that the young actress’s name is Dawson. Miss Rose Dawson.”
A small smile crept over his face. He was never going to escape her, was he? Everywhere he went, there were signs from her. He felt a little sick from his stomach churning and for a split second actually contemplated what to do if his Rose walked out now, if it had turned out she hadn’t died with the Titanic after all, if she had run away to become an actress just like she had planned.
Sighing, he shook away his crazy thoughts. “No, sir. I don’t know that name at all.”
“Ah…just a thought, my son.”
*****
Rose gripped Clara’s hand as she descended the stairs to the Sun Room. The elevator had been out of order that morning, so it meant going down two flights of stairs in a heavy dress and high heels.
“Just two more steps,” Clara urged her before she reached the floor. “Are you nervous?”
Rose felt her stomach flutter. She was glad to be on a level floor in her heels. “A little.” She smiled, smoothing her dress. After months of acting in small plays and productions, she had finally been discovered and had been offered a chance to be in a picture. Of course, the part was small, but this was what she had dreamed of since she was a little girl.
“Rose, darling.” She was greeted by Derek. He approached her with his trusty cigar in his hand. “Come and meet the photographer. We have been waiting for you.”
“We had to make her look the part,” Clara chimed in, Rose still clutching her hand. She had known Rose a matter of weeks, but the two had grown very fond of each other.
Rose looked around Derek and the others, seeing the couch in the center of the room. It was a very simple setup. Rose’s eyes fell upon the photographer—he seemed familiar in some way. How his suspenders hung loosely, the way his hair hung in his face and his white shirtsleeves were rolled casually to the elbows.
She placed a trembling hand over her mouth. Surely it wasn’t? Why today, of all days, did she have to be reminded of Jack? She said a silent prayer to pull her through this next hour. The photographer’s face grew clearer. Her heart beat faster, and before she could take anything else in, there he was—Jack.
Their eyes interlocked for several minutes, and it was as if time stood still. Neither of them knew what to do or say. But what could be said? Was he real? Rose’s eyes traveled from Jack to Derek, her heart beating so fast she thought it would jump out of her chest. The room whirled, and for a moment, Rose wanted to do nothing but run into Jack’s arms and tell him how much she missed him, how much she loved him, and how every night she thought of him.
A few stray tears escaped Rose’s eyes, and before she knew it, darkness surrounded her and she fell to the floor in a heap.
*****
“Where am I?”
A murmured voice sounded and immediately Jack ran to the bed where Rose had lain unconscious for over an hour. The room was cool, plain and white. Jack watched as Rose writhed slightly before blinking her eyes open. She squinted heavily and winced in pain from her headache.
“Jack?” she asked, her eyes adjusting. Then, suddenly, she remembered that afternoon. She allowed her eyes to adjust and saw a maid dampening her head with a cool cloth. All of the windows had been flung open and emergency services had been called. Immediately, she tried to sit up, but was pushed back down by Clara, who hushed her.
“I know the day has been full of surprises, dear.” Derek stroked her hair. “Are you all right?”
She nodded. She looked over at Jack, who sat on the edge of the bed. He was biting the skin of his thumb silently, but his eyes didn’t leave her.
He felt like touching her hand to let her know he was there for her, but he thought better of it. He had watched her chest rise and fall for over an hour, the afternoon’s events almost too much for him to take in. It really was her, wasn’t it? He felt as though he was dreaming. This entire day seemed hazy and surreal.
Was it real? That was the question he asked himself over and over, his eyes never leaving hers. If it wasn’t her, then God had played a cruel trick on him today. But it had to be her. She had fainted the moment she had seen him. He felt guilty, knowing he was the reason for her fainting.
A doctor entered the room, interrupting both their thoughts. He ticked something with a pencil on his clipboard before tucking the pencil behind his ear and finding his spectacles.
“How do you feel, Miss Dawson?” he asked, feeling her head.
“Not too bad,” she replied. She realized that she had caused such a fuss just by fainting.
“As expected, Miss.” The doctor removed his spectacles, putting them in his pocket. “Quite a temperature you had. It must be the heat.” The doctor smiled.
“Is she going to be all right?” Jack intervened. Rose was startled that he had spoken and actually showed interest in her well-being.
“Yes. She will be fine.” The doctor nodded his head.
“Is she well enough to continue?” Derek asked, knowing it cost money to rent the room.
The doctor nodded, looking at Rose. “That would be the lady’s decision. I would order her to maybe rest this evening.”
Rose found some strength from somewhere and managed to sit up. “Oh, no, no. That will not be necessary.” Rose waved Clara away, who was still putting a wet cloth on her head. “There was really no need for such fuss. It was just the silly heat.”
She looked at Jack quickly. She was almost scared to look at him. She was still expecting him to disappear. Was it really him? He had aged. He was no longer a boy. He had darker hair and a few lines here and there, but it was him, all right.
“All right. On with the show.” Derek clapped his hands.