A FATHER'S RESCUE
Chapter Two

Rose burst through the door, not considering for one instant that she could possibly be hurt by whomever was inside. She discovered her intruder to be the drunken man who had insulted her at breakfast. She realized she did not yet know his name...and now did not care to.

He was standing at the bureau. She only hoped she had caught him in time. He leered at her, waiting to see what she would do.

"This is my room, get out, now." This was said in the strongest voice Rose could manage, which wasn't saying much. "If you've taken anything, I want it back."

He laughed as he had at the table. "Snooty little girl. You think if I've taken anything, I'm going to TELL you?"

Just then Rose caught a glint of something shiny in the man's closed fist. She realized with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that it was her treasured diamond necklace. "Please, give that back to me," she pleaded, suddenly aware of what losing that piece of jewelry could mean for her. "Please, I won't tell anyone. I'll give you money..."

"Money?" The drunkard's eyes widened. "Ya got money? eah, of course ya do. I made you as a little rich girl from the moment I laid eyes on you."

He looked down at the prize in his hand for the longest moment, then peered back up at Rose. And to her dismay, he began to cackle. It was a horrid, disgusting sound, and this time it sounded much worse than it had at breakfast. "You thinks I'm stupid, eh? You think I'm gonna give up a bonafide sapphire for a little bit of throwaway cash?" He began to advance on her. "You probably got some more jewelry stashed around here somewheres. Where is it?"

Rose backed away, but she wasn't fast enough. He was in her face, shouting obscenities at her. "What're you hiding from me, girl!" He reached for her arm and--

"Leave her alone!" came a commanding voice to Rose's left. The quiet, long-faced man from breakfast was standing in the doorway of his apartment, fury written all over his face. "Let her go, I said!"

The drunken thief obeyed. Rose could tell he was just as startled as she. He dropped the necklace to the floor and staggered out without any further protest. Rose hastily picked it up and put it away, just as the other man stepped forward.

"I apologize for him. Louie has been here about as long as I have. He enjoys making trouble, especially when someone new comes in. You just try to avoid him, and lock your door. Did he hurt you?"

"No...I'm all right."

"You look very pale, are you sure?"

"Yes. I'm just going to lock this door and take a nap. Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome. If you ever need help with him again, just call me. My name is David."

Rose thanked him again, then closed and locked her door. Soon she was stretched out in the bed, and five minutes after that she was asleep.

She was back on the Titanic, wading through corridor after corridor in waist-high freezing waters.

"Jack?" she called, her voice rapidly going hoarse. "Jack, where are you?"

"I'm here, Rose!" came a reply from around a nearby corner. Rose cried out with joy and headed directly for the sound of his voice, but when she reached the corner, she was nearly knocked off her feet by flood waters rushing right at her! She turned and was face-to-face with Cal, dressed in his evening finery.

"And where do you think you're going?" he demanded.

As he grabbed for her, an oncoming wave bowled them both over, and Rose was carried away in the current. She opened her mouth to scream--and swallowed a mouthful of melted ice.

"Jack, help me! Jack! Jack!"

And then strong male arms were lifting her, rough hands were tugging her to safety. "It's all right, princess," a familiar voice crooned in her ear. "Just a little bath."

"Daddy?" Rose whimpered. "Daddy?"

She turned and stared into his face. "Daddy, what are you doing here?" Her heart was fluttering away, more from the shock than from the excitement of her brush with death. "Are you coming home, Daddy?"

He laughed and brushed damp strands of her hair from her face, so that she could see better. They were sitting down now, on the front porch of their Philadelphia home. "We are home, princess. We're home to stay." Rose threw her arms around his neck...

And crashed to the hardwood floor in her room. She was clutching the stained pillow so tightly feathers were poking from a tiny tear in the fabric.

"Daddy," Rose whispered. "I miss you so much. Wherever you are, I wish I could find you. When I'm feeling better, I will."

Rose felt the urge to keep talking, but thought someone may overhear. She climbed back into bed and tried for some time to sleep. Instead, she ended up just staring at the ceiling and, after a while, began to cry.

The pounding at the door broke into her reverie. "Rose? Rose, are you in there? It's Mrs. Wallace, your landlady."

She hurriedly wiped her eyes and called out, trying to sound as put-upon as possible, "Just a moment, please!"

She walked slowly to the door and greeted the irritating woman, who was forcibly holding her cat in what had to be an uncomfortable position--for both herself and the animal. "I thought you were coming back downstairs," she huffed. "Your rent is payable in advance."

"Oh, yes, I nearly forgot," Rose said. "One moment, please."

To the older woman's surprise, Rose swung the door nearly shut in her face before fetching the money from the bureau.

She didn't want anyone to know where she kept her valuables. She dug around in the coat pocket and was delighted to discover that thief hadn't had a chance to find the cash Cal had conveniently taken from his safe.

The problem: it was all large bills. While Rose pondered this latest dilemma, Mrs. Wallace pounded on the door again. "Are you hiding from me, young lady? I certainly do not appreciate this!"

Rose knew of course that there was no way she could get smaller bills. She had to pay this woman, NOW. So she took out a hundred and opened the door wide again. She just prayed there would not be many questions. On the contrary, Mrs. Wallace was simply glad to see the money she was owed, in any form. She tucked it away in a pocket and walked away without even thanking her new tenant.

"How rude," Rose thought. But the annoyance quickly passed. She was glad to be alone again. She could sleep. And sleep she did, for the rest of the afternoon, and through the night. But, this sleep was often interrupted, the one thing Rose had hoped would not happen again.

She was on the ship again, this time in the suite she shared with her mother and Cal. She was alone, waiting for her love to arrive.

There was suddenly a loud and persistent knock at the door. "Rose? Rose!" came Ruth DeWitt Bukater's authoritative voice. "Put your lifebelt on! It's time to go meet your father."

Rose's heart leaped and she rushed to the closet, only to find it bare. She could hear feet pounding in the hallway, and distant cries of panic. "Rose!" Cal's voice, this time. "Rose, you come right this instant! This is highly improper!"

"But I can't," Rose whimpered. "I have to find him first."

The doorknob began to turn. Rose didn't wait to see who it was this time, but fled from the rooms the back way. As the door slammed behind her, she found herself in a familiar, dark wood-paneled room. Her favorite room, at one time, though quite imposing.

"Daddy," she said to the large man seated behind the oak desk in his office.

Chapter Three
Stories