FLORA
Chapter Five

The next morning Flora could tell that Maddy was a bit suspicious about what had happened the night before, and finally came out and asked her.

"So, how was your talk with Matthew last night? You came home quite late."

Maddy poured herself a glass of milk, sipping it daintily as she sat at the kitchen table used usually only by the servants, but since it was smaller than the regular dining table, she felt more comfortable there.

"Oh, just fine! Thank you for asking, Maddy!" Flora acted more cheery than Maddy had ever seen her before, and from the way she constantly smiled, and the familiar glow she had about her, Maddy automatically knew what had happened.

"You're a bit overly excited for it to have been just a talk. Did that talk we had come just in time?" She turned to face Flora, a content smile on her face as she looked at the girl at her side. Flora beamed with happiness, giving away the truth about what had happened.

"Yes, Maddy, it certainly did come just in time! And it was even better than you described!" Maddy, excited to finally be able to have some girl talk, sat in a chair, Flora doing the same right next to her.

"Oh, do tell me all that happened! All right, not details, but just enough for me to get the picture!" Flora moved a little closer, not wanting the maid that was in the house to hear what she was saying.

"I went there, and we talked, then, it happened! Just like that, and it was so wonderful, he was so wonderful! He asked me to be his wife!" Flora smiled, obviously elated that she was going to marry Matthew, and Maddy showed her happiness for her with a hug.

"That is so lovely! Congratulations! When will the happy occasion occur?"

"I don't know yet. Matthew is going back to England to fix up our home and to find work. He insists on it, even though he knows that I have enough money to hold us for a very long time. I think that it will make him feel better if he feels he is providing for me, for us." Maddy smiled again, squeezing Flora's hand gently.

"So, you will be gone soon! Oh, Flora! It will hurt me to see you go! You have been such a great comfort the past few days!" Maddy reached out to hug her, and Flora leaned into her embrace with a content smile. They parted, and Maddy reached over to a pile of letters on the table and handed one to Flora. "This is for you."

Flora smiled, looking at the address, being from Margaret Brown again, she automatically knew that the real sender was Rose. Maddy noticed how nervous Flora was to read it around her, so excused herself so she could be alone with her letter.

Relieved that she was alone, Flora opened it up and hastily unfolded it, for once seeing a short letter from Rose.

Dearest Flora,

This may seem sudden, but I will be in New York ahead of the two weeks I previously told you. Our run in Washington DC was canceled, so we've moved up the New York run to May 15-18th. I do hope you have no plans for any of the days! You don't have to watch the show each performance, but I do hope we can have time to talk and see one another! Anyhow, I best go. It is my turn to put on my makeup! For now, remember that I am forever

Your devoted friend,

Rose Dawson

Flora gasped, hurrying to look at the calendar hanging on the wall, and saw that it was May 14th that very day! Rose would be in town tomorrow! She could hardly believe how sudden it was, but was extremely happy that she would see her dear friend again!

The one concern she had was that Maddy would want to meet her friend from out of town, and then what would happen! Maddy had known Rose DeWitt-Bukater, and most likely wouldn't have just forgotten her! She didn't know if she could trust Maddy to keep quiet about it if she did know, so the best way she knew how would be to just hide it from her, but that would be hard considering she would be spending so much time with Rose when she did arrive.

After a few minutes of much consideration, Flora decided to tell Maddy that when she went out, she was going to see the town alone, and since Maddy was so far along in her pregnancy and it was discouraged that a woman leave the house very often with her condition, it would be an easy task to convince her.

After she had stuck the letter in her pocket, she heard a knock at the door, the made Rosalie running by her to answer it. The muffled voice she heard was that of a man, and when Rosalie came back in the room she informed Flora that a Mr. Matthew Cambridge was there to see her. Smiling broadly, Flora hurried to the door and stepped out onto the porch where he stood quietly.

"Matthew, I knew you would come soon enough! How are you, darling?" Flora kissed him gently on the lips, Matthew reaching up to touch her face lovingly.

"I'm fine, I've just come to say good-bye. I have booked a passage on a ship back to England, and it leaves in an hour, so I must be on my way." Flora retreated a bit, surprised his departure had come about so soon. Matthew sensed her shock, and reached out to take her hand reassuringly.

"Flora, what is it? Is something wrong? I told you it would be soon."

"I know, and that isn't really it. Matthew, you'll be sailing on a ship, a ship! I'm just a bit hesitant about that, you understand? I mean, not a month ago we were on Titanic, and then, well, you know what happened! I'm just a bit scarred from that I guess, and it probably is nothing, nothing at all, but it just is odd to think of you going back on a ship again, after…"

She let her words trail off, looking up to see Matthew's kind face look at her steadily.

"I understand, Flora, but we can't live out lives in fear forever, we just can't! Think of all the great things we'd miss out on if we let our fears take us over." Flora smiled wanly, letting Matthew kiss her again gently.

"I suppose you are right. Just, will you promise me one thing?" Matthew nodded, motioning for her to continue. "Be safe, and no matter what come back to me. I couldn't bear to lose you too." Matthew reached out and embraced her, holding her tightly to him.

"Yes, I promise I'll come back to you. You're all I have." Flora moved out of his arms, kissing him a last time before they said their farewells and he walked away from her and down the street, Flora standing there watching as he did.

When he was out of sight, she reentered the house and went to her room to cry, not exactly knowing why, but knowing it had something to do with Matthew going on a ship. She cried until she was so tired she couldn't hold her eyes open any longer, then laid her wet cheek on a pillow and fell asleep quietly.

*****

Flora had another dream, this time she was on a farm somewhere and everything was so quiet, so absolutely silent, she couldn't even hear a bird sing. Suddenly, from out of no where she heard Jack's voice behind her, and turned to see him standing next to a tall tree, smiling at her.

"Jack, it's you again! I'm so glad to see you!" Jack nodded, coming toward her and stopping when he got to his destination.

"Flora, I know that you are worried about so many things, I just had to tell you everything will be all right. Matthew, will come home, I promise he will, he promised he would, and he'll keep that promise. You just have to be patient and wait for him to send for you, which he will soon." Flora felt a tear fall down the bridge of her nose, her lips quivering slightly.

"I know that, Jack, it's just so scary to think of him going on a ship, I'm still not over what happened, and he has to sail. I know he'll be all right, he has to be. I've been through so much already, I can't lose him too." Jack nodded, pushing his hands into his pockets and staring at the wide field that was before them, smiling when he looked back at her.

"Rose is coming tomorrow, as you know. You've been a wonderful friend to her, and I know you'll continue to be. That man she is friends with, Calvert, is really a good guy. He'll take care of her too." Flora nodded, staring at the field he had just been looking so thoughtfully at.

"Will you be mad when she gets married, someday, Jack? Won't it hurt you to see her with someone else?" Jack's smile faded as he looked back to her face thoughtfully.

"No, I don't think so. Whoever she will marry will be a good person, I trust her judgment in that, and I will be grateful to him, just like I'm grateful to you, because he will be taking care of her, just like you did. No, I won't be mad, Flora, not at all." Flora felt another tear fall, then she looked back to Jack.

"Thank you for being here when I needed reassurance. I appreciate you doing that, Jack." He smiled, his boyish face looking even more so with the smile on it.

"No problem cousin!" Flora laughed heartily, reaching out to hug him tenderly.

"Goodbye, cousin!" Jack laughed at her this time, starting to retreat in the distance as he did, not saying another word as he waved his farewell and disappeared.

*****

The next day Flora was waiting at the train station when she saw a group of people get off, all as normal as could be but the only standout was Rose's face, which she recognized immediately. As soon as she saw her, Flora rushed through the crowd until she was near the group, not being able to get by this group of theatrical people as they chatted and asked for their luggage.

"Honey, watch out! Why are you in such a hurry!" A beautiful lady looked down at her from beneath a large feathered hat, her blue eyes piercing into hers, and her powdered face staring down at her.

"I'm looking for my friend, she's an actress with you, Rose Dawson, I saw her just a minute ago." Immediately after she had said the name, the woman's face lighted up and she hugged Flora tightly.

"My Lord, you're one of Rose's friends! Well, now, ain't that wonderful! Anna, Anna, this is one of Rose's friends! You must be Flora, she said you would be meeting her here! Anna, look, it's Flora!" Flora was a bit uncomfortable with this perfect stranger hugging her, and then when another lady that was standing next to her did the same, she just stood silently in shock.

The first lady was very tall and attractive, with beautiful blue eyes and a gorgeous figure, her cloths being only from the best designers from what Flora could tell. The second was another tall woman, but this one was a bit more heavy, not large, but a bit plump, though still attractive. Her eyes were brown and her hair was blonde, but Flora couldn't help but think that her color may be fake. The dark haired woman came closer again, beginning to talk again.

"Oh, Lord, I didn't introduce myself! My name is Edith St. Clair, and this is Miss Anna Held, the star of our wonderful little show! Oh, what am I thinking, you must want to see Rose! How stupid of me! Rose, Rose, Rose, Rose, where are you, darling!" From out of the crowd she appeared, dressed in a plum colored dress, her red hair piled on top of her head underneath a rather small hat for these times, but still very lovely on her. When she saw Flora, she couldn't restrain from running through everyone to embrace her!

"Flora! My God, I was beginning to wonder if you weren't coming! I am so happy to see you, you can't imagine!" Flora hugged her tightly, not wanting to let go of her close friend, but when she did finally they discovered they were both crying!

"Rose, why are you crying?"

"I don't know, why are you!"

"I'm not sure!" They both laughed through their tears, holding each other again. Suddenly Flora felt an arm go around her waist, and she turned with a shocked and angry look on her face to see Alexander Calvert smiling down at her.

"Oh, joy! Another pretty girl to have for my own! How nice of you to get me a present, Rose darling!" Rose put on hand on her hip, and used the other to pull his arm away from Flora, taking some effort to jerk it away.

"Alexander Calvert, you are despicable! I cannot even imagine why I am friends with you! Now leave my dear Flora alone!"

"Oh, now I am jealous! You call one of your girlfriends "my dear" yet you will only call me an annoying imbecile!"

"Well, Alex, you see, I call everyone what they are. Flora here is a dear, and you are an annoying imbecile, but a very adorable one!"

"Ah, now, I can live off that compliment for eternity, Rose darling! Your coming around to me, you are, if you want to deny it or not!"

"You, Alex, would be the last person on this earth I would 'come around to' as you so elegantly put it!"

"Well, my my, aren't we the little elocution goddess! Where did you learn proper English, Rose, at a boarding school!" With this he laughed loudly, a few others around them doing the same. Flora looked at Rose, who looked rather amused, and gave her a look she knew that meant 'if they only knew!'

After they had gotten rid of the others and Rose's things were being brought to the hotel she was staying at, Flora and Rose went to a small cafe to eat and talk, catching up on all the things that had happened since they had last seen one another. Most had been written in their letters, but they repeated it anyway, glad to finally see the others reaction and not just reading it!

The subject of Arlene and Wisconsin was brought up, and Flora knew that it was now or never to tell her friend what she had learned, and surprisingly it wasn't as hard for her to do as she had thought.

"I have something to tell you, Rose." Rose stopped eating, setting her fork on the plate when she saw the seriousness in Flora's eyes.

"Of course, about Wisconsin? Did you find out if your family knew Jack's? Is that it?" Flora took a sip of wine, praying that it would give her a little strength to say what she had to.

"Well, yes, they were quite close! You see, my family is his family." Rose stopped moving, and for a minute it was hard to tell if she was breathing, she was so quiet. Then, Rose looked up from her plate, her eyes, glistening with unfallen tears, met Flora's.

"My God, you mean you are related? You're his…"

"Cousin. We're cousins, Rose." Flora saw how confused her friend was, so she began to tell the story, from the beginning, going as far back as when her parents had died and telling what she had learned from Arlene, telling everything.

When it was over, Rose stood, and Flora was afraid she was going to leave, and be mad, but instead she came to Flora and embraced her tightly, not letting go for a very long time, and when she did all she could say was "I love you."

"I love you too, Rose..." Rose nodded, embracing her again before they continued to eat, both feeling even closer to the other than before.

*****

That night Flora went to the theater and saw her dear friend perform for the first time, and she was wonderful! Flora always knew Rose was very vocal about things, but in character she soared across the stage in her elaborate outfits, talking and singing loudly, even making a few jokes that sent the audience into hysterics. Flora could see automatically that her friend had found her place in life, and was more than enthusiastic with her applause at the end.

After the show, Rose asked Flora to join herself and a few of her friends from the play for dinner, which Flora quickly accepted! The other friends she had spoke of where the three she had met at the train depot; Anna Held, Edith St. Clair, and Alex Calvert. They were more than happy to have her along, all of them incredibly nice people with a natural ability to charm anyone they came in contact with, and all of them made quite a pretty sight at the restaurant they went to.

Flora was made to feel welcome, but she certainly knew she did not belong with this group of people, she didn't really understand them and their loud, hyper personalities. She did, however, like them a great deal, and admired them with a vengeance.

"How long have you been a stage actress, Miss Held?" Flora was quiet compared to them, but Anna quieted the others so she could be heard above their raucous.

"Please, dear, it's Anna. Oh, since I was 14. I left home then, not a very good family life to be sure, and went to Cedar Rapids, which, of course, is the theater capital of the country! I got married at 15, left him at 16, and after three years of working small roles, I got my big break in a play that was being produced by my second husband. We're divorced now too, but the publicity from that part just made my career! Interesting what an actor's story is, aye? Edy, dear, tell her your story!" Edith shook her head as she took a long sip of wine, laughing when she took the glass away.

"No, no, too horrifying! One thing you forgot to mention, Anna, is your third husband, the one that you leave at home while you tour!" The group laughed, Flora hesitantly chuckling a bit, noticing the encouraging smile Rose gave her, and feeling better.

"Oh, darling, can't you see she's a society girl! Don't want to scare her, you know! She probably never even kissed a boy!" Flora laughed, a bit relieved that she still gave that impression, even though she knew how untrue it was!

"How did you meet Flora, if you grew up poor Rose?" Rose was evidently a bit nervous at the question, Flora realizing that no one knew anything of what had happened to her and where she came from. Seeing how desperate Rose was for help, Flora burst out with a story in her place.

"Oh, well, you see, Rose worked at the hospital where my mother died, and Rose her help me through my mourning, and we've been close ever since." The others all apologized for the loss of her mother, and Rose looked at her with a grateful smile. Flora felt bad for lying, but it was only a partial one, since her mother had died in a hospital and she had been comforted by a nurse there, though of course it wasn't Rose, it satisfied the others curiosities.

*****

That night Flora went with Rose to the hotel she was staying at, a small one that was rather old and worn down, but definitely comfortable to Rose. She seemed to fit in so well, being there among things that weren't extremely nice or expensive, but her beauty showed even through the plain clothing.

Once inside, Rose begged Flora to stay for just an hour more so they could talk, and even made arrangements with Alex to walk Flora home when they were finished, since Maddy's was but down the street.

"Flora, I'm still in shock about your being related to Jack, but I've realized how glad I am that you are with me. I wasn't married to him, Flora, but in our hearts we were husband and wife, and I just want to ask one thing of you. Will you consider me your cousin?" Flora sat shocked a moment, a tear threatening to fall from it's place.

"No, I will not." Rose looked so shocked by the comment, hurt even, but then Flora smiled widely, reaching out to embrace her. "I'll think of you as a sister!" Rose laughed through her tears of joy, holding on so tightly to her friend she thought they could never let go, but when they did, Flora insisted she must be on her way, and Alex was summoned to escort her home, which he did gladly.

On the walk home Flora was quite taken with his easy countenance and natural charm, and she could tell that this man was a killer with the ladies! He flashed her flirty smiles and winked seductively at her a few times, not really as a come on, but as a sign of humor.

When they arrived at Maddy's Flora couldn't refuse when he asked to come inside so he could speak with her about something, he said it so seriously and he seemed not to be a really serious individual. She brought him to the den, Maddy coming down at the sound of footsteps in the house.

"Flora, dear, I was going to ask you…oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't aware you had company! Hello, sir, my name is Madeline Astor." Maddy used on hand to close her robe and the other to shake Alex's hand, smiling at him the whole time, obviously noticing his extremely good looks!

"Alexander Calvert here. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Astor, a real pleasure!"

He seemed a bit awestruck that he was standing in the Astor home shaking Mrs. Madeline Astor, but his easy countenance hid how nervous he was. Maddy begged her pardon, saying goodnight to Flora with a hug, and ascending the steps to her room, leaving them alone to talk.

"Alexander, I cannot even imagine what it is you wish to speak to me about! I mean, I've known you but a day!" Alex nodded, agreeing with her wholeheartedly. He didn't know really why he was there either!

"Well, Flora, it's like this. I usually can have any woman I want, they just fall at my feet usually, right? Well, anyway, any girl I want, except one, Rose, and she's the one I want really! I mean, she's so passionate, and beautiful, and stubborn, and fun, and smart, and courageous, and kind, and talented, and she knows how to stand up for herself, and I like that, a lot! She said that she had had some problems in a relationship that never worked out, but I don't see why she feels like she can't be with me now. I mean, sometimes it's almost like she's mourning him, whoever he was."

Flora sat quietly, afraid to say anything more because she didn't want to say too much once she started to talk about Rose.

"Alex, this relationship you speak of occurred not long ago, she just isn't over it! One relationship she was in was terrible, really awful! He treated her terribly, but she had enough courage to get out of it. And one relationship, well, maybe it was too perfect, and nothing in her mind will ever live up to it's standards, but in time, and I stress that part, in time, she will realize that it may not be as perfect as that one in many ways, but it will have its own, unique perfections. You just have to be patient, and when she is ready, she'll let you know." Alex nodded, understanding what she was saying, standing enthusiastically.

"Oh, thank you Flora! I'm glad Rose has a friend like you, I really am. I'll be patient, she's worth it."

Flora nodded with a content smile, a bit surprised when Alex hugged her gently, giving her a smile and a wave as he went out of the room, Flora hearing the front door shut as he left. More tired than she had ever been, Flora went to be, snuggling beneath the covers and thinking about Matthew as much as she could, hoping it would bring dreams of him that night so she wasn't alone.

*****

The few days they had together went quickly. Flora and Rose went to many of the places that they had loved as children, and some placed they couldn't go into really because someone might recognize Rose, and it was a chance they could not take, not just yet.

The night before Rose's departure, she very seriously asked Flora to come up to the hotel room so she could give her something. Flora, not thinking anything of it other than it was probably a present in return for the $300 she had given Rose, went up with no expectations. Once she was settled on a chair and Rose had locked the door securely, she then began to get suspicious of what it might be.

Rose crossed the room to her suitcase, taking something out that was wrapped in a piece of cloth. She came and sat across from Flora, looking up so she could see into her eyes as they spoke.

"This means a lot to me, but it is too dangerous for me to keep it with me. After all, I am just a poor girl to all of my friends, and if this were ever to be discovered my story would never make sense."

Slowly, gently, she unwrapped the cloth from the object, revealing inside a necklace unlike any Flora had ever seen before. It was a very beautiful, very large blue gem, surrounded by smaller diamonds, and it glistened in the light like nothing she could remember seeing before. Looking into the blue diamond, she could almost see the ocean. Tentatively, she reached out and touched it with her fingers, Rose placing it in her hands with a smile.

"Rose, my God, it is beautiful!" Flora took it in her hands and began to hold it up to the light, inspecting it curiously.

"I want you to keep it for me, take care of it for me. You know the story of it, I've told you before, and I want you to have it. You're the only person I trust enough to do this for me, you're the only one I care about enough to do this for me. But you mustn't let Madeline see it!" Rose looked desperately into Flora's eyes for a reassurance she would keep it a secret, which Flora gave with a nod.

"But Rose, you said you are only having me take care of it for you. When will you want it back?" Rose grew forlorn, taking the necklace back into her hands as she gently touched it, memories haunting her eyes as she did so.

"When I will want it, I will tell you. Then you can give it to me, and Flora, you must promise me you'll do something. If I die, and have never asked for it back, will you throw this necklace into the ocean, so it can be with the person I love most, and he'll know I always remembered him?" Flora smiled, reaching out to take Rose's hand lovingly.

"He knows already, Rose, but yes, I will do it if I must." Rose looked gratefully up at her, embracing her again before she saw that it was late.

Flora said she needed to be getting home, then went on her way, a few tears falling as she left Rose behind again. Still, she knew that now they were even more bonded than before, and it made Flora realize just how important Rose was to her.

When she got back to the house, Flora took the necklace out from her pocket and set it in her suitcase, in a hidden pocket she had found just the night before. Before she did that, she looked at it again, smiling as she saw how lovely it really was.

"Jack, I know you can hear me, so I have a favor to ask. This is supposed to be yours, so will you take care of it and keep it safe until Rose wants it? Please, do this for me." With a smile she locked the suitcase and slid it under her bed, sliding her body into the bed with a sigh of relief when she felt how warm the covers made her, then she drifted into sleep, comforted by a presence she could not explain.

*****

Not a week later Flora received a letter from Rose, and once she got it she quickly opened it, excited of news from her friend.

Dearest Flora,

I write this to ask a favor of you. Yesterday, Alex, Edith, Anna, and I went to visit an abandoned theater in Cedar Rapids, and immediately it caught our eyes! Anna and Edith don't wish to own a theater, but Alex is as desperate to do this as me. It is a bit rundown, but beautiful and grand, and with a little work, and since Alex is a carpenter anyway he could do most of that, and then some money, it could be new again, and even better than before. The man that is selling it told us a fair price, and now all we need is funding.

Now, Flora, I know you are thinking that you will just send us the money and all will be well, but I want to sell this idea myself, and the only way that can happen is if you can get the word out to some wealthy people that a couple people want to open a theater, and maybe someone will wish to help us. That is all I ask of you, you've done so much already, I could not take any more of your money.

Well, I best go now. Thank you again, and remember I am forever

Your Devoted Friend,
Rose Dawson

Flora set the letter down thoughtfully, trying to think of who she could get to help Rose that would do it for certain. Suddenly she heard Maddy calling for her, and the remembrance of what she had said when Flora agreed to stay with her for awhile came back to her.

Unladylike, Flora rushed down the stairs, coming face to face with Maddy in the hallway. Maddy looked at her oddly, and Flora pulled her into the den with a smile.

"Maddy, remember when I agreed to stay with you, you said that you were indebted to me? Well, I think the chance to pay me back has just arisen."

Maddy looked even more confused, but quietly sat down with a smile, holding Flora's hand in her own.

"Well, what is it? I'll do whatever you want." Flora smiled gratefully, then began to tell the story, knowing full well she had already accomplished what she had set out to do.

Chapter Six
Stories