FOREVER
Chapter Five
For the Better
Santa Monica, July 1912
Rose’s stomach filled with butterflies as the
roller coaster approached the platform where she and Jack were waiting.
Fabrizio stood behind them hanging onto Helga’s hand tightly. As soon as the
coaster emptied out Jack, Rose, Helga and Fabrizio got in. Jack had insisted
they sit in the very front row because it was the only way. "I can’t
believe you talked me into this," Rose said loudly as they made their way
up the first steep hill.
Jack laughed. "It’ll be fun…besides its
part of what we talked about!"
Rose looked at him. "You never said the
front row! Why didn’t Fab and Helga sit up here?" she asked.
"No really it’s okay by us!" Helga
shouted from behind them. Her English was near perfect now thanks to Trudy.
Rose and Jack laughed, but soon Rose’s
laughing turned into screaming as they began the race down and around the
roller coaster tracks. Rose hung onto Jack’s shirt tightly and screamed.
When the ride ended the four friends walked
off laughing almost drunkenly. They walked down the pathway where Trudy and
Tommy were waiting for them. Trudy had never been a fan of roller coasters and
Tommy was still in no condition to be riding them. They all spent the rest of
the day riding the roller coaster again and drinking beer. They all agreed that
they would establish this as a weekend celebration for every weekend. Jack even
took Rose off to the beach where he showed her how to ride a horse, like a man.
Their lives were perfect and even though tragedy and struck and took the lives
of many; they were all able to keep each other going and rise above the tragedy
to make their lives count in every way possible…they were friends forever.
***
Tommy recovered miraculously from his wounds,
but couldn’t walk. He was confined to a wheelchair for three months until he
was strong enough to undergo physical therapy so he could walk again. The first
time he walked again was at his wedding. After the Carpathia docked he and
Trudy began spending a lot of time together and finally he proposed. They were
married August 27, 1912 and had three children, Miranda, Missy and Andrew. They
lived in Santa Monica California where Trudy taught elementary school and Tommy
worked at a construction company.
Helga and Fabrizio were also married. Helga
was persistent in waiting until she could speak perfect English to get married
so she could say her vows properly. And with help from Trudy they she got her
wish. Fabrizio and Helga were married May 3, 1913 and had one child, Gloria.
They too lived in Santa Monica where Helga became a dressmaker and Fabrizio
opened an Italian bakery.
Jack and Rose were married June 2, 1912 and
were the ones behind the move to Santa Monica. With the money Rose found in
Cal’s pocket they were all able to afford train fair to the west coast and
enough rent money to last them at least three months. Rose kept the Heart of
the Ocean, which she also found in his pocket, as a reminder of the life she
left behind and as a keepsake for she and Jack. They had two children, Margaret
and Michael. Jack worked as an artist doing posters for local theaters and
other advertisements while Rose became a moving picture actress. Then in 1925
an art critic in New York heard of Jack’s work and started selling his sketches
for big money. And their luck didn’t run out there. In 1927 Jack and Rose and
their family and friends were among the firsts to attend the very first Academy
Award show where Rose was nominated and won.
The End.