IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES
Chapter Nine
April 14, 1912
Father Andrews slunk out of the church early
the next morning, a letter in his hand. He had just gotten word about Rose and
had been relieved that the plan was working so far. Now, all he had to do was
tell Jack that Rose really wasn't dead, and everything would work out fine.
Jack and Rose could run away and be together forever, he could concentrate on
bringing their two families together, and maybe, just possibly, if everything
was worked out between the Dawsons and Bukaters, he could explain what had
happened and Jack and Rose could come back to Santa Monica. He spotted a
mailman, or mail-boy, rather, passing by the church as soon as he came out.
"Excuse me!" Father Andrews called, running to catch up with him.
"Good morning, Father," the boy
said, smiling at Father Andrews.
"Good morning, young man. Are you
possibly going to Los Angeles today?" Father Andrews asked.
The boy nodded. "Yes, sir. Right now,
actually. Would you like me to take something there for you?"
Father Andrews smiled. "Actually, yes, I
would." He handed the boy the letter. "This is a very important
letter that needs to be given to Jack Dawson today. Tell him it concerns Rose
and it can't wait," Father Andrews explained.
The boy nodded. "I understand. I'll give
it to him right away. First thing," the boy promised, tucking the letter
in the inside pocket of his coat. "Good day, Father," the boy said
before walking off.
"Good-bye, and thank you!" Father
Andrews called as he watched the boy disappear. "This had better
work," he mumbled before turning to go inside. He still had a lot to do
before Rose's funeral mass.
*****
Adam Lewis, Jack's valet and the only other
person who knew about Jack and Rose besides Father Andrew and Trudy, walked
along the street on his way to St. Peter’s Church. He had heard rumors going
around that Rose DeWitt Bukater had been found dead earlier that morning, and
now he was on his way to find out. If this were true, and Rose really had died,
Adam knew he would have to tell Jack. And it wasn't going to be pretty when
Jack found out. Adam slowly crept up the church stairs and opened the big
wooden door just enough to sneak inside the lobby. He peered through a crack in
the doors that led to the chapel. The church was filled with people who were
crying loudly, and at the front was a bed laid out, Rose upon it. Even from
here he could tell it was she. Rose's red hair spilled around her shoulders,
and she was dressed in a beautiful white gown. Adam shook his head. Rose really
was dead, and that meant Adam was going to have to make a trip to Los Angeles.
He sighed and closed the door, tears coming to his eyes.
Jack would be heartbroken at this news of his
Rose. There was no telling what he would do. Jack loved Rose with all of his
heart, and Adam knew that Jack couldn't live without her. Adam bit his lip and
started walking down the stairs, trying to figure out the best way to tell
Jack. He decided it was probably best to tell him straight out, no beating
around the bush. Sighing, Adam opened the door to the Ford the Dawsons had let
him borrow. "This is not going to be easy," he mumbled. Adam climbed
inside the car and turned the engine on. The car sprang to life and he sped
away towards Los Angeles. No matter how much this was going to hurt Jack, he needed
to be told.
*****
Jack sat down on the shore of the Pacific
Ocean. He sighed and tossed a rock effortlessly into the water. The hours were
becoming longer all the time. He missed Rose desperately and he hoped she was
okay. She had looked so depressed and heartbroken when he had left; it was
almost too much for Jack to stand. "Oh, Rose, I do miss you," he
whispered, looking out at the water. There was a fog settled over the horizon,
clouds were starting to form in the sky, and the sun was almost gone behind the
horizon. "Great," Jack said, "just what I need. Rain to make my
day even more depressing." He sighed again and closed his eyes. Images of
Rose from their night together filled his mind. She was so spellbinding, even in
the night. Her hair had looked as if it were on fire that night and she was so
beautiful. "God, Rose, I miss you," he said again, lying down on the
sand, using his hands as a pillow. Jack squeezed his eyes shut even tighter,
trying to block out all the sounds of the beach. All he wanted to hear in his
mind was Rose—telling him that she loved him, that she would miss him so,
whispering his name, laughing. Oh, how he missed her laugh. It was such a
beautiful laugh, rich and full of life. Jack could once again see her face and
hear her laugh as he rolled over on top of her, teasing her about what she had
said. He smiled and started to replay that night and morning in his head. It
had been so wonderful that neither of them had wanted it to end. But it had,
and now they were apart once again. Suddenly, Jack was vaguely aware of someone
calling his name.
"Jack! Jack! Are you awake, Jack?"
Jack groaned and opened his eyes. Adam was
leaning over him, a concerned look on his face. Jack immediately sprang up.
"Adam! Oh, it’s good to see you!" he cried, throwing his arms around
his valet. "Have you heard from my Rose? How is she? Nothing can be wrong
if she is well!" Jack asked after he had pulled away.
Adam's eyes filled with tears as he looked at
Jack's shining face.
Jack noticed Adam's face right away. It was
not happy. Instead, it was sad and heavy-looking. Jack put his hand on his
Adam's shoulder. "What is it, Adam? What's wrong?" he asked, fearing
the answer.
"Jack, I am sorry to be the one to tell
you this, but…" Adam trailed off.
Jack shook Adam's shoulders. "What's
happened?" he asked.
"Rose is not well, Jack. She died this
morning. I saw her lying in church," Adam finally said, looking down.
Jack's face went white and he stepped back.
Adam looked at Jack. His face held absolutely
no emotion at all. He looked as if he were a statue. Adam didn't know what to
think and was beginning to get worried.
Jack's heart felt as if it were going to
explode, it was pounding so hard. He couldn't think—didn't know what to think.
This had to be a joke. Finally, he spoke, his voice cracking as he did so.
"Adam, this is the meanest joke you have ever played on me!" Jack
whispered, his eyes filling with hot tears. When Adam didn't say anything, he
looked up. Adam's own eyes were filled with tears and his face was sorry-looking.
Jack knew right away that this wasn't a joke. Adam's face told him the truth.
Jack cried out painfully and fell to the ground, pulling at his hair as he
went. He started to cry hysterically, calling out Rose's name as he did.
"Rose! No…no, you can't be dead…what about our life together…Rose!"
Jack screamed, rocking back and forth. "God! Oh, God, why?" he
whispered over and over. A million thoughts ran through his head. This can't
be happening! What am I going to do? Life is not worth living without Rose!
Dead! How can she be dead? Oh, God, Rose, why? What am I going to do?
Suddenly, Jack stopped crying and rocking back and forth. He brought his head
up and saw Adam standing there, looking scared. "If Rose can't be here
anymore, I will go to her. Rose, I will be with you tonight," he whispered
to himself. Standing up, he looked at Adam. "Did you bring a car?" he
asked, wiping his leftover tears away.
Adam nodded. "I did."
"Good. Let's go. We can make it to Santa
Monica in a few hours. C'mon, Adam," Jack said, starting to walk up the
beach.
"Jack, wait! If they catch you in Santa
Monica, you'll most likely be killed!" Adam called, chasing after Jack.
Jack turned around quickly and shouted at
Adam, "I won't matter if they catch me now! If Rose is dead, I should be
dead, too!"
Adam's face went white. He knew Jack was
going to overreact, but this was absurd. "Jack—"
"No!" Jack shouted. "No, I
will not be away from Rose like this! I love her more than anything! Even life itself!
And if that means I have to die to be with her, then so be it!"
Adam bit his lip. "Jack, this is
stupid."
Jack just turned and walked away, not wanting
to hear anymore of Adam's pointless words; his mind was already made up. He
would be with Rose in heaven tonight.
*****
Finding the car parked right above the beach,
Jack and Adam climbed in.
"Jack, maybe I should drive," Adam
said as he watched Jack start the car.
"No! I can drive just fine," Jack
said through clenched teeth as he started pulling away from the beach. They
were about to leave when someone appeared at the window, knocking on it.
"What?" Jack asked irritably as he rolled the window down.
"I have a message from Father Andrews to
Jack Dawson. Are you he? Someone over there said you were," a boy said.
Jack nodded, annoyed at this delay.
"Here," the boy said, handing Jack
the letter. "This is from Father Andrews. He said it concerns Rose."
Jack's face went white. Just what he needed; another
reminder of Rose's death. He took the letter anyway, though, and tried to look
happy. "Thanks," he said, handing the boy a dime.
"Anytime," the boy said, walking
away.
Jack rolled his eyes and started to speed
away.
"Jack, aren't you even going to read
that?" Adam asked as they headed towards Santa Monica at top speed.
Jack laughed bitterly. "Read something
on Rose's death? I don't think so," he said, rolling down the window. With
that, he flung the letter out into the wind. It caught a draft right away and blew
away. "I never want to see that again," Jack mumbled.
Adam just sighed and shook his head.