INTO THE SUNRISE
Chapter One
"When the ship docks, I'm
getting off with you." Rose gazed into his eyes, a bit shocked by her own
statement. But she was sure that this was what she wanted. She was done living like
a porcelain doll, pretending to be someone she wasn't.
Jack looked at her as if she had
lost her mind. His eyes were shining with hesitant joy, just in case this
wasn't what she wanted after all. "This is crazy."
"I know. That's why I trust
it." Rose wrapped her arms tightly around him and indulged in a long, deep
kiss. Neither of the lovers was aware of the audience they were receiving. The
officer, the lookouts…they were all watching the lovebirds, oblivious to the
looming iceberg that they had safely drifted pass.
*****
Rose stretched as she awoke the
next morning. Opening her eyes, she felt a little disoriented at first. This
wasn't her stateroom. It was too small and contained too many people. Frowning,
she turned to find that she wasn't alone in the tiny bed that she now occupied.
As soon as his blue eyes opened and met hers, it all came back to her. After
declaring her intentions towards Jack, they had slipped down to his cabin to
hide out until they arrived in New York. Starting now, her life had changed. No
more Cal, no more Ruth…just her and Jack.
"Good morning." She
smiled.
"Rose." He grinned,
sitting up, relieved that the night before hadn't been a dream after all. Rose
was getting off the ship with him and they were going to travel the country
together. "How did you sleep last night? I know you're not used to such
small and crowded accommodations, but…"
"It's perfect." She
kissed him tenderly, enjoying the feel of his lips so early in the morning.
"It's where you are."
"Are you hungry?"
Rose nodded eagerly. She hadn't
eaten since yesterday afternoon, and she was now feeling the effects.
"Stay here. I'll go get us
something." Jack got up and slipped on some clothes, much to Rose's
disappointment. Jack seemed to be well-built, and the sight of his bare skin
gave her a thrill that she had never felt before.
"Jack…be careful. Cal may be
looking for me, and steerage would be the first place he'd look," Rose
warned.
Jack smiled at her concern and
nodded. "I love you." He waved before slipping out of the room.
Rose closed her eyes and leaned
against the soft pillow behind her, content with her decision to stay with
Jack. From here on out, the future was bright and full of possibility. Sighing,
she was about to drift off to sleep when the problem struck her. Jack's
portfolio! They had left it up in her stateroom! She was going to have to go
back for it. But how was she going to do that without being caught? A
confrontation with Cal and her mother was something she really wasn’t ready
for. They'd argue and yell at her and they'd try to force her to stay in their
oppressive world. Yes, she knew that she would have to face her mother
eventually, but just not now. Not when she had found the perfect love in Jack.
She wanted to wait until she was settled into her new life before seeing her
mother again.
"I'm back!" Jack
announced, his hands full of food. "I hope you're still hungry."
Rose nodded just as the others
began to wake up.
"Jack, are you not eating
with us?" Fabrizio hopped down. His eyes widened with understanding when
he set eyes on Rose, who was busy eating some sausage. Smiling, he soon
understood. "We'll see you later, Jack."
Quickly, the three men dressed
and went to breakfast. Jack laughed. This was the first time that he had seen
Fabrizio blush. "I've never seen him move so fast."
Rose smiled, her mind still on
the problem of Jack’s portfolio. How were they going to it back? Jack noticed
her distracted state and sat next to her.
"What's wrong?"
"I just remembered. We left
your portfolio in my stateroom. We're going to have to get it back."
"Oh. I forgot about that,
too. We'll wait until tonight when they're at dinner. We'll sneak up there, get
the portfolio and some of your things, and get out."
"Just the portfolio, Jack. I
don't want any reminders of my old life." Rose shook her head.
"Not even a dress or
two?"
Rose shook her head.
"Besides, they're too upper class. I can blend in more wearing simpler
clothes."
"Well…if that's the way you
want it. We'll just ask some of the girls to lend you some clothes. I'm sure
they won't mind."
Cuddling together, the couple
enjoyed their breakfast as the ship of dreams continued its race to America.