INTO THE SUNRISE
Chapter Two
The first class suite was empty
when Rose returned for the portfolio. Not wasting any time, Rose quickly headed
for Cal's safe and spun the combination. There it was. Jack's portfolio. Grabbing
the leather folder, she closed the safe and turned to head for her mother's
room to leave a note she had written down in steerage. But she stopped in her
tracks when she saw her maid, Trudy, in her suite, straightening up the covers
on the already made bed.
"Trudy?"
The maid looked up and gasped
with shock and relief. "Miss Rose. We've been looking all over for you.
Mrs. DeWitt Bukater is so worried, and Mr. Hockley…he's beside himself as well.
They'll be so happy to find that you've returned."
"I haven't returned, Trudy.
Not for good, anyway. I just came to get this portfolio and leave a note for
Mother. Then I'm leaving, this time for good."
"What? I don't
understand." Trudy frowned.
"You don't have to. I would
explain, but I really don’t have the time. They'll be back any time now, and I
want to be gone when they do return." Rose gave Trudy the letter, keeping
her eye on the door leading out into the hall. "Give this to my mother two
weeks after we dock."
"Yes, Miss." Trudy
nodded, her voice sad. Rose had been her best friend since they were children
and now her friend was leaving, and unlike they had planned, Rose would be
going alone. What would she do now without her best friend?
Rose, sensing Trudy's sadness,
hugged her tightly. "Oh, Trudy, you will be the only one here that I will
truly miss. Maybe we'll see each other again someday."
"I do hope so, Miss."
Trudy wiped at her tears. "I do hope you find what you're looking
for."
"Oh, Trudy, I have. I truly
have. I wish you could meet him."
"Maybe someday I will, Miss
Rose."
"Maybe." Rose smiled
sadly. "I'd better go now, before Mother returns or that awful Lovejoy.
Good-bye, Trudy." She hugged her maid one last time before dashing out of
the room, leaving the young woman alone, clutching the letter that was to be in
her possession for two more weeks.
*****
Jack was waiting for Rose down in
the third class general area, listening to people talk of their dreams once
they had reached America, the land of milk and honey. He sighed and shook his
head at some of the descriptions of his homeland. If only they knew the truth.
America was only the land of milk and honey if you were a member of the world
that Rose had left behind. Even then, it could be a gilded cage.
"Jack!" Rose called,
spotting him among the rest of the steerage passengers. She held up his
portfolio and waved.
"You got it back!" Jack
leapt up from his seat. "You didn't have any problems, did you?"
"No. Well…I did have a
moment saying good-bye to Trudy. Oh, Jack, it was so hard saying good-bye to
her. She was my best friend. The only one I could tell anything to. I'm going
to miss her."
"I wish you could take her
with us…"
"I know, but it's
impossible." Rose sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck and laying her
head against his shoulder. "Well, at least I have you. Right?"
"Always." Jack kissed
her forehead. "Hungry?"
"Starved." Rose
giggled, pushing her good-bye to Trudy to the back of her mind. She was with
Jack. That was all that mattered to her now.
"Well, come along, milady.
Let's feast before dinner's over." He led her to the third class dining
hall.