JACK'S ROSE
Chapter Four
Rose eased her naked body into the steaming
water. It felt so good. The hot water rushed over her, and she leaned her head
back against the cool porcelain tub. The bath oils in the water smelled
wonderful. Her senses were overtaken.
She sloshed the water over herself. It seemed
like a hundred years since she had been warm. The dark coat and pink and white
dress she had been wearing for three days straight lay haphazardly strewn on
the floor. Rose's long red hair floated about her shoulders.
Rose closed her eyes for a brief moment, but
when she opened them again, the water was cold...only degrees above freezing.
People floated around her. One bobbed against her. She yelled out. His face.
Jack! A piercing sound of pure terror escaped her, and she pressed her eyes
shut again, trying to escape. And when she opened them, she was once again in
the hot water of the bath tub. The door flung open, and Molly entered,
bewildered.
"Rose! Are you all right, hon? I heard
you scream!" she said frantically, grabbing one of the soft towels and
helping Rose out of the tub as she stood.
"I...I closed my eyes and...and...they
were...Jack..." Rose sobbed, collapsing onto the cold tile floor. Molly
dropped to her knees and wrapped the towel around Rose.
"It's all right, darling. It's all
right. Hush. Shh," Molly soothed. Rose rocked back and forth, like a child
scared and alone in the dark.
Tears streamed down her face. Her teeth
chattered with cold, even though the mirrors were dripping with the moisture
from the heat of the water. She trembled all over.
"Jack," she whispered. "Hold
me, Jack."
Molly pulled Rose close to her, trying her
best to comfort her.
*****
Rose awoke, warm on a feather mattress,
tucked in under a heavy comforter, and dressed in a silk robe. She looked
about, disoriented and confused. Then, it all came rushing back to her, and she
pressed her eyes shut, fighting the dizziness that overtook her.
The door opened and Molly and Cora came in,
both smiling.
"Oh, Rose! You're awake!" Molly
exclaimed, smiling a relieved smile. "There's a plate of hot food by the
bed," she said, pointing toward a plate with a silver cover over it. Rose
sat up, pulling the quilt up around her chest.
"Are you okay, Rosie?" Cora asked,
sitting on the bed beside Rose.
"Yes, Cora. I'm all right," Rose
said, smiling over at the young girl.
"I had the bellhop come up and bring you
supper. He didn't wake you up, did he?"
"No. No, he didn't." Suddenly,
Rose's eyes grew wide, remembering what had been in the pocket of that coat.
"Molly, where is the coat I had? I...I have something in the pockets! I—"
"It's all right, Rose. I got it
out," Molly said, winking at Rose. "And the dress has been taken care
of. It's folded and put away."
Rose heaved a heavy sigh. "Thank you,
Molly."
"Of course, darling. Now, eat.
C'mon," Molly said, uncovering the plate of mashed potatoes, tender lamb,
mini-carrots baked in a molasses sauce, and some gravy that Rose could not
remember having eaten before. She pulled the plate onto her lap and quickly
consumed the delicious meal, then washed it down with a sip of the red wine sitting
on the bed stand. Rose smiled up at Molly, then over at Cora. "Mmm...I
feel better already."
"Good!" Molly perked up, clapping
her hands together.
"I'm glad you feel better, Rosie,"
Cora said, wrapping her arms tightly around Rose.
"Thank you, Cora," Rose said,
kissing her on the cheek.