JACK'S ROSE
Chapter Seven

Rose clutched the doorway as she stepped into the dining car, bracing herself from tripping as the train rocked again. Cora looked up at her, then dragged her to an empty table. They picked up the menu and looked over the food offered.

"What are you gonna get, Rosie?" Cora asked, looking over at Rose.

"I don't know. The salmon, I suppose," Rose answered, smiling down at the child.

"I guess that's what I'll have, too." She closed the menu, laid it on the table, then turned her attention to the room itself, looking about at the crystal and silverware set out. As Cora was taking in the beauty, Rose was beginning to realize just how wasteful all of the decor was.

"May we sit here?" a woman asked, claiming the attention of both Rose and Cora. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but our girl is fussing about being hungry and there are no empty seats."

"Of course. Sit down, please," Rose said, smiling.

The little girl, blonde hair and blue eyes, sat down beside Cora. Rose was rather shocked when she noticed how familiar the girl's eyes seemed. Crystal blue, clear...

"My husband should be along soon," the woman started again. "He hurt his leg a while back and has become rather slow." She laughed. "Oh, how rude of me!" she exclaimed, setting the menu aside only a second after having picked it up.

New money...

Rose silently scolded herself.

"My name is Julia, and that's my girl, Lilly."

"I'm Rose, and this is Cora. She's my...niece."

Fortunately, Cora's attention was directed at Lilly and she did not hear Rose say that last comment.

"Ah…finally!" Julia exclaimed as a man limped up to the table. "This is my husband, Henry. Henry, this is Rose, and that's Cora."

"Nice to meet you," he said, reaching out to shake Rose's hand. She hesitantly extended her hand, her eyes never leaving his. She couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. He looked so much like...like Jack. Rose had to force herself not to utter the name. "Where are you headed?" he asked, carefully lowering himself into the chair across from Rose, filling the last empty chair at the table.

"Chippewa Falls," she answered, forcing herself to look away from him.

"How lovely!" Julia said excitedly. "That's where we're headed as well!"

"It is indeed. Who are you going to stay with?" Henry asked, casting a glance down at his menu.

"I don't know," Rose said truthfully. "I was planning on perhaps working in the general store and renting a room above it."

"Oh, Ralph Jones. He's a good man. I'm sure he'll let you stay there. But if not, I open our house to you both. I haven't been back in five years, not since my parents died."

“...my parents died when I was fifteen...”

"Oh," Rose said, quietly.

"But I am looking forward to going back. There's not much in the way of educational opportunity there, but Lilly can go to the girls' school in the next town. It's really a nice little town. It doesn't really change. Life there is rather simplistic, I guess you could say. But that's not always bad." A silence fell over them all.

"Have you decided what meal you will be dining on tonight?" a waiter asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"She and I will be having the salmon," Rose said, motioning toward Cora.

"And to drink, Miss?"

"Water will be fine."

He cast her an odd glance, then turned to Henry and Julia.

Rose's mind reeled. This couldn't possibly be Jack's family, could it? He'd said he didn't have any family or close kin in that part of the country. But then again, they had boarded the train in New York. She glanced back at Henry. He looked so like Jack.

"And what is taking you to Chippewa Falls, Miss...I seem to have missed your last name," Henry said, looking up at her.

Oh, God. What should I tell them? She licked her lips. Here it goes. Throw all caution to the wind, Rose Dawson. "Dawson," she answered confidently.

Henry's eyebrows furrowed. "How odd. That is our name as well. Where are you from?"

"Philadelphia."

"Well, it's a common name. Like Thompson and Thomas and such."

Rose nodded.

"So, what is taking you to Chippewa Falls?" he asked, trying to revive the conversation.

What can I tell them? Surely they are the only family of Dawsons in the town, so I cannot be looking for family. But maybe... "Family." Rose glanced up at them.

"Well, perhaps we're it! We are the only Dawsons in Chippewa Falls." Henry smiled. "Is your maiden name Dawson?" he asked.

New money. Definitely new money...but what is your answer to that, Rose? My, my, you've gotten yourself in a rut! And you can't run. Her eyes fluttered to the door leading back to the passenger car. No. Yes. What? Her jaw flapped up and down. Her maiden name. She'd not had the time yet to weave together a new identity, a lie that would become her life. She could not answer. Not here. Not now. Not like this. "Cora, dear, you remember how to get back to our seat?" Rose asked.

"Yes, Rosie."

"Come back, then, after supper. Henry, Julia, tonight, when the others are asleep, come to my seat. I have something I must tell you, but I cannot here."

And without another word, Rose stood and rushed away, trying desperately to hold back her tears.

*****

Rose sat in the seat, listening as Cora quietly sang a song to herself, playing with the doll Rose had made for her what seemed already so long ago. She gazed out the window at the passing stars. The stars...

To the stars, Jack. When will you be able to take me to the stars again?

"Rose?" Henry asked, bracing himself on the edge of Cora's chair as the train lurched forward again.

"Oh, Henry, Julia." Rose looked up. "Cora, dear, will you go play with Lilly while I talk with Henry and Julia?"

"Okay, Rosie," Cora said, standing.

"I'll take Cora back to our seat," Julia said.

Rose nodded.

Henry took Cora's seat.

"I'd like Julia to hear this as well. I'm not sure I can say this twice," Rose told Henry, glancing over at him, tears in her eyes. Henry only nodded.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, Julia returned. Since the seats in front of Rose were empty, Julia pressed the lever down and turned the aisle seat around to face Rose and Henry.

"My maiden name is not Dawson. It is DeWitt Bukater. When I boarded the Titanic, my name was still DeWitt Bukater, and I was engaged to a man named Hockley. I was miserable. So much so that the second night I was on the ship, I decided to put an end to my life. I ran to the stern of the ship and climbed over the railing. Jack saved me. He pulled me back. Jack pulled me back—saved me—in every way a person can be saved. I loved him, and I always will love him. I am going to Chippewa Falls because I have nowhere else to go. There is only one person that knows I am still alive, but if I stay with her, I will be found."

Silence. That deafening silence of the realization that a loved one is gone settled over them.

"But how did he...did he get the ticket? He wasn't making any money in Paris..."

"A lucky hand of poker." Rose smiled.

There was a brief pause, then Henry continued, "I've heard the name Hockley before; they were no financially troubled family. You gave up all that wealth for my brother?"

"Jack gave up his life for mine. I never hesitated once, taking his name. If he had lived, we would have been married. I would have left them all the same."

"You are a brave woman, Rose. Just leaving everything you've ever known for love," Julia said, her own eyes glistening with tears.

The three sat there, another silence settling over them like a thick blanket. Julia had never met Jack, and Henry had never told her much about him—just that he had been an artist and had taken off after their parents died. But it was obvious now that Henry had loved his little brother.

She'd never seen Henry cry before.

And after this, she never would again.

Henry wiped his silent tears away, then stood. "We'll be off now. It's late, and you look tired, Rose. Sleep well," he said, tipping his head in a gesture of farewell.

"I'll bring Cora back," Julia said as she stood. Rose nodded, watching as Julia turned the seat back to its proper position and turned to leave. In only a minute, she returned with a slumbering Cora in her arms. The two women managed to get the young girl into the seat and situated with a pillow beneath her head without waking her. "Good night, Rose," Julia whispered.

"Good night, Julia."

Julia left without another word, and Rose leaned her head against the window. She pressed her eyes shut, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

Rose slowly approached Jack as he stood, leaning on the rails, gazing thoughtfully across the sea. He turned.

"Jack, I—can I stay?" she asked, walking into his waiting arms.

"Not for long. You made me a promise, Rose. You have to keep that promise. You're not just living for you anymore; you're living for me. And for—" but he stopped.

"For what, Jack?"

"Never mind. Just step up," he said, guiding her to the rails.

Rose smiled as she obeyed. She leaned back; he braced her as she stood, her arms out, flying across the sunset as the ship sailed forward toward nothing except heaven. And there, they shared their second kiss on the bow of the Titanic, his arms around her waist, her hands reaching around to caress his golden hair—their lips sealing their love.

As their lips parted and the sun slipped behind the horizon, they joined hands and strolled back to the boat deck, where they paused to gaze up at the stars.

"See that star, Rose?" Jack asked, pointing up to the brightest star in the sky.

"Yes," she answered, quietly.

"That's our star."

She laughed softly and turned to gaze at him.

"Rose, I want to tell you something. Something that I never said when we were together." Jack moved closer to her, so close he could almost hear her heart beating. Rose looked up at him questioningly. He smiled. "I love you, Rose Dawson."

"And I you, Jack Dawson," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and twisting her fingers in his hair. "What's wrong?" Rose asked, seeing a regretful look cross Jack's face.

"It's time for you to leave. But, wait. Before you leave." He drew away from her and reached behind his back. When he extended his hand to her once more, he held a rose of the deepest crimson Rose had ever seen. "A rose for my beautiful Rose."

He smiled and kissed her cheek as she accepted the rose.

Rose awoke, sunlight spilling in through the window, warming her face. She smiled and opened her hands to stretch out her fingers. As she did, she felt something drop onto her lap.

Rose looked down to find a crimson rose laying there in the lap of her ivory day dress.

Chapter Eight
Stories