A SIMPLE KIND OF LIFE
Chapter Nine

April 18, 1912

The early evening rain poured down over New York City. The clouds were as gray and gloomy as the mood. Since mid-afternoon, people had lined the docks, awaiting the arrival of the Carpathia. Relatives and friends of most of the Titanic passengers awaited news. News of whether the people closest to them had actually been lost in the greatest disaster ever known. Journalists and cameramen joined them, as well as priests and several nuns. An ambulance and embalmers had also been requested at the scene.

It was around eight when the Carpathia had pulled into the docks. Passengers stood on deck, with little or no luggage in their hands. Some were happy for this journey to be over. Others didn’t want to face life without their lost ones.

The Statue of Liberty was in close sight. Lady Liberty, who cast a light over the whole of the great city.

Taking Jack’s hand in hers, Rose gasped. She was enthralled by the beautiful statue. All of her life she had wished to view her and now, here she was. Standing proud and tall in front of her, she shed tears of joy. This was a symbol of her newfound freedom. She turned to Jack, who pulled her closer to him. He was just happy to be home and well and with Rose as happy as she was.

"We’re home, Rosie. This is it now." Jack’s voice was soft.

Rose nodded. "Yes. This is a fresh start."

"No going back, Rosie?" He wanted to know for sure. He wanted to know if she wanted this as much as he did, because God knew he loved her with all of his heart.

"No, Jack. I don’t want to lose you. I came so close because of my fears of Cal. But we have come this far." To lose him now would be like dying herself. They had reached home, they had fought off all of their uncertainty and fear, they had even tried to fight their own feelings, but that failed. Love always did seem to conquer all, even death.

"You will not lose me, Rose. You have me forever, if that’s your wish."

Just as Rose was about to lean forward to kiss him, an officer with a clipboard and pen approached them and cleared his throat.

"Can I take your names, please?" he asked.

Rose turned to Jack. She didn’t wish for Cal to find her. This was a new life, a new start for her now.

"Dawson. Rose and Jack Dawson," she replied, her eyes never leaving Jack’s. She watched as his eyes widened with shock. She hoped he wouldn’t mind.

"Thank you." The officer walked away.

"Rose Dawson?" Jack teased her a little, but Rose’s face was serious.

"I don’t wish to be found. Rose DeWitt Bukater died with the Titanic. It’s time to start living. If a mindless insect can exchange one life for another, then why can’t I?"

Jack shook his head with disbelief at the beautiful woman before him. She was so strong, so brave, and such an inspiration to him. He had never doubted her love for him in the past few days, but now he was certain her feelings matched his. One day he would marry her. He knew that. He leaned forward and gently kissed her face and lips.

At 8:23 PM, the survivors of the Titanic disembarked the Carpathia. They entered their new lives. Jack and Rose avoided the publicity, knowing that if the press saw Rose, they would instantly recognize her and news of her whereabouts would no doubt filter back to her mother and Cal somehow.

Away from the crowds of people sat a shiny new Renault. A man stood, arms folded, smoking a pipe and leaning against the motorcar. He seemed annoyed at waiting, but he was here to do as he was told. Taking a puff from the pipe, he gazed at his pocket watch and rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Bob?" a familiar voice called. He whirled his head around to meet the eyes of Jack Dawson. A smile spread across his face. It had been so long.

"Jack Dawson. So, it’s true what we hear. Wandering Jack returned home, eh?" He threw his arms around his old pal. "Hey, sorry to hear about…" Bob trailed off before a smile replaced his look of sadness. "Never mind. We’ll talk later. Jump in the car, but not before introducing me to your girl."

Rose’s eyes darted to the strange man. He was bald and wore glasses. He must have been around thirty and seemed friendly. Rose smiled a little at seeing Jack’s reunion with the man. She assumed they were old friends.

"Bobby, this is Rose." Rose smiled hello. She was a little worried about being seen around here.

"Rose…well, does she have a last name?" Bob laughed, teasing Jack.

"Oh…yeah." Jack turned to Rose and saw her eyes narrow. "Dawson," he replied. "This is my new bride, Rose Dawson."

Bob’s eyes lit up and he playfully whacked Jack on the shoulder. "No kidding, right? You’re married, Jackie?"

Jack nodded and touched Rose’s hand. He could feel her shaking. "We--well, we married April the first. The Titanic was our honeymoon." Jack turned to Rose and she smiled.

"Well, then, shut me up. Congratulations." Bob smiled and opened the car door for Rose. Once inside, Bob ran to the driver’s seat and started the car.

"Where to, Jack?" Bob asked.

"Um…" It was then that Jack realized he didn’t know where to go. They certainly couldn’t stay at one of the expensive hotels. They couldn’t afford to be seen. Jack thought of his friends and wondered if they had even survived. He pushed them out of his mind and concentrated on the moment. "Just downtown New York. Find a vacant hotel."

After an hour of driving, the motorcar came to a halt. Rose was instantly awakened by the jolting of the car. She had nodded off after ten minutes. She was in much need of sleep. She gazed through the window at a small house with a Rooms for Rent sign in the window. The rain beat down heavier now and the sky was suddenly ablaze with lightning.

"Shit!" Jack cursed. "Here will be fine, Bob. Now, you drive somewhere safe for tonight, all right?" Jack thrust a twenty into his hand and said his good-byes.

"It was good to see you, Jackie. And Rose, it was lovely to meet you."

Rose smiled through her tiredness. All she wanted was a good night’s sleep and to get away from this place as soon as possible. The lights inside the small house looked welcoming, and even though she had probably never been in quarters so small, it looked inviting.

"Bob, don’t tell anyone you saw me here, all right? This is between us." Jack made sure he understood. Bob nodded.

With that, Rose and Jack watched Bob drive off into the rain and they darted for cover on the porch of the small house. Nervously, Jack knocked at the door. It had been a long time since he had done this.

An old woman opened the door and her eyes met Jack and Rose’s. The young pair were cold and drenched from the rain.

"Oh, my!" She gasped, catching sight of the pair. "Come in. Come in. It’s beating down."

Rose and Jack smiled, stepping into the warmth and light of the small house.

"We’re here about the room for rent, ma’am," Jack said.

"Oh, yes. Well, it’s right up there." The old woman pointed to the top of a steep staircase.

"We’ll take it." Jack nodded, smiling. The woman seemed shocked.

"Well, don’t you wish to view it?" she asked, confused.

"Oh, no. We’ll take it, Mrs.--"

"Smith. Josie Smith. My husband, Eddie, is through there." Josie nodded her head in the direction of a small, candlelit room to the right of them.

"Pleased to meet you. I am Jack. This is my wife, Rose. How much will the room be, Mrs. Smith?"

"Sixty cents for the night, sir." Josie eyed the young couple. They were obviously in a rush. Jack’s wife certainly didn’t have much to say. They seemed to have a certain elegance about them, especially the lady. Jack held out a dollar to Josie. She took it and thanked him.

"Would you care for cookies, sir? I baked a batch this evening. Or I could make a ham sandwich, maybe? You look hungry."

"You are most kind, Mrs. Smith. That would be lovely." Rose finally spoke up and Josie was right. She seemed to be of an upper class status and Josie wondered just what a fancy couple would be doing here when the most luxurious suites in town were offered just down the street. She shook her head and stopped her own nosiness.

"The room is just at the top of the stairs. I will bring sandwiches and cookies up in a few minutes, along with some tea."

Jack thanked the kind Mrs. Smith and led Rose upstairs. The hallway was narrow and crowded with knick-knacks and pictures. Jack opened the first door at the top of the stairs and allowed Rose to enter first. She gazed around. The décor was beige and brown. A double bed sat in the center, along with two end tables, a bookshelf, a chair, and a desk. Through the other door was a small closet and then to the right of the room was a small, dark bathroom. It was the smallest room Rose had ever been in, but she didn’t care. It was homey, safe, and warm. Jack settled himself into a chair and smiled at Rose, but she didn’t return the gaze.

"Hey, what’s wrong?" he asked, his voice concerned.

"I--I feel so strange. Like this isn’t where I am supposed to be. Maybe I’m just not used to it…"

"Rose, don’t worry. We’ll be long gone tomorrow. I promise." Jack gently kissed Rose’s hand.

Moments later, Mrs. Smith arrived with four small sandwiches, a selection of cookies, and a pot of tea. She huffed away. "Those stairs seem to get steeper, or maybe it’s just my age." She laughed. Jack thanked her and she disappeared back down the stairs. Jack set the tray on the table and gazed at Rose, her mind obviously preoccupied as she curled the ends of her copper hair around her delicate fingers.

"Rose…please tell me what’s wrong." Jack was concerned. Rose stopped playing with her hair and turned to Jack, her eyes filled with worry.

"I’m sorry, Jack. Everything from this past week seems to be a huge blur. Do you realize it’s just a week today since we met? A week. I feel like I have been through so much in such a short space of time, so much so that when I actually sit to down think about my life, it seems blurry."

"Rose, we have been through so much. We survived the sinking of the Titanic. That night will forever haunt me, Rose. I cannot even bear to think about it. The only thing in my life stopping me from going demented is you, Rose."

A small smile appeared on her face and she felt a small tear roll down her face.

"I know. You have kept me sane this past week. If I was here alone, I don’t know what I would have done."

"You don’t have to think about that now, Rose. I’m here, we’re together, and nothing will ever come between us."

After they had eaten, Rose took a long, warm bath, and for the first time in days, she felt relaxed. Worries about Cal still ran through her mind, but she knew she and Jack would be out of New York soon to start their new life together. She found it hard to believe that just one week ago to the day they had met on the deck of the Titanic. Now here she was, homeless and penniless, but with the love of a man she trusted with her life. Fate really did work in mysterious ways.

Jack had emptied his jacket pockets of the money he had stuffed in when they had learned the ship was to sink. Altogether, he counted almost twenty thousand dollars. He worried immensely at having to carry around such a large amount of money, but once he was back home, he could rectify any money problems and stash it away safely. He had never been good with money. When he had inherited the estate from his uncle, he had seriously thought of selling up and giving the money away to some charity, but he knew his uncle would wish for him to continue the business. In Boston, he had sold the railroad to another company, but he still had a small share in the business. He was never a businessman, and accompanying his Uncle Eric to meetings and galas had bored him endlessly. The top hat and tails look wasn’t for him, but he had gone along with it.

Searching in the inside of his jacket, he found what he was looking for. His portfolio. He smiled and settled himself in the armchair while waiting for Rose to finish in the bathtub. He was glad she could have time alone to relax. He ran his fingers through his shaggy hair and opened the portfolio to the first page, where he came around his final sketch, his masterpiece.

"Phew." Jack touched the paper and traced his fingers over the curves of her body. She was stunning in every way. Just to think, this drawing could have ended up at the bottom of the ocean. He shook his head in amazement. She was perfect.

"I see you’re indulging yourself, Mr. Dawson."

Jack’s head shot up at the sound of her voice from the doorway. She stood in just her slip, the light, sleeveless undergarment she had worn under her dress. Her hair hung wet around her shoulders and her face now had a little color.

"I-I’m sorry. I’ll put it away, Rose. I just found it…" Jack quickly shut the page and placed the portfolio on the bed. Rose laughed. She hadn’t meant to embarrass him so much.

"Jack, it’s fine. If I remember, it was my request for you to draw me--nude." She glanced down a little before fluttering her eyelashes back at him. She, too, blushed. She took the portfolio in her hands and opened the page to her sketch. She hadn’t seen it since that fateful night. Just thinking about it brought tears to her eyes, but she chose to block out the pain, just like she had with Cal.

"I can’t even begin to imagine how this is me. This woman is so beautiful and captivating!" she gushed.

"This is you, Rose. This is how I see you."

Rose slowly turned her face to him and gently touched his face. The love in his eyes was pure. She saw that. She melted every time she looked at him. She hadn’t felt warmth in days, but now she felt like she was on fire. Her hands shook slightly as she reached for his left hand and placed it on her waist. She could feel the warmth flowing from his body and as he leaned down to kiss her, she once again became lost in the passion.

She felt breathless and powerless and they both knew what was about to happen between them. She glanced back up at him and smiled, a little shyly. She didn’t know why, for he had seen her nude before, but this time they knew it was real. Neither were worried about the future, because they knew their future would lie with each other.

Chapter Ten
Stories