THE LAST TIME TITANIC EVER SAW DAYLIGHT
Chapter Six
As he watched Rose gently rise from the
divan, Jack felt his eyes continue to absorb every visible aspect of her body.
His breathing once again shallowed and grew more rapid as she slowly walked to
where the kimono robe still lay on the floor where she had removed it only
tantalizing moments before. Her movements were so graceful and smooth, the
years of proper training and finishing school mannerisms on display for him to
witness in all their glory as her perfectly manicured fingernails shone in the
lamplight, as she laced the ties to the robe together, covering her skin.
She made her way to peek over his shoulder at
the drawing, just the slightest closeness causing Jack's heart to pound with
wild apprehension. Rose placed her delicate hand on his shoulder, and he knew
she must have been able to feel how it shook. The smell of her skin filled his
senses, and the warmth of that slightest touch reached into every part of him.
Her auburn curls brushed gently across his cheek as she leaned herself forward
to peer at the image in his lap. "Date it, Jack. I don't ever want to
forget this night. It's the night when I finally became free."
It's also the night I know I'm in love, Jack thought to himself. In the bottom right side of
the sketch he signed it just as she had asked. April 14, 1912 JD. When
he glanced back up to her, he was overcome by the admiration he witnessed in
her azure eyes. She seemed to truly enjoy it, appearing as if it moved her
beyond words. Every fiber in his being melted with that glimpse into her eyes.
Rose stared at the image Jack had so clearly
seen of her. He had looked past all the outward appearances and shown a depth
to her inner self. Her soul radiated from her eyes, and for a few seconds, she
could feel the excitement and awareness that Jack truly knew her deep within
her heart. At the same moment, she was flattered at how she appeared so
graceful, elegant, and surprisingly attractive. Cal had always told her she
was. So did some other men, but Rose continued to have doubts until that moment
as she looked at herself temporarily through Jack's eyes. He truly did have a
gift to see people--he had seen her completely.
Then, she felt his eyes on her once again,
and as she turned to him, she noticed how his eyes were drinking in her face.
"Jack, I don't know what to say. It's absolutely beautiful."
"Just like its subject," Jack
responded, a grin slowly breaking the serious look on his face. Rose marveled
at the way his eyes lit up as she told him her reaction.
Jack handed her the entire sketchbook as she
thanked him. Leaning in for a kiss, his grasp became tighter again in a playful
tease. She couldn't keep herself from laughing, and finally she was able to
make him release it.
Rose started for the safe again, while Jack
sat and pondered over how he had lost his heart to her for a moment. His mind
recalled the first glimpse he had ever had of her, as she walked like a
romantic heroine onto the deck, looking lonely and statuesque. He didn't mean
to gawk, but never in his life had he seen such loneliness and despair in
someone so young and beautiful. Jack remembered seeing Cal approach her from
behind, and at that moment, he had realized exactly what the reason behind that
sadness was, while they briefly exchanged heated words. The memory of her
racing to the stern, and how hard it appeared for her temper to cool long
enough to realize what she was about to do, caused him to laugh at her fire
just as he had laughed when she rebuffed his attempts to learn if she really
did love Cal while they talked the next day. Seeing her at the staircase as she
came to dinner, he had been completely unable to believe his eyes. She appeared
a goddess approaching a lowly man. At least, he saw himself as a lowly man for
that moment. As he witnessed the attitude and mannerisms of the refined Caledon
Hockley throughout the meal, he actually believed he, Jack Dawson of Chippewa
Falls, was more of a true gentleman than he ever would be. At the steerage
party, Rose had proven that she was more than what she looked. She had
impressed him beyond words, and finally over came the protective barriers he
had placed around his heart. While they danced, he knew she had won his heart.
Finally, he decided to go to meet her. She
stood near the safe with a pen in her hand. The diamond was back in its velvet
box next to her. Briefly, he let himself take her in again, becoming entranced
by her stunning looks, but he couldn't stay there forever. After all, his
mother had always taught him that it wasn't polite to stare, but Jack could
look at Rose forever. "What are you doing?" he asked.
Looking at him, Rose smiled. She handed him
the necklace case. "Will you put this back in the safe for me,
please?" He nodded his consent and left the room. Rose watched after him
for a moment, delighted to see him moving about with her. Then, she focused her
attention once again on how she was going to make herself clear to her unloving
fiancé. After a moment, she wrote on the stationary, Darling, now you can
keep us both locked in your safe.
She folded the letter into the sketchbook and
went to catch up with Jack, who was still in awe of the wealth in the safe.
"I'd hate to see how Cal will act if he ever loses one cent," he
greeted her.
"Tell me about it. Any money spent
terrifies him unless it's completely at his choosing."
"So, what now?" Jack asked,
desiring to change the subject as quickly as possible, and hoping she wouldn't
tell him to leave.
Her hand found his and she smiled, coyly.
Their eyes locked, and for a brief second Jack actually believed Rose was
suggesting...his eyes moved into her bedroom where he saw the bed. He drew in a
deep breath and forced himself to remember she was a first class girl, but Rose
had seemed to surprise him with her forwardness at times. When her eyes looked
in the same direction for a moment, his heart stopped. "I should
change." With her words, his nerves calmed.
Rose began to head to the bedroom again, but
suddenly she stopped. Her eyes scanned the room and every agonizing memory of
her loveless relationship with Cal quickly flashed through her mind. If he
returned while she was still there, there was no doubt in her mind that
disaster would strike. He had made it quite clear to her that he wouldn't
tolerate her independence, and she knew before long the relationship would turn
abusive. Her heart sank as she recalled the circumstances, and the tears
threatened to reach her eyes as she again felt the extreme loneliness and
hopelessness she had on the stern two nights before. All thoughts of Jack were
temporarily forgotten as she was overcome by the reminders of that fate that to
her would be worse than death. Every moment she spent with Cal was a death trap
to her, and suddenly she felt all alone again, trapped.
Jack saw her stop and grew bewildered. On the
dresser was a picture of Cal and her, and then he realized what she must be
thinking. He couldn't stand to see her confined, and he knew that if Cal had
his way, the fun, impulsive, fiery, and beautiful woman he loved would be
destroyed until she was quiet, meek, and submissive. She would be Rose Hockley,
all right, if Cal had anything to say about it, and no longer Rose Dawson. Dawson?
Jack asked in his head, as he realized how far his mind had drifted. When
was she ever Rose Dawson? Get hold of yourself, Jack, he shouted at
himself.
As her head dropped, Jack knew precisely what
she was thinking, and he heard a gentle sob. The memory of the night they had
met filled him again, but now he knew she wouldn't deny him. "Rose?"
His voice brought her back to the present as
she recalled hearing his voice that night. All the memories of their short time
together filled her, and Rose became aware that she wasn't alone anymore. Jack
was there, and she had nothing to fear. Her heart told her that he would always
be there. She turned to him, and he saw the tears that had formed in her eyes
and hugged her, gently stroking her hair. "If Cal--" was all she
managed to murmur.
"I won't let him, Rose. I promise I'll
never leave you, no matter what happens," Jack comforted her, saying out
loud the vow he was making in his heart at that moment, too. "Like I said
before, you jump, I jump. Forever."
Turning to look at him, Rose pulled him
closer to her. His arms were so strong and protective, yet gentle and caring.
She had never felt as secure as she did at that moment, except for when he held
her arm on the stern. "I've got you, and I won't let go." She
heard his words again. Then her own words regarding her engagement entered her
mind. "I didn't think I was anymore."
Jack leaned in and softly kissed her once
again. All the love he felt was conveyed in that kiss, and Rose never again
doubted his affection. With just as much love in her, she, too, returned the
kiss. As they pulled away, she smiled. "And I'll never let go of you,"
He grinned and held her tighter. "Jack, I'm leaving Cal. I'm leaving my
world behind. I want to be with you forever."
"Are you sure?" Silently, he
laughed, thinking of how she would adjust to his world, but he knew she was
strong and courageous enough to survive. In many ways, though, she was still a
naive girl, and Jack knew he would love to hold her and protect her and see the
world with her. More than anything, he wanted to be with her.
"Absolutely." They kissed again,
and this time his kiss found her neck. Rose silently pulled away and went to
her bedroom. With one final glance and smile back to him, she closed the door.
Jack watched after her, amazed by everything that happened since he saw her,
and fully aware that Cal wouldn't let the woman he was supposed to marry slip
away so easily, but he was prepared to fight for her. Cal did love Rose, Jack
thought, in his own way, but certainly not enough. Sighing, he tossed the
entire thought of Cal from his mind, smiled at the memory of the evening with
Rose, and then looked forward to the arrival of their new life together, a life
he was more than willing to live.
The End.