LET’S LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND
Chapter Fifteen

The next day, Rose awoke bright and early. To her surprise, Jack was still sleeping beside her. Kissing his forehead slightly, she slipped out of bed, threw on a robe, and went downstairs to find Nancy fixing another big breakfast.

"Good morning," Rose greeted.

"Oh, morning, Rose." Nancy turned to grin at her daughter-in-law. "I reckon that Jack’s still asleep, since Charles decided to work Richie today. Jack has always been Charles' favorite."

"Oh." Rose nervously ringed her hand. She didn’t want to get in the middle of a family feud that she knew nothing about.

"But it’s good to have Richie home, and I’m going to make sure that he knows how loved he is here. Will you pop this bread in the oven over there? We’re having his favorites. Buttered toast, fresh orange juice, scrambled eggs, grits, and a pork chop." Nancy grins.

"It smelled great." Rose smiled, popping the bread into the hot oven.

"Look at all this food." Jacquelyn entered the kitchen. "Where is Richie, by the way?"

"Your father has him out in the fields today," Nancy replied. "Go get your brother up, they may need help."

"Mom, you know Jack. It’s impossible to wake him up."

"I’ll get him," Rose volunteered.

"Thank you Rose." Nancy smiled at her daughter-in-law.

Jack was still sleeping when Rose entered the room, or so she thought. She stood in the doorway, observing him. Then she walked up the bed and shook his shoulder. "Jack, darling, time to get up."

Jack only groaned and turned over on his back, his hair falling into his eyes, making him look younger than he really was. "Jack?"

No answer. So, she decided to straddle him. Maybe her weight would make him wake up. "Jack?"

Still no answer. So, she bent down and kissed him. To her surprise, he kissed her back, his arms wrapping around her, and before she knew it, it was her lying on her back, with Jack on top of her. "Good morning." He grinned, breaking the kiss.

"You tricked me!" Rose playfully hit him with her fist.

"Ow." Jack laughed and began to tickle her. "You’re gonna pay for that."

"No Jack! Stop! Stop!" Rose laughed. "Jack stop!"

"Jack Dawson, whatever are you doing? Let that poor girl up." Nancy Dawson stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips.

"I’m just having a little fun." Jack laughed, letting Rose up.

"Your father and brother needed up out in the field." Nancy shook her head.

Jack rolled his eyes. "Okay, fine, but this isn’t over." Jack turned to his wife and kissed her. "See you at breakfast."

Rose nodded and smiled as she stood and joined Nancy in the hall.

"That son of mine." Nancy shook her head.

"He’s not so bad." Rose smiled, following her mother in law downstairs.

One hour later, the men come in for breakfast. Jack immediately got up and helped Rose with what looked like a heavy platter of pork chops.

"Let me help you with that." He took the platter from her.

"Jack you’re supposed to be setting down." Rose scalded.

"Not when my wife is carrying something heavy like this."

"It wasn’t heavy." Rose sighed. Sometimes Jack was so overprotective of her. But she couldn’t blame him, after all they’d been through.

"Set down Jack. Let the women do their work." Charles Dawson scolded his son, but with a smile on his face. He was in awe of how careful Jack was with Rose, yet the love they had for each other was quite evident.

"Breakfast is served." Jacquelyn placed the last dish on the table. So, Richie, how does it feel to be home?"

"Good. For once, I don’t have to worry about where my next meal is coming from." Richie grins. "And my favorite meal too."

"Enjoy it because you’re leaving today." Charles got up from his chair.

"Charles…" Nancy begins.

"No Nancy. I let you have your way last night, and that’s it. He leaves this afternoon, and that’s final." Charles got up and left the table.

An uncomfortable silence fell over the table as Nancy sobbed. She didn’t want her eldest son to leave. She couldn’t understand why Charles was so stubborn about this.

"Don’t cry mom." Jack squeezed Nancy’s hand. "I’ll go talk to him."

"Maybe he’ll listen to you." Nancy sniffed.

"And if he doesn’t, it’s no big deal. I’ll just move on." Riche sighs. "I just wanted to check in anyway, see how everyone was doing."

"I’ll be back." Jack got up and headed outside, where his father was standing on the porch. "Pa? You out here?"

"Yes, I am. Jack, you do understand why I don’t want your brother here, don’t you?"

"Well…to tell the truth I don’t. Pa, it’s been twelve years. I think Richie has changed for the better. Give him a chance."

"What if he hasn’t, Jack? What if he brings shame on this family’s name once again?"

"But what if he doesn’t? Can you live with yourself knowing that you sent your son back out into the world? Dad, I may make living out there sound like all fun and games, but it’s not. There are times when you have to dig in people’s garbage to find a decent meal. I’ve stayed in places where I had to sleep with a weapon to make sure no one stole what little money I had made. That’s why I brought Rose here after Titanic. She’s a high society girl…she wouldn’t have survived a day out there. Plus…I didn’t want her to have to…especially not after Titanic."

"I see where you’re coming from son, but Richie doesn’t have a wife. He has no one but himself…"

"Which is all the reason more why he should stay. We’re his family, Dad. Without that, you have no one. Your family is supposed to be the people you can always count on, no matter what."

Charles stared down at the ground, taking in what Jack had just told him. He looked back up at his son and saw more experience than he should have had at his age. He wondered how his son had gotten so smart. "Six months. Six months for him to straighten out. The first time he messes up, he’s out."

Jack smiled happily. "Thanked dad. Now go in there and tell ma the good news. She’s terribly upset."

Richard looked over at Rose and smiles. "I guess you never knew how dysfunctional this family was when you married Jack."

Rose only smiled shyly, and was about to answer when Jack and his father returned.

"Six months. Six months to straighten up, and if you mess up even once, you’re out of here. No matter how hard it is out there on the streets." Charles took his seat next to his wife. "You have your brother to thank for my change of heart."

"Of course." Richard stared at his brother who, at the time, was paying more attention to his wife. He loved his brother, but he couldn’t help being jealous of the close relationship he had with his father. Jack had always been his favorite. "So Jack. Tell me, how did you meet the lovely Rose here?"

The table fell silent, and Rose squeezed Jack’s hand for support.

"We met on a ship. It was love at first sight." Jack smiled at Rose.

"A ship? Which one? The Californian? I worked on that one before. Pretty nice ship."

"Titanic," Jack replied flatly.

"No way." Richard dropped his fork, his eyes wide with disbelief. "How in the world did you get a ticket on Titanic?"

"Well I have you to thank for that. Remember teaching me how to play poker and keep a poker face?"

"Richard." Charles glared at his son.

"Dad, it was a long time ago, and I insisted," Jack cut in. "But anyway. I won two third class tickets on the Titanic. My Italian friend, Fabrizio, and I were ecstatic. Especially Fabri. He couldn’t wait to see the statue of liberty." Jack sighed sadly at the thought of his best friend. Deep down, he knew that Fabrizio’s death wasn’t his fault, but still…if he hadn’t won those tickets…if he hadn’t told Fabri and Tommy to go to the other side of the ship...

"Jack?" Rose squeezed his hand, her eyes full of concern at the far off look in his eyes, the deep sadness.

"I’m ok Rosie." Jack snapped out of his memories and smiled reassuringly at his wife. "Rose was in first class. I saved her life, we fell in love, and barely survived the sinking."

Richard arched his eyebrows as he stared at Rose, who was beginning to look a little familiar. Where had he seen her before? There was more to the story than Jack was telling. That he was sure of, and he was going to find out. "Wow. My little brother. On the Titanic."

"Jack was so brave and calm…I don’t know what I would have done if I had been alone." Rose sighed.

"We got married the day after Carpathia landed and headed here. We’ve been here ever since, laying low sort of speak." Jack shrugged.

"And you were first class? What made you give up all that money for this guy?"

"Love has more power than money ever could." Rose smiled. "Not to mention I terribly miserable where I was. The only time I was truly happy was when I was with Jack."

"What an adventure that must have been." Richard laughed nervously, looking away from his brother.

"Yes, it was." Jack nods, getting up. "If you excuse me, I’ll go check for the paper."

"Rose." Nancy leaned towards her daughter-in-law. "Is Jack okay with what happened? Truly?"

"I don’t know…he doesn’t talk about it very much, only when asked. I better go check on him." Rose got up and left the table.

She found him on the porch, staring at the second page of the newspaper. His eyes were intently reading an article.

"Jack? Are you okay?"

He looked up and grabbed her hand. "It says here that they’ve recovered the bodies of some of the people who died. Some haven’t been claimed yet and are lying in Halifax, Nova Scotia, waiting to be claimed. I wonder if Fabrizio is one of them."

"Oh Jack…"

"I have to go see Rose. I can’t let him be buried in a strange land where no one knew him. It’s bad enough that his mother will never see him again or know that he’s dead."

"Jack…if he is there…what are you going to do?"

"Bring him back here. At least here, he has us. Plus, he always wanted to see America. It’s only appropriate that he should be buried here." Jack sighed. "You don’t have to come with me if you don’t want to. I’m sure ma can take care of you…"

"Jack Dawson we have never been apart since we disembarked Carpathia, I’m not going to start now. Besides, it’s always been you supporting me. It’s my turn. I know how much you loved Fabrizio. He was your best friend. I’m going with you."

"Rose…I love you so much. Thank you." Jack pulled her into a tight hug, burying his face in her hair so she didn't see him crying for his lost friend.

"When do we leave?"

"Day after tomorrow." Jack sighs. "Give us time to pack, buy the tickets, and make arrangements for him. Come on. Let’s go tell everybody."

Chapter Sixteen
Stories