LET’S LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND
Chapter Twenty-Seven

The next day turned out to be bright and beautiful. Rose woke up to stare into a sleeping face that she thought she’d never see again.

"Jack." She whispered, running a hand through his blonde locks. "I love you."

"Rose?" His blue eyes opened.

"I’m sorry I woke you." She apologized. "I just can’t believe you’re here. It’s like a dream come true."

Jack smiled at her. He knew she loved him deeply just by looking into her eyes and he felt the same for her. He wished he could remember what he had done to deserve such a beautiful woman. "So what are we going to do today to jog my memory?" He asked, setting up.

"We’re going to visit the cemetery. There’s someone you recently buried. Maybe seeing the grave will bring some of the past back to you."

Jack just nodded, hoping that Rose was right.

*****

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Jack asked, as Rose led him among the gravestones.

"No. This is just a theory. Come on. We’re almost there." She took his hand and pulled him along. Finally they reached their destination. Jack stood in front of the grave and stared at the headstone.

"Fabrizio di Rossi. Beloved Friend." Jack read.

"Do you remember Fabrizio Jack?" Rose asked, looking up at him curiously.

"Fabrizio?" Jack stared at the headstone, then a vision stroke him. A young man his age. Dark features, black hair and warm friendly brown eyes.

"Look at me! I’m going to L’America!" The young man had exclaimed. It must be Fabrizio.

"What happened to him?" Jack asked, having a sinking feeling he already knew.

"He didn’t survive the Titanic Jack. We had gone up to Halifax and claimed his body. We buried him when we came back. Do you remember him Jack?"

Jack nodded. "He was so excited about coming to America. I was excited for him."

Rose gently smiled. "You missed him dearly."

"I know. I still do." Jack felt the sob come up and covered his face, not wanting to lose his composure in front of Rose.

"Shh, Jack. It’s ok." Rose pulled him into her arms in a comforting hug. "Cry if you have to. It was horrible what happened to Fabrizio and the other people. If you need to cry, cry."

Jack wrapped his arms around her and sobbed. Not only for Fabrizio but for all the other people he must have known aboard that accursed ship. He suddenly remembered a little girl holding a doll smiling up at him. Cora Cartmell was her name. He cried even harder, somehow knowing she didn’t survive. It was so unfair. So many good people had died. People with plans, hopes and dreams of a better life in America, the land of opportunity. But the journey towards freedom brought them only death.

"I miss them too Jack." Rose whispered in his ear. "I miss them too."

"Tell me about it…about Titanic Rose." Jack pulled away from her. "I need to know all of it. Not just bits and pieces."

Rose swallowed. She could do this. No matter how painful she can go back through it with Jack. He was right. He needed to know everything. "Come on. Let’s walk and I’ll tell you everything."

So they walk out of the park, not paying attention to where they’re walking while Rose tells Jack their experience on the ship of dreams. Jack listened intently, surprised to find out just how free-spirited he had been and how the sinking had changed him.

"You taught me how to live Jack. You made me want to live. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be here now."

"Wow." was all Jack could say. He took a good look at his wife and saw how talking about Titanic had affected her. Her eyes were shining with unshed tears and her face was extremely pale. She was holding onto his hand like she’d never let go, plus she was shivering.

"I could have lost you that night Jack. You were so cold…so cold." She bit her lip.

"But you didn’t. I’m here and so are you. We both survived it and probably came out better for it." Jack hugged her vigorously. "Thank you. Thank you for telling me."

Rose thinly smiled, resting her cheek against his shoulder and closer her eyes against the memories that had flooded her mind. "I promise Jack. I’ll never let go."

"And neither will I Rose. I promise." Jack tightened his hold on her, grateful to be with her at that moment. He looked around and noticed that they were standing just outside Bill’s cabin. "Wow, we must have really walked. Rose pulled away and noticed the cabin.

"Where are we?"

"Bill’s cabin."

"This is where you were staying?"

Jack nods. "It wasn’t that bad. I slept on the couch and it was pretty warm."

"Shall we knock since we’re here? It won’t hurt to say hello."

Jack sighed. "I don’t know Rose. He really doesn’t like visitors that much. Maybe we should head back now."

"Well are you two going to come in or just stand out there?" Bill opened the door.

Jack laughed. "I guess we can come in." Jack led Rose into the house.

"This is where you live?" Rose asked.

"Yep. Just the three of us. Me, myself, and I." Bill nodded. "Of course Jack’s company was a welcomed change. So did you sleep well last night Jack?"

"Fantastic." Jack grinned.

"Of course, next to the lovely Rose here." Bill nodded towards the lovely red-head.

"So, Mr."

"Call me Bill Rose. Everyone else does." Bill waved his hand.

"Bill…this is where Jack was staying up until yesterday?"

"Yep. Little did I know he was a Dawson."

Rose looked confused and Bill laughed. "The Dawson’s are a big part of this town little girl. Everyone knows the family. You’ve married into a well-liked family. Of course, I never cared much for the family or the town. Life as a hermit does that for you."

"I got some of my memory back today. I now remember everything about the Titanic thanks to Rose. And some of the people I met there." Jack cleared his throat.

"Tell me boy, have you ever met the Astors?" Bill asked in interest. He had followed the going-ons of the Astors for some years and was saddened by JJ’s death.

"Um…"

"You remember Jack. You met both J.J. and Madeline at the first class dinner. He asked if you were one of the Boston Dawsons and you said no, the Chippewa Falls Dawson’s actually. And he said oh yes." Rose giggled. "Knowing full and well that he never heard of the Chippewa Fall’s Dawsons before."

"I remember." Jack nodded. "But the one person I’ll always remember is Molly. She was quite a character."

"You can’t mean the unsinkable Molly Brown can you?" Bill looked at the young couple.

Jack nodded. "She took me under her wing when I was invited to that dinner in first class. She taught me how to act, loaned me a tuxedo…she was a big help in my quest to win Rose’s heart."

"Then she helped me reconnect with Jack after the sinking. She’s truly a great woman." Rose sighed. "One of the few women in high society worth knowing. But of course as mother would say she is new money. Not at all used to the rigorous ways of the high class matrons."

"You two sure do know your full share of famous people." Bill shook his head. "It is too bad that ship sank and took a lot of people with it. Such a tragedy."

"It almost took Jack." Rose shivered. "I thank God that he got out ok."

"I’m sure you do young lady. You two are a cute couple. Set right there, I’ll fix you some lunch, it is getting up in the day and you two young’uns must be starved."

"That’s not…" Jack tried to protest but Bill held up his hand in silence. "Do not argue with me boy. Your wife there is in a delicate condition and it’s important that she eats regularly. Just set back and I’ll fix you some stew." Bill disappeared into the kitchen.

"What a nice man. He’s not at all horrible like Jacquelyn said." Rose thoughtfully replied. "Plus I owe him your life. If he hadn’t saved you…"

Jack quickly placed a finger to her perfectly pink lips. "But he did. I’m here and I promise that I’m not ever going to leave your side again."

"Well be forewarned Mr. Dawson, that is a promise I’m holding you to."

"And that’s a promise I’m keeping." Jack pulled Rose into a kiss.

"Ahem." Bill cleared his throat, surprised at the show of affection. It wasn’t often he saw much show of affection between couples. "Lunch is served." He held up the two bowls of stew.

Rose smiled gratefully as she felt the rumbling in her stomach. "Thank you." She pulled away from Jack and accepted the bowl.

"So Jack, you are settling in ok at your folks?" Bill asked curiously.

Jack shrugged. "I guess. I still don’t remember anyone except for Rose. I know it hurts them and it hurts me too. I wish my memory was already intact."

"It’ll come back to you Jack. I have in faith in you. If you survived that ship, you’ll survive this." Bill nodded. "Especially with Rose by your side. Besides you remember Titanic. That’s a good start if I do say so myself."

"And we’ll walk around the rest of Chippewa Falls. Jog your memory that way." Rose squeezed his hand. "Bill…you know this town more than I do. Would you like to come with us?"

"Oh no. You two kids, go by yourselves. You don’t need some old coot like me hanging after you."

"Are you sure? It may help Jack having you along." Rose turned to the older man.

"I’m sure. Now you two go on out and enjoy this beautiful weather we’ve been having." Bill nodded, standing as Jack and Rose stood up to head for the door.

"Uh…Bill…I’d like to thank you again for all you’ve done for me. If it wasn’t for you I could have died or wandered further away from my family."

"There’s no need to thank me." Bill shrugged. "You probably would’ve done the same for me. It was the decent thing to do."

"Well we both thank you. You brought Jack back to me and I’ll never forget that." Rose wiped away a few tears at the thought of losing Jack.

Bill just smiled uncomfortably. He never was comfortable with praise. "Well you two better be off. You’ll want to beat the morning crowd." Bill shooed them to the door. "You two take care now."

"We will. We’ll see you again." Jack shook the man’s hand.

"I count on it." Bill smiled and stepped back as Jack and Rose stepped off the doorstep and headed down the path leading back to town. Bill was a solitary man. He liked being alone, but having Jack and Rose there was like a breath of fresh air and looked forward to more visits from them.

*****

It was nearly lunch time when Jack and Rose had returned and the whole house was in a uproar since the couple had neglected to tell anyone where they were going.

"There you two are!" Jacquelyn rushed up to Jack and Rose as they entered.

"We were worried sick." Nancy followed her daughter.

"Why? I was with Rose." Jack asked.

"That doesn’t matter." Nancy shook her head. "You’ve just gotten home and you don’t have your memory back. You should be at home resting, not gallivanting around town."

"We weren’t gallivanting around town." Rose stepped closer to Jack. "I took Jack to see Fabrizio’s grave, to see if it’d help his memory."

"Did it?" Richie asked.

"Yes. I remember everything that happened on Titanic and the people I met there. After that we went to see Bill and then we walked around town to see if I’d remember anything about Chippewa Falls but nothing came to me." Jack sighed. "Don’t be mad at Rose. She was just trying to help."

"We’re not mad darling. We were just concerned. We need to know where you are. That’s all." Nancy explained. "I’m sorry if we came off angry."

"Don’t worry Jack. You’ll get all your memory back. Just the fact that you remembered what happened on that ship is a big improvement." Jacquelyn smiled encouragingly.

"Hey you do look a bit peaked." Rose tenderly touched Jack’s cheek. "Maybe you ought to go upstairs and take a nap. We’ll take another walk after you wake up if you want."

"I think I’ll do that." Jack nodded. "Rose…thank you…for everything. If it wasn’t for you standing by my side like this…I don’t think I’d even remember what day it was."

Rose only shyly smiled as she watched Jack disappear up the stairs. As soon as he was safely in their room, Rose went to the nearby couch and sank down with her head in her hands, all the emotions from the past couple of hours coming in on her.

"Rose dear, are you ok? Is it the baby?" Jolene was immediately at Rose’s side.

"I’m so scared. I’m so scared that Jack won’t get his memory back at all. That Titanic will always be with us because it’ll be the only thing he can hold onto. Or if he does get better, he’ll want to pick up and leave again, leaving me and the baby here."

"Rose that’s ridiculous. Jack loves you. He’ll never leave you." Richie sets on Rose’s other side and takes her hand. "No matter what. And if he doesn’t get his memory back, you’ll just have to make new ones. That’s all."

"Just be there for him. That’s all you really can do." Nancy nodded. "Rose you have nothing to worry about in all of this. Out of everyone, you’re the only one Jack truly remembers and that says something."

"There has to be a way. A way to get him to remember everyone and everything in his life. I’ve tried everything. It’s obvious he needs something more."

Jacquelyn swallowed, knowing she was going to get it for the coming suggestion, but it was the only thing she could think of at the moment. "How about if we brought Kimberly in on this one?"

Nancy glared at her daughter. "Jacquelyn have you completely lost your mind? The last thing Jack needs right now is to see Kimberly again."

"Ma you don’t understand. I think I know why Jack remembers Titanic. It’s because of Rose. Rose is Jack’s wife, the love of his life. She’s been through hell and back along with him on that ship. When he sees Rose, he thinks of Titanic. Kimberly was Jack’s first love here in Chippewa Falls. He’s been through a lot with her here. Maybe if he sees her he’ll think of Chippewa Falls, including the people here. Including us."

"She has a point dearest." Charles nodded. "I think we should send a invitation to Kimberly and her new husband tonight."

"Whoa there. Wait a minute. Don’t you think you ought to ask Rose how she feels about this? Jack is her husband now. She may not want him walking down memory lane with his ex." Richie stood up.

"Richie does have a point." Jacquelyn nodded and turned to her sister in law. "What do you think Rose?"

Rose looked at all the face around her. The faces that loved Jack so much, and was saddened that they were forgotten. Even though she didn’t care much for the thought of Kimberly anywhere near Jack, even if she was married, she couldn’t refuse them a chance to get Jack’s full memory back. "If you think that’s what Jack needs. If seeing her will bring everything back to him." Rose sighed.

"Rose, we know how hard this is for you and as Jack’s mother, I want to thank you. And reassure you. Jack loves you darling. Now and always. You’re his wife. You’re having his child. You have no need to feel threatened by Kimberly."

Rose gratefully smiled at he reassuring words. "Thank you."

"No. Thank you." Nancy hugged Rose. "Thank you for loving my son enough to do something that’s hard for you."

Rose wiped away a stray tear, not wanting to cry any longer. She needed to be strong. Not only for herself and Jack, but for the whole Dawson clan. She hoped and prayed that this plan will work.

Chapter Twenty-Eight
Stories