A LIFE’S TRAGEDY
Chapter Twelve

The month passed by like minutes. Catherine and Melissa grew to love their new world more every day. Our love for each other grew, as well. My father attempted to pry information out of me about Melissa and Catherine. Eventually, he gave up. After all, the wedding was in only two days.

Melissa was to stay with the Van Sants while Catherine and I were away on our honeymoon. I hadn’t told Catherine where we were going yet, but I knew she had to love it. It was the best money could buy.

Three weeks touring France, Rome, exotic places. She had grown up in Paris, but never got to truly live the romance of it, the beauty of it. I wanted to show her that.

Finally, after all the invitations were out, the preparations completed, it was the day at last. September twentieth. I remember it like no other day. I dressed in a white tuxedo, my father looking more nervous than I was, actually. He came up to me in the parlor of our home.

The ceremony was at the mansion in the great hallway. White was the theme, white flowers and clothing, white furniture, white lace. It was just beautiful. I spared no expense.

"You look wonderful, son. And your bride looks even moreso," he said teasingly at the fact that I couldn’t see Catherine until she walked down the aisle to me.

"Father, might I say you look great yourself?" I asked, looking at his tuxedo.

"Why, thank you." He laughed a little. "Are you nervous?"

I shook my head. "It’s all perfect. What’s there to be nervous about?"

He smiled and walked away. I picked up a wine glass, drinking the fine wine.

I brushed at my tuxedo one last time, then entered the hallway. We had invited Rose and Jack, though Rose tried to disguise herself from my father, which she did wonderfully.

Ruth wasn’t informed of the wedding, so Catherine talked me into allowing her friends to join in the ceremony.

I walked over to Dawson. "Jack, how are you?" I asked.

"Fine, sir." He smiled.

I looked down at his white suit, his hair slicked back again.

"You look extraordinary. You could almost pass for a gentleman." I laughed.

So did he. "Almost." He held his hand out to shake. I took his hand in mine, glad that we had reconciled most of our differences, though the only reason he and Rose were here was for Catherine. She wanted them, and I gave her everything she wanted.

Rose walked up beside us. "Hello, Cal. Congratulations."

"Rose, you look amazing." I kissed her knuckles. She was to be Catherine’s maid of honor. She wore a light blue flowing dress with white flowers tied around her wrist. She looked elegant again, although I knew I had purchased both their outfits, and everything here, actually.

"You’ll have to come to our wedding in the spring," she said, smiling. "You won’t have to dress too formally."

"What? Dress like you normally do? Don’t be ridiculous." I laughed.

"Well, I don’t believe we’ve been introduced," my father said, walking over to our little gathering. "You look very familiar, young lady."

I pleaded with my eyes to her, asking her not to tell him anything.

"Really, sir? Well, I just arrived from New York. Danielle Carter," Rose said politely.

"Lovely," he said. "And you, sir?" he asked, looking at Jack.

Jack looked at me, then back at my father. I stared at him, hoping he would be as polite as Rose.

"Robert Carter. It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir." He extended his hand.

"Very good," he said, shaking Jack’s hand. "Well, I’m off. We’re about to start."

After he left, I turned back to Rose and Jack. "Thank you," I said.

"No problem, Cal," Jack said.

"Mr. Dawson!" Melissa’s small voice rang out as she made her way to us.

Jack leaned down and took Melissa in an embrace. I looked around to make sure no one had heard her speak to him.

"Melissa, look at you. My God, you look amazing. You like it here?" he asked.

"Yes. It’s great. You should come visit more often. Mama and I miss you," she said, smiling.

"Melissa? Do you remember me?" Rose asked, kneeling down to the child.

"Miss DeWitt Bukater, of course. I’ve missed you, too!" she exclaimed. They embraced. "Mr. Hockley is so nice. It’s wonderful here."

Jack looked at me, a bit shocked. "Well, Mr. Hockley’s niceness is a bit hard to comprehend when he’s shooting and yelling at people." He laughed.

Melissa looked from Jack to me, obviously confused.

"Jack, you’re such a joker." I laughed nervously.

"Cal, can Melissa come stay with us while you are on your honeymoon?" Rose asked.

I thought about it a moment. "I don’t know. The Van Sants have already offered."

"Come on, Cal. We’re cheap." Jack laughed.

"Yes. That’s what I’m afraid of," I replied.

"Please, Mr. Hockley? I haven’t gotten to see them in so long," Melissa pleaded, holding onto Rose’s hand.

"Yeah, come on, Cal. No one will find out. Melissa can keep a secret, can’t you, Melissa?" Rose asked, looking at the child.

Against my better judgment, I nodded. "But Rose, make sure to keep her manners up," I warned.

"Don’t worry so much, Cal," she answered.

"Well, if you’ll excuse me," Jack said, looking at the minister who stood at the end of the hall, "I have to go after Catherine."

I nodded, overcome by nervousness again.

Jack walked off. Rose took Melissa by the hand as they went to their places.

"Well, are you ready?" Colonel Gracie asked, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"I think so." I laughed a little. He was my best man, of course.

He walked beside me up to the front of the gathering. Family and friends sat on either side of the aisle. The aisle itself had a strip of red velvet down the center.

My father smiled as he seated himself in the front row near the colonel and me. I looked over at the dining area entrance. Our staff stood watching us, smiles on their faces. Thomas, the butler, held Melissa’s dog on a silver leash.

After a few moments, the organ started playing. The colonel and I looked towards the entrance to the hall as everyone stood.

Melissa emerged, throwing white rose petals onto the carpet. She looked like a child doll dressed in her fine white and pink dress, frills and lace covering every inch of it.

Rose followed behind the child, a smile stretched across her beautiful face. Her hands wrapped around a small white bouquet.

The colonel patted my shoulder as Jack and Catherine emerged behind Rose. She had her arm draped through Jack’s, a white rose bouquet in her hands, the train of her gown trailing far behind her and Jack, the sheer veil over her face, and a tiara gracing her blonde hair.

This was the wedding I had always envisioned for myself.

"She looks like a dream," the colonel whispered to me.

I nodded, hoping she wasn’t a dream I would wake up from anytime soon. Rose took her place on the other side of the minister. Melissa stood at her side, holding the little basket of rose petals.

Jack smiled at me as he placed her hand in mine. We turned to the minister. Jack went to her side of the gathering, sitting in the front row. "Who giveth this woman to this man?" the minister asked.

Jack stood. "I do." Then he seated himself again.

"We have come before God and these witnesses to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony," the minister started. "Do you, Caledon, take this woman, Catherine, to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love, honor, and cherish, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for better or for worse, as long as you both shall live?"

I looked at Catherine. "I do."

"Do you, Catherine, take this man, Caledon, to be your lawfully wedded husband? To love, honor, and obey, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, as long as you both shall live?"

Catherine looked up at me. "I do."

I smiled at her. I squeezed her hand reassuringly. She looked like a vision, really, stunning and amazing. She’d have to be to put up with me. I laughed to myself.

"Do you have the rings?"

I turned to the colonel. He held Catherine’s ring out to me.

I took it in my hand and turned back to the minister.

"Place it on the bride’s left forefinger," he said. "And now repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed, and I pledge to thee my troth."

I looked at Catherine. "With this ring, I thee wed, and I pledge to thee my troth." I placed the ring on her finger.

"Catherine, do you also have a ring?" the minister asked.

"Yes."

Rose handed her the matching ring. She turned back to me.

"Take this ring and place it on the groom’s left forefinger," he spoke. "Now, repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed, and I pledge to thee my troth."

"With this ring, I thee wed, and I pledge to thee my troth." She placed the ring on my hand. She smiled at me through the veil.

"Now, is there anyone here who has cause to stop this wedding. Let him speak now or forever hold his peace."

I glanced around. No one spoke.

"Then by the power vested in me by the state of Pennsylvania, I now pronounce you husband and wife. And what God has joined together, let no man put asunder. You may now kiss the bride."

I gently picked up the veil and pressed my lips to hers. Cheers rang through the hallway. The colonel popped open a bottle of champagne while he laughed wildly. Jack walked up to us, shaking my hand as Rose hugged Catherine.

"Congratulations, Cal."

"Thank you, Jack," I answered.

Rose kissed my cheek. "I hope you’ll be happy at last, Cal."

I smiled at her. Jack and Catherine embraced. "Never thought I’d see this day come, Cat. You look amazing. You’re wealthy, wearing fine clothes," Jack started, still hugging Catherine.

"I can still win a race against you." She laughed. So did Jack.

Melissa stood beside me. I leaned down to hug her. "Melissa, you were wonderful," I said. I noticed that she held the dog’s leash. "So were you, Captain." I petted the dog between the ears. She had named him after Captain Smith. I guess he had been very kind to them, so he was a great loss to Melissa.

"Well, shall we get to the gala?" the colonel said, shaking my hand.

"I should have known, Archie." I laughed. Catherine and I walked arm-in-arm out to the backyard, which was also decorated for the occasion.

Our staff and decorators did a fantastic job, of course. The reception went great, as well--dancing, talking, the colonel and his brandy.

Jack tapped his glass. Everyone stopped to listen.

"Cal, Catherine, I wish you the utmost happiness and joy. You’ve come together in the greatest estate. Love each other with all your hearts, and make each day count." He smiled, knowing how I had reacted when he had said it on the Titanic.

The colonel turned to him as though he remembered him from that dinner.

"Well said, Robert!" My father held up his glass.

Then the colonel knew it wasn’t Jack, or so he thought. After the toast, Catherine and I danced to the soft music of the band my father had hired.

As the reception came to an end, I realized Dawson and Rose were nowhere to be seen.

"Father, have you seen where the Carters went?" I asked, Catherine on my arm.

He pointed to the corner table. We walked over to them.

"Dawson, what are you doing?" I asked. Rose leaned over him and his sketchbook.

"Wedding present." He handed a sheet of paper to Catherine.

"It’s lovely, Jack." Catherine held the paper where I could see it.

It was a finely detailed portrait of Catherine and I. He had a great talent. I hoped he would succeed in art.

"Thank you, Mr. Dawson." I smiled.

He laughed. "Shouldn’t you people get going?"

I took out my gold pocket watch. It was nearly time for the train to New York.

"Yes." I laughed. "Come on, sweetheart."

She hugged Rose one more time before we left.

"Where will you be staying so we can pick up Melissa when we return?" I asked.

"New York," Rose replied. "We’re moving there. Isn’t that right, Jack?"

"Yeah. She says I’ll get nowhere with my drawings in Chippewa Falls." He laughed.

We said our good-byes and went to our room to dress. Of course, the maid had brought her belongings over to my room. We dressed, and Douglas drove us to the train station.

Chapter Thirteen
Stories