NIGHT TRAIN
Chapter Nine

One week after Thanksgiving, 1948

Rose sat on the tiled edge of the pool at the Bel-Air hotel. It was an exceptionally warm evening for November in California and she and Jack had decided to take advantage of the lovely weather before heading back to the dismal gray winter of New York. They had taken some sandwiches to the beach and then had come back here to relax for the evening. In just a little more than 24 hours they would be married.

She watched as his angular, athletic body cut through the water with swift efficient strokes, contrasting sharply with delicately rounded gardenia blossoms that floated gently on the water. Her thoughts were not on the ceremony itself or even being Jack’s wife. She was more concerned with how she would fit into his life in New York. Would there be a place for her in his busy gallery? Could she learn about the business and be a real help to him?

Jack got to the shallow end of the pool where Rose sat, lovely in her black swimsuit. She hugged her knees to her chest and rested her head there.

“What’s wrong?” he asked looking at the pensive expression on her face.

“Nothing,” she said, not wanting to worry him.

“Don’t tell me nothing,” he said gently. “I know you. I can see that something is on your mind. Now come on Rose. We have to learn to open up to each other.”

Rose looked down into his eyes. Sometimes she was sure that he knew what she was thinking before she even spoke. That introspective quality about him had never changed. He already knew she was troubled about something and he was right. Might as well get it all out.

“Jack, I’m a little worried about living in New York. I’m kind of a small town girl now. When I lived in Philadelphia, everything was done for me and in Los Angeles, it was still a pretty small place back then. For the last 26 years, I’ve hardly left Cedar Rapids. It’s nice, but really small compared to New York.”

“Is that ALL you’re worried about?” he asked, pressing her for more information.

“Well, Jack, you have an established life there. All your friends, activities, your business. What am I going to do? I don’t know anyone.”

Jack pulled himself up on the side of the pool so that he sat next to her. He put his arm around her and she wiggled as she came in contact with his wet body.

“Jack, you’re getting me all wet,” she smiled, not really minding his nearness.

“Good,” he said teasing her. “You looked a little too neat sitting up here. Look Rose, my friends will become your friends. We’ll do the things that you and I like. And I plan on showing you all I know about my business so you can really be my partner. And as far as not knowing anyone? I’ll give you a week and I think everyone in the neighborhood will be paying more attention to you than they ever did to me.”

She leaned her head against his shoulder.

“Do you really think so? I want to things to work out, Jack. I guess I’m just scared. I want our life to stay perfect like it is now,” she told him almost in a whisper.

He took both his hands and looked her straight in the eye as he said firmly, “Rose, we’ll give it a year. And if you are not happy living in New York, I’ll move my business out to Long Island to one of the little tourist towns there. I will do anything I can to make you happy.”

“You’d do that, for me?” she asked.

“I only want us to be happy. That’s all I want. You’re not getting cold feet are you?” She shook her head.

“No. Not really cold feet exactly. I guess I’m just a little nervous, that’s all,” she answered.

“Well, I can understand that. I’d be nervous too, if I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life with an old grouch like me,” he said with laughter in his eyes.

His teasing brought her out of her sad mood and she gave him one of her stunning smiles.

“I think this has been one of the most incredible weeks of my life. And unusual,” she told him.

“In what way,” he wanted to know, giving her a quick kiss.

“Well, most of the time, it’s the bride who plans the wedding. I feel like I’ve been left out in the dark. You’ve just taken charge. And I am dying to see what you have planned.”

Jack tapped her nose with his finger and smiled at her.

“You’ll find out,” he smiled mysteriously. “And I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Now how about a swim with me before we go up? You’ve been sitting here on the edge of the pool all evening, wasting that gorgeous swimsuit you bought."

She gave him a fleeting smile, but it was not happiness that Jack saw in her eyes. As soon as he mentioned the pool, her eyes had widened and her sparkling mood suddenly changed. Surely she was not afraid of the water.

Jack slide down into the pool and gently clasped both of her hands.

“Come on, Rose,” he urged gently.

Her head moved slowly from side to side.

“No, Jack, I can’t do this,” she told him with a shaky voice.

Usually when Rose said no, it meant yes, or at least that she was willing to try, but he did not sense that in her now. No, something was definitely wrong.

“What is it?” he asked softly. “Tell me.”

Rose put her head down, embarrassed to look straight at him as she spoke.

“I’m afraid, Jack. You see, since that night, the only water I’ve been in, is a nice, safe bathtub,” she said sadly. “I’ve never been able to face a lake or a pool. I still hear all the screaming and feel the cold water by just looking at it.”

Jack turned his head away for a minute, giving some thought on how to handle this.

“Rose,” he began, “listen to me. I’ve always been a good swimmer. I love it. But I was afraid for awhile too. But I had to force myself to do it again. I wanted Jeannie to learn and I couldn’t let her see my fears. For years now, since she started school, I’d drop her off and join some of my friends at the neighborhood “Y” for an hour or so. As I kept doing it over and over, the thoughts of that night went away, while I would be joking and talking with my friends.”

He took one hand and moved her chin so that she had to look at him.

“We’ve overcome so much. Just try. This is a beautiful pool, and it’s warm and shallow right here. I’ll hold you. On Titanic, things we couldn’t control just happened. But now, it’s okay. I promise, Rose. What do you say?” he asked her calmly.

Her face looked so incredibly sad.

“I want to for you, but I am still scared."

“I know you trust me. Now let me help you,” Jack said, slowly slipping his hands around her waist.

She shivered involuntary. In her mind she could almost feel the frigid water. And yet, Jack looked so comfortable and relaxed standing there before her. Slowly, he pulled her into the warm water, holding her closely against him. Rose gave a slight gasp as the water came up to her waist. She had been expecting to be chilled, but instead she was surprised at the warmth that she felt.

“How are you doing?” he asked, looking at her with concern.

“Okay,” was all she managed to get out.

“I want you to close you eyes. And I want you to think about what you are feeling. Just take your time, but keep your eyes closed, Rose.”

Jack continued to keep a firm hold on her. He was not about to let anything thing happen.

Rose shut her eyes and put her arms around Jack. She took a deep breath and arched her neck back, trying to relax. The silken warmth of the water moved gently back and forth against her body. In front of her, was the solid strength that was Jack’s body. She leaned her head against his shoulder.

“Well, what do you feel?” he asked.

“I’m warm. The water is moving around me. It’s just very calm. The water feels so smooth.”

“Do you feel calm, Rose?”

At this question, she hesitated. Yes, as long as Jack was there with her, she felt calm. She wondered though if she could do this alone.

“Yes, right now I feel calm. But there are no people here. It’s quiet. I don’t know if that would change things,” she admitted.

“We’re not done yet. Now you can open your eyes. Take my hand. We’re going to swim. All the way down there,” said Jack, pointing to the end of the pool.

She looked back at him, her eyes filled with uncertainty. For a moment she felt the urge to get out of the pool and run. She let go of Jack’s hand.

“I, I can’t do this,” she said, taking a step back from him.

“Please Rose. Trust me. If you can do this one thing, you will have conquered your fears. I will not let go. You know that,” he said, smiling hopefully at her.

He was right. If she stopped now, this nagging fear that she had of the water, would be with her forever. Somehow she was lucky that she had not passed this on to her sons. No, Jack was right. It was now or never. Slowly she lifted her hand and put it back in his.

“Just hold my hand,” he said nodding his head in approval. “Keep kicking your feet and try and do the side stroke with your left hand. Let me do the rest. Ready?”

He looked at her with hope in his eyes. When she saw how much he wanted this for her and when she realized herself how very important it was to at last come to terms with this problem, some of her qualms began to subside.

She took a deep breath and said, “I’m ready. And Jack, I trust you,” she replied, giving him a very tentative smile.

Slowly he began to swim and Rose followed, her feet soon leaving the bottom of the pool. Gently he pulled her along with his sure, strong strokes. Every few moments he looked back to see how she was doing. Her eyes were focused on the end of the pool.

“You’re doing fine, Rose. We’re almost there,” he shouted encouragingly at her.

Her only response was a quick shake of her head.

Before she knew it, they had crossed the length of the pool to the deep end, a distance of about 50 feet. Jack was grabbing onto the side and in one motion he took her hand that he held and put it up on the side of the pool as well.

“Whew, we made it. How do you feel? Still scared?” he wanted to know.

“Well, I still have to do this by myself sometime,” she smiled. “But I didn’t even think I could do this much. Maybe we’ll take another swim in the morning, so I don’t lose my momentum.”

“Good idea,” agreed Jack, knowing that he would enjoy a sunrise swim with her. “But you are not quite done with this exercise,” he said, drawing her near with one arm. “Now close your eyes again and tell me what you hear.”

Rose followed his directions. She was afraid that she was going to have to force the sounds of shouting and thrashing bodies out of her mind. But she felt relaxed now. She was warm and in Jack’s arms.

“I hear the water lapping softly against the wall of the pool. The palm trees are rustling. Somewhere the drain from the pool is gurgling. I can even hear the traffic on the other side of the wall.”

“Anything else?” he probed. “Anything that scares you?”

She looked wondrously into his eyes. He had helped her in so many ways. Now he had helped her conquer the last reminder that remained from that April night so long ago.

Just as she was about to answer, came the shouting and shrieking of 5 college aged boys, as they came running and splashing into the pool. Jack gripped her tightly, worried that somehow this would disturb the peaceful balance of her mood. But he watched her face. It lit up with a smile, amused, instead by their antics.

“No, nothing scares me now,” she answered honestly. “I just need you Jack.”

“You’re sure there are no more fears left over?” he wanted to know, before he ended their session in the water.

She took on a thoughtful look. As is she was pondering some difficult problem.

“Actually, you are the one who has something to worry about,” she said with a teasing look, more like the unpredictable Rose that he enjoyed so much.

“Me?” he asked, putting his hand over his chest. “What could I possibly have to worry about?” he chuckled.

“We are getting married in a few hours and there are still a few things you don’t know about me.”

Jack gave her a puzzled look. Sometimes Rose just said things out of the blue and he never knew when one of those comments was coming.

“You, Mr. Dawson, should be worried as to whether or not I can put a meal on the table. Surely someone of your artistic taste would require something more refined and sophisticated than chicken hot dish and red Jell-O,” she said jokingly, knowing that was one meal most men despised.

His face fell and he said, “Is that really all you can make Rose?”

She gave him one of those looks of hers that made if difficult to tell whether or not she was telling the truth. Then she laughed and told him that he would just have to wait and find out.

“If you can’t cook Rose, I won’t starve.” he told her, confidently. “They do something wonderful now in New York. You can call up on the telephone and someone will deliver a pizza to your house. Can you imagine? And,” he continued, with a daring look in his eyes, “that leaves you with more time for other things.”

“Such as,” she asked with a blank look on her face.

“I can see where you must have been a very good actress. Did you always play the innocent acting woman, out to tempt men with your beguiling looks?” he laughed.

“Oh, Jack, you are really are outrageous. I think we truly do deserve each other,” she giggled, her lips almost on his.

Chapter Ten
Stories