NO MORE 'IF ONLY'S'
Chapter Ten
The Next Day
Molly was sitting in her suite, waiting for
Rose or Jack. She was sure that they would want to at least say good-bye. The
ship docked in two days and Molly wasn’t sure if she would see them again. She
was going to London. Jack was going to Paris. Molly wasn’t sure if Rose was
going on her tour of Europe with her husband or if she would go with Jack.
Molly didn’t even know what happened when they saw each other again. The
waiting was nerve-wracking. Molly was not used to waiting. She had always been
right in the middle of things. A knock at the door brought a smile to her face.
It’s about time. She got up to answer the door. It was a steward.
"This a note for you, ma’am."
"Thank you, sonny," Molly said, as
she took the note. She quickly shut the door and sat back down.
"Molly," she read out loud. "Please meet me in the library.
Rose." Even though Molly had expected Rose to come to her, she was on her
way out the door.
*****
Rose waited for Molly in the library. She
wanted to meet her somewhere she didn’t think James would think of looking.
Rose’s face was still tear-stained, and she got a few odd looks. She forced
herself to sit down and stop pacing. Rose looked up each time the door opened.
Finally, it opened to Molly coming in. Rose stood up and made sure Molly saw
her. "Oh, Molly, you’ll never guess what happened."
"Rose, I set it up. I know you saw Jack
again."
"Well, yes, but that is not what I need
to talk about. I feel so confused. I told James everything. After I knew that
Jack was alive, I…I have to be with him. James is not happy. He wants me to
stay with him. But the worst thing is I can’t find Jack."
"What do you mean, you can’t find
him?"
"After my fight with James, I went back
to Jack’s room. He was gone. I asked the steward what happened and he had no
clue. It’s as if Jack disappeared off the ship." Rose was near tears
again. She couldn’t explain Jack’s behavior. She thought he would want to be
with her.
"Darling, I’ll go look for Jack. He
might not hide from me. You need to find your husband and talk to him. This can
all be sorted out tonight. In fact, let’s do this…"
Rose smiled as she listened to Molly’s plan.
It was perfect.
*****
James was going on a hunt. He had to find
this Jack Dawson. He had to talk to him. How dare this man come back and
ruin my life with Rose? James thought. He asked every steward he saw, and
none knew where this man was staying. Finally, James had to give up in disgust.
He decided to go back to his stateroom and wait for Rose. As he approached his
door, he saw a man slipping a note under it. James ran up and caught the man by
the sleeve. "Who the hell are you?"
"No one. Let me go."
"You’re that Dawson fellow, aren’t you?
I’m Rose’s husband. I demand that you talk to me."
"Yes, I am that Dawson fellow. I have
nothing to say to you."
"So, you think you can come back and
steal my wife…"
"Steal your wife?" Jack asked,
cutting James short. "I’m not trying to steal your wife. I knew Rose a
long time ago, and I was just happy to see her alive." Rose didn’t need
saving this time.
"Maybe we should talk, like gentlemen.
You are a gentleman, aren’t you?"
"Yes." Jack couldn’t believe it. A
picture of Cal and the time he dined in first class came to mind. "Where
can we talk? I’m not going in your stateroom."
"Come with me. I know the perfect
place."
*****
Rose walked slowly to her stateroom. She was
not looking forward to seeing James. He was only doing this because he loved
her. He was the one who helped her get over losing Jack. She owed him more than
to just walk away. Hopefully, Molly’s plan would work. She and Jack were no
longer the kids they had been on Titanic. Rose smiled as she thought of what
Molly’s plan might help happen. Rose approached the door, and took a deep
breath before opening it.
"James? Are you here?"
"Yes, Rose. I’m in the bathroom. Please,
come in."
"Okay." Rose slowly entered the
bathroom, not knowing how what was going on. She saw that James was shaving.
"Rose, where have you been?"
A knock on the door interrupted them.
"I’ll see who it is," Rose said. It was their steward with a note.
Rose smiled. She went back into the bathroom and handed it to James.
"What is it, Rose? Read it to me."
"It is another invitation from Molly.
She’d like us to have dinner with her tonight, a private dinner. Should we
go?"
"Yes, dear. Let’s go. I like
Molly."
Rose wasn’t sure how to respond. James was
acting like nothing had happened. Maybe Molly’s plan wouldn’t work.