NO MORE 'IF ONLY'S'
Chapter Eight
Catching Up
"I thought you were dead," they
both said at the same time. A smile was exchanged. Rose started crying. Jack
hesitantly pulled Rose into his arms. When Rose felt those arms around her
again, she started to cry harder.
"Stop crying, Rose. We found each other.
I can’t believe it, but we did," Jack said, half into her hair. They held
each other for what seemed like forever, but was really only a few seconds.
Jack pulled back, wanting another look at her. He still couldn’t believe it was
Rose, his Rose.
"Oh, Jack." And that was all Rose
could say. Her thoughts were mixed. She didn’t know what to say or do. James,
her husband, was waiting for her in their stateroom. All she could do was look
up into Jack’s blue eyes. Suddenly, another man was there.
"I see she made it, sir. You need leave
now. The lounges are still open, and they are serving drinks." The ship’s
officer stood by, waiting for them to leave.
"Rose, let’s go inside." With those
words, Jack turned and led her towards the third class lounge. They found seats
on a small settee and sat facing each other, so close their knees were
touching. Jack sat and stared at Rose. He couldn’t believe it. He had found
her, right after he had given up. "Rose, I never stopped looking for you.
I just couldn’t give up."
"Oh, Jack. I just don’t know what to
say. I thought you were dead." She reached out and took his hand. "I
waited for you. As long as I…I got married, Jack."
Jack was shocked. He had found her too late.
"I understand, Rose." He could feel his heart breaking. "I would
have wanted you to go on. Are you happy? I know you didn’t marry Cal. I read
about his marriage in the paper." Jack was trying to hide his feelings. She’s
alive, and that is all that really matters, he thought. "Tell me what
you have been doing. Where is your husband? I have so many questions."
Rose gently kept holding Jack’s hand. She
started to talk of what her life had been like. She told him of how she
couldn’t find him, first in the water, and then again on the Carpathia. She
told him how she gave his last name to the officer making the survivors’ list.
She told him how she made it to California. They both laughed as she told him
of riding the horse in the surf. She talked of how she met James, her husband.
They laughed as she told him about her first try as an actress. They sat there
and talked until the sun came up.
*****
James gave up waiting for Rose to come back.
He decided to take a walk on the promenade. As he was walking, he saw Molly
sitting on a deck chair. "Molly, where is Rose? Isn’t she with you?"
"Why, no, darling. She is with some
other friends we once knew. Why don’t you sit here with me and tell me what
ya’ll do for fun in Cedar Rapids, Iowa?"
James sat, even though he didn’t really want
to do it. Something told him that he needed to get to Rose, but he didn’t want
to offend Molly. "Just for a few minutes, Molly. I’m sure Rose will be
looking for me soon."
Molly thought, Rose may just not look for
you this evening. For a second, Molly felt guilty. After all, Rose was
James’ wife. But still, Rose and Jack had something to settle. Whatever
happened next would be up to fate. "Well, then, you need to stay right
here with me. Rose said she would come looking for me after she was done."
At Molly’s words, James sat down. They began
to talk, and James soon stopped worrying about where Rose was. Molly was very
convincing. James had no idea that Molly had arranged for Rose to be reunited
with her first, and only, true love.