NOBODY SAID LOVE WAS GONNA BE EASY
Chapter Four
Late that night, Jack and Rose went inside
the house. It had been an eventful day, with the wedding and the little
reception afterwards. Jack had given her a gold locket for a wedding present that
was engraved inside with the saying ‘Never Let Go’. Rose felt bad for not
getting him anything, but he didn’t care about that. He wanted his Rose. As
Jack carried her into the house and up the stairs, she laughed with delight,
knowing that this was where she really belonged. As they entered the bedroom,
Rose saw the rose petals scattered on the floor and the room candlelit as if it
were a storybook romance. Jack set her down as he shut the door.
"Jack, this is so amazing, but how did
you pay for everything?"
"That’s nothing to worry about. I
promised you today that I would make you happy. That’s what I’m doing, isn’t
it?"
"Yes, of course, but I don’t need all
these elaborate things. All I need and ever want is you. Take me to the stars
again, Jack."
"Whatever my love desires," Jack
said with an accent. Rose just laughed and kissed him deeply.
*****
That night, Jack couldn’t sleep again. He
knew something was wrong, but what? He wished he had been there with his
parents, but then again, he would have never met Rose and saved her life in
every way possible. Jack planned on telling Rose tomorrow about his suspicions.
He looked at her as she slept peacefully, like a serene angel. There was too
much on his mind, and even though he tried to sleep, he was unsuccessful. It neared
dawn as Jack was just falling asleep.
Rose woke up about ten or so and decided she
would go to get something to eat. Then she remembered that she would have to go
out and get something, it being that she didn’t know how to cook. She left the
house, forgetting to write a note, and headed into town. As she arrived, she
looked around for a café or something. Rose didn’t have to look very long. She
went inside and ordered two coffees and six muffins for them, to have some
another day. As she headed out, she noticed an older man looking at her. She
glared at him and left.
"Excuse me, miss. You’re Jack Dawson’s
fiancée, right?"
"Not anymore. I’m his wife. Why?"
"I’m sorry. I’m Ronald O’Connor."
"Nice to meet you. I’m Rose," she
said, extending her hand. He kissed it and looked at her more closely.
"I’m sorry, but are you related to Matt?"
"Yes, actually. I’m his father."
"Oh! Well, I have to get going back. I
just came into town for food for breakfast. Good-bye, Mr. O’Connor."
"Good-bye, Rose," he said to her as
she headed back towards the house.
*****
Jack woke up, got dressed, and noticed that
Rose was nowhere to be found. He heard a knock on the door and answered it.
"Anna? What are you doing here?"
"I needed to talk to you."
"Okay. Come on in and have a seat,"
he said, showing her in. They sat and talked for a while. Anna needed advice on
how she might get away from Matt, because his abuse over the past few days had
gotten worse. When Rose got home, she heard Jack and Anna talking. She went
into the parlor.
"Hello, Anna! Hello, darling."
"Rose, where have you been? I was
worried about you."
"I was getting us some food. So, what
brings you here, Anna?"
"I needed to talk to Jack for a bit to
ask for some advice on something. Well, anyway, I should head back before Matt
knows I’m gone. Bye, Rose. Bye, Jack."
"Good-bye, Anna," they said in
unison. Once Anna had left, they ate, and Jack wanted to show her the lake.
After they ate, they headed to the lake. Rose was amazed at the beauty of it
all. They had plans with Robert and Christina for dinner. They met at the park
for a night picnic.
"Hey, guys."
"Hey to you, too," Christina said,
looking down at them as they set it up. They sat down and ate the sandwiches
Christina had made, since Rose didn’t know how yet.
"So, how did you like the room?"
Christina asked Rose with curiosity.
"I loved it. Jack told me you and Anna
set it up before we got to the reception. Thank you."
"It wasn’t a big deal. We’re friends,
remember?" Christina asked, and gave Rose a hug. They stayed at the park
for two hours, then headed home. When they got home, Jack told Rose his
suspicions. She felt bad about his parents. She reassured him that everything
would be all right. That night, Jack slept peacefully, too, but he still kept
his suspicions.
*****
As the first month passed, Jack found a job
working in a mercantile in Eau Claire. Rose learned how to cook and do some of
the other household things, but cleaning wasn’t one of them. A few weeks earlier,
Ruth had come into town on Cal’s orders to gain Rose’s trust, and had seen Rose
and Jack in the café window.
"Rose! Oh, my God. Is that you? I
thought you were dead! Thank God you’re not."
"Mother? What are you doing here, and
how did you find me?" Rose asked, shocked and a little frightened that Cal
might be here with her.
"I wasn’t planning on seeing you here. I
saw you through the window, and that’s why I’m talking to you now, but I am.
Rose, I’m so sorry for forcing you into an engagement with Mr. Hockley. When I
thought you were dead, I felt horrible and realized that what I had done was
wrong. I’m begging for your forgiveness, Rose. I want us to have a good
mother/daughter relationship now. I understand why you left and came here. I
also hope you have a good life here, and that you’re happy."
"Well, thank you, Mother, but I can’t
forgive you right now. It’s too soon."
"Rose, you told me on the Carpathia that
you wished that you had a good relationship with her. Now’s your chance.
Forgive her. She seems to have changed," Jack said, hoping that Rose could
have what she’d wished for all her life. Rose looked at Jack and then back to
her mother. She realized that this might be the only chance she had to make up
with her and have the right relationship with her. She forgave her, and that
day was spent talking and gaining trust bit by bit. Ruth said good-bye and said
she’d be at their house the next day to talk some more. The very next day, Ruth
came over, right on time. Rose and Ruth talked, and Rose asked if she’d be able
to accept Jack as her husband. Ruth hesitated with her answer, and finally said
yes. Around three PM, she told Rose that she had to go, and said good-bye.
*****
Ruth arrived at the O’Connors’ place on time
as well. She knocked on the door and the elder O’Connor answered.
"You must be Rose’s mother. It’s a
pleasure to meet you. I’m Ronald O’Connor. Matt’s outside, if you care to join
us for a few minutes."
"Yes, I would. Thank you."
"Now, what is it you wanted to talk to
us about?"
"I wanted to thank you and your son for
finding my daughter. It’s a big relief knowing she’s alive," she said as
they reached out back. Matt said hello to Ruth and told her it was no problem
finding her. Ruth told them that Cal would be rewarding them nicely for finding
her. They talked for a few hours and Ruth left. Once she got back to her hotel
room, she sent a telegram saying the plan was underway.
*****
It took a week before she earned both Jack
and Rose’s full trust. When Jack was at work, Rose spent time talking and just
spending time with her mother. One day, when Rose went to see her mother, she
started feeling a bit awkward. Ruth told her to go to the doctor to get an
explanation. Rose went to the doctor the next day and found out she was
pregnant. Rose told her mother and said she was going to surprise Jack
tomorrow. After she got done talking with her mother, she headed home.