PHILADELPHIA IN SPRING
Chapter Four

Ruth started walking up to the front door, her arms folded across her chest. Rose followed her, suddenly scared at what she would say.

Ruth opened the door and motioned for Rose to follow her. She walked into the formal sitting room right off of the foyer. She sat down on one of the stiff chairs. Rose hesitated before taking a seat across from her.

Ruth opened and closed her mouth several times before speaking.

"Rose, what were you doing with that boy?"

"Mother..." Rose cast her eyes downward, searching for some way to explain.

"I take it that's the same boy from the park?" Ruth asked, with an interrogating look on her face.

Rose brought her head up, and with a sudden surge of courage, looked her mother straight in the eyes.

"Yes, actually, it was."

"Were you with him all morning, Rose?"

Rose stood up abruptly. "Why would it matter if I was, Mother?"

Ruth stood up, her face red and furious. "I'll tell you why it matters, Rose Dewitt Bukater. You are getting married on Sunday. Sunday, Rose. And you will never, never disappear like that again, do you understand?"

Rose's eyes dropped to the floor. "Rose, do you hear me? You're not to see that boy again."

"Oh, stop it mother, you'll give yourself a nosebleed. It wouldn't matter if he were of our class, now would it?" She demanded angrily.

Ruth grabbed Rose's arm fiercely, and Rose squirmed.

"Rose, you are not to talk to or see that boy again. I can look at him and tell you it's not appropriate!"

Rose fidgeted, trying to loosen her mother's grip on her arm.

"Rose, our situation is precarious. You know the money's gone."

Rose turned to face her, eye to eye. "Of course I know it's gone- you remind me every day."

"Rose, would you like to see me working as a seamstress, is that what you want? To see our fine things sold at auction? It's a good match with Hockley--it will ensure our survival. And you are marrying him Sunday. Sunday, Rose! And you'll barely speak to him!"

Rose's eyes grew weak, as she saw the scared and saddened look in her mother's face.

"It's so unfair..."

Ruth let go of her arm. "Of course it's unfair- we're women. Our choices are never easy."

"Now, Rose, what's his name?"

Rose look confused. "Jack--but why...?"

Ruth persisted. "Jack what?"

Rose kept silence, staring into her mother's face. "Tell me, Rose."

"Dawson. Jack Dawson."

"Alright, then. Rose, you are not to see Jack Dawson anymore. I'll tell you; I did not like the way you were standing with him...do you understand me?"

Rose nodded limply, a tear threatening in her eye.

"Good." Ruth turned around and walked to the door, closing it behind her.

Rose sat down immediately, burying her face in her hands. She was now in heavy tears, her eyes squinting as she remembered everything her mother had said.

Today had been so wonderful- she'd actually been happy. And Jack had showed her that happiness. Now she wasn't even allowed to see him again. For some reason, that thought cut and tore at her heart like nothing she'd ever felt. She closed her eyes and pictured his eyes, his smile. Why was this bothering her so much?

Just then, the door opened once more.

Cal crossed the room, his dark eyes intent on Rose's wet, disturbed face.

Rose looked at him, and then the floor.

"What is wrong with you, Rose?" He demanded, his eyes heavy with anger.

Rose stood up and walked to the other side of the room, away from him.

"Rose, your mother told me about where you were today." He walked to join her on the other side of the room and slid his hand to the top of her shoulder. She cringed.

"Rose, I don't like that."

Rose's eyes flared, and she turned to face him. "Cal, I'm not at all concerned with what you like or do not like. I spent the day out, and I had a good time."

Cal's own eyes turned to fire, almost scaring her. "Rose, what bothers me is who you spent the day with. A young man, am I right? Ruth, I believe, described him as a "scruffy, scrappy looking young man." A man you barely know."

Rose refused to be intimidated by him. "Cal, please leave. I don't feel well."

"Rose, whether you like it or not, you are to become my wife in exactly six days. And you will obey me. You will. I suppose your mother has already told you that you're forbidden to go out alone for awhile?"

Rose looked up at him, tears in the corners of her eyes. "No, she didn't."

Cal grabbed her arm and squeezed it harshly, sending a streak of pain through it.

"Well, now you know." He let go and walked briskly across the room, and out the door.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jack walked quickly down the street in his waiter's uniform, headed for work. He was almost late. After he'd left Rose, he'd walked for what seemed like days, thinking about what had taken place this morning. Rose's image would not leave his mind, and the thoughts that had invaded were scaring him. He was trying to come to terms with how he really felt about her. She was still such a stranger to him, but he felt as if he'd known her forever.

"But you haven't, Dawson." He sighed and opened the door to the cafe adjoined to the Ashford. The dinner crowd was beginning to trickle in, and he crossed the room and entered the kitchen, ready to clock in.

"Hey, Dawson. How's it going?" A large bearded man was walking toward him.

"Hi, Mr. James. Pretty good. How bout you?" His boss nodded, laughing cheerfully.

"Ah, pretty good."

Jack smiled.

"I'll let you get to work. Quite a crowd out there tonight."

Jack made his way to the counter, picking up his pad and pen, then pushed the door back open into the dining area. The night went by quickly, business slacking off around 9:30. The room grew empty, and Jack stopped to clean off several tables. He was wiping the tops of them, staring off into space. He couldn't get Rose off his mind at all.

Mr. James entered the room and stared at Jack for a moment.

"Dawson? Got something on your mind?"

Jack looked up surprised.

"I guess you'd say so..." He looked back down at the table and continued wiping.

"Women troubles, son?"

Jack blushed and pushed several chairs in, looking down.

"Sir, I..."

"Ah...It's okay son. Well, looks like you're done...why don't you go on home?"

Jack smiled graciously and took his apron off, folding it on his arm.

"Thank you sir. I'll see you tomorrow."

Mr. James nodded as Jack raced out the door. He almost took the way back to his apartment, but instead he headed in the other direction. He couldn't ignore the fact that he wanted to see her again. In fact, he had to.

And he had an idea.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Rose sat in front of her mirror, staring at her tear stained face. She'd locked herself in her room--insisting that she didn't feel well.

It seemed, more and more, that Cal was her father, telling her what to do, demanding answers, treating her like a small child.

She thought about how happy she'd been this morning--laughing and talking with Jack. It seemed as though he brought something out in her- just like her father had.

"Rose, stop it." she ordered herself, shaking her head back and forth. Maybe her mother was right- maybe she should try to accept Cal-

But Sunday seemed like execution day, and nothing would change that. Nothing.

"God, Jack is so different..." Rose covered her face with her hands.

But then she heard a knock. Not on her door, but...her window. It sounded like a stone hitting the glass. She stood up and walked over to her window. The sound continued. And when she looked down, what she saw filled her heart with utter confusion, but also indescribable happiness. Jack was standing on the grass below her room. The darkness enveloped him, but she could just make out his bright smile.

She opened her window and whispered down to him.

"Jack, what are you..."

But he wouldn't let her finish her sentence. "Rose, come down."

Rose laughed, and poked her head out the window. "Jack, I can't. It's late." And then her face dropped "And..."

Jack moved closer to the house, looking straight up at her. He seemed to look right through her.

"Jack, my mother...she saw us today, and...and I can't see you anymore Jack. She told Cal too."

Jack's eyes glazed over. He bit his lip. "Rose I'm sorry."

Rose smiled tenderly. "Jack, it's not your fault. I had a great time today, But I shouldn't have..."

"You shouldn't have?" Jack laughed. "Rose, come on. There's somewhere we can go."

It was Rose's turn to laugh. "Jack, no." She giggled. But she had to admit to herself, the prospect excited her.

"Yes you can, Rose." He lifted his hand upwards toward her window, motioning for her to come down.

"They'll never know, Rose--isn't your mother asleep?"

"Yes, Jack, but...I couldn't possibly, Jack."

Jack sighed loudly. "Rose, come on. It'll be fun, I promise."

Rose looked down at him, catching his eye. Any doubt left her mind at that moment. She sighed and smiled.

"Alright, Jack Dawson. Help me down."

She was still wearing the same dress from earlier but she'd let her hair down. Jack noticed how beautiful she looked, her red hair glowing in the moonlight as she leaned down.

"Alright, come on. I'll catch you."

Rose looked scared. It was quite a distance.

"Do you trust me Rose?"

"I trust you." She smiled. And she did, she realized.

She turned around and began to lower herself from the window.

"Okay, just let go. I've got you."

Rose let go and dropped into Jack's arms. The two fell, laughing, unto the plush nighttime grass.

For a moment, they remained on the ground, in a playful embrace. Then Jack got a hold of himself and jumped up, pulling her with him.

"Where are we going exactly, Jack?"

Jack grinned. "You'll see. Come on."

Chapter Five
Stories