CAL’S PLAN
Chapter Six
Rose was sitting in the dining
room, going through the survivors’ list one last time. There wasn’t any Jack
Dawson on it.
"Does the list include those
who are in the infirmary?" she asked.
"Yes, ma’am. It has just
been updated. I brought it as soon as the last man in the infirmary gave us his
name, just like your husband told me to do."
"Yes. Thank you," Cal
replied.
"I can’t believe he is
really dead," Rose said. "What’s this? Lovejoy is alive."
"What?" Cal asked,
getting closer to the sheet of paper his fiancée was holding.
"Oh, yes. As a matter of
fact, he was the last one to give us his name. As soon as he woke up, he
started saying a name. What was it? Violet? No. It was a flower, I’m sure,"
the officer said.
"Was it Rose?"
"Yes! He was looking for
someone named Rose."
"Lovejoy wanted to see
me?"
"I don’t think so, sweetpea.
We don’t know anything about his life. Maybe he had a daughter named Rose, or
something."
"I’d better go and check,
just to be sure."
She was getting up when her
mother came in.
"You won’t believe who I
just saw in the infirmary," Ruth said.
"Jack!"
"No, darling. He’s dead. Did
you see his name in the list? No, I guess he wasn’t as strong as he thought,
was he?" laughed Cal.
"He was stronger than
you," his fiancée answered.
"Stop it, both of you. No, I
didn’t see that boy. I ran into Lovejoy, your valet. I hope you forgive me,
Cal, but I had to fire him. He was supposed to protect you and Rose, and he
didn’t."
"And did he accept?"
Cal asked, knowing that she was talking about Jack.
"Of course he did."
"And did he ask you
something about me?" Rose asked.
"Why would he?"
"This man here," she
said as she pointed the officer, "told us that the minute he woke up, he
started calling for someone named Rose. Maybe he wanted to see me. I’d better
go and ask him."
"Oh, I wouldn’t do that if I
were you, Rose. It’s a horrible place, and he is too weak to have many
visitors. They let me in because I told them that I was looking for my
son-in-law’s valet."
"But maybe he wants to tell
me something…"
"Rose, he didn’t mention
you, but he did say something about a daughter. Maybe her name is Rose,"
lied Ruth.
"See? I told you that he was
talking about a relative," Cal said.
"You’re probably right. Do
you mind if I go to take a walk? I’m not feeling very well."
"Go on, sweetpea. Do you
want me or your mother to join you?"
"No, I’d rather go alone.
I’ll be back for lunch."
"We’ll wait here."
"That was close," Ruth
whispered as she watched Rose going away.
Cal smiled.