STARTING ANEW
Chapter Five
Rose turned as Jack entered the room.
"Hello, Jack," she said,
"you're early."
"Well, I was eager to see you and get
you out of here, and besides," he paused, "we have a lot to do today
and a lot to talk about."
Rose's stomach did a flip-flop.
"Can he guess my mixed up
feelings?" she wondered.
Rose smiled back nervously. She was still
tired and weak from her ordeal and illness, but she was looking forward to
finally getting outside today. This would be her first normal day since April
15. It was May 1. She shuddered. It she had not met Jack, she would still be
engaged to Cal and her wedding would be just a little more than a month away.
Jack noticed her shaking and asked,
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing," she replied hesitantly.
"I guess I just still have a bit more recuperating to do."
Jack looked at her with those piercing eyes
of his.
"You okay Rose?" he asked again.
"I guess so," she answered.
"Is this all you have to take?"
asked Jack, looking at the small purse she carried.
"Yes," said Rose. "I don't
know what happened to the clothes that I wore on the ship, and the hospital had
things for me to use here."
Molly had brought over the dress she was
wearing and told her that some more clothes and personal items awaited her at
the hotel.
"Let's go then," said Jack, taking
hold of her hand.
Rose nervously looked around the room. In a
way, it represented a form of security. While she had been here, she really
hadn't thought much about the future, just took things one day at a time. Now
she had to face life and Jack.
She tried to give him a big smile as she
asked, "So...what have you got planned for today?"
Jack looked at her thoughtfully. He had tried
his best to plan a day that they would both enjoy. Thanks to Molly, he had some
money to do this, but he was being careful not to waste a penny.
"First we'll take the tram to Central
Park and have a nice walk there. Get you some nice fresh air. Then after that,
lunch at a little cafe in the art museum, look around there for awhile and then
we'll see how things go."
He led her out of the room and down the
corridor as he continued, "If you aren't too tired, we can go out to eat,
otherwise, we'll go back to the hotel."
Rose tossed her head with some of her old
fire and asked, "And just what do you plan to do there?"
Jack looked amused, but Rose regretted her
words.
"Oh, God, I've done it again. Thrown
myself at him."
When they reached the outside door of the
hospital, Rose squinted in the bright sunlight and took a deep breath of fresh
air. It had been several weeks since she had been outside and it felt
wonderful. She had always loved being outdoors, but had never had much of a
chance. In her circles, ladies were always inside at charity parties or other
social functions. She recalled that she had often been in trouble at boarding
school. When it was time to learn how to serve tea, or do some other useless
activity, she had found it much nicer to go out for a long walk.
Jack looked over at Rose who appeared to be
lost in her own thoughts. With a few more days of good food and fresh air,
perhaps she would make a full recovery. But if he didn't get the answer he
hoped for tonight, he knew his life would be far from complete.
As they got off the tram across from Central
Park, Jack took her hand, not saying a word. They both took in the wonderful
smells of the flowering bushes and trees. It was a perfect spring day. A
perfect day for love to bloom.
Jack was wondering how Rose would react to
the idea of becoming his wife. He wanted to have her forever, and was willing
to sacrifice the life he knew to be with her.
Rose, too, was in her own world. She was
grateful to have found someone like Jack. But would he turn her away because
she was always so forward? Maybe men did not like women who were that way. What
did he really think of her for giving himself to her before marriage? If Jack
cast her aside, her reputation would be in shreds and no one would want her.
Jack wanted to say something to break the
silence. But he was unsure as to what to say. He put his arm around her
shoulder and he felt her stiffen.
"This won't do," he thought.
"This isn't the way she is supposed to react."
He wondered what was wrong. She acted as
though she was repelled by his touch. Then they both looked at each other.
Jack's gaze penetrated her eyes. He was really afraid that his fears of losing
her were going to come true. For what he saw in her eyes was fear and
uncertainty. They both spoke at once.
"Rose."
"Jack."
But he got more out.
"I think something is wrong here,"
he said to her.
Rose's eyes began to fill with tears.
"Come on," he said, heading for a
bench. "Let's sit down. What's this all about?"