THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HEAVEN
Chapter Five
"He was a tall gentleman. His fingers
were slightly scarred, like he had done some hard work in his life. His
brilliant blue eyes attracted me to him. It was his sculptured body that won
him his ticket to any woman's heart. His voice sweet and soft like the wind
through the flowers on a warm summer day. His lips were pink, begging for a
woman's kiss. His hair was shiny as the sun, and the rays of his aura showed he
was quite sure of himself. His black leather shoes showed he was mysterious.
But what was he hiding? Surely, he kept many secrets, but would he ever share
them with his one true love? Rose?"
Rose was thinking about Jack, defining his
character. Her mother rambled on and on, but Rose ignored her mother.
"Rose, are you all right?"
"What? Um, yes. I am all right, Mother.
Just preoccupied."
"Surely you were. I could tell by the
look in your eyes. Go on, go to Jack."
Jack could tell Rose was staring at him. He
knew what she was thinking. Desire.
"Jack."
"Hi, Rose," he said with a smile.
"Jack, I'm tired. Can we go now?"
"Sure, Rose. Let's go."
*****
Dinner was great, but Rose wanted Jack for
herself. Jack had wanted to marry his Rose for real this time. He wanted
something he would always remember, not by the word of the purser. Now that he
had money, all he had to do was propose. But where? The bow, that was where.
"Rose, I would like to go to the bow.
Would you like to come with me, or are you really tired?"
"Jack, I...sure, let's go."
When they got to the bow, it was perfect. The
same sunset he had seen so many times before was there. It was perfect, just
what he had wanted.
He put his arms around Rose and kissed her.
"Rose, I have to tell you
something."
"Okay. What is it?"
He started to bend on one knee. He reached
into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of cloth. He opened it, and said,
"Rose, will you marry me?"
Rose was so happy she couldn't even catch her
breath. "Yes, Jack. Yes, I will marry you."
This ring was his mother's. It was the only
thing he had left from his parents to remember them by. It was precious to him,
but so was Rose. She was the only one who believed in him, when no one else
would, so he gave it to her, the girl of his dreams.
Jack knew what Rose wanted, but he wanted to
wait until they were married. Rose agreed, even though she wanted him as bad as
she did.
They went to their rooms, sleeping separately
from each other. Rose kept tossing in her bed. Jack stared at her door,
thinking he should go in. He found himself walking to the door. Rose was happy
he had changed his mind. But that wasn't the case.
Jack asked Rose if he could sleep in her bed.
She was disappointed.
This time, Rose slept better. Jack had his
arm around her when she woke up. Jack was still asleep. She kissed him and he
awoke.
She decided it was better to have him sleep
with her, than to not have him at all.
She faced the fact that Jack wasn't going to
give in until they were husband and wife. Rose had always wanted to be Mrs.
Rose Dawson.
A tear appeared in Rose's blue eyes.
"What, Rose? What's the matter?"
"Nothing, Jack. I'm just so happy."
"I will organize the church for our
wedding and you find a dress to wear."
"Okay, Jack, but I'm not sure I will be
able to wear a real wedding dress. I will try."
Jack went to the priest and Rose went in
search of a dress.
Jack had made the ceremony for the next day.
He and Rose would be together forever now. Rose had searched for a dress she
could wear. She did not want to get married in the dress Cal had gotten for
their wedding.
So several hours passed. Rose turned up with
nothing. Then, she thought about Madeleine Astor. She might have a dress.
Rose found Madeleine in her room, and told
her the situation.
Madeleine had the most beautiful wedding
dress she had ever seen. Rose loved it.
Rose returned to her room. She told Madeleine
that she would go to her room to change for the wedding because she didn't want
Jack to see it.
Jack was in a chair, looking into the
fireplace.
"Hi, Jack. So, when is it?"
"Tomorrow evening, Rose. Tonight the
boys are giving me a party, and I don't want to go, but I promised them I
would."
"Jack, go. I, too, have been invited to
a gathering."
"This will be the first time we are
separated, but tomorrow we shall be man and wife."
"It seems so far away."
"I'll see you tomorrow, Rose
Dawson."
The sound of her name made her get a chill.
Rose went with Madeleine and the girls for
her celebration. Rose was surprised her mother showed up.
She laughed because she was so happy.
Jack had been given the most wonderful party
he could ever dream of, but he missed Rose.
The parties were gay and extravagant.
*****
The next morning Rose saw that she had slept
most of the morning, and it was two hours away from the ceremony. Rose got up
and headed to Madeleine's room.
She wore a French lace gown with pearls and
crystals. Madeleine had done her hair, part of it tied to the back, the rest
down.
Her preparations had taken a while. As she
headed to the church, she was the most wonderful bride anyone had ever seen.
Jack was already in the church. Rose was to
be given away by her mother, which was quite a shock for Rose. Fabrizio was the
best man, and Madeleine was the maid of honor. Tommy Ryan was one of the
witnesses. The other was Molly Brown.
The ceremony began. Music played as Rose
walked down the aisle. Jack had seen his angel in white.
When she approached the altar, Jack just
stared at her.
Rose blushed.
As the ceremony came to an end, Jack kissed
Rose like she had never been kissed before. Rose looked at the ring on her
finger and couldn't believe that she was finally Rose Dawson.
When Jack proceeded with Rose down the aisle,
a man walked in. It was Cal. He appeared in his usual décor.
Cal wished her a happy life and walked away.
Rose thought Cal was going to fight with
Jack, but Cal had a change of heart.
Jack and Rose went to dinner. Rose wasn't
hungry at all. Jack had waited for his Rose.
Rose looked into Jack's eyes, and saw a
different look in them.
Rose wanted Jack just as much as he wanted
her, but, no, that would be saved for tonight.
They would have fun now.
*****
Rose had forced herself to eat. When dinner
was finished, they went down to Third Class. The party was wonderful.
Rose and Jack danced and drank. The whole day
had been fun, but Cal was at the back of her mind. What had he really wanted?
When Jack had enough of celebrating, they
walked to their room as husband and wife.
Jack lifted Rose over the threshold. They
were tired, so they went to bed. Rose was going to take off her dress. Jack had
told her, "No. Let me."
He did, button by button on her dress. When
he got to the last one, it slid to the floor. Rose's creamy skin glimmered in
the pale moonlight.
This time, Jack was patient, and did
everything slowly, caressing his bride. This time, when they went to bed, they
would be together as one.
*****
The next morning, Rose realized that she
didn't feel well. Maybe it was the liquor. Rose got up and washed herself. Jack
was naked in their bed. She had almost wanted to take a peek at her husband's
body. But she passed.
Rose sat in the chair. She was feeling
better. She was looking at Jack's sketches. He had an eye for art.
Jack awoke, and Rose was gone. He got up and
walked into the sitting room. Rose was asleep with the sketches in her lap.
Jack took them, and got Rose, and took her back to bed. She stirred, but slept
like an angel. His angel.