TITANIC ROSE
Chapter Thirty-Four

Myrtle sat nervously in the Calverts’ sitting room. Emily Elaine sat beside her, fidgeting restlessly and longing to get down and play beside Andrew, who had several stuffed toys scattered on the floor beside him. His nose was running from the remnants of his cold, but the tiny girl didn’t notice. All she saw were the toys and the little boy playing with them.

Rose settled herself awkwardly into a chair across from Myrtle after setting down a tray of tea things. Emily Elaine and Andrew both noticed, Andrew toddling up and reaching for a cookie, while Emily Elaine strained to reach the tray from her place on the couch, almost falling off.

Myrtle set her daughter on the floor and handed her a cookie, looking apologetically at Rose. There was very little money left—they had been living in a shelter for the past two days—and not nearly enough food. Emily Elaine took the cookie eagerly and chewed on it, taking advantage of her position on the floor to toddle towards the toys scattered on the rug.

Rose watched Myrtle hand a second cookie to her daughter, but didn’t say anything. She knew how hard it was to survive on the streets, and if nothing else, Myrtle was a good mother. She would do what it took to keep her child fed.

Rose handed Myrtle a cup of tea and poured one for herself, sitting back in the overstuffed chair and taking a few sips before getting to the business at hand. Setting her cup on the little table beside the chair, she took a deep breath and looked at Myrtle.

Myrtle was twisting the fabric of her shawl nervously in her hands. Looking up at Rose, she started, "Rose, thank you for inviting me. I know I did a terrible thing back in Cedar Rapids, spreading those rumors about you—"

Rose put up a hand to stop her. "Myrtle, that’s in the past. I’ve decided to give you a second chance."

Myrtle’s eyes widened. "You have? Oh, Rose…you’re very kind. But why? I wouldn’t have given myself a second chance…"

Rose smiled slightly. "Let’s just say that my…instincts have led me to believe that you should be given a second chance. And, after all, I do know what it’s like to live on the streets or in a shelter, at the mercy of any little thing that happens…and you have a little girl, and another baby on the way. I couldn’t leave them to starve, not when I have the means to help them."

She paused, considering what to say. "Thomas and I have talked it over, and we have decided to help you get back on your feet. I don’t know if you’ll ever go back to your husband, or even want to. That isn’t the point. The point is that you are in a bad situation now, and we have decided to help you—if you’ll accept our help."

Myrtle sat back, thinking. She had always been taught that relying upon someone else was wrong, unless it was her parents or her husband. Her parents believed very strongly in self-sufficiency, no matter what happened. But she was in dire straits now, and her children would suffer if she didn’t find some way to take care of them. Emily Elaine was always hungry, and the little one inside her wasn’t growing as fast as it should have been—and she was afraid she might lose it.

But she had always had a lot of pride—she was willing to face almost anything for the sake of it. Her pride had not allowed her to accept that anything was wrong in her marriage until David had struck Emily Elaine for something the toddler couldn’t help. It was only then, for the sake of her daughter, that she had left. And although she knew that she needed help now, her pride still held her back. She had never wanted to accept charity, and she would accept only as much as she had to.

Setting her cup down, she inquired, "What kind of help?"

"Thomas found a two-room apartment for rent near his workplace. We reserved it in hopes that you would take it. It’s nothing fancy, but better than that shelter you’re living in, and much more secure, too. There are plenty of businesses nearby, too—offices, stores, factories—so you’ll be able to look for a job."

Myrtle looked down. "Rose, I appreciate your offer—really I do—but I can’t afford to move into any apartment now. I don’t have a job, and I have only enough money left to feed Emily Elaine for another couple of days. After that, I don’t know what I’ll do."

"We’ll pay the first month’s rent for you, and buy groceries so that you and Emily Elaine can eat properly." When Myrtle opened her mouth to object, Rose added, "You can’t go without food. You’re carrying a baby, and starving yourself can kill it. It could kill you, too—and then what would happen to Emily Elaine?"

Myrtle glanced up at Rose, then looked down at her swollen middle. "I don’t know, Rose. I’ve been trying not to think about it."

"Well, think about it." Rose’s voice took on a harsh edge. "David doesn’t know where you are, so he couldn’t come for her if anything happened to you, and the man who runs the shelter you’ve been staying in can’t be relied upon to send her to us, or even to an orphanage. God only knows what would happen to her if something happened to you." She leaned forward, her voice softening. "Myrtle, I know you don’t like to take charity, but there are times when it is necessary. For your children’s sake, take it now."

"I…I…Rose…" Myrtle paused, taking a deep breath. "All right. I will take it—this once, anyway. But I won’t allow it to be charity…somehow, I’ll pay you back, no matter how long it takes."

"Don’t worry about it."

"I do worry about it, Rose. I did some awful things to you back in Cedar Rapids, and to your mother—and I won’t allow myself to take advantage of you. I will pay you back, no matter what."

Rose nodded finally. "All right, Myrtle. You can pay us back when you can. In the meantime, though, I suggest you start looking for a job."

"I have been looking for one, actually." Myrtle looked down, her face flushing with embarrassment. "I don’t know many people here, and I was always a housewife, but I thought that if you, who had an even more sheltered upbringing than me, could make it as an actress, so could I." She looked up at Rose. "It wasn’t as easy as I’d thought. Most studios wouldn’t even let me in the gate, and there are so many women who want to be actresses—and they didn’t have a child in their arms or a baby on the way." She shook her head. "How did you do it, Rose?"

"With a lot of patience, perseverance, and luck. I started out by signing up as a film extra—you know, those people you see in the background. Thomas’ sister, Lora, helped too. She’s a nurse, you see, who works near one of the studios, and she’s met some people who were willing to give me a chance."

Myrtle gave Rose a hopeful look. "You know some people now, too, Rose."

Rose sat back. She was willing to give Myrtle a second chance, but she wasn’t willing to simply invite her into the world she had become a part of. Myrtle might have changed, but Rose didn’t want to take any chances. She had worked too hard to get where she was.

"I suggest you try working as an extra first. There’s always plenty of demand for them, and you can sign up at an agency instead of trying to talk your way into the studios. You’re right, they are very hard to get into—a lot of them are trying to protect their actors and their work from outsiders. Besides, acting is a lot of work—it takes a lot of work to make those moving pictures look so effortless. It sometimes requires long days, odd hours, multiple takes, towering egos, people like Sylvia…" Rose trailed off, a faint smile brightening her face. "It’s better to start out at the bottom and work your way up. That way, if it turns out that it isn’t what you want to do, you can always get out and try something else."

Myrtle nodded, considering Rose’s words. "Do you think they’ll mind the fact that I’m in the family way? Or that I have to bring Emily Elaine with me everywhere because I have no one to watch her?"

"That depends upon who you’re working with. Sometimes little babies wind up in motion pictures, too—and she is cute. You might try signing her up as an extra, too—with the understanding that she work only with you or someone you trust. She’s too little to watch out for herself. As to your being in the family way—it would depend upon the picture and the director. Some won’t allow it, but others will. Some feel that it’s immoral for a woman expecting a child to be in a moving picture—it might give the children ideas, and some pictures just don’t have a place for that. Others will allow it. And if you’re in a crowd scene, or a scene where your belly doesn’t show, it might be different. Besides, you won’t carry your baby forever, and if you can’t find work as an extra now, there are other jobs you might do. Maybe not jobs where you’d be in the public eye, but there are jobs where people won’t often see you—and in a city that is growing like this one is, you should be able to find something. If not, Thomas and I will help you out until the baby is born, and then you can find work and pay us back when you have a little extra money. And if you wind up going back to Cedar Rapids, or can’t pay us back, don’t worry about it. There are other things you can do to pay us back, too—like watch Andrew and the twins, once they’re born, when Thomas and I want some time to ourselves."

"Rose, I…"

"And while you’re looking for work, I’ll watch Emily Elaine. Unless you’re signing her up as an extra, or she’s working as one, there’s no reason for her to accompany her you. You might do better if you didn’t have her with you—especially when she gets tired and fussy."

Myrtle shook her head. "Oh, no. You’ve done enough for me already. I don’t want to impose…"

"It wouldn’t be an imposition. Andrew needs to learn to play with other children, and see how well they’re getting along?" Rose gestured to the two toddlers, who were each playing with a stuffed toy and ignoring each other.

"Well, they’re not screaming, anyway," Myrtle remarked, drawing a smile from Rose.

"It’s a good start, wouldn’t you say? Remember when we wanted to play matchmaker between them?"

Myrtle laughed. "I remember. They weren’t even born yet."

"Maybe our old plans will come to something after all."

Myrtle looked at Emily Elaine, who was chewing on her toy and drooling. "Well…maybe." She sobered. "Rose…the new baby isn’t due for three months yet. Can you really afford to help me for that long if I can’t find work? After all, your babies should come soon, and you’ll have the doctor’s bills to pay and the babies to provide for."

"Thomas is doing very well as a lawyer, and although I’m not working at the moment, I have a picture to finish when I’m done, and since I’m under contract, more pictures after that. I’m making good money, too."

"If you’re sure…"

"We are. In spite of what you did in the past, we’re willing to forgive you and give you a second chance."

*****

On February fourteenth, Myrtle strode up the walk the Calverts’ home, her step light in spite of advancing pregnancy. She was a week shy of seven months along now, and the good food and decent shelter she had been enjoying had reversed the baby’s frightening lack of growth. As if making up for lost time, the baby was growing quickly inside her now, kicking constantly and letting her know that it was alive and well. Rose had gotten her an appointment with her own doctor, who had assured her that everything was going well. But that wasn’t why she was so happy today.

After three weeks of looking for work, not only as a movie extra but also as a shop girl, a factory worker, a maid, and a secretary, she had finally found work. And it was in the field she had wanted to try—acting. She had gone to yet another agency that hired film extras, only to be met with the usual response—she wasn’t needed, not with her in the family way, and why didn’t she let her husband take care of her, or didn’t she have one?

Myrtle had heard that reaction over and over, and thought that she should be used to it by now, but it still hurt every time. Why couldn’t they at least give her a chance? She was capable of working, and as to where her husband was—that was none of their business. Considering what she had learned of the mores of some people in Hollywood, she thought that the question was more than rude—it was hypocritical. She had begun to argue with him when a director from the studio he represented had walked in and, completely ignoring her, had begun to upbraid the man for not finding the extras he needed for his new hospital picture.

When he had caught sight of Myrtle, he had yelled even more loudly, complaining that he needed at least a dozen women like her, and asking why all these extras hadn’t found, when there were so many looking for work. The hiring manager had responded haughtily that he wasn’t going to help these women in their immorality and that they needed to stay home and let their husbands take care of them. The director had grabbed the hiring form and turned to Myrtle, asking for her name and telling her to be at Eagle Movie Studios at seven o’clock the next morning if she wanted to work.

Myrtle had been flabbergasted; the hiring manager had been outraged, but he hadn’t dared to contradict the director, who had considerably more power than him. And so Myrtle was now an extra for Eagle Movie Studios.

She knocked on the front door of the house, hearing a delighted squeal from the other side. Emily Elaine had been waiting for her. She sighed, wishing that she could have signed her daughter up as an extra, too, but she hadn’t wanted to push her luck. Perhaps, if things worked out, she could get Emily Elaine in later, or maybe Rose could put in a good word for her.

A moment later, Rose opened the door, her huge middle preceding her. Andrew clung to her legs, almost tripping her, and Emily Elaine tried to run towards her mother on her baby legs, falling and almost pulling down her mother’s skirt at the last minute.

Myrtle scooped her daughter up into her arms, hitching up her skirt, while Rose awkwardly disentangled Andrew from her legs and set him on her shoulders, the easiest way she had found of carrying him with her pregnancy so advanced.

Myrtle stared at her. Rose often looked like she’d spent the day playing with the children, wearing loose, casual clothing with mud, ink, or paint splattering the colorful garments, but today she looked like she’d been caught in a whirlwind. And since it was beautiful, sunny February day, Myrtle couldn’t imagine why.

Rose finished setting Andrew on her shoulders, breathing harder than usual and bending forward a little as she did so. Her face was flushed, and the hair around her face was limp and damp with sweat.

"Rose, are you okay? You look like you’ve had a long day."

"Very long," Rose responded. "Eight hours now of babies, babies, and more babies." Myrtle gave her a confused look, so Rose went on. "I went into labor not long after Thomas left and you dropped off Emily Elaine. I tried to call Thomas, but he was in court today instead of at his office, so I couldn’t get a message to him. I called the doctor, but he said to wait until I couldn’t walk or talk during pains—and I’ve reached that point now. I’m tired and I have a long night ahead of me, so, since you wanted to pay us back for helping you out, you can start now. Please call the doctor—the number is by the telephone—and sit with me until he comes. You know as much about childbirth as I do. Then, you can stay for dinner and watch Andrew until the babies come. Thomas will be home in about an hour, but I think I need the doctor now. If you help me, I think it’ll pay off about a week of my watching Emily Elaine."

"Oh, surely it won’t be that much—"

"Myrtle!" Rose hissed. "Go call the doctor! Now! And please take Andrew. I’m afraid I’m going to drop him."

Myrtle looked startled, but did as Rose asked. While she made the call, Rose made her way up the stairs to the bedroom she shared with Thomas, laying down on the bed without bothering to change her clothes. Her belly clenched in another contraction, and she curled up against it, wishing that Thomas would hurry and get home, that the doctor would come quickly, and that Myrtle would get off the telephone and come to sit with her. She still didn’t fully trust Myrtle, but didn’t want to be alone at this time.

Myrtle had just knocked on the door and quietly stuck her head in when Rose groaned in misery, half sitting up and clutching her middle. She felt something give way inside her, and gush of fluid rushed forth, soaking her skirt, undergarments, and the quilt beneath. Rose groaned again. Now she would have to wash the quilt.

"Rose!" Myrtle came in, her eyes wide at the sight of Rose’s red face and soaked clothing. She rushed over to the bed. "You should have changed before you lay down. You can’t have the babies dressed like that."

"I don’t want to move." Rose lay back against her pillow, waiting for the next contraction.

"I know the feeling, but still…where do you keep your nightgowns?"

"In the second drawer of the dresser. But I just want you to sit with me, not baby me."

Myrtle didn’t listen. "The doctor is on his way. He’s leaving the rest of his appointments to the nurse-midwife today." She pulled a full, loose nightgown from the drawer and came over to the bed, helping a protesting Rose up. Once Rose’s clothes were changed, she stripped the quilt off the bed and helped Rose under the sheet, pulling it up over her.

"I’ll wash these things for you," she told her, "and Andrew’s diapers." She wrinkled her nose in distaste. "That ought to be enough to pay off that doctor’s visit."

Rose caught in the throes of another contraction, could only nod, concentrating harder upon the work her body was doing than on Myrtle’s bargaining.

She jumped in surprise as Myrtle squealed, her eyes lighting up. As the contraction eased, she opened her eyes and glared at her. "What?"

"I have some wonderful news, Rose—absolutely wonderful."

"You’ve discovered a painless way to give birth?"

"No, but I did find a job."

Myrtle’s joy was contagious. "You did?" Rose grinned, pleased. "Where?"

"As an extra with Eagle Movie Studios!"

"Eagle Movie Studios?" Rose’s expression immediately grew wary. She didn’t know if she could trust Myrtle in the same studio as herself—especially not an ambitious Myrtle.

Myrtle stopped, seeing the look on Rose’s face. "I won’t say anything, Rose. I promise. I won’t say a word against you or your family. I’m only there to act—not to make trouble."

"You’d better not." Rose pushed herself up on her elbows. "Or so help me God, it won’t be my reputation that’s ruined this time. If you even try to ruin my career, or my mother’s, I’ll tell everyone about how you left David, and about what you did back in Cedar Rapids. They know me better than they know you…and I have more power here than you."

Myrtle’s eyes narrowed angrily, but she understood where Rose was coming from. "I won’t say a word, Rose. I promise. I…I’d like us to be friends again, someday…if that’s even possible."

"I can’t make you any promises, Myrtle." Rose paused, laying back as an another contraction ripped through her. When it ended, she asked, "Where are the children?"

"They’re in Andrew’s room, playing. They’re fine, Rose."

She sat beside Rose a little longer, telling her about how she had gotten the job as an extra, until a knock sounded on the front door, startling them both.

Myrtle jumped up. "That must be the doctor." She rushed from the room before Rose could stop her, hurrying down the stairs and to the front door.

Throwing it open, she greeted the doctor, leading him inside out of the chilly winter night and up the stairs to Rose.

"I’m taking the children downstairs now, Rose," she told her. "They’re too young to hear this. If what your mother said was true, you don’t take childbirth quietly."

Rose grimaced. Ruth had told a lot of lies about her back in Cedar Rapids, but she had been telling the truth about the way Rose gave birth—loudly.

"Yes, take them downstairs and give them something to eat. When it’s time for them to go to sleep, there’s a spare room downstairs—Thomas will show you where—with a bed. You can put them there. If Emily Elaine needs extra diapers, she can use Andrew’s."

"All right, Rose." Myrtle turned to leave. "If you need anything, just let me know."

*****

It was past six o’clock when Thomas came home, rushing in the door and shaking out his umbrella, wet from the rain that had begun to fall. He stopped in surprise when he saw Myrtle there, rocking Andrew and Emily Elaine in her arms.

"Myrtle, what are you doing here? Where’s Rose?"

His questions were answered as a loud spate of angry words came from upstairs. Dropping his umbrella and briefcase, he ran up the stairs, barging into the bedroom without knocking. Rose was pulling her nightgown back down over her legs and glaring at the doctor. Obviously, she had objected to his examination of her.

"Rose?" Thomas approached her, only to have her grab the alarm clock from beside the bed and fling it at him, narrowly missing. The clock smashed into the wall and fell to the ground, broken. "Rose!"

"Go away!" she snapped. "I want both of you to leave."

"Rose, what’s wrong?" Thomas approached her cautiously, afraid she would throw something else at him.

"I hate you! If you’d kept your hands to yourself, I wouldn’t be here now! And he’s just as bad—sticking those freezing instruments into my sore, tender parts—"

"Mrs. Calvert, please calm down…"

"I’m not the one who needs to calm down!"

The doctor looked at Thomas, obviously trying to be patient. "Don’t worry, Mr. Calvert. Women are often like this at this stage of childbirth—"

"Don’t talk about me like I’m not here!"

"Mrs. Calvert…"

"Go away!" Rose’s face screwed up as another contraction began, clutching her stomach.

"I’m sorry, Thomas," she whimpered around the pain. "I didn’t mean it. Stay. Stay and watch your children be born."

The doctor shook his head. "Mr. Calvert, I think it would be best if you left."

"No!" Rose cried. Sitting up, she glowered at the doctor. "Let him stay, you—"

Thomas put a hand over her mouth before she could call the doctor a foul name. He quickly drew it back when she sank her teeth into one of his fingers.

"Fine! Leave! See if I care! I’m doing all the work anyway! You stupid men—you have all the fun, and we have all the pain!"

Thomas stepped back, clutching his bitten finger and looking at her as though she had grown two heads. "I’ll be back up as soon as the babies are born," he promised her. "Presumably you’ll be in a better mood by then."

Rose stared at him as though she didn’t know whether to insist that he stay or he leave. Quickly, he turned on his heel and walked out before she could get upset again.

*****

Thomas sat at the table in the kitchen across from Myrtle, eating dinner and feeding Andrew. Feeding both babies at once was more than Myrtle could handle, especially since both cried when they heard a noise from upstairs—which fortunately wasn’t very often this time.

He looked up when a knock sounded on the front door. Sighing, he got to his feet, wondering who could be at the door in this weather. Something nagged at the back of his mind as he went to answer it, but he couldn’t remember what it was at the moment.

He remembered as soon as he saw Ruth and Harry at the door. He and Rose had promised to take them to dinner tonight. In all the confusion, he had forgotten.

He led them inside, closing the door behind them. Ruth had her arms crossed and was glaring at him.

"We showed up at the restaurant and waited for you, but neither of you ever showed up," she told him accusatorily. "We ended up having a nice dinner by ourselves, but this was supposed to be all of us."

Thomas shook his head. "I’m sorry, Ruth," he told her. "In all the confusion here, it completely slipped my mind, and Rose is in no condition to go out to dinner tonight anyway."

Ruth’s eyes immediately grew concerned. "What’s wrong? Is she sick again? I worry about her, expecting twins and taking care of Andrew all day, too. She really should have some help."

She stopped as she caught sight of Myrtle coming from the kitchen, both children balanced on her hips. Her eyes widened in shock, then narrowed. "What is she doing here?"

Thomas sighed. He wasn’t looking forward to having to explain Myrtle’s presence to Ruth. "She left her husband after he began hitting her and her daughter. Rose and I have been helping her get back on her feet."

"You’d actually trust her again?"

"We trusted you, didn’t we?"

Ruth’s mouth tightened angrily as she stared at Myrtle. Myrtle stared back for a moment, then tossed her head, setting the toddlers on the floor and focusing her attention on them.

At that moment, a high-pitched shriek of pain sounded from upstairs. Ruth turned, staring up the stairs.

"Is that Rose? What’s wrong with her?"

"She’s having the babies, and, if you’ll recall from when Andrew was born, she doesn’t take childbirth quietly."

"She sounds like she’s dying!"

"Oh, I wouldn’t think so," Thomas told her dryly. He held up his bandaged finger. "She’s as strong as the proverbial horse, and twice as mad."

Ruth just gave him a disbelieving look and charged up the stairs, determined to see if her daughter was really all right.

*****

Rose looked up as someone threw the door open and rushed into the room, pushing the doctor aside to see her. "Mother!" she cried. "What are you doing here?" Then she remembered that they had been supposed to go out to dinner that night. "Oh, Mother, I’m sorry. I forgot all about dinner."

"Don’t worry about it, Rose. These babies are far more important than dinner."

The doctor nudged Ruth aside. "Excuse me, ma’am," he told her, "but she’s about ready to deliver, and unless you plan on catching the baby yourself, I’d suggest you move."

Ruth moved aside quickly, but didn’t leave. "Rose, darling, are you all right?"

"I’m fine, Mother. I can feel the babies coming—hopefully only one at a time." She closed her eyes and clenched her jaw, bearing down. "Mother, I’m so embarrassed. I told Thomas that I hated him, and then I bit him. Do you think he’ll ever forgive me?"

"I’m sure he will, darling. He’s smart enough to know better than to take what you say seriously while you’re giving birth."

"But I bit him, too."

Ruth just shook her head. "You aren’t any better at childbirth than I was. When you were born, I slapped the doctor for touching my private parts, even though he had to, because you were turned wrong and got stuck, and then I called your father a word that I’d heard the gardener use in reference to a tree branch that had fallen on him. Fortunately, your father wasn’t in the room to hear me."

Rose giggled a little in spite of herself. "Thomas did hear me yell at him, but the doctor told him that women in labor often act that."

"You see? I’m sure he’ll forgive you."

"I hope so." Rose arched her back, a scream ripping from her throat. "Mother, it hurts…"

"I know, dear. But they’ll be born soon, and then you’ll feel better."

"I hate giving birth!"

"I know, but it’s the only way to get these darling babies."

"I hope that someday they invent a way to make childbirth painless."

"There is a way, dear. It’s called ether."

"Ugh." Rose leaned forward, pushing. "Oh…oh…oh!" She shrieked again, then tried to close her legs as the doctor put his hands between them. "Stop!"

"You’re almost there, Mrs. Calvert. I can see the head."

Rose bore down again, her pain-filled shriek abruptly cut off by the wail of a newborn baby.

"It’s a girl," the doctor announced, clearing the baby’s mouth and nose. He tied off and cut the umbilical cord, then wrapped the baby in a blanket and handed her to Ruth.

Rose reached for the baby, only to be stopped by another contraction. "Dammit!" she cried. "Haven’t I done enough of this?"

"It’s twins, Mrs. Calvert," the doctor reminded her, reaching down again as the head of the second baby appeared. In minutes, the second infant lay in the doctor’s hands, squalling as furiously as his sister.

This time the doctor allowed Rose to take the baby. Ruth lay the first infant in Rose’s arms, then knelt down beside her daughter as Rose greeted her newborns.

"Hello, little ones," she whispered. She touched the girl’s tiny head. Just as Jack had said, she had thin red hair and rosebud lips.

Ruth looked admiringly at the newborns. "Congratulations, Rose," she told her. "Your daughter looks just like you, and your son looks like Thomas."

"They’re beautiful," Rose replied, cuddling her babies close and kissing each one, unmindful of the fact that they were still a mess from the birth.

"As soon as you and the babies are cleaned up, your husband can come up to see them," the doctor said, pressing down on Rose’s stomach to help her bring forth the afterbirths.

"I’ll go tell him," Ruth promised, giving her exhausted daughter a kiss on the forehead and getting to her feet.

"Thank you, Mother."

As soon as Ruth had left the room, Rose cuddled the babies closer, whispering to each of them.

"Hello, Lora Jacquelyn. I’m glad to have you back. And hello, baby Jack. You’re named in honor of one of the best men I ever knew."

*****

Rose lay beside Thomas, comfortably asleep. The babies slept in their cradles nearby, wrapped securely against the winter chill. As Ruth had predicted, Thomas had forgiven her for her appalling behavior while she was in labor, though she still felt guilty for biting him. Ruth and Harry had gone home after the excitement was over, but Myrtle had been so tired that she had chosen to stay with Emily Elaine in the spare bedroom, while Andrew had been brought upstairs and allowed to meet his new sister and brother before being put to bed in his crib.

Rose opened her eyes slowly as she felt a warm hand clasp hers. Sitting up, she gasped in surprise at the sight of Jack.

"Jack, what…?

She clapped a hand over her mouth, afraid of awakening the others. Jack pulled her hand from over her mouth and gave her a quick kiss.

"They won’t wake up," he assured her. "No one in this house but you will awaken until I’m gone."

"Jack…the babies are here."

He smiled. "I know. I looked at them before I woke you. Jacquelyn’s spirit is definitely in Lora, Rose, and she looks just like her, but big enough to survive. And Jack…I’m flattered that you named him after me."

"He doesn’t look much like you, though."

"It doesn’t matter. He’ll grow up to be a great man, Rose. How could any child of yours be otherwise?"

Rose got out of bed, walking beside him to the cradles to look at the sleeping babies. She touched the tiny fists gently, smiling as they clutched her fingers. Jack stroked Lora’s head gently, then took a tiny fist in his hand, smiling gently and a little sadly.

"Her soul recognizes yours, Jack," Rose told him.

"She’s beautiful, Rose…as beautiful as you. I was watching when they were born."

Rose gave him an embarrassed look. "You saw…"

"I saw you bite your husband, yes, and scream at him. He’s forgiven you, though."

"I shouldn’t have done that."

"You just don’t enjoy giving birth. Had I been your husband, you would have reacted the same way to me. In fact," he told her, a glint of humor in his eyes, "I’m glad I wasn’t the one trying to quiet you. Even a ghost doesn’t want to approach you when you’re in labor."

"Oh…you!" Rose punched him playfully in the arm. Jack gave her a look of mock hurt.

"See what I mean?"

Rose laughed, leaning back into his embrace as they looked at the babies together. Jack’s expression grew serious.

"Rose…"

"Yes?"

"There’s a reason why I came here tonight, instead of you coming to me in your dreams." He paused, taking a deep breath. "This is the last time I’ll visit you. You don’t need me anymore—not in this lifetime."

"Jack, no. I’ll always need you…"

He shook his head sadly. "No, you won’t. It’s like I said three years ago—you’re strong, and you’ve got a fire inside that’ll keep you going throughout your life."

Rose turned to look at him, her eyes filled with tears. "So this is the last time we’ll meet?"

He nodded. "Yes…at least in this lifetime. You have a long life ahead of you, Rose, full of love and joy and friendship. I won’t forget you. When the time comes for you to join me, I’ll be waiting. And after that…we’ll never be parted again."

Rose wiped her eyes, trying not to cry but not looking forward to an entire lifetime without him. "I’ll miss you, Jack."

He pulled her close. "And I’ll miss you, too. I love you, Rose. I’m sorry I never told you so when I was alive, but it’s always been true. From the moment I first saw you, I’ve loved you—and I always will." His voice broke, and Rose looked up in surprise to see a tear slide down his cheek.

"I won’t forget you, either, Jack," she promised. "No matter what happens, I’ll always love you. And I’ll always keep my promise, too—you can count on that."

"I know." He took her hand, leading her back to her bed and her sleeping husband. "I have to go now, Rose, but I’ll always be watching over you. Always remember that, no matter what happens."

"I won’t forget," Rose promised. She turned to him as she reached the bed, embracing him once more. "Oh, Jack…"

He pulled her close, kissing her as he had that night on the bow. Rose returned the kiss, knowing that this would be the last time, and that the memory of it would have to last her a lifetime.

"I love you, Jack," she whispered as the kiss ended. "Never forget that. I love you."

"I know, Rose. And I’ll hold that close to my heart until the day we’re finally reunited. I love you, Rose…forever."

He helped her back into bed, tucking the covers around her warmly. "Until forever, Rose," he whispered, starting to fade away.

"Jack, no!" she cried, reaching out towards him. "Don’t go yet! I’m not ready…"

But he was gone, leaving only empty air where he had been a moment before.

"Good-bye, Jack," she whispered brokenly, burying her head in her pillow to stanch her tears. "I love you. I always will."

She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling the old grief wash over her again. "I love you," she whispered again.

Thomas stirred beside her, wrapping his arms around her gently. "I love you, too," he whispered, pulling her close.

Rose clung to him. He didn’t know who she’d been talking to, and she didn’t bother to correct him.

Chapter Thirty-Five
Stories