DAWSON’S TRAVELS
Chapter Eleven

April 29, 1913

It had been a whole year since the Titanic sank and Jack returned to his hometown. The past year had been kind to Jack. He had picked up the pieces of his life, and somehow the pain of losing Rose had turned into a dull ache. He was able to remember his time with her, feel happiness, and be grateful that he had known her and given her a few moments of happiness…no matter how brief those moments were.

He had stayed on for six months at the Calverts’ until he had rebuilt his parents’ house. He now lived there and worked as an art instructor at the community center in town.

Leah was happy to have her old friend back. They spent days together when Jack wasn’t working. Leah’s feelings soon became stronger for her friend, and for Jack, they were changing as well. In fact, Jack and Leah were officially dating. A good couple, by Chippewa Falls standards. Of course, Jack didn’t love Leah with his whole heart like he had Rose. He didn’t think he could let himself love that fully again. Plus, Rose would always own the majority of his heart. But he did care a great deal about Leah. She was his best friend, the one person he could talk to about anything and everything. The only person in town that he felt totally relaxed with…that he didn’t have to put on any false pretenses with. Kind of like what he had been for Rose, so to speak. So what if it wasn’t the aching, needing love he had had with Rose? Leah was a good person, and would make him a good wife someday. Besides, he was doing what Rose would want him to do. He was going on with his life.

Life had finally settled down into a nice routine for Jack. For once, he knew where he was and who he was going to be with. He was completely satisfied, until a year after the sinking and losing Rose, when his life was once again disrupted.

The local general store was unusually empty for that time of day. Jack was walking along the rows of stacked shelves, looking for more art supplies. He didn’t notice the ring of the bell as someone entered the store, but he did notice the soft gurgles of a baby and a couple of words like mama and ball.

"Shh, Jake. Not now. Mama has to ask this nice man some questions." A voice slightly familiar shushed the baby.

"Yes, ma’am?" Mr. Lavery, the store owner, asked. "What can I do for you?"

"Yes. I was looking for a house here belonging to a family by the name of Dawson."

"Well, there’s only one address like that, and the owner is in this store right now. Let me go look for him for ya. Always absorbed in the art supplies." The store owner laughed, not noticing the shocked expression on the girl’s face. The bell rang again, and Leah entered. She was here to meet Jack. They were going to go to lunch before Jack had to go back to work. She stopped in her tracks when she saw the girl. From Jack’s description of his lost love…she was the spitting image. But she couldn’t be her. For one, Rose DeWitt Bukater was dead. Another, she had never had any children.

"Pretty," the baby cooed, pointing at Leah.

"What a cute baby." Leah smiled.

"Oh, thank you. He looks just like his daddy." The girl ran a gentle hand through the baby’s blond curls, a hint of unshed tears showing in her eyes.

"Where is his daddy?"

A tear finally leaked from her green eyes. "He died…a year ago…" The girl looked as if she was going to break down at any moment. "Ever since then, we’ve been on our own."

"Oh…I’m sorry…why come to Chippewa Falls?" Leah couldn’t help but be curious. This girl was obviously from high society by the way she carried herself and talked, but her clothes spoke of a lower class background.

"Because he was from here. I thought maybe I could find out more about my baby’s father, so when he’s old enough, I can tell him what a good man his father was. How he grew up."

"Oh, how rude of me, asking you personal questions and not even introducing myself. Leah Calvert." She offered her hand.

The girl smiled, shy and a bit nervous. "Rose. Rose Dawson."

Leah blinked. "Did you just say Dawson?"

Jack came out from the shelves with the store owner and stopped in his tracks when he saw the girl asking about his family. He closed his eyes and opened them again to make sure she wasn’t a hallucination.

"J-Jack," she whispered, her face whiter than it had been that horrible night. "I-it can’t be. Y-you’re…you’re dead."

"Rose?" Jack took a step closer.

"This is Rose?" Leah looked at the girl in disbelief, and her heart dropped. Of course. That would explain the mannerisms and the clothes, why the baby had the trademark blond hair and blue eyes that all the Dawsons sported, and why the girl wanted to cry at the mere mention of the baby’s father.

"So you two know each other?" the store owner asked. "What a coincidence. In fact, did you know that both of your names are Dawson?"

"Dawson…that explains why you weren’t on the list," Jack thoughtfully replied.

"I took Dawson so Cal and Mother wouldn’t find me, plus…it kept you alive for me somehow. I felt if I was Rose Dawson instead of Rose DeWitt Bukater…it’d be like both of us were alive and together. Plus, our baby would have your name…even though at the time I didn’t know he existed."

"Baby?" Jack finally noticed the three and a half month old cradled in her arms. "He’s mine?"

Rose tearfully nodded. "Jake Jackson Dawson. He was born in January. That was the most frightening moment of my life, next to Titanic, of course."

"And you were alone through all of it." Jack sniffed. "I’m so sorry."

Rose smiled. "No need to be sorry. Jake is the most wonderful thing to me. He was another gift from you, Jack. And I’m forever grateful for him."

Jack smiled. He honestly was at a loss for words. He had dreamed of this moment for so long…and now that it had actually happened, he was at a loss for what to say. "I can’t believe it’s you. That you’re here and alive."

"You’re alive, too…but Jack, what happened? The boat came back, and I tried to wake you up, but you wouldn’t. So I had to let you go so I could get to a whistle to get its attention. After that, I passed out."

"I woke up when the water closed around my head. I kicked for the surface just as they were rowing away. I was in the infirmary the whole time. Then I looked for your name, and it said you were dead."

"Oh, Jack." Rose sniffed. "I should have tried harder to find you instead of assuming that you were dead. I should have gone through every infirmary…"

"It’s okay, Rose. The important thing is that we’re both alive." Jack went to her and pulled both her and his son into a hug, forgetting that they were in the middle of the general store, with people watching.

"I’m sorry, Jack…I’m so sorry."

"There’s nothing to be sorry about." Jack stroked her hair. "If anyone’s sorry, it’s me. You must have had a hard time being alone and pregnant."

Rose sadly nodded. "But it was worth it, since it brought me back to you."

"She can stay with us, I guess. In your old room." Leah sighed. "It’ll be a warm place to stay and won’t cause too much of a scandal."

"Good idea." Jack smiled, not taking his eyes off Rose. "Come on. Let’s go right now. The sooner we get Rose settled, the better." He took Rose’s hand and led her out the door. Leah just stood staring after them.

"I haven’t seen Jack that happy since his folks died. Wonder who the girl is to him?"

"She’s the woman he loves." Leah sighed sadly, walking away before anything else could be said.

Two hours later, Rose and baby Jake were all settled. Rose now sat in the Calvert living room, gazing at Jack, who was cradling a sleeping Jake in his arms.

"He’s beautiful, Rose." Jack shook his head, disappointment clear in his eyes. "I hate that I missed so much."

"I do, too, but you’re here now, and you can catch up." Rose smiled at Jack and their son. "He’s so peaceful with you, Jack. I think he knows you’re his father."

"You think so?" Jack asked, hope filling his voice.

Rose just smiled and nodded.

"So, Rose, tell us how you know Jack." Irene entered, carrying a pot of hot tea and a plate of scones.

"Uh…" Rose nervously stammered.

"I saved her life." Jack quickly spoke up. "She almost fell into the ocean, and I pulled her back."

Rose glanced at Jack questioningly. She wondered if he was actually going to tell them the truth.

"Oh, dear. How horrible. It was a good thing Jack was there to save you, dearie."

"A very good thing, indeed." Rose smiled at Jack. A slight blush reached his face.

"So, tell us about little Jake there. He’s a doll, I must say." Irene gazed at the baby in Jack’s arms. "Amazing how he resembles Jack so much."

Jack smiled at Rose. "Really? I see a lot of Rose in him myself."

Leah entered, and her heart sank when she saw Jack with Rose and his son. They seemed like the perfect family. The attraction between Jack and Rose was unmistakable. Jack was a completely different person around her. He was so gentle, yet so much more sure of himself. He held his son like it was the most natural thing in the world. If she hadn’t known any better, she would have said that they had never been apart.

"Well, all of Rose’s things are up in her room." Leah sighed wearily. "Is there anything else?"

"No. That should be it." Rose smiled gratefully. "Thank you."

"Just make yourself at home, dearie." Irene patted Rose’s hand. "You’re welcome here as long as you like. You and little Jake."

Rose smiled uncomfortably. Somehow, she doubted that. By the look Leah was throwing her, Rose wondered just how welcome she was.

"Jake seems to be sleeping peacefully." Leah sat next to Jack, looking over at the baby.

"The first time in weeks, actually." Rose laughed. "He would always wake up and want to play."

"Oh, Jack was like that when he was little. His mother didn’t know what to do with him!" Irene laughed. "I was so afraid Leah would pick up that habit."

Rose looked at Jack and smiled. "Really?"

"Well, Jack’s settled down now, Mother." Leah cleared her throat.

"That he has, thank goodness." Irene laughed even harder. "To think, your children have a chance to be as playful."

"What?" Rose asked. Realization was suddenly dawning on her. It had been a whole year since she’d seen Jack. A whole year for him to move on with his life. What exactly was Leah to him? She couldn’t stand to stay in the room any longer. She needed air, so she got up and went outside, not saying a word. Five minutes later, Jack was beside her, Jake now fully awake in his arms.

"I guess we have a lot of catching up to do." Rose sniffed. "Do you love her, Jack?"

Jack was silent for a moment, not knowing what to say. Of course he loved Leah, but it wasn’t like he loved Rose. Leah was his best friend. Someone he could tell things to and not be judged, not that Rose would judge him. It was just that with Leah he was more at home. More relaxed. With Rose, he was more passionate, more loving. A better person. When she was in the room, his heart stopped and he thought about her constantly. He found it hard to go through a day without her. And now that she was here in Chippewa Falls…with his son…

"I love her, Rose. But I’m not in love with her…like I am with you. Leah has been my best friend since we were children. We did everything together. In the past months, we began to see each other. With me thinking you dead, I proposed, knowing I’d never find another you, so I decided to go ahead and settle down with someone I cared about, at least."

"But you’re not in love with her?" Rose looked at him, confusion shining in her eyes.

Jack smiled and stepped closer to her. He tenderly touched her face and looked deeply into her eyes. "No, I’m not, Rose. The only woman I can ever be in love with is you."

"Oh, Jack!" Rose cried, hugging and kissing him deeply. She never wanted the moment to end. The feel of Jack’s lips on hers was a welcome familiarity. The smell of his skin, his hair, how his eyes danced when he smiled. Then it dawned on her. She had no right to do this. He was no longer hers. He belonged to another, and soon it would be official.

"Jack, wait! Stop." Rose pulled away. "This isn’t right. Leah doesn’t deserve this. You made a commitment to her."

"You made one to Cal, too, but that didn’t stop us from being together."

"Leah’s not Cal, Jack. From what I’ve seen of her, she’s kind, smart, friendly…she doesn’t deserve this." Rose took Jake from Jack’s arms.

Jack sighed sadly. Rose was right. Leah had been good to him, and she deserved much better than this.

"What about Jake?" Jack asked, gently touching the baby’s face.

Rose shrugged. "I haven’t thought much about that."

"He’s my son, too, Rose…I would like to get to know him…"

Rose looked at Jack, her expression torn. She had lost Jack…could she really bear to lose her son, also? Her one reason for living? But how could she deny Jack the right to know his son? She couldn’t. "I’ll think of something."

Jack looked at her, catching the near sob in her voice. He wasn’t sure if he liked the vibes he was getting from Rose. "This isn’t fair. It’s like the world is trying to keep us apart."

She looked up at him, all the sadness in the world glimmering in her beautiful green eyes. "It does seem that way, doesn’t it? We’d better go in. Everyone’s wondering about us." Rose turned away and headed back into the house.

That night, Jack sat out on the Calverts’ front porch, staring up at the stars and smoking a cigarette when Leah came out to join him.

"You’ve been quiet all evening. Thinking about Rose?" Leah tilted her head, already knowing the answer. Of course he was thinking about Rose. He certainly wasn’t thinking about her. That was for sure.

"Me and you. Wondering how I’m going to remain a part of Jake’s life as well," Jack answered, his voice void of emotion.

Leah’s eyes widened in surprise. She was positive that Jack would be on the first train with Rose, heading out for the horizon. "Are you saying you want to be with me? Not Rose?"

"We’re engaged, Leah. I’m not backing out of that," Jack answered matter-of-factly. In a way, it was like he was talking about a business deal, not a real marriage. Leah shook her head. Jack would never even think of this as a business deal. They loved each other. The fact that he was staying with her was proof of that.

Leah smiled tenderly and sat next to her fiancé, resting her head on his shoulder. "So you’re not leaving with Rose?"

"No. I said I’d marry you, and that’s what I’m going to do." Jack sighed, feeling just as trapped as Rose must have felt when she was about to jump off the back of the Titanic. How had he gotten himself into this mess? Rose stood out of sight in the doorway, watching Jack and Leah. She sighed once again. Leah loved Jack with her whole heart, obviously. That in itself made it a little easier to let him go. Knowing that he was well-loved. Glancing upstairs where Jake slept, she came to a decision. She knew what she had to do. The only thing was getting the strength to do it.

Tears spilling from her eyes, she went back upstairs and spent the next couple of hours with her son.

Chapter Twelve
Stories