WHERE I WANT TO BE
Chapter One
April 15, 1913
It’s been a whole year since the
worst night of her life. Rose stood at the train station saying good-bye to
Molly and her five month old son Robbie. After talking it over with Molly Rose
had decided to head to Chippewa Falls to find information on Jack. She wanted
to know more about the man that had stole her heart and given her a beautiful
son. But both herself and Molly had decided that it was inappropriate to take
her baby with her. Robbie needed stability and life on the road was as unstable
as one could get. So Molly had agreed to take care of Robbie until Rose
returned from her trip.
"Now Robbie…be good for
Auntie Molly. I’ll be back as soon as possible with some information about your
daddy," Rose hugged her son closely, stroking his blond curls. She
couldn’t believe she was leaving him behind. It was one of the hardest things
she had to do. She wanted more than anything to take him with her, but she knew
that Molly was right. It would be a bad idea.
Robbie only cooed and giggled in
reply as Rose handed him back to Molly. "You do remember all his favorite
songs and stories right?"
"Sure do darling,"
Molly smiled sympathetically. She remembered what it was like being a young
mother leaving her baby for the first time.
"Now he likes being rocked
gently, not too hard nor fast…"
"Rosie I know," Molly
laughed just as the last boarding call sounded. "We’ll see you when you
return."
"Ok. Bye Molly and thank
you," Rose hugged her friend. "Good-bye Robbie," Releasing them,
Rose dashed to the train, unaware of what was waiting for her in Chippewa
Falls.
*****
The town of Chippewa Falls was
small and quaint. Everyone knew everyone and a stranger was a curiosity for the
small farming town. The talk of the day was the beautiful, elegant red-head
that had just arrived in town two hours ago. She was now settled in at the
local bed and breakfast. Jack Dawson entered the post office to send a telegram
to a friend in New York while the talk of the stranger was going on. He never
really had much interest in gossip…but then again, since Titanic and his loss
of Rose, he never been interested in much of anything anyway.
"Jack!" Nina, one of
his best friends waved. Nina Spencer was Jack’s best friend since childhood,
plus her mother own the bed and breakfast that was the topic of conversation.
She hoped that Jack would be able to rescue her from all the inquiring minds.
"Hey Nina. What’s going
on?"
"New arrival in town,"
Nina sighed, exasperated. "These folk refuse to leave me alone about
her."
"Well Miss, it’s not every
day such a regal creature comes into town," Mr. Nickerson snorted.
"What a beauty. Red hair, green eyes, graceful…a real lady I tell ya. We
don’t grow ‘em like that around here."
Jack frowned. The woman sounded
similar to Rose. He cursed himself again. It’s been a full year since Titanic
and he still couldn’t get Rose out of his mind nor heart and he really didn’t
want to. Mr. Nickerson was right when he said that didn’t grow ‘em like that
here in Chippewa Falls. They didn’t. Sure the girls tried to be regal and sophisticated,
but they really weren’t and never would be.
"Hey," Nina took a
close look at her friend. "Are you ok? I know it’s been a year already and
you’ve seemed to have gotten worse, despite everything." Being Jack’s best
friend in the whole world at the moment, Nina knew about Titanic and Rose. She
had practically dragged the story out of her heart-broken friend. The story had
touched and saddened her. She was happy that Jack had found love, but hated
that he lost it so quickly and was now rushing into something he really wasn’t
ready for in her humble opinion. Jack had loved Rose with his whole being and
it seemed odd that he made the choice he had made so quickly.
"I’m perfectly fine. Why
shouldn’t I be? My life so far is perfect?" Jack forced a smiled, thinking
to himself that the only thing not perfect is that he didn’t have Rose and
never would again.
"Jack…the girl…the
description is exactly like Rose’s."
"Does she have long curly
hair?" Jack asked, his eyes taking on a far-away look.
"I don’t know. She only
arrived today. I haven’t seen her yet," Nina swallowed. "But
Jack…what if it is Rose? Huh? I mean you didn’t actually see a body and you two
were separated in the water…"
"No Nina. She’s gone. I
checked the lists while I was in the infirmary. There was no Rose Dewitt
Bukater listed."
"Maybe she changed her name.
She may have been hiding out from that horrible mother and fiancé of
hers," Nina suggested.
"Then I would have found her
in steerage on the Carpathia," Jack sighed, getting irritated. He didn’t
like talking about that time in his life. It brought back too many memories and
emotions that didn’t need to surface right now in his life. "Nina…listen,
no more about Rose ok? She’s gone. Not a part of my life anymore. There’s no
changing that. I will always love her, but I have to go on living…for the both
of us. So drop it."
"Ok. Fine. I was just trying
to cheer you up," Nina shrugged, gathering up her purse. It was time to
head back. "I’ll talk to you later."
"Hey, I didn’t mean to make
you mad," Jack grabbed her arm, feeling bad about his outburst. His losing
Rose wasn’t her fault. She was just trying to help.
"I’m not mad. I just need to
get home. I promised I’d be home by five and it’s twenty ‘til now. Hey you
coming to dinner tonight?"
"Are you kidding? I have way
too much to do before Saturday," Jack laughed, his turmoil over Rose for
now forgotten.
"Oh yeah. I forgot, the
blessed event," Nina rolled her eyes.
"Hey come on. You know how
much this means to me," hurt appeared in Jack’s eyes.
"Of course I know. That’s
the only reason I’ve decided not to boycott. I’m hoping that you’ll come back
to your senses before Saturday."
"Ha ha. Very funny. Get out
of here before your ma forms a search party," Jack playfully punched her
shoulder.
"Ta boys," Nina waved
exiting the post office, leaving Jack to send his telegram.