WHERE I WANT TO BE
Chapter Four
The next day turned out to be a
beautiful day for a wedding. The sun was high in the sky and the sky was
cloudless and blue. Rose and the others got up early and had breakfast. Soon
afterwards they headed for Eau Claire. They had sent a telegram to the Justice
of the Peace the night before and made an appointment for that morning and now
they were in a bit of a rush to make it.
Much to everyone’s astonishment,
they made it in plenty of time. The Justice’s wife ushered everyone in the back
room to get ready for the ceremony. Already dressed, Jack headed for the altar,
when he was stopped by Nina, who seemed to have tears in her eyes. She
immediately hugged him.
"I am going to miss you
terribly you know that?" She sniffed.
"I have a pretty good idea.
I’m going to miss you too. But we’ll see each other again. You’re a welcome
guest to all our holiday stuff and Rose and I want you to come to Denver to
visit soon. You’re the first real friend she’s ever had. You care more about
people than money and that’s what Rose needs right about now."
"You sure do aim high don’t
you Jack? A first class girl. Who would have thought," Nina shook her head
in mock wonder.
"Hey what can I say? It’s
that Dawson charm," Jack grinned, making Nina laugh. "But seriously,
thank you. Thank you for bringing her back to me Nina. If it wasn’t for
you…"
"Oh you two would have ran
into each other on your own. Even though you may have been on your way to marry
the wrong girl if it wasn’t for me."
"Thank you," Jack
hugged her tightly. "I’m going to miss you."
"I’m going to miss you more.
Now I have no one to horse around and get in trouble with," Nina snorted.
"Hey, you don’t need me for
that," Jack laugh. Then he was once again serious. "By the way, watch
out for Gloria. I know she’s going to be on the warpath if she’s not already.
Try to avoid her if you can."
"Don’t worry. I can handle
that witch. You just take care of Rose and that baby of yours."
"I will. I better get out
there. The wedding will be starting soon," Jack waved disappearing out
into the office.
*****
Meanwhile, in the bridal room,
Molly is helping Rose get ready. She smiled at the lovely bride dressed in a
simple white dress. Her red hair was pulled up into the fancy hairstyle she
hand worn on Titanic and was held together by a band surrounded with tiny white
roses.
"You’re going to knock
Jack’s socks off," Molly grinned.
Rose laughed. "I thought I already
had."
"You are a lovely bride
Rosie. And to think, this time last month you had no idea that you’ll be
marrying the man of your heart."
"You’re right," Rose
smiled wistfully. "Finding Jack alive was a dream come true. Now we can be
a real family."
"Yeah. It’s…it’s too bad
Ruth can’t be a part of that. I’m sure she’s feeling right lonely right about
now. With Cal marrying that fancy girl from New York. Cal’s done neglected his
responsibility to her. He hasn’t sent her an allowance in weeks and the bill
collectors are starting to knock at the door again. Poor thing. Maybe you
should drop her a line. Let her know that you’re alive and happy…"
"Molly no! There is no way
I’m contacting that woman after what she done to me! She deserves everything
she’s getting right now!"
"Rose that’s harsh."
"I don’t care. It was harsh
of her to refuse to let me attend my father’s funeral. It was harsh of her
trying to force me to marry Cal and stop seeing Jack. So don’t tell me about
harsh. I don’t want that woman anywhere near me nor my son."
Molly only nodded, just as the
Justice’s wife stuck her head in the door. "All ready?"
"Yes," Rose curtly
walked out the door ready for her descent down the aisle to become Mrs. Jack
Dawson.
Nina stood in front and turned to
see her friend looking a bit irritated. "Hey. Are you ok? What happened to
that smile? This is your wedding day girl."
Rose looked at Jack to get a
genuine smile on her face. Looking at him had always made her smile. How could
she not? "Better?"
"Much. Now let’s go get you
two married," Nina giggled with excitement. She led the way as the wedding
march played on the Victrola.
Gently taking one Rose’s arms,
Molly and Rose began their path towards the two men ahead.
"Rose, I’m sorry. I didn’t
mean to spoil your day. I just thought…I didn’t know your anger was still so
fresh in your mind."
"That’s ok Molly. I forgive
you. Right now I just want to concentrate on Jack, not my mother. I’m not ready
to even see her as of yet," Rose swallowed.
Finally they reach Jack, who’s
holding Robbie and smiling gently at Rose. A smile that she had once thought
she’d never see again.
"You look beautiful,"
Jack took both her hands in his before handing Robbie to Molly who stood to the
left, making sure the baby didn’t eat the rings he had tightly in his little
hands.
"So do you," Rose
smiled, getting lost in his blue gaze.
The Justice of the peace smiled.
The young couple in front of him was obviously deeply in love with one another.
Usually in these situations, when there was a child involved, such love was
absent. It was refreshing to see it not so with these two.
"Dearly beloved. We are here
to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Let us begin.
"Jack. Do you take Rose to
be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold. From sickness to health?
Till death do you part?" The Judge turned to Jack who tightened his grasp
on Rose’s hand as if she might disappear if he let go.
"I do."
"Rose. Do you take Jack, to
have and to hold? From sickness to health? Till death do you part?"
Rose swallowed and looked at Nina
who smiled happily. She smiled back and gave Jack her most dazzling. "I
do."
After the exchange of rings and
asking if anyone objected the Judge grinned, "In that case, with all the
power invested in me, I now proclaim you man and wife! You may kiss the
bride!"
Jack pulled Rose into the
warmest, tightest embrace and kissed her with everything he had in him.
"I love you," She
laughed as they pulled apart, tears of happiness gleaming in her eyes.
"I love you more," Jack
wiped the tears away.
*****
Five hours later, after having
breakfast and showing Rose the sights of Eau Claire, the small group gather at
the train station, ready to embark on their trip to Denver. Jack, Rose, and
Nina along with little Robbie stood gathered together as Molly went to check on
tickets.
"I’m going to miss you
guys," Nina hugged both her friends. "Don’t forget to write and let
me know how things are holding up."
"We won’t forget," Jack
smiled.
"Thank you for everything
Nina. For helping me get Jack back and for being a friend," Rose hugged
her new found best friend, regretting that she had to leave before they got a
chance to get to know each other better. "Hey, why don’t you come stay
with us for Christmas? I’m sure we’ll have a place by then," Rose grinned.
"That’d be great."
"Or we can come back just in
case we haven’t," Jack laughed.
"Either way, it’d be a
blast," Nina hugged her friend. "Now, you take good care of them, or
you’re going to have to answer to me."
"I’ll guard them with my
life," Jack hugged his friend just as Molly came up, tickets held ready in
her hand.
"Well darlings, it’s time to
board our train and head out of here. It was nice meeting you Nina," Molly
nodded to Nina.
"The same here. It’s not
everyday you meet someone famous," Nina nodded. "Bye Jack. Bye Rose.
I’ll miss you."
"Bye," The couple waved
as they followed Molly onto the train. Fifteen minutes later, the train was
rolling down the tracks, heading for Denver and a whole new life for Jack and
Rose.