AFTER TITANIC

BOOK ONE
Chapter Twenty-Five

Rose woke up to a empty house. Jack had already left for work. He must have let her sleep late since she had a hard time sleeping last night. She kept waking up at every creak and groan of the house. She must have driven him crazy last night, but he never complained. He was a great husband. She loved him so much.
Stretching tiredly, she gets up out of bed and slips on a simple yellow dress and goes downstairs to fix herself some breakfast. Her mind drifting off she begins humming Come Josephine to herself. She had decided to put the fears of last night behind her. She knew the house wasn't haunted. She lived there for seven months now, and she hadn't seen a ghost or anything else for that matter.
"Come Josephine in my flying machine," she sang.
"Up she goes, up she goes," another voice whispered in her ear.
Rose is again alert. Now that wasn't her imagination. She felt the person's breath tickle her ear. "Hello? Who's there?"
No answer. It seems as if she's alone. But she knew she wasn't. She couldn't have imagined that breath in her ear.
"Jack? Are you here?"
"Up she goes," whispers the voice again, a little louder this time.
Dropping the spatula she was stirring the eggs with, Rose screams and darts out of the house. She's halfway down the dirt path when she runs smack into Eliza and Amanda.
"Rose...?" Eliza asked, stopping Rose from going any further. "What's wrong? What happened?"
Rose stared at Eliza with big frightened eyes. She couldn't seem to get any words out of her mouth.
"She's as pale as a ghost," Amanda observes, glancing up at the Dawson farm, the front door was wide open, and for a second she thought she saw a figure standing in the doorway, but when she looked back, the figure was gone. "Rose...what happened?"
"...I heard a voice but no one was there," Rose forced the words out of her mouth.
"What do you mean you heard a voice but no one was there?" Eliza asked.
"She means she saw a ghost Eliza," Amanda answers for Rose. "Or rather heard on."
"That's now what she's saying Amanda. We've discussed this before. There are no ghosts. Especially here at the Dawson farm."
"Rose. Did you see a ghost?" Amanda flat out asked, her hands on her hips.
Rose looks at the girls, her eyes frightened, and simply nods yes. She did see a ghost. That was the only explanation she could come up with for what happened last night and that morning.
"Told ya," Amanda smiled smugly. "Was it Mrs. Dawson Rose?"
"Shut up Amanda!" Eliza shouted, putting a arm around Rose. "I hope you're happy with yourself. Scaring Rose with that stupid story of yours and now you're trying to confirm it. Come on Rose, let me take you home."
"No," Rose's voice is firm and to the point. "I don't want to go back there...not alone."
"You won't be alone. Amanda and me will be with you. We'll stay with you until Jack comes home. Okay?" Eliza tries to comfort her frightened friend, who's now in tears.
"Eliza, I don't think you're right in forcing her to return to that house when she doesn't want to," Amanda shakes her head. "We can go to your house, then send for Jack when he gets off."
Eliza doesn't answer. She just takes Rose's hand and leads her back up to the house. "Come on Rose. We need to get you out of this weather. It's not good for the baby," Eliza ignores Amanda and takes' Rose hand and leads her back to the house.
Amanda just rolls her eyes and follows.
The house is once again empty as they enter the house, the stove is still on burning the pan. "I'll fix some tea. Amanda, why don't you take Rose back into the livingroom and help her relax," Eliza looks into the cabinet to search for tea packs.
"Sure. Come on Rose," Amanda said, leading Rose back into the living room.
"You think I'm crazy don't you Amanda?" Rose sniffed, looking at the other girl.
"No Rose," Amanda answers. "I don't think you're crazy. I believe you. I saw her myself remember?"
"Jack will. I know he will. He'll probably think I've lost my mind and will have to be put into a insane asylum."
"No he won't. He'll probably blame me for putting the idea of ghosts in your head. Rose...tell me...what happened? What convinced you that this place was haunted.?"
Rose is silent at first, not sure rather she'd want to share this information with a girl she hardly knew. But she had to tell someone. "Last night I felt a cold hand on my shoulder, but no one was there. Then today, when I woke up..someone was singing in my ear. I know it wasn't my imagination, I could feel their breath in my ear."
"Here's your tea Rose," Eliza comes in carrying a tray with three tea cups on it.
"Thank-you Eliza," Rose shakily takes the cup.
"No problem. And don't worry. We'll stay here with you until Jack does return.
Jack doesn't return until six o'clock that night. He was late, hungry, and exhausted. Amanda is the first to see him approach the house. "Here comes Jack now," She gets up ready to leave. She is sure that she felt a pair of eyes staring at her all day and they didn't belong to Rose or Eliza.
"See Jack's home. You'll be fine now won't you?" Eliza asked, ready to follow Amanda out the door.
Rose nods somberly. Eliza and Amanda's presence didn't cheer her up any. She can still feel the cold breath tickling her ears. "I'll be fine."
"We'll see you later then," the girls wave, disappearing out the door, leaving Rose alone with her unborn child.
"Don't you worry. We're going to be just fine," Rose tried to sooth both the baby and herself. Jack would be here soon and she won't be alone anymore.
"Was that Eliza and Amanda leaving just now?" Jack asked, coming through the door.
Rose nods. "They spent the day with me. We drank tea, talked, they helped me cook dinner, and we straightened up some."
"Well that's great. I was feeling concerned with you here by yourself and the baby's due date being in a couple of months. I hope they make this a habit, at least until the baby's born," Jack collapses into the reclinder beside the door, his blue eyes exhausted. "I'm so tired. It's been a hard day."
Rose slightly smiled as she saw her husband lean his head back and close his eyes, his lips totally relaxed. She quickly moved closer to him. "Jack..."
"Hmmm?"
"I love you Jack. More than life itself. I hope you know that."
"I do Rose. I've known that since we said I do," He halfway opens his eyes and stares lovingly at her. His beautiful Rose. Her red hair was pulled up in a bun, just like she wore it on Titanic. Her green eyes were filled with love, but he sensed something else...fear? "Rose...is something wrong?" He sets up, completely awake now.
Of course he would be able to tell something was wrong. She could never hide anything from him. But how can she possibly tell him that he thought the house was haunted...by his parents of all people?
"Nothing's wrong...I've just missed you so. That's all," Rose forces a smile. But Jack is not fooled. He pulls her over and into his lap and stares into her emerald green eyes.
"It's okay. You can tell me Rose. Remember no more secrets? What's bothering you?"
That's when Rose finally bursts into tears and lean into Jack's arms. She had never felt so frightened and alone in her life. How can she make Jack understand. "Jack...the house...it's haunted...I just know it is."
"Haunted? Rose, you've lived in this house for seven months now. Have you ever seen a ghost since you've been here?"
"No, but..."
"It was only after Amanda's story that you started thinking this place was haunted, right?"
"But Jack, listen to me. I have proof that it's haunted. I really do. Last night when you went looking for a light switch, I felt a cold hand on my shoulder. At first I thought it was you, then when you turned the lights on and I turned around, there was no one there. But I dismissed it as my imagination."
"And that's what it was."
"No Jack no. it wasn't just my imagination. This morning when I woke up and went downstairs to make breakfast, I was singing our song...alone. Then someone else sang the second part of the song...twice Jack. The second time louder than the first. I know it wasn't my imagination because I could feel their breath tickle my ear," Rose is now in tears. She's convinced that Jack thinks she has lost her mind again. She can tell that he's having a hard time believing her.
"Rose...you could have been dreaming," Jack replied in a soft voice. "That happens you now. It happened once before down on Lake Wissota...remember?"
"That was different Jack. What do I have to feel guilty for now?"
"I don't know Rose. But what you're saying...it's impossible. I has to be."
"Why does it have to be impossible Jack?"
Jack looks away from her, trying to hide the pain in his eyes. "It just has to be. Ok. Now let's drop the subject. I don't want to talke about it anymore."
"But Jack..."
"No Rose. I don't want to talke it!" Jack's voice is harsh, but when he sees the hurt on Rose's face his voice softens. "I'm sorry Rose. I didn't mean to yell at you. It's just been a long day, plus I'm hungry and tired."
"That's okay Jack. I should have dropped the subject. I'll go make you a plate," Rose gets up and disappears into the kitchen. Jack sighs deeply as he watches her leave. He really didn't mean to yell at her. He loved her so much, but the subject of his parents was a sore point for him. He wished Amanda had never told that story and got Rose spooked like that.
"Jack," a soft voice speaks from behind him.
"Yes Rose?" Jack doesn't look behind him. He just closes his eyes again.
"My Jack," The voice said again, a soft, but cold hand carresses his cheek.
Rose steps out of the kitchen with the plates fixed. She gasps and drops both of them on the floor. Jack was still in the recliner, his eyes closed, and hovering behind him was a woman with blond hair pulled back into a bun. The woman looks up at Rose, her intense blue eyes staring into her very being...just like Jack's. The woman just lifts a finger to her lips, as if she's singling Rose to be quiet and not wake Jack. Then the woman disappears.
Jack wakes back up to see his wife standing in the doorway leading into the kitchen, her face is ghostly pale and she's hyperventilating. There's broken plates of food at her feet where she must have dropped them.
"Rose?"
Rose points behind him, but there's nothing there. "S-she was right there."
Jack gets up and goes to his wife. He leads her to the couch and tries to calm her down. "Rose, you've got to calm down. This isn't good for the baby."
"B-but..." Rose bursts into tears and falls into Jack's arms. "I want my mother!" She cries like a scared child and clings to Jack. She's never been so scared in her life. "I want my mother!"
"Shhh Rose. It's okay. I'll get her. I'll send for ruth right now," Jack holds her. "But right now, let me take you upstairs where you can get some rest. Okay?"
Rose nods, allowing Jack to lead her up the stairs and tucks her into bed.
"Try to get some rest. I'm going to have a telegram sent to Ruth and Molly and let them know you need them here," Jack tries to smile. "Will you be alright here by yourself.?"
Rose doesn't say anything. She just stares straight ahead. Suddenly there's a knock on the door.
"I'll be back Rose," Jack said, going downstairs to see Maxwell at the door. "Maxwell, I'm glad you're here."
"Is it Rose and the baby? What's wrong?"
"It's Rose. She's upset and is asking for her mother. So I'm going to send for her now, but I don't want to leave her here by herself. will you stay here with her?"
"Sure I will Jack. Listen, I'll go up and tell her. You just go send that telegram."
"Thanks Maxwell. I owe you one," Jack smiled gratefully, before darting out the door.
Rose is laying in her bed, her eyes wide open and staring straight ahead. Maxwell was in the chair next to the bed, fast asleep. Jack wouldn't be back for another hour. The woman...she now knew who she was. She was Emma Dawson...Jack's mother. But why was she here? Why now? What could she possibly want?
"All I want is for my son to forgive himself," a soft voice replies in front of her. Rose blinks and sees the woman standing before her. Her eyes were as deep and blue as Jack's, her hair the same golden blond. It's wise to say that Jack favored his mother a lot.
"He has forgiven himself," Rose forced out the words.
"For Titanic he has. But not for the fire. He's never forgiven himself for that."
"But why does he blame himself for the fire? It wasn't his fault."
"I know," was all the woman said, before disappearing again.
"Wait! Don't go!" Rose called, but Emma didn't return.
"Rose! Are you okay?" Maxwell is wide awake. He had heard Rose calling out.
"I'm fine," Rose nodded, a tear falling from her eyes. "I'm just fine."

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