AFTER TITANIC
BOOK ONE
Chapter Thirty
It's the day to leave for
California. Rose is at the cemetary, kneeling over the grave of
Emma Dawson, Jack's mother.
"Hello Mrs. Dawson. I know it's been a while since we've
been in contact, but I feel it necessary to come by and assure
you that I will take care of your son and grandchildren. They
really miss you and will miss you even more now that we're
leaving Chippewa Falls and don't know when we'll come back here
again. I'd like to thank-you for what you did for Jack. He's even
happier now than wehn we first met. I love him so much...I really
do. I just wanted to tell you that before we left. Good-bye Mrs.
Dawson." Rose stands up and heads back up the path, leading
to the house.
"Where have you been?" Jack asked, handing the
twins to her mother. "We've been looking for you."
"I just had to say good-bye to your mother...let her know
that her son is in good hands," Rose walks up to him and
gives him a kiss. "I think she heard me."
"She did hear you Rose, but that was unnecessary to do that.
She already knew that I was in good hands," Jack smiled,
pulling her into his arms.
Rose looks up at the house she had called home for the past year.
She'll miss it terribly. All their memories were here...this was
home to her. A tear slips from her eyes as she remembered her
first night with Jack in this house, and the birth of her babies.
Of last October when Mrs. Dawson had decided to pay a visit to
both her son and daughter in law, scaring Rose half to death.
"I'll miss it too," Jack whispered to his wife as he
saw the look in his wife's eyes. He was finding it harder to
leave this house now than he did when he first left six years
ago. Now there were happy memories here...memories he'll carry
with him always. "Come on Rose. The train leaves Eau Claire
in two hours and we have to meet Eliza and Maxwell."
Taking one last look at the house, the Dawson family piles into
the carriage and head for Eau Claire where their friends are
waiting for them.
Eau Claire
The train station
Tears of sadness stream from both Ruth's and Molly's eyes as they
give the twins one last hug.
"I'm going to miss them so much," Ruth cried.
Rose goes up and gives her mother a tight hug. "You will
come to Santa Monica won't you? You and Molly?"
"Of course we will darlin'. Wild horses couldn't keep us
away," Molly laughed. "You take care of them Jack. I
mean it. Or you'll have to answer to me."
"I'll guard them with my life," Jack smiled, giving
Molly a tight hug. "And thank-you Molly. For
everything."
"It was my pleasure Jack. You are a remarkable young man.
Don't let anyone tell you different."
"The train's here," Maxwell announced hesitantly,
hating to interrupt the good-byes.
"Take care of yourself Rose and remember to write,"
Ruth waved as she watched her daughter and grandchildren board
the train to Santa Monica, California. Both her and Molly watch
the train until it's too far away to be seen, leaving Ruth with a
empty feeling.
"Don't you worry Ruth. They'll write us. And then we'll go
up there and stay a couple of weeks. Maybe you'll decide to stay
in California and I can head back to Denver," Molly comforts
her friend who's now openly in tears.
"Oh Rose," was all Ruth could say between her sobs as
Molly leads her out to the carriage that'll take them back to the
house.
The train ride is well underway. Rose and Jack and the twins have
their own compartment while Eliza and Maxwell are right behind
them. The twins are asleep and Jack and Rose are enjoying the
sights.
"Jack," Rose sighed, snuggling up closer to her
husband, who has his arm around her shoulders.
"Hmmm?" Jack asked.
"Where are we going to live once we get there? I know this
is a fine time to think about that, but it just occured to me
that we have no where to live."
Jack cleared his throat and looked straight into Rose's eyes, his
blue eyes filling her world. "There was something I didn't
tell you on Titanic Rose. Remember when John Jacob Astor asked me
if I was of the Boston Dawsons and I said I was of the Chippewa
Falls Dawsons?"
Rose just nods her head in confusion. What did this have to do
with where they were going to stay?
"Well actually, my father was of the Boston Dawsons, but he
ran away to marry my mother, who was their maid back then. He of
course was disowned for a while. But when my mother got pregnant
they decided to take my father back into the family fold for the
baby Dawson's sake. My father of course refused any of the money.
We fell out of touch with them. But when I went to Santa Monica,
I ran into a cousin, who then wrote my grandfather and he sent me
this deed to a beach house. I stayed there for a while, then I
got restless and moved on. I didn't even say good-bye to her. I
wonder if she's still in Santa Monica. I'll have to look her
up."
"So what you're telling me is that you really do come from a
well off family," Rose's eyes widen in shock. She couldn't
blieve that Jack didn't tell her this before. "Why didn't
you tell me all this before?"
"Because it never came up, and quite frankly, I forgot about
it when Titanic sank," Jack said. "I'm sorry I didn't
tell you Rose. I really should have."
"That's okay Jack. In fact, I'm glad you didn't tell me. It
might have taken away all the surprises you had in store for
me," Rose smiled up at her husband. "So we'll be
staying at this beach house of yours?"
"Yeah. If it's still standing," Jack grinned. "But
of course it's been a couple of years since I've been there. It
can be in any condition now. But we'll check it out and we will
get in touch with my cousin. I want her to meet you and the
twins. I think she'll adore you myself."
Rose just smiled up at him, and leaded her head against his
shoulder. Her earlier worries are gone.
In the car behind them, Eliza and Maxwell are in each other's
arms, thinking about the start of their new lives.
"Are you happy Eliza?" Maxwell asked.
"Yes I'm happy, even though a little worried. What if Lee
comes after us?"
"How can he? He doesn't
know where we're heading. I doubt he'd want to spend all that
time looking all over the United States for us. Besides, I'll
protect you if he does find us," Maxwell tightens his grip
on her.
"I love you Maxwell and I want to be married as soon as
possible," Eliza lays her head on his shoulder.
"Me too Eliza. Me too," Maxwell sighed, staring out at
the passing trees, hoping for the best.