AFTER TITANIC
BOOK ONE
Chapter Eight
Jack and Rose are standing
outside a beat-up building in one of the worst neighborhoods in
New York City. After looking for apartments, this is the only one
they could afford at the moment.
"...I don't know Rose. I don't like this place, it's not
safe," Jack shook his head, his eyes dark with worry.
"Maybe we should use the rest of the money to buy a decent
condo or something."
"No Jack. We're saving that money for something more
important, something we've always wanted to do. We're saving it
to go to California. We can't use that money...not yet anyway.
Maybe we should go back to the hotel. I'm sure Molly wouldn't
mind," Rose sighed.
"No way Rose. We've already imposed on Molly enough. This
will have to do until we can make up our mind about where we want
to go. Maybe then we'll be able to figure out what to do. Let's
go in and inquire about that room," Jack squeezes Rose's
hand as they enter the building.
"Hello!" Rose called as they enter the empty hallway.
"Is anyone here? Hello?"
"Keep your pants on!" A grumpy voice calls down.
"I'm coming!" The woman appears at the top of the
stairs, a cigarette dangling from her mouth, her hand propped on
her hip, and her hair tied up in a tight bun. "Well? What do
you two want?"
At that moment, Rose wanted to run out the door and away from
this horrible old woman who looks down on her and Jack as if
they're the lowest lifeforms ever to cross her path.
"It's okay Rose," Jack whispers, sensing her fear.
"I won't let her hurt you in any way." Then Jack turns
to the woman. "We're here about the room for rent."
"Are you two married? I don't rent to people who want to
live in sin. This is a respectable establishment."
"Of course we're married," Jack answered. "Please
mam. My wife and I, we're newlyweds and we need a place to stay.
Let us stay here. We have no where else to go."
"It's five dollars a month. Can you afford that?"
"Yes we can," Jack lies. He's determined to find a job
as soon as possible to support his family and soom they'll be out
of this dirty building.
"No drinking, prostituting, no gambling. Those are my rules.
Take them or leave them?" The woman snorts.
"We'll take them," Jack eagerly nods, happy that him
and Rose had found a place to call home, no matter how run down
it was. Looking at the look in Rose's eyes, he wishes that he
could have gotten her something fancier...something Cal could
have gotten. He wonders if she regrets marrying him.
"Come on. I'll show you to your room," the woman
beckons, starting back up the stairs. "By the way, my name
is Mrs. Hagatha Hitcherman."
Rose's heart drops whenshe sees the room they're be staying in.
It's even worse than how the building looks on the outside. Whis
is when the tears of fear and aggrivation come flowing out of her
eyes.
"Rose? What's wrong?" Jack asks, taking her hand. By
the look in her eyes, he already knew. She hated it here. She
wished they never came. He can't blame her. It must be hard going
from the world of luxury to the world of struggling people.
"I'm sorry Rose. I'm sorry," He apologizes over and
over again.
"Oh Jack...is this what it's going to be like?" Rose
wipes away the hot tears. She feels guilty for making such a
fuss. She should be happy that they've found a warm and dry place
to stay. Sure it wasn't the house in Philadelphia or the room
they had in Molly's hotel, but they could make it home.
"No Rose. It won't always be like this. This will only be
until I can get a job and I'm able to keep up a better
apartment," Jack wipes away her tears. "I know we
should use some of Molly's money, but that will only last us for
so long. A job will give us more stability."
"I know Jack, and I promise, I'll try to like it here. As
long as I have you, I'll be fine," Rose smiled, leaning into
Jack's waiting arms, biting back the urge to blubber like a baby.
She'll just have to get used to the idea that for now on life
will be hard. This was what she wanted and she's happy that her
wish came true. Besides, as long as she had Jack, she'll be fine.
"I love you Jack."
"I love you too Rose,"Jack hugged her tightly, trying
to banish the thoughts of maybe she'll be better off with Cal
from his mind. Rose would have been miserable with Cal. She tried
to jump off the back of a boat to get out of marrying that jerk
for goodness sake. "I promise I'll take care of you Rose.
I'm going to make sure that you'll never have to worry about
anything ever again."
"Jack...don't make promises you can't keep. There's no way
you can keep me from worrying. Besides, I plan to go to work
myself. That way we can get out of this dump sooner."
Jack just smiled at the new sound of optimism in Rose's voice.
From that moment on he never questioned Rose's happiness with him
ever again.