15
Morning had arrived at the Dawson home. Exhausted from the late night arrival, Jack and Rose were not the first ones up. Samantha and George were. They were in the kitchen, playing with their baby when Maria entered. Hungry and nervous when she saw the strangers in the kitchen.
"Hello?" She asked hesitantly. Maybe she should have waited for Jack to wake up. She didn’t know these people and was nervous about introducing herself.
"Oh," Samantha stared at the newcomer in suspicion. She was unaware that they had a houseguest.
"Maria!" Jack came up behind her, Rose at his side. There you are. Rose and I were hoping that you hadn’t left or anything."
"I’m an early riser," Maria blushed at the prospect of Jack wanting her to stay.
"Jack…who is this?" George eyed the petite brunette.
"Maria DiRossi. She’s Fabrizio’s sister. She’ll be staying with us until she can get on her feet here in America."
"Oh," Samantha snorted.
"Well Maria, welcome," George smiled, taking her hand in his. "I wish I could stay and be a proper host, but I have some errands to run," he released her hand and left the house.
"Maria, come. I’ll show you my new drawings," Jack grinned, leading Maria out of the kitchen, leaving Rose and Samantha alone with each other.
Sam immediately began on the dishes left over from last night’s dinner, while Rose put on breakfast. "I don’t like her."
"Who? Maria?" Rose’s eyes widened in surprise. She had once thought that it was impossible for Samantha not to like anyone. Obviously, she was wrong.
"Of course Maria. Did you see how she clung onto Jack like that?"
"This is a new country for her Sam. Jack’s really the only person she knows here in America."
Samantha looked at Rose in disbelief. There was no way she could be this calm about Maria. Rose may be cool and calm on the outside, but on the inside, she’s a bundle of nerves. She had to be a tinge jealous, at least. The situation called for jealousy. There was no getting around it. "You can’t tell me that it’s not driving you a little crazy that he’s alone with her right now. Probably setting side by side…their eyes meeting as…"
"Stop it Sam," Rose’s face was a little strained. Why was Sam doing this?"
"I just want you to talk to me Rose. Let it out before it blows up in your face. Believe me, sooner or later, it will," Sam explained as if reading Rose’s mind.
Rose sighed and stared at the floor, not wanting to confess anything. But before she could stop herself, she was talking. "Ok. Maybe I am a little jealous. I mean, Jack is so handsome and Maria’s Fabrizio’s sister. They share memories and experiences that I don’t have. But I trust Jack. I know that I’m the only one he truly loves. Nothing Maria can do or say will change that."
Sam smiled sadly at Rose, hoping that she’s not deluding herself into ignoring certain things. Like how Maria looked like she was starving and Jack was a burger. She hoped that her friend was right and Jack was as faithful as he seemed.
She opened her mouth to say just that when two cries erupted from upstairs. Sam and Rose looked at each other tiredly. "Yours or mine?"
"Let’s both check," Rose dropped the dishtowel and was on her way upstairs to check on Josephine, pushing back another surge of jealousy as she spots Jack and Maria setting close together , going through the Portfolio.
~*~
"You have a true talent Jack," Maria sighed, looking at the very last picture in the leather folder. "Those Parisian critics didn’t know what they were talking about."
"That’s what Rose always says," Jack blushed at the praise.
"Well she’s right," Maria giggled, a memory running through her mind. "Remember Fabrizio’s face when he walked in on you doing a nude drawing of me?"
Jack smiled. "I thought he was going to kill me for sure."
"But he didn’t. He couldn’t bring himself to pummel the man he thought of as a brother. So Jack…tell me…have you ever drawn Rose in that way before?"
"Maria! That’s private!" Jack blushed, remembering drawing Rose on the Titanic. It was so different from the time he drew Maria. Maria had an enchanting innocence about her. From her round brown eyes, to her lovely olive skin, her lips slightly parted…
"Jack," Maria’s voice broke into his thoughts. "Have you? Can I see it?"
Jack sighed, looking up into Maria’s eyes, falling into them. Suddenly his mouth was dry and he was suddenly nervous. "Uh, yes. I did draw her…but the sketch…it’s at the bottom of the ocean now. With the rest of my drawings."
"Oh. I’m sorry. You’ve lost so much. Fabrizio…your drawings…," Her face was only a few inches away from his. She wanted to kiss him so badly. Yes, he was married. Yes, he did love his wife. But he felt for her too. She could see that so clearly in his sky blue eyes. Eyes full of longing and desire. Tentatively, she touched his face, enjoying the feel of smooth, warm skin against her hand. One kiss. One kiss was all she wanted. What could it hurt?"
Closing her eyes, she leaned forward, anticipating the feel of his lips upon hers. Just as she got close enough to feel his breath on her face, it disappeared. Confused, she opened her eyes and saw that Jack had moved as far away from her as possible. His troubled eyes shone with confusion, guilt, and dare she hope…love. He had wanted to kiss her too. She could tell that just by the way he looked at her now. But something had stopped him.
"Jack?" She asked, getting to her feet. "What is it?"
Jack sighed, rubbing his hands over his face, as if he was waking up from a dream. "I can’t Maria. I can’t do this. I’m married. I’m in love with my wife. Rose is everything to me."
"But you love me too, Jack. It’s right there in your eyes."
"No Maria…that’s impossible. I love Rose. All you and I can ever be are friends."
"But Jack, you don’t feel…"
"Stop telling me what I do and do not feel! I’m in love with Rose, my wife! If you can’t accept that, you should leave," Jack pointed to the door.
"Is that what you really want Jack?" Maria asked, hurt evident in her voice, tears brimming in her eyes.
Jack immediately regretted his outburst. He hadn’t wanted to hurt her. That was the last thing he wanted to do. He just hated being so confused, especially about his feelings. He just needed to clear his head some. Get some fresh air. That always helped in the past.
"No Maria. That’s not what I want. Listen, I’m sorry for snapping at you, ok? I just need to get some fresh air and clear my head. That’s all. Stay as long as you like," Jack headed for the door. He looked one last time at Maria before stepping out, hoping to straighten things out in his head before Rose caught on that something was wrong.
"You do love me Jack," Maria leaned back and stared at the ceiling. "I know you do."
~*~
George was out on the porch, enjoying the morning sun when Jack came out and buried his head in his hands.
"Jack?" George asked, concerned. He had never seen his cousin look so miserable before. "Are you ok?"
"No," Jack groaned, now glaring at the ground, wondering how he had gotten so confused about his feelings.
"Want to talk about it? Maybe I can help," George offered, already knowing that Maria DiRossi had somehting to do with this.
Jack looked at George curiously. Could he really trust George? Could his cousin even help him with his messed up feelings? Well there was only one way to find out. "George…is it possible to love two women at the same time?"
George’s eyes grew as round as
saucers at this question. What an unusual question to ask.
"Well…I suppose. Even though I wouldn’t recommend
it. Why Jack? Are you falling for Maria or something?"
"…I don’t know. I do feel for her, but…I
don’t know what it is. I love my wife, George. I do. Rose
and Josephine are my whole world. But these feeling I have for
Maria…they’re so confusing."
"I don’t see what’s so confusing. You and Rose share a daughter. You belong together. Jack…what you feel for Maria probably isn’t real. Don’t throw away your family on something as silly as a fling."
Looking at George, Jack knew he was right. His feelings for Maria probably weren’t real, but his love for Rose was. But still…his heart was so confused. "I need more time to think," Jack sighed. "Thanks for the advice."
"Any time," George patted Jack’s shoulder before heading inside, hoping that his cousin would make the correct choice. Inwardly, he wished Jack the best. And in George’s opinion, Rose was the best. No doubt about it.