19
Rose stepped up onto the porch, her bag in one hand and Josephine in the other. She couldn’t believe that she’s been gone for two weeks. She looked around the deserted porch, wondering if she was makind the right decision in coming back. What if Jack decided to be with Maria instead of with her? What would she do then? Return to Philadelphia and listen to her mother rant about how right she was?
"Rose?" His voice disrupted her thoughts. She looked up at him, wishing that she could just get lost in his eyes…just like she used to do.
"Jack."
"Are you coming home?" His voice was full of love, regret, and hope. Rose smiled, realizing that he did love her. That hasn’t changed after all.
"Yes Jack. I thought about it and decided that we have to work this out. We can’t do that if I’m not here. So I came back."
"I-I missed you Rose."
She wiped away her tears. She had missed him too. So many times she had started to go back, but only today, after that talk with Molly, did she get the courage. "I missed you too, Jack. The past couple of weeks have been so hard…even harder then after I got off the Carpathia, thinking you were dead."
"I’m sorry Rose! I’m sorry about all the pain I’ve caused you! It’s you I want to be with Rose! You and Josephine!" Jack hugged her close, burying his tear stained face in her red curls. "I love you so much."
Maria watched the reunion from inside, her heartbreaking. Molly was right. Rose owned Jack’s heart, and regardless of what he may feel for Maria, she always would. Maria didn’t stand a chance…she never did in fact. Bowing her head, she wondered what she was going to do now. She could stay here with Jack and Rose. It would be too painful to see them together. Her heart would break again, and again, and again.
"I see Rose came home," Molly joined the somber girl. "Can’t say I’m surprised. After all they’ve been throught, it was obvious that they’d get back together."
Maria sighed, and to her surprise was quite honest. "I’m glad. For Jack. He’s happy again."
Surprised, Molly looked at Maria.
"You really do love him don’t you?"
Maria tearfully nodded. "I want him to be happy. Rose does
that for him."
Molly smiled, squeezing the young woman’s shoulder. The girl wasn’t that bad after all. She just had a crush on a very married man. She knew when to give up and that’s what she was doing. "Well, you’re doing the right thing, letting him go like this."
"I never had him to let go of," Maria sighed. Deep inside, she wondered what was to become of her now. Alone and in a strange country.
~*~
Night has fallen over the Dawson residence. After hours of talking, kissing, and hugging, Jack and Rose entered with a sleeping Josephine in their arms.
"Rose! You’re back!" Samantha got up to embrace her friend. "We’ve missed you so much."
"I missed you two too," Rose
laughed. "Jack and I have decided to sort things out and we
have."
"So that’s where you’ve been all this time,"
George crossed his arms, a wide grin on his face. He wasn’t
surprised at all that Rose came back. She loved Jack with her
whole heart, plus she had a fire that meant that whoever tried to
get in the way of her and Jack, had a fight on their hands.
"We had a lot to talk over," Jack wrapped an arm around Rose’s shoulder, feeling an overwhelming love for the woman he called wife. Yes, he knew for sure now. Rose was who he really wanted to be with.
"Ahem," a clearing of a throat came from the top of the stairs. There stood Maria, with Molly at her side. Samantha groaned and Rose had to force herself to look at the other woman.
"Go ahead darlin," Molly urged, knowing how hard this was for the young woman.
"Jack…Rose. I…I’d like to apologize for all the pain and heartache I’ve put you through. Hurting either one of you was not my intention. Please accept my apology," a tear left her eye, truly regretting that she had hurt Jack the way she had. That she had almost costed him his marriage. Despite her love for him, she had never wanted to see him in pain.
"It’s your call Rose," Samantha looked at her friend, hoping that she gave Maria a piece of her mind.
Looking at Maria, Rose strangely felt no anger. Only pity for a girl who loved someone she could never have. There was no need for a grudge. "There’s nothing to forgive. I don’t blame you for kissing Jack. I know just how irresistable he can be. But you’re forgiven."
"So where are you going to stay for now on?" Sam asked, wanting to make it clear that Maria wasn’t going to stay with them any longer. Rose may have forgiven her, but she could not.
"Mrs. Brown is taking me on as her personal maid," Maria grinned. "I’m a working girl now."
"I needed new help and I knew that it’d be too uncomfortable for her to remain here, and she’s new to the country. So I offered," Molly grinned.
"It’s appreciated Molly. Both Fabrizio and I thank you for looking out for her," Jack smiled, happy that Maria had both a place to go and a job.
~*~
The next day, Jack, Rose, Molly, and Maria are at the trainstation saying good-bye. Rose hated to see Molly go so soon. But Molly had decided it was for the best. Best for Rose, and best for Maria. The sooner she was away from Jack, the sooner she could work on getting over him.
Jack loaded up the last of the luggage onto the train, when Maria approached. A sad smile stretched her lips.
"Take care Jack," She bit her lip, looking away from him. She wanted to kiss him so badly just then. But she didn’t dare. Especially after all thetrouble the earlier kiss had caused. "I’m going to miss you."
"I’ll miss you too. You take care of yourself. Write and let me know how you’re settling in."
"I don’t think Rose would like that."
"She’ll be ok," Jack looked over at his wife, who was hugging Molly good-bye. He was truly thankful that Rose had came back to him. He couldn’t live without her. "You’re going to like Molly. She’s a good person. She’ll take good care of you."
"Goodbye Jack!" Maria suddenly hugged him, knowing that this would be her last time being this close to him. Tears came to her eyes, as she realized that her love would never be returned to her in the way she had hoped just a few weeks ago.
"Ready to go?" Molly approached, Rose a little ways behind her.
"Yes," Maria stepped away from Jack. "Good-bye Jack."
"He just waved, watching her and Molly disappear into the train.
"Do you regret your choice Jack?" Rose again asked, still a bit insecure. "Do you wish you had chosen to be with Maria now?"
Jack looked at Rose, his mind and heart free of the confusion that had plagued him for the past three weeks. "No Rose. No, I don’t regret my decision. You’re the one I want to be with. Now and forever."
Rose tearfully smiled, believing him. He did want her and no one else. That was all Rose needed to know.