7
Back at the Dawson house, Samantha and George were downstairs making coffee, while recovering from the shock of Jacks return while Molly and Jack tended to Rose up in his old room. Jacks curiousity of the situation was finally getting the better of him. He wanted to know everything that had gone on in Roses life since her rescue from the water.
"Molly. Tell me whats going on? Whats Rose doing here? Why couldnt I find her on the Carpathia? How did she get rid of her mother and Cal?" Jack questioned as he watched Molly lay a damp cloth on Roses forehead.
"One question at a time there darlin," Molly laughed good-naturedly. "You couldnt find Rose on the Carpathia because you were looking for Rose Dewitt Bukater. She was going by Rose Dawson in order to hide from Ruth and Cal. Three months later she found out she was pregnant with your baby and she got in touch with me. Rose was terribly upset about your death and the fact that you wouldnt get to see your baby grow up and that she didnt know much about you to tell the baby so I came up with the solution to come here to your hometown where people knew you and would be able to tell her all about you to tell the baby. She told your cousins downstairs that she was your widow. Of course thats not exactly true. But I do think that youll correct that soon enough."
"So everyone thinks were married?"
Molly nodded. "Youll be glad to know that everyone in this town has been right kind to Rose since our arrival. Theyve treated her like one of their own. Especially your cousin. He took us in the very day we arrived practically."
"I have to thank him someday," Jack smiled, looking back down at Rose. "And I plan to make Rose my wife as soon as possible."
"Shes waking up," Molly nodded as Rose began to stir.
*
Light filtered through Roses eyelids as she begins to awaken, sure that shes lost her mind. Everyone must think shes insane by now. She frowned as she noticed the texture of the floor. It was so soft and warm and there was someone holding her hand. She opened her eyes all the way to see Molly smiling down at her.
"I see sleeping beautys awake," Molly grinned.
"Where am I?" Rose groaned.
"Back at the Dawson house. You had us all scared Rosie. But the doctor said youll be fine. You just had a shock thats all."
"Jack I saw Jack Molly. He looked so real," a tear fell from Roses eyes, breaking Jacks heart.
"I am real Rose," Jack squeezed her hand moving closer to her. "Im here now. Everything will be alright."
"Jack," Rose gasped, turning to his direction. "Oh my god Jack! Youre alive! Youre really alive!" Rose eyes filled with tears as Jack pulled her into his arms and held her tightly against him.
"Im sorry Rose. Im so sorry that you went through the past months alone. I should have been there for you."
"But how? I called you but you wouldnt wake up. I shook your hand. I saw you sink into the ocean."
"Ill go down and help George and Samantha. You two have a nice talk," Molly patted Roses hand. "God has granted your wish Rosie. You must be doing something right." Molly smiled before leaving them alone.
"The cold water woke me up and the officer must have seen me resurface because the next think I knew I was being lifted up into the boat and then I passed out. I looked for Rose Dewitt Bukater when I woke up and was able to move about. But I couldnt find you. Molly told me you were going by Rose Dawson."
"I was. Taking your last name made me feel closer to you. I wish I had known you were alive I should have looked for you "
"Rose you thought you had watched me die. Its perfectly understandable that you didnt look."
"Where did you go after the Carpathia docked?"
"I stayed in New York looking for you. But after three months, I decided there was no use. You were either dead or married to Cal. Either way you were lost to me forever. So I saved enough money and headed back here to Chippewa Falls. I wanted to hide out from the world."
Rose felt hot tears coarse from her eyes as she sat up and embraced Jack, thanking God for reuniting them. She had really thought she lost him forever. "Oh Jack Im sorry. I wish that we were together. I needed you so much!"
"I know Rose. And Im sorry I
wasnt here for you. But I promise Im going to make it
up to you. Im here now and Im going to make
everything alright. First off by making you Mrs. Dawson for
real."
"Oh my God Jack, people already think
"
"Well go to Eau Claire and elope there. No one has to be the wiser that were not already married," Jack kissed her forehead. Well go first thing tomorrow."
Rose sniffed and bit her lip. "Jack George and Samantha I want them to be there. Theyve been so kind to me and Ive hated lying to them. I want to tell them the truth and have them there to see us marry."
Jack nodded. "Ok. Well tell them when youre ready."
"Now," Rose sat up, clinging tightly
to Jacks hand. "I want to tell them everything
now."
Jack nodded just as George and Samantha entered the room,
followed by Molly.
"We wanted to check on Rose," George explained.
"Come on in. We were just talking about you," Jack smiled. "Rose and I have something to tell you."
"Ok. Sure. What is this about?" Samantha lead the way deeper into the room.
"Uh well you two have been so kind to me the past couple of weeks. Putting up with my constant grief over Jacks death and Ive hated not being totally truthful with you. You have been so kind and honest but the truth is that Jack and I arent married."
"What?" George and Samantha said in unison.
"I can explain why I lied. I was pregnant and unwed. The father of my baby, Jack, I thought was dead. I knew if people knew that I wasnt married theyd look down on me and the baby and Jack. And I couldnt let them think badly of Jack or his baby. They were too important to me. I wanted to tell you the truth so many times, but I was afraid."
"Dont feel badly towards Rose. Shes new to this sort of situation. Plus she was scared and alone and grieving. Besides, if we were never separated, we would have married as soon as possible," Jack quickly jumped in, trying to read his cousins face, but unsuccessfully. Whatever George was feeling, he was hiding it well.
"Why are you telling us now?" George asked. "Jacks alive and you two could go on pretending to be married, no one the wiser."
"Because were going to Eau Claire to
be married first thing tomorrow and Rose and I want you to be
there. In fact
Id like it if youd be my best
man," Jack explained. "What do you say?"
George looked at Samantha who was still recovering from the shock
of the truth. "What do you say?"
"What do I say? I say you poor dear," She went and embraced Rose. "I understand completely why you werent truthful. I too was in a similar situation. My father disowned me when he found out was pregnant before George and I wed. It must have been doubly frieghtening for you thinking that Jack was dead."
"Frightening and comforting at the same time," Rose nodded. "I was scared of what was going to happen to me and the baby, but comforted that I had a part of Jack with me. It made the hurt of losing him lessen a bit."
"Yes Rose, we understand all about unforeseen circumstances. Im sure that you and Jack were already planning a life together and werent expecting that ship to sink," George nodded his own understanding. "And Jack are you sure its me that you want as a best man? What happened to Thomas or Frederick?"
"Because for one, Rose and I arent going to tell anyone else that we werent really married. I dont want anyone in this town looking down on Rose. Not after all shes gone through. And second youre my best friend. I dont trust anyone as much as I trust you. Plus youre the only ones that we plan to know the truth. You know how judgemental this town can be at times. Theyll never forget that Rose lied when she got here."
"Well thats the truth," George nodded.
"His answer is yes," Samantha stood up and wrapped a arm around her husbands waist. "Hed be honored to be your best man."
"On one condition. You treat Rose with respect and never ever leave her again," George crossed his arms.
"Now thats a promise I can keep," Jack grinned at his soon to be wife.
"Well then you have a best man."
"Molly will you give me away? I know its unconventional, but my father is dead and my mother well you know the story behind that," Rose nervously asked.
"Oh Rose of course I will. Im honored," Molly wiped at her eyes with a hankerchief.
"And Ill be your maid of honor," Samantha volunteered happily. "This will be great. Having another female around to talk to."
"Thank you. Thank you both for being so good to me," Rose wiped away her remaining tears. "Tomorrow is going to be the happiest day of my life."
"It sure will be sugar," Molly grinned. "But now its time for you to catch up on some much needed sleep. Jack will you be staying with her?" Molly looked at the young man who never took his eyes away from Rose.
"Of course," Jack nodded. "Ill take good care of her."
"Ill go down and get dinner
ready," Samantha smiled. "George, we need some more
firewood."
"Yes dear," George kissed his wife. "Jack, trust
me, youll love married life." George waved as he
walked out the door.
"Well, Ill see you two children later this evening. Rosie, you get some sleep. I mean it now," Molly sternly wagged a finger at Rose who happily snuggled closer to Jack.
"Ill make sure of it Molly. Dont worry," Jack squeezed Roses shoulder.
Molly nodded before leaving Jack and Rose to themselves.
"Alone at last," Rose sighed happily.
"Yes. Alone at last. I cant begin to tell you how much finding you here means to me. I thought I was looking at a ghost when I walked into that church and saw you standing there," Jack sighed.
"Youre not the only one. I thought
you were another one of my daydreams and when you didnt
disappear
I actually thought I was losing my mind."
"Well youre not. Im here and well never be
separated again. Thats a promise. Mrs. Dawson."
Rose smiled at the thought that this time tomorrow, Dawson will
truly be her real last name, not just wishful thinking.
"Jack
do you think Ill be a good housewife?"
"Youll be a wonderful housewife and Ill do my
hardest to be a wonderful husband to you Rose. Im going to
take good care of you."
"Just dont be like Cal. Ordering for me, acting like Im some fragile porcelain doll thats definitely something Ive had enough of."
Jack laughed. "I got that idea in your
stateroom."
Rose just rolled her eyes. "Too bad that picture went down
on the Titanic. It would have been a great memento."
"Yeah and have our son or daughter find it later on? No way," Jack shook his head. "Youd never live it down."
"Me? How about you Mr. Big Artiste?"
Jack laughed. "Im only the artist. Not the model."
Rose just growled and playfully punched his arm. "See if I model for you again."
Jack only smiled and pulled Rose closer. "Just as long as youre with me always, I wont hold it against you."
Rose only smiled happily and closed her eyes, enjoying the realness of him, his warmth and strength. She had thought shed never feel those things again. She sighed dreamily as he began to hum the tune to Come Josephine to her, unknowingly lolling her to sleep.
"Rose?" Jack asked after a while, noticing how still she had become. He looked over her shoulder and smiled as he saw that she had fallen into a comfortable, peaceful sleep. "Sweet dreams Rosie," he gently kissed her head, laying her on the pillow.
*
Jack had decided to get up and go downstairs to visit with his family and friend. Its been a long and lonely five months, plus he wanted to be filled in on how things were holding up in town since his departure. He found George on the porch smoking a cigarette. George looked at him and held out the pack.
"What one?"
"No thanks," Jack shook his head.
"Im going to kick the habit now that Im going to
be a father."
"Sam wants me to do the same, but its not as easy as
it looks. Youll find out."
"Anything is easier than going through a
sinking," Jack shrugged, taking a seat in the chair next to
George. "So Samantha seems nice. How did you two meet?"
"It was a year after you took off. I was going into Eau
Claire for some supplies for the house, which by the way I was
remodeling. I thought youd like it fixed up if you ever
returned. Well anyway, I was in Eau Claire for some supplies when
I saw this beautiful creature behind the counter. We hit it off
instantly. Six months ago, after a night of passion, I found out
she was expecting. So since I loved her anyway, I proposed and
weve been together ever since."
"Wow," Jack nodded. "Love at
first sight for you too huh?"
George happily nodded. "Shes my life Jack. Sam and our
child
theyre my whole world. As long as I have her, I
can do anything."
"Im happy for you George. Im glad Im not the only Dawson to find true love. Rose shes the most amazing woman Ive ever known. Sure she can be a brat sometimes, but when the going gets tough her fire comes out. You should have seen her on Titanic George I really saw why I loved her so much. She rose to each challenge we faced on that ship. Her and Molly are the bravest women I know. Especially Rose. Youd never expect it from a first class girl."
"Well Im glad you found happiness Jack and Im sure that Aunt Sarah and Uncle William would love Rose if they had met her. She fits right in with our family you know."
"You think?"
George nodded. "And Im honored that
you asked me to be your best man. Even though Im sure
thats just because of you and Roses little
secret."
"George, if we were having a big wedding with the whole town
there, Id still choose you to be my best man. Theres
really no other choice for me. I know for a fact that if Thomas
knew the truth hed look down his nose at both Rose and
myself. To tell the truth, I dont know what got into me
that night. I just knew that I loved her and had to have her.
Actually I thought Id never have a chance to be with her
again until she announced she was getting off the ship with
me."
"Why do you say that?" George asked confused.
"Rose was engaged to a rich and powerful man. We only met by chance. We fell in love almost immediately and the rest is history," Jack shrugged. "I thought by time the voyage was over, that Rose would go back to her life with her mother and fiancee and I would return to my adventures. I didnt want to let her go, but I wouldnt have had a choice."
"Wow. Wait a minute its Hockley! I knew I saw Rose somewhere before, I just never put two and two together," George sat up straight and stared at his cousin with wonder. "Gee Jack, you sure do aim high dont ya?"
Jack laughed. "Believe me, I wasnt aiming. I just got lucky. All the way around even in the sinking I really could have died that night. I dont know how or why I didnt but I couldve. It gives make each day count a whole new meaning for me."
"For me too. When Rose told me you had died I couldnt believe it. It really brought things home for me. Family is everything. What Im trying to say here Jack is that I know that weve grown apart since your departure, but now that youre back I want us to be close again. Like we were when we were kids. I want you to be a part of my kids life as well. What do you say? We rebuild our relationship back to where it was, maybe even better?"
"Sure! Thatd be great!" Jack enthusiastically agreed.
"Sam will be so happy to have female companionship around here. She gets mighty lonely."
"And Rose can ask her questions about her pregnancy. Itll be great," Jack nodded. "I knew coming back here was a good idea. Now not only do I have Rose back, I get my family back as well," Jack got to his feet and embraced his cousin.