THE
GALLERY
New
York City
It’s been fourteen years after the Titanic went down. Rose Dewitt Bukater, aka Rose Dawson’s life has been hard, yet free since then. She had done so much since her emancipation from high society. Acting, learning to fly a plan…you name it, she’s done it. But no matter what she never forgot about who had got her to where she was to that day. Her lost love…Jack Dawson. Jack with his lively blue eyes and silken blond hair. Oh how she missed him. So much so that she shunned any chance to be with another man. If she even looked at another man, she felt that she was somehow betraying Jack. Which was ridiculous. Jack wanted to her to go on with her life. Even if it meant meeting someone else. But she just couldn’t bring herself to do so.
Rose was on her annual trip to New
York. A trip she made every year to pay homage to not only the Titanic victims,
but also one victim in particular.
Jack. She hasn’t set eyes on him
for fourteen long years, but her love for him was still going strong. She didn’t think she’d ever get over him.
This time around, she wasn’t alone. Her
friend Crystal joined her. After
sharing the story of Titanic with her (the only person Rose had ever told
actually) Crystal had insisted on joining her.
“In this day and age, New York is too
dangerous to take a trip alone anymore.
I’ll come and keep you company.
Who knows, maybe we’ll have a little bit of fun before we return to
L.A.” was Crystal’s reasoning.
Sure that fun was one thing she
wouldn’t have, Rose had agreed. It
would be nice to have company, and perhaps, having Crystal with her would keep
the memories away. So packing up, they
had gone to New York and stood on the pier where the Carpathia and pulled
in. Closing her eyes, Rose imagined
that she heard the cries for help that had been silenced all those years
ago. She even imagined she heard Jack
singing Come Josephine. His gentle
voice holding so much sadness. Crystal
took her hand and squeezed it tightly as a stray tear escaped.
“Is it like this every year Rose?”
Crystal asked. “You come here and cry
for what was lost?”
Rose simply nodded. “I come here and mourn him. He was so young Crys. So young and carefree…he didn’t deserve the
cards he got dealt that night.
Goodness, he would be thirty-four years old right now. Probably on his way to being a famous
artist…if he had lived.”
“Rose don’t think about that…”
“I can’t help it! I can’t help to think how Jack was robbed of
his life and all because of me!” Rose busted into tears.
Her heart going out to her friend,
Crystal wrapped her arms around Rose’s shaking shoulders, wanting to lend
comfort to her friend’s broken heart.
“Hey. It’s ok. Jack wouldn’t want you to blame yourself
like this. You know he wouldn’t. Rose, remember that promise. Keep your promise to him.”
“I have been. I’ve moved on and…”
Crystal looked at her as if she knew
better. “Come on Rose. You know that’s only partially true. Tell me, what’s been the last romantic
relationship you had after Titanic?
Hmmm?”
Rose didn’t say anything. She just looked at the wooden planks of the
pier.
“I didn’t think so. Rose…it’s been fourteen years now. It’s time to move on. You need to go out and live life again. Not only for yourself, but for Jack as
well. You know he’d want that.”
Rose sighed and looked at her friend,
wiping away her stray tears. Crystal
was right. She knew she was. But what could she possibly do to kick start
her life again? What could be a place
suitable enough for two single women?
Certainly not those dance clubs that the young people seemed to be drawn
to now a day. “…You’re right. It is time.
Jack would want me to do this.
But Crystal…where do we go?
Where can we go to find some suitable men? I don’t want just anybody.
I want Jack….”
“But that’s not going to happen. So you’ll want the next best thing
right? Come, we’ll talk about this on
the walk back to the hotel,” Crystal began to walk away from the docks,
motioning for Rose to follow her. “I
was reading the society pages just the other day and there was a small section
for New York…”
“Society pages? Crys oh no.
No. I could run into Cal or my
mother for that matter and…”
“But Rose, this is a Gallery. A art gallery. What’s the chance of your mother or Cal showing up at a
gallery? Huh?”
Rose had to smile. Crystal was cunning. She had to give her that. “There’s no chance. They both abhorred art, and besides, Jack
was an artist. A gallery would only
bring up bad memories for them.”
“Exactly. Plus Jack was an artist…something you found quite
attractive. There will be artists at
that Gallery Rose. Maybe even single and
handsome artists. The perfect place to
find a man you’re may be interested in.”
“Crystal, just because Jack was an
artist doesn’t mean that…”
“Just try it out will ya. It won’t hurt. Besides, I love art, especially the art that’ll be showcased
tonight. This artist Rose…he sees
people. He really does.”
“So you know his work.”
“Been a big fan of his for five years
now. I even met him one time,” She
grinned. “I don’t remember his name, but I’d know his style anywhere.”
“…Well…since you’re a big fan of this
artist…and we are in New York…ok. We’ll
go. Where is this gallery anyway?”
“Right across from our hotel,” Crystal
grinned. “Trust me Rose. You won’t regret this.”
“I hope not,” Rose sighed, hoping that
she could find the heart to have a bit of fun tonight.
*
The gallery was teaming with rich
patrons, all there to view the work of one up and coming artist, but taking in
the works of other artists as well.
Rose and Crystal were the poorest among the crowd. But they weren’t there to buy anyway. Just to look and enjoy the numerous works of
art.
“This is extraordinary,” Rose gasped,
getting a real taste of what she had missed years ago when she had wanted to go
to an art gallery in Paris, but her mother and Cal had other plans.
“Told ya,” Crystal grinned, grabbing
Rose’s hand. “Omigod! There’s the section for my artist! Let’s go!” Crystal pulled Rose into one of
the largest sections of the gallery. At
first the pictures were hidden behind the milling bodies of the crowd. As soon as a man and woman moved she caught
her first glimpse of the artwork.
She gasped. The style of the picture…a little girl and a man standing at the railing of a ship, pointing down into
the sea…but the style of the picture…she had seen that style before…only one
man had that style and she’ll never forget him…
“Afternoon at sea,” Crystal read. “Wow.
He is so talented. I wonder if
he’s here,” She turned and began to search the crowd. Finally she spotted the man she was looking for. “Oh my God Rose! He is here! And he’s
twice as handsome in person! Come! Let’s go say hi!” She grabbed her friend’s
hand and pulled her over to the man who had his back turned to them. The only thing was could tell was that the
man was tall and he had dark blond hair.
He was deep in conversation with another man dressed in a tux. Strangely to Rose, his voice sounded a bit
familiar, but she couldn’t place it really.
But she was interested in this man…the man who had the same style of
drawing as her Jack once had.
“Ahem,” Crystal cleared her
throat.
“Oh hello there,” The man in front of
the artist smiled at the ladies.
“Hi. Me and my friend here would like to meet the artist of these
wonderful drawings,” Crystal smiled excitedly.
“Is this him?”
“Why of course. Don’t be shy my boy. Turn around and meet your admirers.”
Rose gasped in shock and disbelief when
the artist turned around. She took two
steps back away from Crystal. “Oh my
God! Why do you look like that!”
“Rose?” Crystal looked at her friend as
if she was losing her mind. And that
was how Rose was feeling, because she was staring at Jack. An older Jack, with dark blond hair, and a
much more mature face, even the beginnings of a beard, but still Jack. She’d know those blue eyes anywhere. But yet…it couldn’t be her Jack. He had died fourteen years ago. Froze to death in the North Atlantic. This man…it was some cruel trick of
fate…this man had not only Jack’s artist style, but his face as well.
“Crystal…this is Jack. It’s Jack!” She resisted the urge to
run. She had to know what this was all
about.
“Rose…You’re…dead,” Jack looked at her
dumbstruck, not really knowing what to do or say.
“Oh my…now I know you. You’re the girl in Jack’s picture. His portrait I’ve been trying to buy for
years now, but he’s refused to sell it to me.
It’s nice to finally meet the model.
Dawson, who is this lovely creature by the way.”
“Rose.
Rose Dewitt Bukater,” He silently replied, his eyes full of shock and
disbelief. Jack couldn’t believe
it. After all this time…all these years
of grief and heartache…he found her again.
The woman he thought was lost to him that cold night fourteen years
ago. But how? He didn’t understand. All
he could do was stand there and stare.
“Rose sweetie…Jack is dead
remember? This can’t possibly be him,”
Crystal tried to reason with her hysterical friend.
“Rose?” Jack finally took a step
further. “Can it really be you?”
“It can’t be…” Rose took another step
back. “You were dead…I checked and you
were…” She looked at Crystal and an
explanation took form. Only one person
knew about Titanic. Only one person
knew about Jack and would come up with an idea to play one of her practical
jokes, but it wasn’t going to work this time.
She glared at her friend. “I
trusted you.”
“What?
Rose what are you talking about?” Crystal looked at her friend
confused.
Tears flowed freely now, hurt and
betrayal written in her features. “I
told you the deepest secret of my soul and you use it against me in one of your
sordid practical jokes! How could you
Crystal? And tonight of all nights!”
“Rose please…I’m not playing a
joke. I don’t even know what this is
about.”
“Yeah right. Don’t bother coming back to the hotel,” Rose took one last look
at Jack and darted out of the gallery, wanting to get as far away as she could
possibly get.
“Rose wait!” Jack tried to run after
her, but Crystal grabbed his arm.
“Ok buddy, first thing’s first. Who are you and why did my best friend just
now accuse me of betraying her?”
“Can’t this wait?” Jack wanted to catch
up with Rose before she got too far away.
There was so much explaining to do…so much time to make up for…
“No it cannot. I want to know who you are and why my friend
just accused me of betraying her and why you made her freak out like that in
the first place!”
Jack sighed. He really didn’t have time for this. But this woman did deserve an explanation. “My name is Jack Dawson. I met Rose years ago on a ship that sank and
I thought she had died…”
“Oh my God…you are…Jack…Rose’s Jack.”
“You know about Titanic?”
Crystal nodded, suddenly getting
excited. It all made sense now. “Rose told me everything. In fact, she comes here every April 15th. I decided to join her this year and I talked
her into coming to this gallery with me.
No matter what she’s so upset…”
“Now you know why I want to go after
her. Do you know where she might have
gone?”
“To our hotel. That’s the only place I could think of. Either that…or the back to the pier…”
“Let’s try the pier first. I have a feeling she may be there,” Jack led
Crystal through the crowd, both determined to find Rose and explain what had
just happened.
*
Rose stood at the edge of the now deserted pier, looking down into the dark waters of the ocean, where she was sure that her Jack now resided. She closed her eyes, wishing to erase the last hour. The last rays of hope that she had. How she wished that the man she had met was Jack. But it wasn’t. It couldn’t be…she couldn’t have made such a horrible mistake. Could she? After all, she was only a girl from high society. What did she know about finding pulses? Nothing at all. Indeed, it was a possibility that Jack was alive. That he had just been unconscious. But what were the odds that he would be here in New York. Today of all days? That he would be in that gallery? Why now and not fourteen years ago when they were younger? But that man…he wasn’t Jack. No. There was no way. He wasn’t Jack.
“Rose?” A timid, deep voice spoke up from behind. She turned and there he was. His intense blue eyes full of worry and uncertainty. Not sure if approaching her like this was the right thing.
“Don’t come any closer!”
He laughed. “That was the first thing you ever said to me. Remember?”
Rose frowned. “Crystal told you that.”
“Did you tell her about the time I went ice fishing on Lake Wissota? How I fell through thin ice?” Jack stepped a little closer. He had a long talk with Crystal on the way to the pier. She had told him all that Rose had told her about Titanic. So he knew pretty much what Crystal knew and didn’t know. “Or the car?”
Rose’s mouth fell open, trying to remember telling her friend about both events, but her mind was becoming a blank.
“Or how
about the time I taught you how to spit.
Did you tell her that Rose?”
Rose took another step back,
still not daring to believe. “It can’t
be…”
“It is Rose. It’s me. It’s Jack. I didn’t die that night like you thought. I’m sorry for all the time you did believe I did. For all the time we’ve lost. But we’re together now and that’s what matters.”
“Why?
Why are you doing this to me?” Rose whimpered, tears spilling from her
eyes. She wanted to believe that this
was Jack, but she couldn’t. The
disappointment would be too painful if it turned out to be a trick.
“Rose…why won’t you believe it’s me?”
Rose began to really cry now. Wasn’t it obvious why she couldn’t believe
it was really him? Didn’t he get
it? “Because if I believe it’s
you…you’ll disappear…I’ll go through losing you all over again and I can’t do
that. I just can’t.”
His heart broke at her words, at her
tears. She was too scared. Too scared to take his word that he had
survived. He was just going to have to
prove it to her. He had to force her to
accept the truth. That he was alive and
that their heartbreak was now coming to an end. Slowly he approached her, just as he approached her that night
she wanted to jump off the back of the ship.
He took her face in his hands and stared deeply into her eyes, so full
of fear and reservation. “Rose. I am so sorry that you’re afraid, but
there’s no reason to be. I’m not going
to disappear. I’m as real as you are
and I want us to be together…the way we should have always been.” Slowly he
brought his lips to hers, hoping that the feel of their lips pressing together
was proof enough for her.
Rose closed her eyes as his lips met
hers. She breathed in his scent. A mixture of charcoal, cologne, and
something so familiar…a scent that had only belonged to Jack, a scent that
washed all doubts from her mind. This
was Jack! He was alive and he still
loved her and wanted to be with her!
Even after she had pushed him away in her disbelief! Her Jack has finally been returned to
her. Sinking into the kiss, she brought
her lips around his neck and he pulled her closer.
“Ahem,” Crystal cleared her throat,
coming upon the reunited lovers. “I
take it he’s finally convinced you?”
Rose pulled away from Jack, a blush
heating her cheeks. She had to
apologize to her friend. Crystal has
been nothing but supportive and how had Rose repaid her? She accused her of using her situation
against her in a practical joke. How
can Crystal even look at her after that tirade? “Crystal…I am so sorry…I know I’ve insulted you horribly.”
“No Rose. It’s ok. You were in
pain and had received a shock. You needed a rational explanation. I’m not mad.”
“But still…”
“Rose, let it go. It’s ok.
I’m not angry. I only want an
invitation to the coming wedding. I know
there will be one,” Crystal grinned mischievously. “Hey, I don’t blame you for mourning him this long. He’s quite a looker.”
“Jack…I don’t understand. How did you survive?” Rose looked up at him.
“I woke up. The boat came back and pulled me in. After that, I passed out and spent the rest of the voyage in the
infirmary. I looked for you, but your
name wasn’t on the list.”
“I changed my name to Rose Dawson,”
Rose sniffed. “I’m so stupid. If only I known…”
“Shhh Rose. I’m glad you took my name.
It may have saved you from being found by that Hockley man. Whatever happened to him anyway?”
“You mean Caledon Hockley right?”
Crystal spoke up. “I read in the
society papers that Hockley Steel was hit hard by the Depression and the owner
had shot himself dead. Hey said his
name was Hockley. Caledon Hockley.”
“Good riddance,” Rose sighed, relieved
that the man that had been her fiancée was now gone from the planet and she had
gotten Jack back. “Oh Jack…these past
fourteen years…they’ve been so empty without you.”
“They’ve been empty for me too
Rose. No matter what happened, I never
stopped thinking about or loving you.”
Suddenly Rose giggled. Jack frowned. “What?”
“I was just thinking how much more
handsome you look at thirty-four then Cal did.
I like it.”
“Even the goatee,” Jack grinned, his
blue eyes sparkling.
“Especially the goatee,” Rose smiled,
all her grief now faded away. It was like
they had been together forever.
Jack just smiled and kissed her
deeply. How he missed her. He never he would be truly happy again, but
tonight, fourteen years later, his happiness was returned.
“Well…I guess I’ll get back to the
gallery,” Crystal smiled, wanting to give Rose and Jack their space. “Rose, I won’t expect you back at the
hotel. Hey, you know my address so call
and let me know about the wedding.”
“Ok,” Rose’s eyes never left
Jack’s. She knew that tonight, fourteen
years after her life had changed forever, it was changing again. Now she had Jack with her. Now and forever.
“Come.
Let’s go to my apartment and talk,” Jack took her hand in his and led
her away from the dock as Crystal departed for the gallery. “I want to know what you’ve been up to for
the past five years.”
Rose could only smile, following him
wherever he wanted to go. Even to the
ends of the earth. Rose looked back at
Crystal’s departing figure. She’s
saying good-bye to her life of loneliness and grief. Now it was hello to a life full of love and sunshine. All thanks to a visit to the gallery that
housed the artwork of her favorite artist.
Jack.