CHAPTER SIXTEEN
As planed, Jack and Rose, joined by Jacklyn and Richard(both were there for moral support plus to see Canada)were on the first train heading to Canada. Jack held Rose’s hand tightly and stared silently out the window at the passing scenery. Rose read a fashion magazine, and Richard was telling Jacklyn about his travels.
When they have reached their destination it was still daylight. After getting their hotel rooms, Jack wanted to head for the morgue right away. The sooner he got this over with, the better.
"Jack, are you sure you don’t want to wait?" Rose asked as he pulled her down the hall.
"Positive. But you three don’t have to come along. I’m sure you’d rather see Canada instead of inside a morgue," Jack turns to his wife and siblings.
"We’re here to support you," Rose squeezes his hand. "Now come on. Let’s go see if he’s in there."
The room was bright and cold. A man stood in the middle of the room, between the beds containing the bodies.
"Mr. Dawson I presume?" The man greets.
"Yes. I came here for my friend," Jack answers.
"Ok. Since we don’t know the names, I’ll just remove the blankets and you tell me whether you know them or not."
"Ok," Jack nods, tighting his hold on Rose’s hand. One by one the blankets are removed and replaced.
"Wait. I know him," Rose said midway when one of the blankets are removed. "look Jack. It’s Lovejoy…Cal’s valet."
"We sure did give him a run for his money didn’t we?" Jack slightly smiled, then he serious again. "Looks like he was hit in the head by something."
"I wonder what."
"What do you want to do Rose? You want to claim him?"
"No way Jack. Let him rot here for helping Cal try to keep us apart. Besides, we’re here for Fabrizio."
Jack only nods and they move on. It’s the next to last bed where they find Fabrizio his body crushed almost beyound recognition, his clothes covered in soot.
"Oh Fabri," Jack reaches down and touches his dark hair. "I’m so sorry."
"Is this him?" The mortician asked.
"Yes. It is. We’ll be taking him with us when we leave day after tomorrow," Jack sighed, covering his dead friend back up.
"I shall get him ready for travel then. That will cost you one thousand dollars."
"You did bring the money didn’t you Rose?" Jack asked, looking at his wife.
"Of course I did," Rose pats her purse. "We’ll pay you before we leave sir," Rose turns to the tall pale man.
"Since you’re the one paying I need you to come in here and sign the paperwork," The mortician directs, Rose out of the room, leaving Jack alone with his dead friend.
Slowly he uncovers Fabrizio again and just stares down at him, reliving all the adventures they’ve had together. It was this last adventure that proved fatal for his loyal friend.
"Fabri…please forgive me for getting you into this mess," tears begin to flow from Jack’s eyes. He covers his face and sobs, grief overwhelming him. He didn’t hear anyone come in until two strong arms embraced him.
"It’s ok Jack," Richard comforts his sobbing brother. "I’m sure your friend is in a better place now and wants you to be happy."
"It’s all my fault. He didn’t even want to get into that poker game, but me being so smart convinced him. Then I told him and Tommy to go to the other side of the ship when it was sinking. I thought there would be more boats on the other side…we should never have gotten on that ship. We should have waited and got a job or something and saved up."
"Yeah, and then you wouldn’t have met Rose. You would have missed out on finding the love of your life. Is that what you would’ve wanted?"
Jack pulls away from his brother and shakes his head. "I just wish my decisions hadn’t meant his death. That he had a chance to see the statue of liberty, eat apple pie, see a baseball game. He would have loved the yankees."
"I like the dodgers myself," Richard smiles, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
"He had found a girl too you know. Her name was Helga. The last time I saw her she was falling to her death from the railing. I wonder if he was dead by then too?"
"Well they’re
together now. Probably saddened that you’re so sad. I’m
sure that your friend only wanted what’s best for you. And
that’s to go on with your life. Keep his memory in your
heart and live for him. Make Rose the happiest woman alive. For
both you and Fabrizio. That’s the best thing you can do
right now."
Jack nods. "I guess you’re right," Jack clears his
throat, clearly embarrassed about losing his composure in front
of his big brother.
"Fabri wouldn’t want me to be so sad," Jack smiled. "Uh…thanks. Thanks for being here…listening to me…I guess it’s what I needed."
"Question though. Why haven’t you discussed this with Rose?"
"She’s having a hard enough time dealing with the sinking. She doesn’t need my guilty conscious on top of that. You know, I told her that we should leave the past behind us, and I wasn’t even doing that myself. I have to start taking my own advice."
"I say so. Now come on. The women are waiting for us," Richard covers Fabrizio back up and leads his brother out of the cold room.
"Oh Richard, one more thing. Not a word to Rose about my little break down in there. Ok."
Richard shrugs. "I don’t see the big deal about it, but since you want it that way, fine."
"Thanks."
Richard only smiles and leads his brother into the waiting room as Rose finished filling out the papers.