CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Back in Chippewa Falls…
It was the morning of Fabrizio’s funeral. The only people in attendance for the burial was the Dawson Family. They stand in the Dawson half of the graveyard as the coffin is lowered into the ground. Rose tightly grips Jack’s hand, noticing how sadness clouds his usually laughing blue eyes.
"Are there anyone here to share memories of this lost soul?" Reverand Carter asks the small group. Jack steps up to the podium.
"I’d like to thank all of you for coming today…even though you didn’t know Fabrizio, or knew him as well…this means a lot to me and him. What can I say about Fabrizio? He was one of the funniest men I knew. Always had a joke for everything, even though sometimes he could be a worry wart," Jack laughed litely. "He was always there to talk to. We went through good and bad times together. He was there when I first layed eyes on Rose and he was there when I decided to win her heart. He encouraged me not to listen to society’s bounderies and pursue the woman of my heart. His one big goal was to come to America and become a millionaire. But sadly that wasn’t to be. He came to America…but not in a way either of us was prepared for."
Jack digs in his pocket and takes out a American dollar bill. "This dollar represents Fabrizio’s dreams unfulfilled. " Jack walks to the coffin and lays it on top. "I’m sorry Fabri…I never…" Jack looks up at all the sympathetic faces and couldn’t take it anymore. He had to get out of there. "I’m sorry…I…I have to get out of here."
"Jack!" Rose tries to go after him as he just walks out of the graveyard, but Richie stops her.
"He needs time alone right now Rose," he said sadly, knowing that the last thing he wants is for Rose to see him breaking down.
"But he needs someone! He’s…he’s so upset!" Rose turns to her brother in law.
"I’ll go," Jacklyn volunteers. "I’m his sister…he won’t mind me seeing him like this."
Rose only nods and watches worriedly as Jacklyn goes after her brother.
*
Jack sets, staring out at Lake Wissota. He leans his head back against the tree he’s setting against and closes his eyes, feeling the tears course down from his eyes. He’s so absorbed in his own guilt that he doesn’t hear the footsteps approach.
"Jack? Are you ok?" A feminine voice asks. Jack looks up and his eyes widen in surprise.
"Kimberly. What are you doing here?"
"I come here sometimes when I need to think. Are you ok? You look so upset. Are those tears," Kimberly kneels down next to him.
"I just got through burying my best friend Fabrizio. He died a couple of months ago."
"Oh. I’m sorry. Judging from the tears you must really miss him. He must have been very special."
Jack nods. "He was. We been through a lot together. From running away from a bar full of angry drunk men to trying to catch up with a leaving ship. He would sometimes act like he was angry with me, but he never was," Jack smiles at the memory of Fabrizio declaring that he had betted everything they had.
"How did he die?"
Jack’s eyes widen as he looks up at her. He couldn’t. He couldn’t tell her about Titanic. He wasn’t ready for anyone but family to know that. "He died in a terrible accident. He didn’t know what hit him," Jack avoids her eyes.
"Oh Jack," Kimberly lays a comforting hand on his shoulder
"Kimberly Smith! What on Earth are you doing!" Her mother appears out of no where, her eyes widened in horror at finding her daughter with Jack.
"I was just talking to
Jack mother. He was upset and…"
"I don’t care to hear it. I gave you strict
instructions to stay away from Jack Dawson and I expect you to
obey!" She grabs her daughter’s hand.
"Nothing inappropriate was going on here Mrs. Smith. There’s no need to yell at Kimberly," Jack gets to his feet. Linda Smith swiftly turns her angry glare on Jack.
"And what do you know about what’s inappropriate or not? You’ve been a thorn in my side for too long, even when you weren’t in Chippewa Falls. Stay away from my daughter!"
"Jack ?" Jacklyn comes running up. "What’s going on here?"
"If you were wise Miss. Dawson, you’d keep your brother away from Kimberly!" Linda grabs Kimberly’s arm and draggs her away.
"What was that about?" Jacklyn places her hand on her hip, glaring up at Jack.
"I came here to think.
Kimberly came up and asked me what was wrong, then her mother
came up and freaked out. We were doing nothing inappropriate
Jacklyn. She just had her hand on my shoulder," Jack sighed
"Where’s Rose by the way?"
"Probably heading back to the house with ma, pa, and Richie.
She was worried about you , but I said I’d go check to see
if you were ok."
"Well I’m fine. I just lost it there for a while, but I’m fine," Jack reassured his sister. "Come on. Let’s go home."
Jacklyn nods and follows her brother.
Rose is up in their bedroom laying in bed, her eyes closed, not hearing Jack come in until he lays down beside her and wraps a warm arm around her waist.
"Jack," She smiled, snuggling closer to him.
"How did you know it was me?" Jack grinned.
"No one has arms like yours," She turns around and smiles up into his eyes. Her smile fades. "Are you ok? You were pretty upset at the funeral."
Jack sighed and lays his head on a nearby pillow. "I’m ok. It just kind of hit me that I’ll never see him again. I hope it was quick for him Rose. I hate to think of him in pain."
Rose reaches up and strokes his hair. "It probably was darling. He probably felt no pain at all."
Jack just smiles and closes his eyes. Soon he’s drifted off to sleep, leaving Rose to look at him, wondering when Titanic will ever stop haunting them.