CHAPTER NINETEEN
Two Weeks later…
The Kimberly Smith and her mother were in the general store, buying last minute preparations for Kimberly’s wedding that Saturday when a well dressed, red-haired woman came in, her head held high with a sense of superiority. It was obvious that she was not only of the upper class but she wasn’t from Chippewa Falls either.
"Will you look at that," Kimberly’s mother looks the woman up and down in admiration. "I wonder who she is?"
Kimberly just shrugs not having a clue.
"May I help you mam?" Lyle Kirtwood, the store manager asked.
"Yes, I’m looking for the Dawson Farm. Is there anyone who can take me there?"
Kimberly’s mother frowns. Now what can a woman of such high caliber want at the Dawson farm? It didn’t make any sense. Did Nancy have some rich relatives she didn’t talk about?
"Kimberly! You and your ma there wouldn’t mind taking this lady to the Dawson farm would you? You’re heading right pass there."
"I suppose it won’t
be out of our way," Kimberly’s mother speaks up.
"We’d be honored to escourt you to the Dawson
farm."
The woman only nods, not bothering to say thank you for their
trouble. She looked rather upset to be honest about it. Like she
was preparing herself for a fight.
"By the way, I am Linda Smith and this is my daughter Kimberly. We welcome you to Chippewa Falls."
The woman only nods and starts out the door.
Lyle just had to smile. It looked as if Linda Smith, the most uppity woman in Chippewa Falls has finally met her match.
*
Dawson farm…
Everyone is out on the porch, listening to another one of Charles stories while Jack sets and sketches the scene when Jacklyn spots the Smith’s car in the distance.
"Looks like we’re going to have company," Jacklyn crosses her arms. "I wonder what they can want now."
"Jacklyn be nice. They may be here just to see if we’re still comng to the wedding," Nancy scolds her daughter.
Rose gets up and stands by Jack, taking his hand. She has had a sense of foreboding all day and now that sense was stronger than ever before. Something was in the air and she had a feeling that she was going to need Jack’s strength to survive it.
"Kimberly’s marrying that swell ain’t she?" Richie asked, looking at his mother. "Funny, I thought her and Jack would get together."
"Long story," Was Jack’s answer, indicating that he didn’t want to go into it.
The car stops in front of the driveway and the driver helps three women out of the car. The third woman was erringly familiar to Rose. She gasped when the women came closer as she recognized her mother.
"Jack," She tightened her hold on his hand.
"It’s okay Rose. I’m here," Jack reassures her.
"Who’s that?" Jacklyn stands on Jack’s otherside.
"My mother," Rose flatly replied. "Well I guess it’s time to face her in person."
"Thank you for your help ladies," Ruth turns to Kimberly and her mother and back at Rose. "Rose Dewitt Bukater. You have a lot of explaining to do."
Rose looks at Jack and suddenly her strength comes back to her. She turns the same icy stare on her mother that Ruth was throwing at her. "I have nothing to explain mother and it’s Rose Dawson now."
"Running off like that while the ship was sinking! Cal looked everywhere for you!"
"And this concerns me how?" Rose glares at her mother.
"You didn’t even bother to let us know you were still alive. We all thought you were dead. Didn’t you see the papers?"
"Oh I saw mother. I saw your fake grief and lies both you and Cal made up for your own benefit. I didn’t refuse the lifeboat because of a stupid necklace! I refused the lifeboat to go rescue Jack, who of which Cal locked down below and left to die! Not only that mother but your perfect idea of the ideal husband chased both of us deeper into the sinking ship trying to kill us! We almost did die that night!" Rose was so angry with her mother, her green eyes flashing fire. She couldn’t stop. "and it wasn’t only his behavior on Titanic mother!"
Both women ignore the gasps of Kimberly and Linda. Neither knew that the newly-wed couple was aboard the titanic.
"He treated me as a possesion. Both of you did. You sold me into that relationship. It was to who the higher bidder for you! You didn’t care that I was unhappy! That he hit me whenever I stepped out of line or belittled me when I spoke my mind about something! Just as long as you remained in the lap of luxery!"
"…Rose…that’s not true," Ruth takes a step back, feeling the heat of Rose’s anger.
"You want to know the truth mother? Really? I wasn’t trying to look at the propellars when Jack saved me from falling into the sea. I was trying to kill myself but Jack talked me back over!"
Ruth gasped. "Rose…"
Rose laughed. "Like you’d care. You probably wouldn’t care if I had. Well you would have, but only because your meal ticket was gone and you’d have to leave the ranks of high society."
"Rose that’s not true. You’re my daughter, I love you."
"You don’t know the meaning of the word love mother. You ran daddy to death, dragging him to gala to gala, knowing good and well that he was sick. Then trying to force me to marry that horrible Caledon Hockley knowing that I was unhappy! Oh and what tops the cake was the last day on Titanic when you tried to pull a guilt trip on me to break up my relationship with Jack. Tell me mother how is life as a seamstress treating you?"
"Rose…" Ruth stammers, tears appearing in her eyes as she hears all the pain and anger in her daughter’s voice.
"Tell me mother. What was it like to set in that safe dry lifeboat listening to us call for help in that freezing water? Did it even occur to you that one of those people were your daughter or were you too selfish and upper class to even come help us? Did you feel relief when all those cries for help stopped?"
"Rose stop," Jack pulls her back, his voice calm. "That’s enough."
Ruth was now in tears. All the regret she felt two weeks ago returning. She had hurt her daughter, maybe beyond repair.
"Jack you’re defending her?!" Rose stares at Jack in disbelief.
"No, but I think you’ve made your point ok. Come on. I’ll take you upstairs where you can calm down."
"I’m not a child Jack! You don’t need to tell me what to do!" Rose turns her anger on Jack.
"I wasn’t trying to tell you what to do Rose. I just thought that maybe…"
"You know what you can sleep on the couch tonight!" Rose glares at her husband before storming into the house.
"Uh…Mrs. Dewitt Bukater…feel free to stay if you like. I’m sure Rose will calm down before the day’s done," Jack looks at the teary-eyed woman, all her first class superiority gone. Rose had stripped that away in her tirade. Taking a look at his mother, who just nods, he disappears into the house to talk to Rose.
*
Jack found Rose spiraled faced down on their bed, hot tears running from her eyes. He sets next to her and gently touches her hair.
"Rose…I think she’s really sorry. She’s downstairs in tears right now," Jack sighs.
"So what! They’re fake tears anyway! I can’t believe she has you fooled Jack!"
"Rose you really don’t think she’s that manipulative do you?"
"Why do you think I was engaged to Cal for so long Jack? My mother and her waterworks. She turns them off and on like a faucet. I’m not letting her get away with it this time!"
"Something tells me that this isn’t waterworks this time. That those tears are the real thing."
Rose sets up, wiping the tears from her eyes. She sighs, knowing that Jack was probably right. He was pretty perceptive about people. If he said his mother’s tears were real…they probably were. But Rose is still so angry and hurt by how her mother had treated her. Not only on Titanic, but before Titanic as well. When her father died, Rose was destroyed. She needed someone to hold her and tell her that everything was ok. When she tried to turn to Ruth, she was cruelly turned away. Told that it was improper to show such compassion in public. Now here her husband was, pleading with Rose to show Ruth the compassion that she herself was denied.
"Jack…I don’t know. I don’t know if I can even feel sorry for her right now. When she was far away in Philadelphia I could because I didn’t have to face her. But right now…with her here face to face…all that anger is back Jack. It’s back and I don’t know how to get rid of it."
"You can Rose. All you have to do is face up to it. Face up to her. I’ll be right by your side the entire time," Jack gently touches her cheek.
Rose sighs with defeat. "You always know how to bring out the best in me don’t you Jack?"
"only because you bring out the best in me," He smiles, kissing her gently. "Now come on. Ruth is waiting." Jack takes her hand and leads her down the stairs. They find Ruth and the Dawson’s along with the Smiths in the setting room. Rose wondered why the Smiths were even there but dismissed the thought. They were just curious.
"Rose," Ruth stands as Jack and Rose come down the stairs.
"Mother," Rose doesn’t let go of Jack’s hand for a minute as they go and stand in front of Ruth.
To Rose’s surprise, Ruth breaks into renewed tears. "Oh Rose I’m so sorry. I truly am. I never realized how much I was hurting you! I only wanted what was best!"
"For who mother? Me or you?" Rose’s voice shows no sign of softening. Her mother didn’t deserve any compassion for her.
"For us both! I thought if I found you a rich husband, we’d both be set for life!" Ruth cried. "You wouldn’t have to know a day of manual labor and niether would I. I thought Cal would take care of you…of us both."
"Well he didn’t mother. He was horrible to me. He never listened, he always put me down and hit me whenever he could. He didn’t treat me like a person…not the way Jack does."
"I’m sorry Rose."
"And where is your Mr. Hockley now mother?"
Ruth bows her head in shame.
"Back in Philadelphia. I’ve been staying with him and
he’s been giving me a daily allowance."
Rose snorts. "Figures. Don’t worry mother. I won’t
come back to philadelphia and ruin your cozy lifestyle."
"Rose that’s not what I want! I mean, I don’t want you out of my life."
"But mother don’t you
see, I can never be a part of that life again! If I go back to
Philadelphia, there will be a big confrontation with Cal and I
don’t want that. All I want right now is a peaceful, quiet
life with Jack and never have to worry about the silly rules of
high society again."
"But Rose…you don’t really think you’re cut
out for this type of life do you? You can’t even boil
water," Ruth’s hand touches her throat.
"Oh mother how typical of you! I can boil water just fine!" Rose glares at Ruth. "Thanks my mother in law I can not only boil water but make an assortment of different meals and I’m learning more everyday! So just pack up and go back to your safe little existance back in Philadelphia!"
"Rose you’re my daughter," Ruth tries to protest.
"No mother, your daughter died aboard Titanic. Rose Dewitt Bukater died and in her place Rose Dawson was born. So since you seem to be having trouble accepting Rose Dawson go back to Philadelphia and pretend you never saw me."
"Rose…"
"Good-bye mother," Rose turns away from her mother and heads into the kitchen, followed by Jacklyn and Jack.
"Are you ok?" Jack asked his wife who was facing the kitchen sinking beginning to wash the morning dishes.
"Great. I’m better than I’ve been in a long time," Rose clears her throat. She turns to her husband and smiles. "I did it Jack. I stood up to my mother and told her how things were going to be for now on and lightening didn’t strike me down for doing so! Instead I’m left with this wonderful feeling of freedom! I’m free Jack! I’m finally free of all that anger and pain I’ve been carrying around for the past couple of months!"
"I knew you would," Jack pulls Rose into his arms, filled with pride for his wife’s accomplishment.
"I don’t think she’ll be going back to Philadelphia though. By the look in that woman’s eyes, returning to Philadelphia is the last thing she’s going to do," Jacklyn crossed her arms. "And I thought Linda Smith was an ice queen."
"No one comes close than my mother," Rose pulls away from Jack. "I guess we better go in there. It’s only proper that I make arrangements for her to stay at a hotel."
The trio found Rose with the Dawson’s and Smiths in the setting room. Rose had to wonder why Jack’s ex-girlfriend and her mother was sticking their nose in her affairs.
"Mother," Rose cleared her throat. "Jack and I talked about it and have decided to put you up at the local inn."
"What?" Ruth stares at her daughter in disbelief. Rose couldn’t possibly be serious and making Ruth stay in one of those dirty little rooms.
"Would you rather the couch?" Rose asked, crossing her arms.
"Why don’t Mrs. Dewitt Bukater stay with us. There’s plenty of room," Linda Smith offers.
"Oh no I couldn’t intrude," Ruth denies.
"Oh it’s no problem. Besides, for a lady of your stature, my house is more appropriate than the Dawson farm."
"Oh please," Rose rolled her eyes.
"Well…since you insist. Rose you know where Mrs. Smith lives don’t you?"
"Yes I do mother. If I need you for anything I’ll call," Rose glared as the women show Ruth out the door.
"Can you believe them? This was none of the Smith’s business and they go and stick their nose in anyway," Jacklyn grumbled.
"Hey it’s okay. If she wants to stay with them let her. It’s better than letting her stay here," Richie shrugged.
"Richie Dawson take that back! That woman is Rose’s mother and Jack’s mother in law and you will speak of her with respect," Nancy glared at her eldest son.
"Oh that’s quite alright. Richie can talk to my ice queen of a mother anyway he wants," Rose sighed, suddenly exhausted from the confrontation. "You know I’m feeling really tired. I think I’ll go upstairs and laydown," Rose sighed, leaning against Jack.
"I’ll walk you up," Jack tightens his arm around her waist.
Rose just nodded at her husband and allowed him to lead her upstairs.