37
Eau Claire train station
Jack, Jacklyn, Rose, and Molly were gathered together, saying good-bye. Rose had already bid good-bye to the others at the house. Now it was time to say good-bye to Jack and head to Denver.
"Remember, one month," Rose wiped away her tears. "You promised."
"I’ll remember," Jack forced a smile, trying to be cheerful for her sake, but he was finding it harder and harder to smile. He wished he was going with her right now instead of being separated. "Don’t give Molly too hard of a time."
"I love you," She hugged him, clinging to his shirt, not wanting the moment to end. "I love you."
"I love you too Rosie. I promise I’ll be with you soon. Heck you’ll be so busy having fun you won’t have time to miss me," Jack rubbed her back in reassurance.
"I’m going to miss you Rose. Don’t stay away too long," Jacklyn sobbed, hugging her sister in law tightly.
"Come on Rosie. Let’s go find our seat," Molly pulled on Rose’s hand.
"Take care of my wife Molly," Jack turned to the older woman.
"With my life Jack,"
Molly pinched his cheek. "Now you hurry and tie things up
here. Rosie will be waiting for you."
"Bye Jack," Rose waved as she followed Molly and
boarded the train. Jack stood and waved until the train
disappeared into the horizon.
It was three days later that they reached Denver. Rose stood in the large foyer, feeling lost without her anchor by her side. How she wished Jack was with her, holding her hand and telling her everything was going to be alright. It has been three long miserable days with out him and she was still counting.
"Here we are Rosie! Home
sweet home!" Molly announced. "Don’t look so
gloomy. You’ll have the quiet and relaxation you need and
you’ll have your very own room. I had it made up especially
for you."
"Jack…can I call him?" Rose turned to her hostess,
not wanting to intrude, but if she didn’t hear Jack’s
voice soon she was going to scream.
"Sure thing sweetie. Right in here," Rose led the way to a separate room and handed the phone reciever to the younger woman.
"Do you know how to dial
this thing, or do you want me to?"
"I know how. Thank you Molly," Rose gratefully smiled.
Molly only nodded and then left the room to give Rose some
privacy. Unfortunately it was Weaver that answered the only phone
the Dawson’s had.
"Yeah?" He gruffly replied.
"May I speak to Jack
please?"
"He’s not here. I’ll tell him you called,"
That was all Weaver said before hanging up. Rose frowned. She
knew Weaver was lying. She could swear she heard Jack’s
voice in the background. She was about to pick up the phone and
dial again, but decided against it. Weaver would pick up the
phone again and she still wouldn’t get to talk to her
husband.
"Are you done in here Rose?" Molly stuck her head into the room.
"Yes. I think I need to lay down for a bit if you don’t mind."
"Of course I don’t mind. Follow me," Molly led the way up the stairs. "I had Richard take your things to your rooms. I’ll be by to help you unpack after you take that nap. Train rides do take a lot out of ya,"
Rose could only smile, her mind stuck on Jack. She wished that she had gotten to talk to him. To hear his sweet voice and tell him how much she loved him. Damn that Weaver Dawson to Hell. It was so unfair that she should be separated from her husband all because he was too prejudiced against well to do people to get to know her better.
"Come on Rose. Let’s get you to your room. Your bed is all ready for ya," Molly took her hand and led her to her room.
*
Rose sighed luxeriously as she awoke from her nap. She felt so much more relaxed and refreshed than she did earlier. Setting up, she took in her surroundiings. Strangely the room reminded her of the room she had on Titanic. Looking at the couch she smiled at the memory of Jack sketching her. Sighing, she leaned back on her pillows and got lost in the memory of that magical moment. They both were so nervous and Jack was such a gentleman.
"Jack," Rose sighed. At that moment she decided to call him again. She wanted, no she needed to hear his voice. And she wasn’t going to let Weaver Dawson stand in her way either.
Stretching, she got up and slipped back downstairs to the telephone room. Quickly she dials the Dawson number and as expected Weaver answered.
"Yeah," was his gruff answer.
"May I speak to Jack please," Rose asked, deciding to try the polite path.
"He’s not available."
"Well is he there at all? Please, I really need to…"
"He’s not here," Weaver’s voice was tinged with irritation. "I wouldn’t bother calling back if I was you either." That said, Weaver hung up, leaving Rose just staring at the phone. Twice she had called and still she didn’t get to talk to Jack. Weaver even admitted in so many words that she was trying to keep her away from him.
Sighing dejectedly, she placed the phone back in the cradle and buried her head in her hands, not bothering to stop the tears. Weaver was going to turn Jack against her somehow and then where would she be?
"Ahem, are you ok Miss?" A soft feminine, irish voice questioned. Rose glanced up and saw a girl in a maid’s uniform, who looked a bit familiar.
"Ah…yes…I’ve just had a major…disappointment. I wanted to call my husband, but his uncle refuses to let me talk to him and…"
"Oh my…well…let me see what I can do for you then," The girl had a spark in her eye as she held out her hand for the phone.
"Excuse me?" Rose was taken aback. She didn’t even know this girl.
"I’m going to call, pretend to be a old friend and then hand the phone to you. That way you’ll get to talk to your honey. Now, what’s his name?"
"Jack," Rose stared in shock. It was a great idea, but she was totally bewildered that this stranger was going to help her.
"What’s does he do?"
"What?"
"His job. Any particular hobbies…?"
"He’s an artist."
"Be a dear will ya and dial that number," The girl winked.
Rose nodded, redialing the Dawson’s residence.
"Hi. This is Katie McGowen and I’m calling for a Jack. I hear he lives at this number. Is he around? I’m an old friend. He’s drawn me once or twice back in Ireland. He’ll be right pleased to hear from me," The girl spoke into the reciever. "Oh he is. Well tell him I need to talk to him now."
Katie giggled and handed the phone to Rose. "Jack should be on there in a few minutes."
Rose’s eyes lit up with gratitude. This was the second time a stranger has helped her.
"Hello?" Jack’s voice came across the line.
"Jack!" Rose happily replied. "It’s me, Rose."
"Rose? Why did you say your name was Katie?"
"That was the maid. I tried calling you a couple of times before, but your uncle wouldn’t let me talk to you, so she offered to call for me."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Oh Jack, I miss you so much."
"I miss you too Rose. I promise, we’ll be together in four weeks," Jack sighed. "So how is Denver?"
"Well…I haven’t seem much of it just yet, but what I have seen it’s rather pretty. I think you’d like it here."
"Well if you’re there, I love it," Jack laughed.
"The baby misses you too. And Molly sends her love."
"Well tell Molly she better take care of my two girls. I mean it."
"Jack…why do you think it’s a girl?"
"I don’t know."
"Well Jack, I better get off here. I don’t want to run Molly’s bill up. We owe her so much already."
"I know. Hey listen, I’ll call you for now on ok? You don’t need to deal with the stress of having this Katie calling for you."
Rose nodded. "That’s ok with me. Just as long as I hear from you every day. I love you Jack Dawson."
"I love you more Rose Dawson. Bye."
"Bye," Rose sighed, staying on the line until Jack hung up.
"So that was a nice talk no?" Katie came back.
"Yes. I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you. You know, you look quite familiar to me. I swear I’ve seen you before," Rose’s eyes widened as she realized where she saw the girl. "Titanic! You were on Titanic! I remember you from the steerage party!"
"Yes, and you were that first class lady with the handsome blonde man. You two sure did cut a rug," Katie grinned. "I hope he survived…"
"Oh he did. That’s Jack. My husband," Rose giggled.
"Oh yes, the guy with the portfolio, always drawing something. I’m Katie McGowen."
"Rose Dawson," Rose shook her hand. "Wow this is a small world. So, how did you hook up with Molly?"
"Me and my man Jim, we ran into her on the Carpathia. I explained our situation and she gave us some jobs. Jim works in the garden and I’m what I’ve always wanted to be. A lady’s maid. In fact I’m assigned to you."
"Oh goodness. It’s been so long since I’ve had a maid. I won’t know how to act," Rose giggled.
Katie laughed. "Well don’t worry. I’m sure it’ll all come back to ya. Now come. I’ve drawn you some water for a nice warm bath. You can relax and think about that wee one you’ll be having."
Rose only smiled and followed Katie up the stairs, for the first time in weeks content. Sure she wasn’t with Jack at the moment, but soon she would be and in the mean time she could just set back and let all her worries drift away.