7
The next morning the Dawsons set down to breakfast. Rose follows the women into the kitchen, much to Jack’s surprise and Jack goes to the living room with his father to help set the table.
"Your ma’s upset," Charles Dawson flatly replies, not looking at his son. "You should have written and told us you got engaged son."
Jack swallowed. He knew this was going to come up sooner or later. He just hopes his mother keeps her opinions to herself around Rose. "I know she’s not happy pa. But I love Rose and I wanted to marry her as soon as possible. I couldn’t take losing her…not after losing…I just love her and wanted to marry her. Okay?"
Charles laughed and holds his arms up as if defending himself. "No need to convince me son. I can tell just by looking at you two that you’re crazy about one another. And don’t worry. Your ma won’t say nothing about not being invited to the wedding. She still has Jacklyn’s to plan."
Jack laughed at this, just as the women come out, each carrying a covered dish.
"We’re having Jack’s favorite breakfast this morning," Nancy grins. "Bacon, eggs, flapjacks, sausage, and hashbrowns."
"With fresh squeezed orange juice," Jacklyn sets the pitcher of juice on the table. "You like fresh squeezed orange juice don’t you Rose?"
Rose shyly nods and takes Jack’s hand. "I love it."
"Good. Now let’s set. Rose why don’t you set between me and Jacklyn. We’d like to get to know you better," Nancy grabs Rose’s hand and leads her to a chair away from Jack. Rose looks at Jack as if she’s begging for him to rescue her. Jack just shruggs his shoulders like there’s nothing he can do.
"Here you go Rose," Nancy smiles, seating her next to Jacklyn and Nancy sets next to her son who’s flanked by his father. "Charles, why don’t you say grace. You do say grace don’t you Rose?"
Rose smiles and nods. She bows her head as Jack’s father says grace. At that moment she wish she was back on the sinking Titanic. That was a lot more comfortable then where she is now.
After Grace was said, the bowls of food is passed around the table. "So tell me Rose. Where are you from?" Nancy asked, scooping a helping of eggs out of the bowl.
"Philadelphia," Rose answered, looking at Jack who just smiles reassuringly at her. She can swear that she now knew how he felt that night at the first class dinner. Of course he passed with flying colors, she wasn’t so sure about herself.
"Which part? I hear lower Philadelphia was really run down," Jacklyn takes a bite of toast. "I wouldn’t be able to live among all those rodents."
"Well, where I came from, there was hardly any rats," Rose smiled at Jack who silently laughed, recognizing the line he used at the dinner in first class.
"Something funny son?" Charles looked at his son.
"Uh, no sir," Jack immediately stops laughing. "Rose comes from upper Philadelphia mother."
"Oh I see," Nancy nods. "However did you meet my son?"
"On a ship," Rose answered quickly. "It was love at first sight you can say."
"Yeah after getting arrested for getting you out of a sticky spot. You should have been there dad. She was trying to look at the propellers and she slipped. Good thing I was there to save her life. I pulled her back over, her screaming all the way. The crewmen came just when I pull her over and we both fall in a compromising position. Her dress was ripped and she looked terrified. You can only imagine what the crewmembers thought."
"But I explained everything and they let Jack go. I invited Jack to dinner as a thank you for saving my life. The next day I searched him out and we spent the day together. He showed me his art work and showed me how to spit like a man," Rose laughed.
Nancy glared at her son disapprovingly. "Jack really. Couldn’t you have resisted?"
"Well she had to learn it somewhere," Jack shrugged. "It’s better I thought her than someone who didn’t have any real manners."
Jacklyn of course burst into laughter. "I can just imagine my brother spitting over the railing of a ship."
Rose laughed too. "It was a sight. He had the nerve to call me pitiful."
"It was," Jack laughed.
"And you fell in love with that?" Jacklyn asked.
Rose stops laughing and just smiles over at Jack. "No. I fell in love with his kindness, his ability to listen and see people for who and what they really were. With his ability to make me feel like the sky’s the limit. I never met anyone like Jack before."
"Well I for one would like to welcome you to the Dawson family," Charles stands up and take’s Rose’s hand. "If this fella gets out of line at any time, just let me know."
Rose nods and smiles at the kind man who possessed Jack’s sparkling blue eyes. Everyone jumps at the sound of the doorbell.
"I’ll answer that," Jacklyn stands from her seat and strolls into the living room. She opens the door to Linda Smith.
"Mrs. Smith…what a pleasant surprise," Jacklyn forces a smile, hiding her dislike for the woman. "What do we owe the pleasure?"
"Here’s a invitation for your family to my daughter’s engagement gala. It’s tonight you know so I don’t know if you’ll be able to find anything to wear in time…"
"Oh that’s not a
problem. Mother and I will just have to run to town to buy
something. We thank you for the invitation. And this does extend
to all the Dawson family, right?"
"Of course," Linda looks at Jacklyn strangely.
"Why wouldn’t it?"
"Oh no reason. Just curious," Jacklyn smiles happily."Well we thank you again."
"Good day Miss. Dawson," Linda Smith shakes her head, feeling sorry for the girl because she just knew that with the Dawson’s uncouth upbringing skills, the girl would have no chance of finding a quality husband.
"Mother! Daddy! We’re all invited to that Gala tonight! Whatever should we wear?" Jacklyn skips back into the dining room.
"We’ll take Rose shopping, that’s what we’ll do. Rose you do like gala’s don’t you?" Nancy asked.
Rose forces a smile. She had thought she’d never have to attend another one of those stupid parties again, but to please her mother in law, she’ll endure another one. "Of course."
"Well good. Now get ready. We’ll have a lot of shopping to do. Oh and Charles, take Jack and get him something decent to wear. A nice suit from Sears would be nice. And so would a haircut. He looks like a little boy with his hair falling in his face like that."
"Yes dear," Charles nods. "Come on boy. We have shoping to do."
"Can’t wait," Jack flatly replies, getting up. "But let me warn you, no one is touching my hair. I don’t care what ma says."
One hour later…
Wyndhymes dress shop…
"Oh this looks ravishing on you Rose!" Jacklyn exclaims her approval as Rose steps out in a black and red sequin dress, similar to the one she wore at the first class dinner on Titanic. "This is definitely your color."
"What do you think mother? Too rich for our blood?"
"It’ll be a wedding present," Nancy smiles at her daughter in law. The girl has really grown on her. Despite Rose’s upper class upbringing, she was one of the most down to earth girls she knew. No wonder she had captured her son’s heart so completely.
"Oh no Mrs. Dawson, I can’t allow you to spend this much money …" Rose begins to protest.
"It’s no trouble at all dear. We’ve saved money for just a occasion. And call me Nancy. It’ll be less confusing since we’re both Mrs . Dawson now."
"Ok…Nancy," Rose smiled.
"Ready to be rung up?" The sales lady smiled as the women took their purchases to the counter. "So all of you going to the gala huh?"
"Yes, even though Linda Smith took her own good time getting our invitation to us," Jacklyn grumbled.
"And who is this lovely young lady," The elderly woman asked, looking Rose up and down.
"Oh Gertrude, let me introduce my new daughter in law Rose Dawson," Nancy smiles.
"Did you say daughter in law? Then that mean’s Jack’s come home and he’s married?"
"Yep big news huh? Just came strolling on the porch last night wife and all," Jacklyn smiles. "A big surprise for us, but we’re happy to have him home and happy."
"Well that’s well good to hear Nancy. Congratulations Rose and welcome to Chippewa Falls. I hope you and Jack are here to stay?"
"That all depends on what Jack wants to do," Rose smiles. "But thank you and I’m very happy to be here."
The door bell chimes as a group of giggling girls walk into the store. Gertrude sighs. "Oh great. The wedding party’s here. Girl’s what can I do for you? I’ve already sent your dresses to the Smith house!"
"We need dresses for tonight silly," One of the girls laugh. "Can’t show up at Kimberly’s party in rags now can we?"
"If she was marrying her old boyfriend we would," One of the girls chuckled.
"What’s that supposed to mean?" Jacklyn turns to glare at the girl who made the comment.
"Jacklyn please, not here on Rose’s first day out. Now come on, let’s get home so we can get ready for the gala. See you tonight Gertrude," Nancy rushes the two girls out the door, leaving the chuckling wedding party behind them.
Jack and his father is at Sears, trying on suits for the party.
"So who’s gala is this?" Jack asked curiously, eyeing a black suit.
Charles looks somberly at his son. Even though Jack was happily married and deeply in love with his wife, Charles knew how deeply his son had cared about Kimberly Smith. Even though her mother had made his life miserable and was behind him leaving all those years ago. Charles wondered what Jack’s feelings for Kimberly were now. Was he truly over her?
"Brendon Lakesworth."
"Oh really?" Jack looks up surprised. "What’s the occasion?"
"He’s getting married Jack,"
"To who?" Jack asked, looking back at the suit.
"Jack….It’s
Kimberly. He’s marrying Kimberly Smith."
Jack drops the sleeve and looks at his father, his eyes clouded
with mixed emotions. "Did you just say he was marrying
Kimberly?"
"I’m sorry son. I know how much you care for her. I wish it could be different for the both of you."
Jack doesn’t answer, but he shakes his head. "I’m not upset that she’s getting married dad. I mean, I have rose and she’s all I could ever want. But Kimberly…she was my first love. I would like her to find love with someone like I did with Rose and both you and I know that this isn’t the case with Brendon Lakesworth. It’s another one of her mother’s get rich schemes. Rose’s mother tried the same damn thing to her, but thank god Rose was strong enough to break free before it was too late. I just hope that Kim has the same strength. That’s all."
"Well Kim and Rose are two different spirits Jack. Rose’s spirit seems to match your own and has a added fire. Kimberly…her spirit is more passive. No fire at all. I doubt she can get out of this one. Especially when she finds out that you’ve been taken."
"Should I go dad? Should I let he know that I’m back in town? Or should I stay away? Rose and I can catch a Nickelodeon over in Eau Claire or something while you three are gone."
"No Jack. That’s not a good idea at all. Rose deserves to be shown a good time and this gala may just do it. Don’t you think?"
Jack sighed. "Maybe."
"And besides, you don’t want to give Brendon Lakesworth and Linda Smith the impression that you’re hiding from them either. Stand on your own two feet Jack. Show them that they haven’t got you down for the count. That you’ve risen above all that."
Jack forces a smile, knowing that his father was right. "You’re right dad. I can’t run away forever. I have to face up to it somehow and it’s better to do it now, with my beautiful wife by my side."
"That’s my boy!" Charles slaps his son on the back.