8
The gala is in full swing when the Dawson’s arrive. Everyone is there except the guests of honor. They don’t arrive until a hour after the party’s started.
"I can’t help but wonder how much this costed Linda," Nancy commented looking at their surroundings. "A pretty penny I bet."
"One thousand dollars. I’ve seen more expensive," Rose whispered to Jack who only smiles half-heartedly in return, worried about what would happen when he finally came face to face with Kimberly. "Are you ok?" Rose asked, noticing his mood.
"I’m fine," Jack smiled. "I just feel a little chilly. Must be an after affect of the hypothermia."
Rose’s eyes widen in alarm. "Should I go get a doctor?"
"No. I’ll be fine," Jack smiled, squeezing her hand reassuringly.
"What are you two whispering about over here?" Jacklyn smiled, coming over to join the couple.
"Nothing that’s of immediate attention," Jack smiles, placing his arm around Rose and pulling her close. "Just newly-wed stuff."
Jacklyn just shakes her head and rolls her eyes. "I should warn ma that a baby dawson can be expected soon."
"Do that and you’re gonna wish you hadn’t Jack glares at his sister.
"Do you two always fight like this?" Rose asked.
"Pretty much," Jacklyn laughed. "But it’s all in fun. Jack knows I love him."
"I don’t know. Do I?" Jack smiled mischievously.
Jacklyn throws him a playful punch in the arm.Rose smiles, wishing that she had a brother or sister to have such a easy rapport with. But it was just as well she didn’t. She would have had to leave them behind too to believe that she was dead.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Can I have your Attention!" Mr. Lakesworth taps a champagne glass with his fork. "May I announce the arrival of my future daughter in law and her attendents. Kimberly Smith and company!"
Applause thunder throughout the hall as a blond girl about Rose’s hieght and Jack’s age comes strolling in followed by the group of girls Rose had seen in the dress shop earlier that day.
"Miss. Smith looks quite lovely tonight. Doesn’t she Jack?" Jacklyn looks at her brother, who’s watching the procession. Jack looks over at Rose, reminding himself that she was still there. "Not as lovely as Rose." Jack smiles, kissing his wife’s gloved hand. Rose bites her lip as she’s once again reminded of Titanic.
"Jack Dawson!" A male voice exclaims. Jack looks over to see his old friend Adam McFee rushing over towards him. "While I’ll be you’re back! We never thought we’d see you in these parts again!"
"Neither did I. But
Circumstances brought me back," Jack smiled. "So
how’s everything going for ya Adam?"
"Great! Got married two months ago and we’re expecting
a baby now. Hopeing it’ll be a boy. Carry on the McFee
name."
Jack laughed. "Of course," Jack remembers how old time his friend could be.
"And who’s this lovely creature?" Adam notices Rose, who’s clinging to Jack’s hand.
"Adam meet the love of my life. Rose Dawson. She’s my wife," Jack grins, loving the envious look in Adam’s face.
"How do you do mam," Adam smiles turns to Jack. "Quite a dish if I do say so myself Jack."
"Can you be anymore chouvinistic Adam?" Jacklyn glared at her brother’s friend. Honestly, she didn’t know why Jack had kept the bum around for so long.
"Stow it Jacklyn. We
don’t want any of your feminist crap polluting our women
tonight. Right Jack?"
"You’re on your own Adam," Jack shakes his head,
taking Rose’s hand to lead her out onto the dance floor.
"Jack what are we doing?" Rose looks around as he takes her in his arms and they begin to sway to the music.
"Dancing of course," Jack grins. "You have to forgive Adam. He’s one of the few unenlightened people in this town."
Rose giggled. "That’s okay. I’m used to it. I used to be engaged to the biggest chuvenist pig, remember?"
"Oh yes. And how is Mr. Hockley these days?"
"I don’t know. And
you know what? I don’t care," Rose laughed, stepping in
closer to Jack. "I’ve found something a lot
better."
Jack strokes her cheek. "I love you Rose."
Rose smiled and is about to reply when she’s interrupted by a female voice calling for Jack. Jack turns to notice Kimberly Smith pushing her way through the crowd. "Jack! You’re back!" She immediately hugs him, not yet noticing Rose.
"I hear congratulations is in order," Jack forces a smile.
"So you heard about Brendon and I. No need to tell you that mother is ecstatic. She get’s her way once again."
"Well she’ll be rich forever now," Jack smiles. "Those this marriage make you happy Kimberly?"
The name suddenly rings a bell for Rose. She remember Molly mentioning that Jack was calling to a Kimberly in his sleep after they were rescued. She wondered what the story was there. Maybe Jack will tell her when they get home.
"You know the answer to that Jack. Only one thing can make me happy and according to rumors, that’s impossible now," Kimberly smiles sadly then looks at Rose. "And is this the lucky woman who’s won Jack’s heart?"
"Hello," Rose smiles politely.
"Kimberly Smith. Soon to be Lakesworth," Kimberly shakes Rose’s hand.
"Rose De-Dawson," Rose catches herself from saying Dewitt Bukater.
"Have we met? You look familiar?" Kimberly looks closely at Rose.
Before Rose could answer there was another clink on a glass. Everyone looks up at Brendon’s father. "Mrs. Smith on the arm of my son Brendon!"
Applause thunders throughout the room as a handsome young man escorts an older woman who looks similar to Kimberly is escorted into the room. Rose looks over at Kimberly as she groans.
"Are you ok?" Rose asked, lightly touching the girl’s arm.
"My mother is going to have a fit when she sees Jack here," Kimberly sighed.
"Kimberly!" Mrs. Smith rushes over and grabs her daughter hand. "So Mr. dawson I see you have returned to our quiet town. May I ask why? It’s not for Kimberly is it?"
Jack’s face grows beet red as Rose looks up at him, a question in her eyes. "I came back to introduce my wife to my family and friends Mrs. Smith," Jack keeps his temper in check. He wanted to strangle the woman for bringing that up in front of his wife.
"Wife?" For the first time Mrs. Smith notice’s Rose standing next to Jack.
"Mother why must you cause conflict whereever you go?" Kimberly glares at her mother.
"No matter. Kimberly your fiancee awaits," Linda Smith roughly grabs her daughter’s hand and leads her up to the first table where Brendon and his father were setting.
"What a rude woman," Rose shakes her head.
Jack is about reply when Mr. Lakesworth again signals for silence. "With the recent disaster of the luxery liner Titanic, a donation is going out for all the widows. We’d like to take a few moments of silence as the collection goes around for donations. Afterwards our band will play the hymn that was said to be the last thing the band played aboard the doomed liner. Everyone, bow you heads now please."
Swallowing hard, both Jack and Rose tightly link hands and bow their heads, praying for the friends they had lost aboard the liner. Rose wipes at a tear that had linked from her eye and squeezes Jack’s hand for moral support. They each drop a ten dollar bill on the collection plate as it comes around.
Soon afterwards they play the hymn nearer my God to thee. That’s when it all came swimming back to Rose. They were no longer in the safe dance hall. They were back aboard the sinking Titanic. Rose can hear the screams and the people jostling past her. She can hear the roar of the water and the groans of the ship. Then she hears the unmistakable boom of the ship breaking in two and the motion of the ship going down deeper and deeper into the freezing waters. She’s almost to the surface of the water when she hears Jack calling her name.
"What?" Rose snaps back to the present.
"Are you okay? You went quite pale there for a second," Jack looks closly at her.
"I’m fine. I just…I just had a flashback for a second, but I’m fine now," Rose forces a smile and squeezes his hand reassuringly.
"Such a tragic loss," one of the guests are heard saying as they pass by Jack and Rose. "All those poor souls."
"Well at least they were all third class that parished. Less filthy people to litter our country," another guest nods.
Anger builds up in Rose at this statement. How dare those women say such a thing. Those were real people with real family, lives, and dreams that were lost in the sinking! And they all weren’t third class either! She can’t help but think of the dejected expression on Mr. Andrew’s face as his wonderful creation sanked into sea. Of the first class man saying good bye to his sobbing family as they were put into the lifeboat, promising that it was good bye for a little while, only a little while. She shivers at the memory of the outcries for help to the lifeboats to return, but only one did and it was too late for most of them. Her and Jack were lucky to have escaped with their lives.
"Ignore them Rose," Jack whispered in her ear, noticeing the burning anger in his wife’s eyes and how tense she had become. "They don’t know. They can’t help their ignorance."
"They could at least have respect for the dead though," Rose looks at Jack.
"I know. I know," Jack places a comforting arm around her trembling shoulders. "But just let it go for now. This is supposed to be a happy occasion."
"Jack Rose! Over here!" Jacklyn waves to her brother and his fiancee. "You must see this newspaper! It’s about the inquistions into the sinking!"
Against their better judgement, Jack and Rose goes over to the small group and glances at the newspaper.
"It says here that the ship sank in one whole piece. That’s amazing," one of the girls gasp.
"One piece?" Rose glances at Jack. She remembered it quite differently. Jack shakes his head, indicating for her not to say anything.
"Are you okay Rose?" Jacklyn looked at her sister in law with concern.
"I’m fine. I’m just getting a little claustrophobic. It happens every now and then," Rose forces a smile and tightly grips jack’s hand. "Jack…"
"Later," Jack waves as he leads Rose outside.
"Can you believe that Jack?!" Rose explodes once they’re outside and out of earshot. "Can you believe such lies they’ve printed!?"
"Rose…"
"How can they say that ship sank in one piece?! We were on that damn thing when it broke in two! It was a struggle just to hang on!"
"I know Rose."
"And Cal! He was too busy chasing and shooting at us to save anyone! If that girl wants him she can have him!"
"I know Rose," Jack gently messages her shoulders. "We both know what the truth is."
"And then what those women said earlier…how can they be so callous and cruel?"
"Because they weren’t there Rose. They didn’t see the things we saw. They didn’t know the people that died on that ship…they were never friends with them…they never saw the dreams of their friends go up in smoke like we saw."
"Oh Jack," Rose collapses into his arms. For the first time since the sinking she finally cries for all those lost. For all the people that parished. For all the dreams unfullfilled. All the cries for help unanswered. "Why Jack why? Why did they all have to die? Why weren’t there enough boats? Why didn’t the others come back for us except for that measly one? Why?"
"Selfishness and greed. And foolhardiness. They flew in the face of god and they crashlanded…we all did," Jack held her tighter, not noticing Kimberly and her fiancee approaching.
"Is everything ok out here?" Brendon Lakesworth asked, recognizing Jack Dawson, Kimberly ex-boyfriend. He pushes back the spear of jealousy as he realizes that Jack was with another woman and didn’t show that much interest in his fiancee at the moment.
"Everything’s fine," Jack forces a smile. "All the talk about that ship got to her."
"I’m afraid I haven’t had the pleasure," Brendon glances at Rose as she wipes away her tears.
"Rose. Rose Dawson," Rose forces a smile, still tightly holding Jack’s hand.
"I’m Brendon Lakesworth, the groom and this is my soon to be bride Kimberly Smith."
"We met," Rose smiled.
"I hope you’re enjoying our town Rose. And I do apologize for all this depressing stuff. It’s just that the sinking of Titanic is the biggest news to hit a small town like Chippewa Falls in quite a while," Kimberly apologizes.
Rose only half heartedly nods.
"Brendon…why don’t you go show Rose the grounds. I’m sure she’ll find your gardens fascinating," Kimberly looks at her fiancee.
"Would you like that Rose?" Brendon asks, offering his arm.
"Jack?" Rose looks at her husband, who’s looking rather uncomfortable.
"If that’s what you want to do," Jack shruggs..
"Ok," Rose smiles, accepting the offer.
"Don’t worry Jack. I’ll bring her back in one piece."
"You better," Jack smiles. "Have fun Rose."
"I’ll try," Rose looks longingly at Jack for a second then leaves with Brendon.
"She’s lovely Jack. You have good taste," Kimberly looks after Rose and Brendon disappearing behind the mansion.
"She’s great," Jack smiled wistfully. "Everything I could ever ask for."
"But do
you love her. I mean truly love her
Jack…like die for her?"
Jack looks at Kimberly, his eyes warm and
sincere. "I almost did. But she
wouldn’t let me."
"What?"
"Long story. Maybe I’ll tell it to you sometime."
"I’d love to hear it," Kimberly smiles and bows her head. She looks back up and has tears in her eyes. "That should be me Jack. I should be the one married to you. Not Rose. We both know it’s true."
"But that’s not the way it is Kimberly. I love Rose now. With everything I am and will ever be."
"But you still love me…don’t you Jack?" Kimberly’s eyes shine with unshed tears, pleading with him to say yes.
"Always," Jack wistfully smiles. "You were the first girl I ever loved…there will always be a place in my heart for you."
"As there will always be for you. But mine is a lot bigger than yours I’m afraid. It’s impossible for me to ever love anyone else," Kimberly suddely hugs Jack tightly, wishing that they could go back in time to being the two innocent teenagers so much in love that it hurt.
"Jack?" Rose and Brendon suddenly return. Jack quickly releases Kimberly and immediately joins Rose.
"I was just wishing Kimberly will on her marriage. I hope you both live long and happily together," Jack looks at Brendon who just glares at his wife.
"I’m sure we will," Brendon nods. "Come Kimberly. It’s time for pictures." He roughly grabs his fiancee’s arm and leads her outside.
"I guess we better go in as well," Jack gently take’s Rose’s hand, avoiding her curious gaze. He prayed that she’d forget what she had walked in on. It of course meant little to Jack, but he didn’t want it to hurt Rose.
Rose on the other hand was more than curious. She was outright jealous at finding her handsome husband in the arms of a very beautiful girl. Wasn’t she enough for Jack anymore? Or was it that Jack could only love what he couldn’t have? He couldn’t have Rose, but once he got her, was he ready to toss her aside? Was Jack going to leave her for Kimberly? Tears threaten to spring to her eyes at the thought of this.
"Rose?" Jack is concerned when he notices how somber she looks.
Rose doesn’t have a chance to answer. Jacklyn suddenly grabs her hand and leads her over to the band.
"Quick Rose. Tell them your favorite song so they can play it."
Rose opens her mouth in shock. Her favorite song? How can she think of her favorite song when she’s in danger of losing the only man she ever loved…that she gave everything up for? "Tis the last Rose of Summer," Rose says the first song that comes to her mind.
"Good song," The bandleader nods and goes into the song. Rose looks over at Jack and notices how he’s about to walk over to her, just when a pretty brunette grabs his arm and leads him out onto the dancefloor.
"Not to worry Rose. My brother only has eyes for one girl in this room. A beautiful redhead that he brought home last night," Jacklyn giggled.
Rose forced a smile and stared at Jack who’s politely keeping his distance with the brunette and every once in a while glances over at Rose.
"Jacklyn…what’s with Jack and Kimberly? I know there’s history there. What is it? Were they together before he left?"
Jacklyn’s shocked at Rose’s question. What would make her ask such a thing? Well this wasn’t something Jacklyn should answer. Only Jack should tell Rose about him and Kimberly. "Uh…they were friends.
"Just how friendly were they?" Rose asked.
"Oh look! There’s mother and father! It’s been a long time since they danced like that!" Jacklyn exclaimed, just as the band goes into a more fast-paced dance.
Rose smiled wistfully, being reminded of the steerage party aboard Titanic, how Jack had swung her around against her halfhearted protests. How he had only had eyes for just her.
"Rose are you okay?" Jacklyn asked, noticing how she was staring at Jack who was now talking with Adam. Rose looked almost sad, as if her heart was about to break? Did Kimberly have anything to do with that look? What did Jack do to make Rose so sad?
"Your brother…he’s so handsome. I bet all the girls were vying for his heart."
"Jack had his fair share of female admirers, but he never took them seriously," Jacklyn shrugged. "In fact, a lot of girls are envious of you Rose. You’re proper, elegant, gorgeous as all get out, and you have Jack’s heart. That’s all they could ever ask for."
But does she have Jack’s heart? Or is his heart still with Kimberly Smith? If so, then why was Rose here at all? She might as well go back to Cal.
"You’re taking good care of Rose aren’t you Jacklyn?" Jack comes up and places a warm arm around Rose’s shoulder.
"Of course," Jacklyn smiles at her brother. "You just make sure you do the same."
"Always," Jack smiles, pulling Rose closer.
"Well this party’s dying down," Charles Dawson and Nancy join their kids. "Ready to head for home?"
"I reckon we better. Jack has to get up early tomorrow to help you with the farming," Nancy smiled at her son. "Did you have fun Rose?"
Rose only smiles and nods, her thoughts still with Kimberly and Jack, remembering once again that night that Molly had said Jack had called out for a Kimberly when he was unconcious aboard the Carpathia.
"Well let’s go home then," Charles leads his family out into the night air, the party long forgotten.