Chapter Fourteen
Two days later they arrive in Santa Monica and are standing just outside Molly’s beach house.
"Look how big this place is," Jack gazes at the cottage. "It’s a artist’s dream."
"Let’s go inside," Rose smiled, pulling her husband into the door. She’s not surprised to find a note addressed to them setting on the desk just inside the door. "Look a note from Molly. Let’s see. Dear Jack and Rose. Welcome to my beach house. Look deeper into the envelope and you will find that it’s now your beach house. Yes, you’ve read right. This is my final wedding present to you. A beach house of your own in Santa Monica. I’ve already made the deed out to the both of you. Congratulations and I hope you two find love and joy here. I’ve stocked the house with food and supplies lasting you for a good two months anyway. I’ll be down to visit in the next couple of weeks to make sure you’re settling in ok. Jack, take care of our delicate Rose. And Rose, keep on being the inspiration for our budding young artist.
See you soon, Molly. Oh Jack! It’s ours! This house is all ours!" Rose happily threw herself into her husbands arms, who just lifts her off her feet and whirls her around.
"Rosie, you must be a good luck charm or
something. Ever since we’ve got married it seems like
nothing but good things have been happening to me."
Rose just laughed. "Come on, let’s explore," Rose
grabs his hand and dragged him upstairs.
Rose stops and gasped at the sight of the master bedroom. It was the largest she’s ever seen. A beautiful bed sat in the middle ready for it’s new owners. "This is so wonderful. I don’t think we’re going to be able to repay Molly."
"Me either. This is so much…"
Rose falls back onto the soft bed. It’s been two whole days since she laid on a good mattress and this was heaven. "Oooh Jack, this is so wonderful. Come join me," She held her hand out to him.
"If you insist," Jack plops down beside her, causing the bed to shake and Rose to laugh.
"Jack, must you be so rough?"
"No. Not always," He gently stroked
her hair. "Do you know how much I love you?"
Rose smiled. "Not as much as I love you. Oh Jack, I’ll
never know how I survived without you. You’re such a big
part of me."
Jack only smiled and kissed her tenderly. Soon the kiss was full of passion and Rose and Jack was on their way back to the stars.
*
Later that evening, Jack had decided to show Rose Santa Monica. First stop, the pier. They weren’t going to do much of anything. He just wanted to show her the highlights, like where he used to set and draw portraits for ten cents a piece.
Rose gasped at the sight of the roller coaster
and the merry sound of carnival music. "What a wonderful
place."
"We’ll come here for a real day at the pier soon Rose.
Right now, we should just walk and enjoy the sights," Jack
smiled at his wife’s wonder at something so ordinary as a
day at the pier. Jack had to admit himself, that with Rose by his
side, the pier did seem almost magical. He couldn’t wait to
take her riding.
Rose giggled. "I think our little one likes it too," noting the slight kick she had just received.
"He kicked?" Jack’s eyes widened in awe at the new movement from his child.
Rose nodded, taking his hand and laying it on
her belly. "Here, feel."
Jack gasped as he felt a tiny foot press against his hand.
"Wow! That’s amazing. He’s amazing."
"He? What makes you think it’s a boy?"
"I don’t know," Jack smiled. "I just know. Little Benjamin wants out into the world don’t you fella?"
"He’s named him already?" Rose laughed. "But really I like Benjamin. If it’s a boy, that’ll be it’s name."
"And if it’s a girl we’ll name her Madeline Ruth."
"My mother would like that," Rose smiled. "And for good measure, I’ll tell her you came up with the name."
Jack smiled, taking Rose’s hand. "Come on. Let me show you where I did those portraits."
Jack pulled her over to a spot where you could see the ocean in the distance. "I used to set right here and have my subjects stand in front of the ocean and draw them with the rolling waves as a background."
"How beautiful," Rose sighed.
"And look. I have my portfolio and I have the very object of inspiration right here with me. Why don’t you go stand in front of the background there and I’ll do you a Jack Dawson original for free? What do you say?"
"But you have so many pictures of me already Jack."
"But not a Santa Monica one. Come on Rose. You might as well get used to it since I’m planning on drawing you a lot while we’re here anyway. You’d be so beautiful with a Californian sunset in the backdrop."
Rose rolled her eyes. There was no use to
resisting Jack when he wanted draw her. "Ok Jack. But make
this quick. I want to explore the rest of the pier."
Jack just smiled and began getting his supplies ready for the
portrait. "We can hang this in our child’s room."
"You’re insane."
"I know," Jack smiled, not seeing the scruffy man approach him from behind.
"Dawson, I never expected to see you again," The man crossed his arms, his eyes not exactly friendly.
"Nathan. You were the last person I expected to see," Jack turned around and faced the newcomer. Curious, Rose walked up to his side and placed her hand in his.
"I don’t know why since my family runs this place. Still drawing those pictures I see and without permission. But I do see your clientele has become much lovlier," Nathan Kelly looked at Rose appreciatively. "Her husband must be very proud."
"Nathan, this is my wife Rose Dawson and our soon-to-be-born baby. Rose this is Nathan Kelly. The son of the man I used to work for here at the pier."
"Hello," Rose nodded.
"You did good Jack. She’s the
lovliest lady I’ve seen. And she is a lady from her accent I
can tell. Where did you two meet up?"
"A ship," both Jack and Rose answered.
"We were both coming back from
Europe," Rose smiled up at Jack. "Jack had saved my
life, and after that it was love at first sight."
"Well I’m glad to see you’ve moved on Jack.
You’re a good guy. I’m glad you found true love with
Rose here. But let me tell ya, pa won’t be happy if he finds
out you’re making profits without his say so."
Jack laughed. "Don’t worry Nathan. I
have no intention of working or making a profit off the pier. I
just wanted another portrait of Rose. We’re on a vacation
you can say. I promised her some time ago that I’d bring her
here."
"Well then may I be the first to welcome you to Santa
Monica," Nathan nodded. "And to our fabulas pier.
You’ll love it here Rose."
"From what Jack has told me, I’m sure I will,"
Rose stepped closer to her husband.
"Well I better go. Father’s waiting
for some supplies and if I don’t get them, he’s going
to blow his top. Maybe I’ll see you around Jack."
"Maybe," Jack waved as Nathan took off.
"He seemed nice," Rose replied.
Jack just shrugged. "Now where were we?"
"Jack!" Rose was hoping he’d changed his mind.
"Come on Rose. The sooner you take
position the sooner we get done."
"Oh alright. How’s this?" She retakes her
position.
*
All was quiet at the Kelly house as everyone sat down for dinner. Ron Kelly sat at the head while his daughter and son sat at opposite sides from each other.
"You won’t believe who I saw at the pier today," Nathan took a bite of his burger.
"Who?" Ron asked, not really paying attention.
"Jack Dawson."
Ron dropped his fork. "Who did you say?"
"Jack Dawson. He was drawing a picture of this lovely red head," Nathan smiled at his sister, who looked at him pale.
"Did he mention me?" Julia asked.
"Don’t be a fool girl!" Ron growled. "How much was he charging?"
Nathan just shrugged.
"Where’s he staying?" Julia asked.
Nathan shrugged again. "I didn’t ask and he didn’t say. Why? Planning to go meet him?"
"Like hell you will," Ron growled. "You will stay away from him. Do I make myself clear."
Julia lowered her gaze. "Yes daddy."
"Now how much did it look like he was charging?"
Nathan shrugged. "From the way he was looking at that red head I think he was doing it for free."
Humph," Ron snorted and went back to his dinner.