CHAPTER FOUR: A Blast From the Past

Two weeks later...
Gretchen walks downstairs to make sure the house is locked up tight when there's a knock at the door. Wondering who would come visiting this time of night, she opens the door to a familar face. A girl around nineteen years old, with blonde hair and green eyes. She's dressed like a society girl, but the way she stands tells that she's not.
Gretchen's eyes grow big when she realizes who it was. Her best friend Christina Banksworth. She hadn't seen her since she had left town with Jack Dawson five years ago. She was of course Jack's old girlfriend had left him for some rich guy back in Santa Monica two years ago, abandoning Jack to travel the world on his own. Now here she was, back in Chippewa Falls.
"Christina! You're back!" Gretchen hugs her friend. "Oh my goodness. When did you get back in town?"
"Just now. I had nowhere to go so I came here," Christina grinned. "Hope I'm not disturbing you."
"Oh no, of course not. Come on in. Tell me what's been going on since the last I heard from you which was about two years ago," Gretchen pulls her into the sitting room, where they set on the couch facing each other.
"Well as you now already I had left Jack for a rich man named Samuel Longfellow. Oh Gretchen, he was so charming and he brought me all these things. He even game me expensive jewelry. There's no way I could have resisted that. Well anyway, for the past two years we've been seeing each other. Then last week, he took me home to meet his family, at my insistence of course," Christina sighed sadly. "That's when he changed. He became cold and stuffy. He talked down to me. And then, when his mother told hm she didn't like me at all...which was just two nights ago...he dumped me. He gave me two hundred dollars and sent me on my way. I had no where to go except here," Christina bursts into tears. "Back in Chippewa Falls. Oh what a fool I've been. In more ways than one."
"I'd say. I mean, you dump a great guy like Jack for a swell and look what happened. Now you have nothing at all."
"...Jack...whatever happened to him? Do you know?"
"Why? You're not thinking that you'd have another chance with him are you?"
Christina sighed. "I don't know what I'm thinking at this point Gretchen. I just know that what I need now is sleep. Sleep and maybe a good hot bath. What do you say?"
"We have an extra room available. And since everyone's turned in for the night...the bathroom's free," Gretchen nods. "I'll let mother know you're here in the morning. But for now, get some sleep."
"Thank-you Gretchen," Christina hugs her friend. "I guess I'll go see mother tomorrow as well. She must be real sore with me for leaving like that."
"She must be," Gretchen laughed, leading the other girl to the room next to Rose's. "Have a nice night Chris."
"I'll try. Thanks Gretchen," It's not until Gretchen had went into her own room that she realized she never answered her question about Jack. Oh well, she'll just have to find out in the morning. She'll just go on to the Dawson place to find out.

Meanwhile, Gretchen lays on her bed staring up at the ceiling. What a mess this is turning out to be. Jack and Rose's wedding is tomorrow afternoon and now Jack's old girlfriend's back in town thinking about getting back together with her ex. That's the reason she's back, gretchen just knew it. She hoped that the wedding goes off without a hitch before Christina could get in contact with Jack. She loved both her friends, Christina and Rose, but Rose was the one carrying Jack's baby and Gretchen believed she was the one who truly loved Jack, after the story she had told her earlier. You don't go jumping back onto a sinking ship for someone you just like.
Gretchen jumps when there's a slight knock on the door. She opens it to Rose.
"Rose? What are you doing still awake? You should be in bed. You have a big day tomorrow. You and the baby need your rest.
"I know, but I can't sleep. I'm so nervous. I mean, I'll be starting a new life with the love of my life. What if I don't make him a good wife?"
"Oh Rose you'll make Jack the perfect wife. You're already perfect to him anyway," Gretchen shrugs. "You just need to get some sleep and all these cold feet will go away."
"Gretchen...I also wanted to thank-you. thank-you for being such a great friend to me for the past six months. I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here," Rose hugged her friend tightly. Thank-you for everything."
"Oh you're welcomed Rose. It was a pleasure to be there for you. I always admired you...you and your proper ways," Gretchen laughed, hugging her friend back. "Now get to bed before mother wakes up and forces you to bed. You know what a mother hen she is."
"Yes I do," Rose laughed. "Good night Gretchen. My, I just realized something. This is my last night in this house. Tomorrow Jack's house will be my new home. I don't know why I didn't think of that before."
"By the way Rose, are you two going out of town after the wedding?" Gretchen asked hopefully.
"Only a night at a fancy hotel in Eau Claire," Rose shrugs. "Molly Brown's wedding gift...well actually one of her wedding gifts. The other gift is a trip to Santa Monica, but we're not taking that until after the baby's born."
"Oh that's nice. Well I'll let you get to bed. Night Rose," Gretchen replied as Rose waves and disappears back into her room. Sighing deeply, her emotions in turmoil, Gretchen goes to bed.

The next day...

The Dawson House

Jack straightens his tie as he gazes in the mirror. In a couple of more hours he was going to marry the most beautiful woman in the world and he wanted to make sure that he looked perfect...that he looked the right man to marry his beautiful Rose.
"Hey Jack, I think you've prepped in the mirror long enough. It's time to get to the church," William appears in the doorway, crossing his arms impatiently. "You don't want to keep Rose waiting do you?"
"Of course not," Jack turns to his best man. "Are you sure you have the rings? I don't want to find out when we get there that you don't."
"I have them Jack. Don't worry. I have everything under control," William smiled. He was happy for his best friend.. He was indeed marrying the perfect woman. Rose wasn't only beautiful, she had class plus she loved Jack with her whole heart. Unlike Jack's old girlfriend Christina. He knew that girl was up to no good and wasn't surprised when Jack wrote hm that Christina had dumped him for some swell. The only thing was that Gretchen still thought of Christina as her best friend, even though she hadn't heard from her in two years and neither had Jack...which was a very good thing.
Both men jump at the sound of the door. "Who can that be?" Jack asked curiously.
"I'll go check. You just finish up here and then we'll be on our way," William disappears downstairs.

He knew who it was. The girls. Rose probably wanted to see Jack before the wedding. Gretchen had warned him that Rose was going through Jack withdrawal symptoms since they had decided not to see each other until the wedding and would be wanting to stop by the next morning and William had ordered her to keep Rose away. With the luck Jack and Rose had in the past...no one was going to take any chances.
His smile turns to a frown when he opens the door to a loathed face. It was Christina Banksworth, Jack's ex-girlfriend. What was she doing here and why?
"Hi William. It's been a long time," Christina smiles uncomfortably.
"You shouldn't have come back Christina," William darkly replied. "What do you want?"
"Is Jack home? I mean...did he ever return to Chippewa Falls?"
"He's not here. Now good-bye," William slams the door shut in the girls face.
"Who was that?" Jack asked, coming down the stairs, still adjusting his bow-tie to his tuxedo and nods to the door.
"Oh no one important. Come on. We've got to get going," William stops Jack from walking to the front door. "Let's go out the back. Rose is wanting to drop by this morning and you know what they say about the bride and groom seeing each other before the wedding."
"You're right," Jack laughed. "Good idea."
William laughs nervously and follows Jack to the back door leading outside.

Two hours later...

Everything's almost ready. Jack and William are standing at the podium when Jack spots a familiar face in the crowds of guests. His face lights up immediately.
"Hey Molly Brown!" He waves running up to the woman who had helped him aboard Titanic. "What a surprise to see you here!"
"Hey Jack! Rosie called me and told me that you had survived the sinking after all. She also told me to come down here to Chippewa Falls and see you two marry! Oh Jack I am so happy for you both. Especially for that poor girl. She was a wreck after she got off the Carpathia."
"Thanks for taking care of her for me Molly. I wish I had been there for her myself," Jack sighed. "But that's the past and this is the present and we'll be together forever now."
"That's right Mr. Dawson and you better take care of her or you'll have to answer to me," Molly grinned. "I also gave you two a surprise, did Rose tell ya?"
"No. I haven't seen her since the day before yesterday," Jack shrugs. "But she'll probably tell me later."
"Yes she will. In fact, I better go and help her get ready. I'll see ya later on Jack."
"Thanks Molly," Jack grinned, watching her disappear into the crowd.
Meanwhile gretchen had excused herself for a second from helping Rose prepare for the wedding to talk with William.
"Guess who's back in town," Gretchen whispered, making sure Jack was out of earshot.
"Christina Banksworth," William answered.
"How did you know?"
"She stopped by Jack's house today..."
"What?!" Gretchen grabs William's arm. "What did he say to her?!"
"He said nothing to her because he didn't see her. I got rid of her before he could come downstairs."
"That was close," Gretchen sighs in relief.
"Yeah. She asked if he was there and I said he wasn't and slammed the door in her face."
"Will!"
"What?"
"I wish you'd be nicer to her. I really do."
:"I can't believe you Gretch. Jack's my best friend and I'm not going to let that slut ruin the best day of his life. And I thought you were Rose's best friend!"
"I am."
"Then why are you standing up for that woman? Huh? You know she wants back in Jack's life and you're here yelling at me for standing in her way."
"I'm not yelling at you for standing in her way. I'm yelling at you for the way you did it. There was no need to slam the door in her face."
"Yes there was because after I did, Jack came down and if I didn't he would have seen her and most likely we wouldn't be standing here now."
Gretchen just crosses her arms and sighs.
"How did you find out she was back anyway?" William asked.
"She stopped by late last night after Rose was asleep. I let her stay there."
"What?! In the same house as Rose!"
"She didn't see her Will. They were both asleep and she had left the house by time we woke up and hadn't returned. When she does, Rose will be out of the house. She'll be in Eau Claire with Jack. Now let's drop the subject. Here comes Jack."
"Hey Gretchen. How's Rose holding up?" Jack asked.
"Pretty well for a blushing bride. You'd think it's her second time getting married, not her first," Gretchen laughed.
"Almost is her second time," Jack smiled. "If things turned out differently she'd be married to a swell named Caledon Hockley."
"But instead she's marrying a drifter named Jack Dawson," William laughed. "So let's get in position, the wedding starts in five minutes."
"See you guys in five," Gretchen waves, heading back into the crowd.
"Nervous Jack? I mean this is your last five minutes as a free man," William squeezes his friend's shoulder.
"Freedom I gladly give up," Jack smiled. "Being a drifter was fun for a while Will...but there comes a time when you have to settle down and this is the time for me to settle down."
"I know what you mean Jack. Seeing you marrying the woman you love today...it makes me want to propose to Gretchen."
"Well why don't you?" Jack asked.
"I don't know. Maybe I will Jack. Maybe I'll propose to her tonight," William smiles.
"Well good luck pal and let me know how it goes," Jack laughed before the wedding march begins. Jack scans the crwod and a deep sadness comes over him. Almost everyone was here for his wedding to Rose. Only four people were missing. His parents, Fabrizio and Tommy. They should all be here for his wedding. He looks up ahead past the crowd and his eyes widen as he sees four smoky figures in the back row. Two were a man and a woman and the others were in shape of men. Both men were wearing hats but one was a derby hat. Only one person he knew wore derby hats. Jack smiled happily. They weren't there in person, but they were there in spirit and that was good enough for him.

"Here she comes Jack," William places a hand on his shoulder. Jack looks to see Gretchen walking in front of the most beautiful bride he's ever seen. Rose's red hair was twisted into a french twist and she wore a beautiful white gown lightly fitting over her swollen belly. She was the most gorgeous woman in the world and she was all his.
Rose stares straight ahead at Jack. He was even more gorgeous than he was at the first class dinner aboard Titanic. His tux fitted him perfectly and his slicked back blond hair shimmered. His piercing blue eyes stared straight at her, all the desire in the world shining through them. Rose's smile widens as she takes his hand and stands beside him as the priest goes through the vows. Five minutes later they were pronounced man and wife, bound forever under God.
"I love you Jack," Rose whispers in his ear as they embrace.
"I love you too Rose. More than you ever know," Kissing once more, they head back down the aisle, hand in hand, knowing that nothing on earth could separate them.

Christine sighs irritably as she glances at her mother's closed door and the note tacked up on the frame:
Gone to wedding. Will be back at eight tonight
Edith Banksworth
Wedding? Who in town could possibly be getting married? She knew that Gretchen and William had a thing going, but she would have mentioned something if she was getting married. Shrugging Christine heads back to the boarding house. Maybe Gretchen could fill her in. But when she gets to the house, Gretchen isn't there either, nobody is.
"I guess they all went to that wedding," Christina sighs irritably. It was all unfair. A couple of strangers were getting joined in wedded bliss while she sat in the house alone. She shouldn't be alone at all. She wouldn't have been if Jack had been home like he was supposed to be. She would have talked him into forgiving her. She knew he would have and right now she could be relaxing in his arms, letting all the pain from the past two weeks wash away.
Maybe he was home and William had lied to her. He never did like her and was determined to break her and Jack up. The only reason he had stopped because it had threatened to kill his friendship with Jack. But now...what was stopping him? Unless Jack was really gone from Chippewa Falls for good and had no intentions of coming back...but then why was Will there in the first place? And was she mistaken or did she hear Jack's voice on the other side asking who was at the door?
"Stop it Chris!" She growls to herself. "You'll just go back later tomorrow. When Mr. Uppity isn't there. Maybe you can talk to Jack then and it'll be like nothing ever changed."
Of course it'd be like nothing changed. Jack was a forgiving person...he didn't know how to hold a grudge. She'll tell him what happened. He'll take her in his arms and tell her alls forgiven, and then they can elope in Eau Claire. Then she'll be the perfect wife and when Samuel came to town to reclaim her...she'll break it gently that she was now a married woman and had no need for him. Dismiss him just like he dismissed her. Oh yes, that was a good plan. A very good plan indeed. Smiling happily to herself she skips up to the restroom and gets ready to take a bath so she could be refreshed when she went to visit Jack the next day. Ready to begin her new life as Mrs. Dawson.

Eau Claire

"Jack put me down!" Rose laughs as Jack carries her and their bags into their hotel suite. It was almost as fancy as Rose's stateroom on Titanic, but not quite. But neither of them were paying attention to their surroundings...only each other.
"I'm just carrying you through the threshold. It's tradition when you get married," Jack smiled, putting her down next to the bed. "Oh Rose, I still can't believe we're married. Part of me expects to wake up in bed and find that everything's a dream. That I'm still alone and miserable."
"Me too," Rose grows serious and hugs him tightly. "This isn't a dream is it Jack? Tell me that this is real."
"I can't," Jack turns serious. "It is a dream Rose."
Rose looks up, shock shining in her eyes and a hint of coming despair. Then he smiles. "It's a dream come true."
"Oh Jack," She kisses him and lets him pick her up and lay her on the bed, where they begin undressing each other, their eyes drinking each other in, memorizing every curve and feature of their bodies. This is their first time as husband and wife.
One hour later they're laying in each other's arms, enjoying the afterglow of their trip to the stars. Their hands are intertwined, Jack lifts her hand to his mouth and gently kissed it.
"So what's the other surprise?" Jack asked. "Molly said you had two."
"Santa Monica," Rose grinned happily. "A trip to Santa Monica. We can take it after the baby's born and is a little older. What do you think?"
"It's wonderful Rose. We have to send her a real nice thank-you card," Jack scoots closer to his wife and kisses her eyes. "Just think Rose. We'll do all the things we were planning to do. Do you remember?"
"Of course Jack. I remember every single moment we've spent together and everything we ever said or did to each other. How could I forget?"
"Come Josephine..." Jack begins to sing.
"In my flying machine...." Rose sings the other verse.
In unison, "And it's up she goes, up she goes."
Both end the song in giggles, holding each other, that's when Rose remembers her wedding gift to Jack. She pulls out of his arms and goes to her suitcase.
"Rose? What are you doing?" Jack asked, setting up.
"I have to find it."
"Find what?"
"This!" Rose holds up the wrapped package. "Here. This is for you," She sets next to Jack, handing him the package.
Jack opens it to reveal a brand new portfolio. "Oh Rose, it's beautiful. It's even nicer than the one I lost on Titanic. Thank you," He kisses her passionately.
"I also got you some supplies, but I accidentally left them in my things at the house."
"That's ok. I still love it. Thank you. Well, I was going to wait until tomorrow when we got home to give you your present, but I guess I can give it to you now," Jack smiled, getting up and going to his bags. He takes out a jewelry box. "I brought this yesterday. It just jumped out at me."
Rose smiled and accepts the box. She opens it to reveal a solitaire diamond necklace. "Oh Jack...it's beautiful."
"Every year I'll buy a diamond and add it on. Just think what this baby will look like on our fiftieth anniversary," Jack laughed. "I hope you like it Rose. I know it's not as fancy or spectacular as all the jewelry Cal can give you...but it's all I can afford right now."
"Oh Jack I love it. I love this more than I ever liked anything Cal gave to me...including the heart of the ocean. I love it Jack and I love you."
Jack smiles as he watches her gaze at the diamond. He could tell she was telling the truth. He was all she needed...not jewels and other riches. Just his love, but he's still determined to give her the moon and stars..
"Jack..." Rose shyly looks up and puts the necklace on the table.
"Yes Rose?" Jack asked.
"Take me to the stars....now," Rose places her arms around his neck and begins kissing him passionately. He lets her have her way, and the next thing he knows they're going to the stars and remain there until they finally fall asleep in each other's arms.

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