Chapter Seven: The letter
Philadelphia: Hockley mansion
Ruth Dewitt Bukater sighs forlornly as she takes the mail
from Giles, the Hockley butler and heads for the study looking
over the envelopes. She furrows her brow when she spots the
envelope addressed from a Chippewa Falls Wisconsin. Now who would
Caledon know in Wisconsin?
She carefully knocks on the heavy oak door. It's been eight
months since the Titanic disaster and the loss of her daughter
and Caledon's fiancee. She was just thankful that Cal saw fit to
take care of his would have been mother in law. Things really did
have a way of working out. But Cal was still devastated by the
loss of Rose...or so she thought. And so was she. There was no
other girl as lovely as Rose and as spirited. Even though Ruth
had tried to snuff out that spirit, it refused to die. Only a
iceberg was able to snuff it out forever.
"Cal, the mail's here," Ruth announced.
"Thank you Ruth," He opens the door just a moment,
takes the mail, and slams the door right in her face. It's a half
hour later when he reappears while she's working on her knitting.
"Ruth get in here right now!"
Startled, Ruth drops her knitting and rushes to the door,
wondering what the problem was. When she enters she sees Cal
pacing the room furiously, a wild gleam in his eyes. She noticed
the piece of paper clinched in his fist.
"Mr. Hockley, what's the problem here?"
"Read this Ruth! Read it!" Cal thrusts the letter at
her, his voice rising to a squeal. Ruth had to resist the urge to
laugh.
She takes the letter and rises a shaking hand to her mouth, her
eyes widening with surprise as she reads:
Dear Mr.
Hockley,
You don't remember me, but I remember you from your engagement
gala last year where you announced your engagement to a Miss.
Rose Dewitt Bukater. I had read about your lost of your fiancee
in the Titanic disaster and was deeply sorry to hear of your
loss. So imagine my surprise when I return to my hometown of
Chippewa Falls to find whoelse but your deceased fiancee. I'm
sure it was her because when I asked where she was from she said
she was from Philadelphia and she had spoke of you with such
emotion. I knew you'd want to hear that your beloved fiancee had
indeed survived and you'd want to be on your way here to retrieve
her since she doesn't seem to be in the condition for travel. My
town is Chippewa Falls Wisconsin and you may contact me at the
Bloom house on Chippewa Way. Just ask for Christina Banksworth.
"I hope to hear from you soon and I'm sure Rose is looking
forward to your arrival as well.
Sincerely yours,
Christina Banksworth.
"Oh My god. Rose
is alive," Tears of happiness pour from her eyes.
"She's alive!"
"Pack your things Ruth," Caledon leaves the room.
"We're going to collect MY fiacnee."
"Yes Mr. Hockley," Ruth can't help but grin. Rose was
alive and well and waiting for them to come get her! For a second
she wondered why Rose never wrote to her herself or tried to find
her on the Carpathia? But she pushes it from her mind. What was
important was that Rose was alive and things could go back to the
way they were before that godforsaken voyage. Nothing was there
to stand in her way anymore. Not Rose's acting up, not a iceberg,
and certainly...hopefully really, that steerage boy that Rose had
grown so fond of. Hopefull the freezing waters of the North
Atlantic had taken care of that.
"Trina! Pack my things and get my coat ready for travel!
We'r going to Wisconsin!"