A ROSE BLOWING IN THE WIND
Chapter Six
Two Months later...
Rose stands at the mirror, examing her pale complexion in the
mirror. She had just recovered from another bout of nausea and
throwing up in the restroom. Morning visits to the restroom has
been going on for about a month now. At first Rose had thought it
was a touch of the flu or a slight cold, but now she knew it
wasn't. the fact that her monthly cycle never began was her first
clue, the nausea in the mornings another. There there's the
slight expansion of her waistline that was the final clue to the
fact that she was expecting. Today she was going to the doctor to
have it confirmed.
A baby. Jack's baby. Her final connection to him. Her heart
filled with joy at the thought of this, but her mind was in a
whirlwind. Here she was, a single mother, no job, no family...the
baby's father two months dead...what was she going to do? How was
she going to survive?
"Oh Jack why?" Rose began to sob once again.
"Never let go Rose. Never let go," A soft voice
whispers in her head.
"I won't Jack. I promise," Rose wipes away her tears.
She gets up and slips on her dress and Cal's heavy coat. It was
time to head for the doctor's office.
One hour later...
"Mrs. Dawson, it's my pleasure to inform you that you're
indeed with child. Three months along to be exact. I'm surprised
you haven't come to me sooner," The doctor stands in front
of her. "The baby's father...where is he? I thought he'd be
here to get the happy news."
"The father's dead sir. He died three months ago in a tragic
accident," Rose swallowed. "Doctor...is the baby...is
it healthy?"
"Of course it's healthy. The child is developing quite
nicely. I do suggest though that you look into some of the
charities they have running now a days for young widows with
children. Hmmm...there's one for the Titanic widows. That was
three months ago. You wouldn't happen to have been on the Titanic
would you? If so, they could help you. I'll give you the
address..."
"No!" Rose stands up immediately. "I mean no, that
won't be necessary. I'm sure I'll manage somehow. Thank you very
much sir for your concern."
"Well then I'll see you next week. Make sure everything's
going well with the pregnancy. Good day Mrs. Dawson."
"Good day Doctor," Rose nods, leaving the office. She
hadn't meant to yell at the poor man. He was just trying to help
a young widow. But what would he say if he knew that she was not
a widow after all. That her pregnancy was a result of a tryst on
a doomed luxery liner?
"Rose! Rose!" A familiar voice calls to her. She turns
to see Laurie heading her way. "There you are. I've been
looking all over for you. Mrs. Wilma said you went to the doctor.
What did he say?"
"I'm pregnant Laurie," Rose sighed sadly. "I'm
three months along."
"Really? Well that's wonderful isn't it? Now you have a part
of your husband with you."
Rose weakly smiles and nods. "I'm just so nervous. What are
people going to think? Not that I really care, but then again I
do. This isn't about me anymore Laurie. It's about an innocent
child."
"Rose...don't worry about that. This baby is a gift.
Something of your late beloved to keep with you always. To
remember him by. Sure there's a lot of responsibility...but it's
worth it."
"I wish Jack could be here with me...to get to know his
child. He would have been a great father," Rose smiled as
she remembered him dancing with little Cora Cartmell. "He
was great with children."
"I'm sure he was," Laurie smiled,taking Rose's hand.
"Come on. Mrs. Wilma's waiting. She wanted to give you a
ride back to the house."
"Ok," Rose nods, following Laurie out of the doctor's
office. she had a lot of thinking to do when she gets back to the
house. She had to think of her options and how and where she was
going to care for her child.