CHAPTER SEVEN

"What do you think of this Rose?" Jack come out of the dressing room in a suit and tie. "Do you think your mother would approve?"
They were in a nice department store buying clothes before they leave for Philadelphia.
"You look rather handsome Jack," Rose smiled. "I approve very much." She didn't want to tell him that nothing he did would ever be good enough for her mother unless he came from a family that was even richer than Caledon Hockley. "You could be dressed in rags and you'd still be the handsomest man in the world."
Jack just smiled. "I think I'll buy it."
Fifteen minutes, they were done shopping and are at the train station waiting to board.
"Nervous Rose?" Jack asked.
"Very. But as long as you're by my side, I know I'll be alright," Rose squeezed his hand.
"Well then I'll always be by your side," Jack smiled.
One hour later they are on their way. Rose cuddles close to Jack and enjoys his warmth. She hopes she's doing the right thing going to see her mother and taking Jack with her.
Jack holds Rose close. He can't help being nervous. He was going to meet Rose's mother and according to her, she was a cold witch. But Jack's determined to find the good in the woman. Someone as warm and sweet as his Rose couldn't have come from a woman as cold and hateful as Rose had described her mother.

Eighteen hours later...

Rose steps off the train with quivering legs. This was it, the day of reckoning. In another hour or so, Rose will be face to face with her mother and maybe even Cal. She wanted so much to hope back on the train with Jack and head back to Chippewa Falls, but she had to do this first. She had to get her mother and Cal out of the way or she'll be living her life in fear.
"I'm here for you Rose," Jack takes her hand. "I won't let them hurt you."
Rose smiled up at him, her gratitude for his love and support shining in her eyes. "Thank you Jack. Having you here with me means a lot."
Jack pulls her away from the train. "Come on. Let's get this over with. Lead the way. "

After a hour of walking and fifteen minutes of riding in a carriage to her neighborhood, they stood in front of the mansion that Rose used to call home, up until her father died. He made the house full of sunshine and laughter, despite how hard her mother tried to make it into a museum. But after he died, the mansion turned as cold as her mother. Cold and forbidding. Rose dreaded coming back home from finishing school and she dreaded returning to the mansion now, especially since she knew what she was waiting for her.
That's a big house," Jack stared up at the mansion. "You must have gotten lost in there."
"Only when my father died," Rose silently replied. "That's when everything changed."
"Come on Rose. Let's do this," Jack puts a arm around her and they begin up the pathway that led to her front door.
Rose rings the bell and is greeted with the sight of Alice, one of her mother's many maids.
"Miss Rose! Come in come in. Bring the young gentleman here with you!" Alice ushers them into the hous. "Your mother is right upstairs. I'll go get her."
"Nice lady," Jack smiled.
"She was the one who practically raised me. She's more of a mother to me than mother ever was," Rose sighed. "Jack, I don't know if I can do this. She's so....so..."
"Mean?"
Rose couldn't help but giggle at how Jack had innocently said the word. "Yes. Mean."
"Don't worry Rose. Just remember I'm here with you. Whenever you feel like you need strength and support, just squeeze my hand."
"You're so good to me Jack."
"Well, you're even better to me," Jack takes her in his arms and they kiss. They break apart just in time, because here comes Ruth Dewitt Bukater down the stairs.
"There you are Rose! Where have you been?!" Ruth angrily exclaims. "We looked all over for you after the ship left! And now poor Caledon is on another ship to Southampton to look for you! What a mess you have caused wondering away like that!"
"Well under the circumstances mother, I'm glad I did. I rather have been in Southampton than on a sinking ship," Rose smartly replied, squeezing Jack's hand for support. Thank goodness he was there.
"And what's your excuse for wondering away like that?"
"I needed to get away from you mother. You and Cal were smothering me," Rose replied. "I needed some space. I was on my way back but I got lost in the crowd."
"And who's this?" Ruth finally notices Jack. She looks him over and already decides she didn't like him. His hair was too long and he looked as if he never had a ounce of proper upbringing.
"This is Jack Dawson mother...My husband," Ruth coldly replied. "Jack, this is my mother."
"Your what?!" Ruth exclaimed, her eyes growing as wide as saucers.
"My husband. You see Jack saved my life in my first night in Southampton and he took me in. After a month I decided I couldn't live without him, so on the way back here, onboard the Olympic, we got married."
"Have you completely lost your mind! You're engaged to Caledon. You couldn't have married another man," Ruth puffed, "Especially not a man you've only known for a month!"
"I'm not engaged to Cal anymore mother. And I did marry a man I've only known for a month and it's the smartest move I've made in a long time. It was a mistake letting you talk me into getting engaged to Caledon Hockley. The man's a arrogant idiot."
"I can't believe you did this Rose. And how are we going to live? To survive? You know I was depending on that money Rose," Ruth crossed her arms.
"Mother, we'll survive like everyone else survives. The world does not revolve around money. That was what daddy was trying to tell you since I was a little girl, but you refused to listen."
"Your father was a fool and so are you for doing this! God Rose you're so selfish!"
"I'm selfish? You're the one who had me married off without my consent! I never wanted to marry Cal, never! That was all your idea!" Rose yelled. "In fact, you never cared about me, I don't even think you loved me! All I was to you was a meal ticket!"
"Rose..." Jack tried to intervene, but she was on a roll and couldn't be stopped.
"That's why Daddy died! Because you were such a cold witch! Always wanting him to drive you to cortillions and galas, even when he was on his deathbed you wanted him to escort you to a wedding! What kind of wife is that!?"
"Your father understood that Rose. He understood that we had to keep up appearances," Ruth's voice is cold. "Appearances are everything."
"Not when it comes to the health of the one you love mother. See that's the difference between you and me. You cared about what society thinks and I care about love," Rose's voice turns from a shout into a sob. She moves closer to Jack, who puts a comforting arm around her.
"Mr. Dawson if you'll excuse me, I'd like to talk to my daughter alone," Ruth coldly replies.
Rose panics and grabs his hand. "No! He stays. I don't want to be alone with you so you can lay one of your world famous guilt trips on me again mother."
"Fine then Rose. Then I'll just tell you what I think of this little mess you've made. You are a selfish spoiled brat thanks to your father. He spoiled you. Always letting you have your way and letting you play with the servents children when I had forbiddened it. What he should have done was be more firm but he refused. So now here you are, the product of the mess your father had made and I'm going to leave you to live in it. "Don't expect a cent from me. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes you do mother," Rose just as coldly replies. "Oh and by the way, you have no money or anything else I want. I'm glad daddy raised me the way he did. I would kill myself if I saw where I was becoming like you."
"Get out Rose. I never want to see you again," Ruth turns her back on her daughter.
"That's fine by me mother. But let me just say that I feel sorry for you. You're going to die an old lonely bitter woman and it'll be all your own fault. You know, you could've been a part of my family, but since you refused...there's nothing else to say but good-bye."
Ruth doesn't even turn to say good-bye. She keeps her back to her daughter until they both had left.

Rose? Are you ok?" Jack asked as they enter the hotel they had rented for the night. First thing tomorrow, thanks to Rose's insistence, they were heading for Wisconsin. She hasn't said a word since leaving the train station.
"I'm fine Jack," Rose sighed, plopping down onto the bed, tired from the argument with her mother. "She didn't even care that I was unhappy. All she cared about was her money."
Jack sets next to Rose and begins to message the space between her shoulders, trying to relieve her tension. "I care Rose. If that's any consolation."
Rose smiled. "It's a big consolation Jack."
"Listen...I don't know how deep this goes with you and your mother, but someday you two will work it out. You're her daughter for goodness sake. She can't hold a grudge against you forever."
"You don't know my mother Jack. And besides, I can care less whether she forgives me or not. For one thing, I've done nothing to be forgiven for. And another thing, I really don't want her in my life anymore. She was a nightmare that I gladly awake from," Rose turns to face Jack. "But you Jack...you still seem like a dream come true. Where have you been all my life?"
Jack just smiled and squeezed her shoulder. "Everywhere."
"Everywhere. You think we can go to Everywhere together someday Jack?" Rose asked, leaning into his arms.
"Of course. Just say when and we're on our way." Jack smiled.
"When," Rose laughed. "But someday Jack, I want to see everything you've seen in your travels and more."
"You will Rose. I promise," Jack kissed her forehead. "But now it's late and we have a early train to catch in the morning. Let's get some sleep."
"I love you Jack Dawson," Rose happily sighed, slipping under the covers.
"I love you too Rose Dawson," Jack joins her.
"You know one place we can go to ane we can go tonight," Rose Seductively whispers into his ear.
"Where?"
"To the stars Jack. Take me to the stars," Rose tenderly kissed his ear.
"Gladly me lady," Jack smiled, claiming her lips.

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