5
It’s been three days since Jack and Rose’s night out. It was the day of the funeral for Jack’s father to be held. Jack stood in front of the hallway mirror, straightening up his tie. That’s where Emma Jean found him as she came down to start the family car.
"Are you ready?" She asked, concerned as she stood behind him.
"I guess. How many are expected to be there?"
"A lot. A lot of people loved and respected your father Jack."
Forcing a smile, Jack turned to is cousin. Once again he felt grateful to be surrounded by his father’s family. If it hadn’t been for them, he would be a mess right now. "We better get down there, or they’ll leave without us."
"They wouldn’t do that. But you’re right. We have to get out of here. We don’t want to hold anything up," Emma took her cousin’s hand and together, they joined the family and set out for the funeral home.
~*~
The funeral home was packed. Jack’s father’s ashes now rested in a silver urn on top of a pedestal. Jack and Rose sat up front with the rest of Jack’s family, listening to the hymn being sung. All too soon, the singing stopped. It was time for the family to share their memories of the departed. Jack was the first to go up. Squeezing Rose’s hand one more time, he got up and stood beside the urn.
"Hello," Jack cleared his throat nervously. "I’m Jack Dawson…Lucas Dawson’s son. My father…he was a loving father and husband. He was honorable and brave. I can only hope to be kind of man he was. What exactly did he do? You may ask. Why did he leave his country? His town? Well he…he wanted to see the world. To make each day count, because you never know what cards you were going to be dealt. He believed in living each and every day as if it was his last. He also believed in standing up for what you believe in. Even if it costed you your life…it certainly costed him his…," Jack’s voice cracked at that point. Looking out over the crowd, he knew he couldn’t go on any longer.
Not even thinking of here he was going, Jack ran off the stage and out of the building. He had to get out of there. Away from his father’s ashes. Away from the curious and sympathetic stares. Leaning against a nearby tree, Jack buried his face in his hands as hot tears filled his eyes. At that moment, he would do anything to see his father again. Anything at all.
"Jack?" Rose walked up to him, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "Jack talk to me. Let me help you."
"I miss him," Jack allowed Rose to pull him into her arm as hot tears began to flow. They clung to each other as his grief spilled forth. "I miss him so much Rose. I wish he was here to meet you. To see what kind of man I’ve become. I wish that he could be here to see us marry."
"Oh Jack," Rose rubbed his back, her heart breaking for him. "He is here. And he will see us marry. He’s in your heart Jack and that’s where he’ll stay."
"When will this aching go away Rose? When will I be free of this pain? It’s all so much…"
"Time Jack. Give it time.
It’ll lessen until you barely notice it anymore."
He pulled away and stared into her concerned emerald eyes.
"Promise?"
"You have my word," She reached up to wipe away some of his tears.
Smiling slightly, he lightly kissed her, letting his lips linger on hers for a minute. "Ich liebe dich, I love you. I’m so thankful to have found you Rose."
"Jack…Rose," Emma asked, hating to disturb a romantic moment. "We’re ready to go."
"Ready?" Jack looked at Rose.
"If you are."
"Jack…will you be ok?" Emma Jean asked.
"Yeah. I’ll be fine. Let’s go home," Jack took both of her hands and led them back to the car, where the family was waiting.
~*~
The Dawson’s returned home without incident. Jack and Rose went into the kitchen while the elder Dawson’s checked the mail. Rose was pouring a glass of orange juice when Myrtle and Henry returned with two pieces of mail. Both of them were from Germany.
"There’s one for Jack and Rose, and One for us," Henry frowned, opening up the letter for himself and his wife. He frowned and looked at Jack. "It’s from Jack’s ma. She wants to know if you’re here and if you are, she wants us to send you back."
"Oh Grampa no!" Emma protested, remembering the bruises on Jack’s face. "You can’t send Jack back! Not after she had let that Nazi boyfriend of hers beat him up like that."
"Listen, if you don’t want us here, we’ll leave. But there is now way I’m going back there," Jack tightened his hold on Rose’s hand.
"Jack, calm down," Rose rubbed his back, wanting to calm his already frantic nerves.
"Sweetie, there’s nothing to worry about. We would never send you back to that horrible woman," Myrtle pulled Jack into a tight and protective embrace. "You’re all we have left of our Lucas and you belong with us."
Jack smiled, his panic at the idea of returning to his mother fading. "I’m so glad that you’re my grandparents. I couldn’t ask for better."
"And we couldn’t ask for a better grandson," Henry joined the hug.
"I love you guys," Jack wiped his tears away, knowing that somehow, his father was still looking out for him.
~*~
Jack, Rose, Nathan, and Emma Jean sat on the porch, just staring out at the setting sun. Emma Jean glanced at Rose and Jack, wondering when the wedding was going to take place. Did Jack and Rose even know?
"So what are you two going to do about the wedding?" She asked.
Jack looked at Rose, a bit embarrassed. He’s been so busy with the arrangement of his father’s funeral, their wedding had completely slipped his mind. "Well…we really haven’t done anything yet. Things have been sort of crazy with the funeral and immigration."
"I don’t even know where to start," Rose sighed. "How do you plan a wedding anyway?"
"Well…I guess you can start with who’s going to stand up for you. You know, the best man and maiden of honor. Who are they going to be?" Emma Jean asked.
"Well…all of our friends are back in Germany, probably fighting for their lives," Jack sighed.
"Not really," Rose grinned, an idea taking form. "Emma Jean…how would you like to be my maid of honor?"
"Are you serious?" Emma Jean’s eyes lit up.
"Well, you are my very first friend
I’ve made in America."
"Well…since you’ve put it that way…I’d
love to!"
"And Nathan can be my best man," Jack grinned, happy that things were falling into place. Soon he and Rose would be married and there would be starting a family maybe.
"Fine by me," Nathan nodded. "Problem solved there."
"Rose…what do you think is in this envelope?" Jack looked at the package that had came all the way from Germany.
"We should open it and find out," Rose answered, looking curiously at the envelope.
"I’m opening it," Jack tore open the flap and began to read aloud. "Dear Jack and Rose. How are you in America? I heard about the Hindenburg disaster. I just know that you two had survived. You survived the Nazi’s, so you’d survive a burning airship. Mr. Hiemlich had given me your address if you were wondering how I knew where to write. Everyone here is fine for right now. All of the Gypsies are leaving though. We’ll be leaving soon too. I’m trying to talk Helga into coming with us, but she’s so scared. I’m hoping I can get her to come before it’s time for us to leave. The Swing halls aren’t as fun without you Jack. So I really don’t go anymore, not to mention the increase of raids. We’ve been blaming Tommy for this. Yes, he did help you with Rose, but he’s still a part of the HJ.
"Speaking of raids…there was one at the Dewitt Bukater residence the other night. Rose’s mother was arrested and set to Auschwitz. I don ‘t know what the charges were. I’m sorry for this news, because she was Rose’s mother. I’ll leave you now Jack. Good luck. Fabrizio."
Jack folded the letter back up and looked at his fiancée, who was shaking, pale and had tears in her eyes. "Rose?"
"It’s all my fault Jack. I wouldn’t marry Cal, so they took her and are probably going to kill her if they haven’t already. It’s all my fault," She buried her face in her hands.
"No Rose, no," He pulled her close, wanting to take the pain away from her. "This isn’t your fault at all. It’s the Nazi’s. You heard Fabrizio, they’re taking everybody. We knew that they were doing this. That’s why we fled."
"But…"
"Rose, Jack’s right. Don’t blame yourself. What happened to your mother is in no way your doing," Emma Jean rubbed, Rose’s back, trying to calm her sobs.
"Who knows, maybe she’ll survive," Nathan replied. "Aren’t there cases of people surviving those places?"
Jack grimly shook his head. "People who’s gone in there…they have yet to come out…or even be heard from again. No one really knows what goes on in those places or what happens to the prisoners."
"Jack…if you don’t mind, I’m going upstairs to bed," Rose got up and disappeared into the house. Jack watched her go, worry deepening in his eyes. Rose was taking this hard. He hoped that he can get her through this.
"Jack," Emma Jean touched his hand gently, her eyes shining in confidence. "She’ll be ok. She’s strong. She’ll pull through."
"I hope you’re right Emmie. I hope you’re right."