2

Nina found her mother in the foyer, an armful of towels ready to go up to the new tenant. Nina frowned; taking clean towels to new tenants was her job.

“Ma?” Nina asked.

“It’s about time you returned from the post office. Here, take these up to the new girl. First room on the right,” her mother shoved the towels into her arms before heading into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Softly knocking first, Nina entered the room to find a girl a few years younger than herself setting on the bed, folding her clothes and putting them away. Nina’s mouth dropped open. The girl had long curly red hair and green eyes that held the same pain that Jack’s held. She couldn’t help but wonder if this was Jack’s Rose, but dismissed the thought. The chances of this girl being Jack’s love aboard Titanic were slim to none.

“Hello, I brought you some clean towels,” Nina smiled, holding out the towels as a peace offering. “I’m sorry for disturbing you.”

“Oh you weren’t disturbing me. I was just putting my things away,” The girl smiled, accepting the towels. “Thank you.”

Nina smiled, her curiosity getting the best of her. The girl was obviously a society girl, and the sadness in her eyes crossed over to her smile. “My name’s Nina. My ma owns this establishment. What is yours?”

Rose frowned and then shrugged. “Rose Dawson.”

Nina blinked. Rose Dawson? Could it be? The last name would explain a lot, plus the description was dead on. If this was Jack’s Rose…it would change everything. Jack would be happy again and the dreaded event set for Saturday wouldn’t happen.

“Where are you from Rose Dawson if you don’t mind my asking?”

“Denver,” Rose bit her lip, wondering what was with all the questioning. Did this girl know something about her past?

“Why did you come to Chippewa Falls for?”

Rose shrugged. “I’m on a quest for information about someone close to me. He was from here and he had died in a horrible accident. I thought that maybe someone could tell me more about his life here.”

A bright spark of hope came to life in Nina. This was Jack’s Rose! No one else here could have died in a accident except Jack since he was the only one who had ever left! Wait until she found out that Jack wasn’t dead after all! That he was alive and well!

“Well Miss. Dawson, I guess I’ll let you get back to unpacking, Nina smiled, a plan forming in her head. She was going to take the new tenant to Jack’s party tonight. If it wasn’t Jack’s Rose, no harm done, but if it was…her friend would be happy again.

“It was nice to meet you,” Rose smiled. It was obvious she was a kind person.

“See you at dinner.”

“That was a lovely meal Mrs. Spencer,” Rose dabbed her lips with a napkin. It’s been a long time since she had a nice home cooked meal like the one she just had.

“Well I’m glad you like it,” The old woman nodded. She looked at Nina who was glancing anxiously at the door. “Nina…you have that party to go to tonight don’t you?”

“Yes mam,” Nina nodded.

“Why don’t you take Miss. Dawson here with you? That way she can meet people her own age, like Gloria and Jack…”

“Sure! Would you like that Rose?” Nina asked, grateful to her mother for bringing up the subject. Now she didn’t have to bring it up herself.

Rose swallowed, not sure how to answer. On one hand, she was a stranger and didn’t know anybody. She would feel like an outsider. But on the other, she would meet people her own age and probably remember Jack and would be able to tell her about his past. “Ok.”

“Well let’s get started. The party’s started already and we’re late,” Nina stood up and slipped on a light jacket. “Mother, we’ll have Jack take us home.”

“Ok dear. Don’t be out too late,” Her mother warned as Nina dragged Rose out the door.

The party indeed was in full swing when Rose and Nina arrived at the Dawson place. Rose had no idea where she was and what was in store for her. All she knew was that these people must have known her Jack and s he was determined to find out about his life here so she could go back to Denver and share the information with their son. Robbie…she missed her baby more than life itself. He was her only and last connection to Jack. She felt a tear come on at the thought of Jack not knowing his son, but pushed that thought aside.

“Hey Spencer! It’s about time you got here!” A young man with black hair and sparkling brown eyes made his way through the crowd. “We were wondering if you’d show. This is a first, a woman at a bachelor party!”

“Can it Webber,” Nina rolled her eyes.

“And who is this lovely lady?” The young man noticed Rose; his eyes were kind and admiring. “I haven’t seen you around lately.”
“I just arrived this morning,” Rose shyly smiled.

“Well welcome to Chippewa Falls my dear. My name is Daniel Webber, the best man.”

“This is Rose Dawson,” Nina smiled widely.

“Dawson? Any relation to Jack?”

“She’s a old friend of his,” Nina’s smile grew. Rose frowned. How did she know? She never mentioned Jack, plus Dawson was a common enough name. “Where is he anyway?”

“Hiding out in the kitchen. So sure that Gloria’s going to be furious when she hears about the party.”

Nina laughed. “Well I guess we’re going to have to change that huh Rose? Come on, let’s go drag Jack out of hiding,” Nina grabbed Rose’s hand and dragged her towards the kitchen.

Not knowing what to say or do, Rose followed. Things were getting stranger by the minute. Everyone kept talking about a Jack. It couldn’t be her Jack could it? Maybe she missed him somehow on the Carpathia. Of course it wasn’t her Jack. Jack was dead and gone. She was never going to see him again.

They enter the dimly lit kitchen to find a young man with shaggy blond hair setting at the kitchen table with his back towards them, looking intently at something. He didn’t even notice them come in. As far as Rose could notice he was slightly thinner than Jack had been, but had the same blond hair and height if he stood up. She bit back the glimmer of hope that had sparked within herself. She was setting herself up for disappointment.

“We’re here!” Nina announced.

“Well then you can go back out there with everyone else. I want to be alone,” a very familiar voice spoke up. Again Rose fought against the brightening hope in the back of her mind. Maybe this person was a distant relative of Jack’s.

“Oh stop moping. It’s a party! Besides, there’s someone here to see you.”

“I don’t want to see anyone Nina. Just go away.”

“Maybe we should leave,” Rose whispered.

“No. Jack here has been moping here for far too long. I think seeing you would cheer him right up. Isn’t that right Dawson?”
Rose opened her mouth in protest, thinking that Nina was addressing her, but she didn’t get a chance to say anything.

“Listen Nina, I want to be alone so you can…” Jack turned around to face his friend and then he saw Rose and all other thoughts faded. His eyes widened in shock, disbelief and unsurpassed joy. “Rose?”

“Oh my God…it can’t be…” Rose gasped in shock. It was Jack! He was right here alive and well! Staring at her with the bluest eyes she’s ever seen. He was even better looking than she remembered! A true sight for sore eyes. “Jack?”

“Rose!” Jack toppled the chair over as he got up and embraced the woman he had thought he lost to the icy waters of the North Atlantic. “You’re alive!”

“Oh Jack! I thought you were lost,” hot tears coursed down Rose’s pale cheeks. She clung to Jack as if he’d disappear like he did so many times in her dreams. “Jack.”

Nina stood to the side, watching the reunion with tears of joy. Just by Rose’s appearance in the kitchen she saw Jack’s spirit come back to life, something that has seemed dead for the past year, ever since he returned to Chippewa Falls. Now it was back and in full force. Rose had revived her friend. “So you are Rose. I thought you were the minute I saw you. I have to say Jack’s drawings don’t do you justice,” Nina smiled, causing Rose to blush.

“Thank you for bringing me here,” Rose smiled gratefully. “I might never have known what became of Jack.”

“I’m sorry for my rude behavior earlier,” Jack pulled away from Rose to hug his best friend. “You truly are my best friend.”

“Rose, it should be I thanking you. Thanks to you, my friend seems to have come back to life,” Nina grinned, but that grin suddenly faded as a feminine angry voice was heard from the other room.

“I specifically said no bachelor party!” The owner of the voice bellowed. “Where is my fiancée by the way? Don’t tell me you’re having a party here without him present!”

“Oh no,” Jack groaned. He had totally forgot about Gloria. What was he going to do about her?

“Jack? Jack are you in here?” a girl a little older than Rose with blond hair and brown eyes entered, her eyes blazing with indignation. Her eyes flashed with anger when she saw that Jack was indeed in the kitchen, flanked by both Nina and Rose.

“Didn’t I say no bachelor parties? Which part of no party didn’t you understand?”

“It’s not a bachelor party,” Nina crossed her arms, glaring at the girl. “It’s a funeral.”

“Shut up Nina Spencer, this does not concern you. But it does concern Jack. And who is this, the stripper?” Gloria glared at Rose.

“Excuse me?” Rose narrowed her eyes angrily, no one has ever accused her of such a thing and she wasn’t going to take it from some overbearing stranger, such as this girl. And who was she to talk to Jack like that anyway, who seemed to look quite miserable right about now. She was going to put this witch in her place. “For one thing I am not a stripper and another thing, who are you to talk to Jack in such a manner?”
“I’m his fiancée! Who are you if you’re not a stripper?” Gloria glowered.

“Fiancée?” Rose paled. Jack was engaged? It couldn’t be. Especially to this vile woman.

“Yes, fiancée. Which part of that didn’t you understand,” Gloria narrowed her eyes. “And who are you?”

Both Nina and Rose opened their mouths to reply, but Jack answered first. “A friend. She’s a old friend. We lost contact a year ago and now we’re catching up. We have a lot more catching up to do too. Listen Gloria, we can talk tomorrow ok. Right now, Rose just got in and we have some things to discuss.”
It was a lie, he knew that. Rose was much more than a friend to him. But he couldn’t very well admit to that right now, especially when he wasn’t sure what her feelings for him were. He looked at Rose begging her to understand. She only nodded in agreement, clamping her mouth shut. She knew there was more to the story of Jack’s engagement than met the eye. She was going to wait for an explanation.

“Jack…I do believe you have more lady friends than male friends. That’s going to have to change. Such things are considered improper,” Gloria frowned.

“What do you want Gloria?” Nina asked. “What was the purpose of this visit?”

“We have things to discuss about the wedding Jack,” Gloria ignored Nina, something she’s made a habit of doing. Nina and Gloria hated one another with a passion and didn’t make a secret of it.

“We can discuss them later. Right now, this is more important,” Jack stood his ground for the first time in over a year, much to Nina’s delight. Yes the old Jack was returning, she could see that and telling by the frown on Gloria’s face, she could see it too.

“Well you can’t very well be alone here. I can stay,” Gloria sputtered.

“That’s ok. I’m staying. You can run along now,” Nina shooed Gloria away. You may want to take the remaining guests with you.”
“Jack are you going to let her do this?”

“Gloria really, you do have a lot more things to take care of before Saturday. Surely you can find something to preoccupy your time,” Jack answered. “Have you even made out the invitations yet?”

“No but…”

“Well then get on them. Saturday’s not all that far away you know,” Jack crossed his arms.

“…Alright. Fine, you win. But I will be by first thing tomorrow, and you better be the only one here,” Gloria threw one more glare in Rose’s direction before storming out.

“Jack? Who was that?” Rose asked.

“Gloria Ryder. Jack’s soon to be ex-fiancée,” Nina crossed her arms. “With you back, there’s no way that Jack will be marrying her. Right Jack?”

“If you don’t mind Nina, Rose and I have a lot to talk about,” Jack sighed, suddenly tired. He had so much to tell Rose and so much time to make up for…he didn’t have time to feel sorry for sending Gloria off to prepare for something that he knew wasn’t going to happen now.

“Why can’t I stay? I mean…I know everything already anyway, plus Gloria won’t have a reason to complain if I stay,” Nina protested. She was already caught up in this; she wanted to follow it through.

“I don’t mind Jack. She already knows what happened on Titanic anyway,” Rose squeezed his hand.

Jack just bit his lip before nodding. “Ok. You can stay, but don’t interrupt. Just set and stay quiet,” Jack frowned before leading Rose into the now empty setting room. All thee took seats. Jack and Rose on the couch and Nina in a chair.

“Ok. Where do you want to start?” Jack asked.’

“What happened to you Jack? After we got separated in the water?” Rose tightly held his hand, not ever wanting to let go again. A year was along time to be separated and they had so much to tell each other.

“Well…I had found some debris and gotten on. I thought I was going to freeze out there, but that wasn’t what bothered me. What bothered me was you…I knew you were out there somewhere in the water and it was my entire fault. I was hoping that the boats would come back, but only one did, and I had passed out when they pulled me into the boat.”

“I had found some debris too. When I noticed the boat coming, I swam towards this dead officer with a whistle in his mouth and used the whistle to call attention to myself. The boat came and rescued me. But I was in such a daze…I didn’t notice what was going on around me until we were boarding the Carpathia. I hid down in steerage from Cal and mother.”

“I was in the infirmary for a couple of days. When I got out, I tried looking for you. I even saw Cal down in steerage, but there was no sign of you. I searched the lists, but no Rose Dewitt Bukater was listed. I had remembered that I wasn’t even supposed to be on that ship, so when they asked me my name I said it was Sven Gunderson. The man I played poker with,” Jack nodded. “I thought I had lost you forever.”

Rose’s e yes widened with shock, now regretting her decision to change her last name. All this time her and Jack could have been together. But they’re together now and that was what mattered. “Oh Jack, I’m so sorry. When they asked me my name…I said my name was Rose Dawson. I was so scared that mother and Cal would find me and drag me back to first class…if I had known you were looking for me…”
“Shhh, Rose,” Jack squeezed her hand. “I understand. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before myself. I guess I really was out of it.”

“Oh Jack,” Rose began to sob. “I’ve missed you so much…there were times I thought I wouldn’t be able to go on without you!”

“Oh Rose, I felt the same way,” Jack pulled her into a hug. “I stopped living after the sinking. I didn’t care what became of me after Titanic. I came back here…”

“And got engaged,” Rose remembered Gloria as she pulled away from the hug. “Do you love her Jack?”

“I believe someone once told me it was rude to ask that question,” Jack grinned at the memory and how Rose was irked by the question. “In fact that same person called me rude and annoying for asking that.”

“Well, it was only a question as someone expressingly told me,” Rose smiled through the last of her tears. “Tell me Jack…who is that girl? Why are you two engaged? She’s awful…almost as awful as Cal.”

“She is,” Nina snorted.

“Well…it’s kind of hard to explain. I was trying so hard to forget Titanic…to forget about what we had…but…I couldn’t. Well…I knew Gloria since we were kids. She was one of those bullies and her and Nina would constantly go at it.

“Well, out of the blue she asked me if I wanted to go to the harvest dance and before I knew it…she was over every day practically and then…we were engaged. I don’t even know how it happened really. Everything was in a big whirlwind.”

“But do you love her?” Rose asked again. She wanted to desperately tell him about their son, but if Jack had fallen in love again and was just about to find true happiness, she wasn’t going to ruin it for him. She’d turn around and head back to Denver and try to forget about Jack Dawson and move on with her life.

Jack sighed; his face took on a very rugged look. She never saw him look so miserable and ashamed. “No Rose. No I don’t love her. I just don’t know how to break it to her.”

“Just tell her you don’t love her,” Nina shrugged.

“It’s not that easy Nina and you know it. Gloria…she doesn’t take rejection very well.”

“When is this wedding again?” Rose asked.

“Saturday.”

“This Saturday?”

Jack nodded. “I’m going to have to tell her before then, but how? I don’t want to hurt her feelings. I may not love her, but I respect her.”

“Of course you do Jack. We’ll think of something,” Rose squeezed his hand reassuringly.

Jack simply smiled at her, happy that she was alive after all. Tucking a red strand behind her hear, he leaned in and kissed her. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

Rose smiled, “Me too. Oh Jack, I have so much to tell you…”

“Shhh,” Jack kissed her again. “Not now. It’s getting late. It’s best that you head back with Nina and get some sleep. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
Rose sighed, she rather stay with Jack, but she knew that doing so would be inappropriate. After all, they weren’t yet married and Jack was still engaged to another.

“You two could just leave tonight. That way you won’t have to face Gloria,” Nina shrugged, all for the romantic notion of running away into the sunset.

“It’d be kinder to tell her face to face Nina,” Jack shook his head.

Nina just rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Come on Rose. Let’s head back. Jack…we’ll be by tomorrow. Hopefully you’ve broken the news to Gloria by time we arrive. Good night,” Nina got to her feet and headed for the door.

“I still have so much to tell you,” Rose hugged her love one last time before following Nina out the door. “There’s still so much you need to know.”

“We’ll talk more tomorrow,” Jack held her tightly, never wanting to let go again, but knowing he had to. “Good night Rosie.”

“Good-night,” She devoured his lips into a passionate kiss before following Nina down the street.

None of them noticed Gloria stepping out from behind an oak tree frowning. She had just witnessed her fiancée kissing another woman in a way that he had never kissed her. This Rose was obviously more than an old friend of Jack’s and she wasn’t going to rest easily until she was gone or Jack was safely married to her. There was no other alternative. Jack was her fiancée and that was that. Angry she started for home, trying to think of a way to get rid of this newcomer.

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