5
The next day turned out to be a beautiful day for a wedding. The sun was high in the sky and the sky was cloudless and blue. Rose and the others got up early and had breakfast. Soon afterwards they headed for Eau Claire. They had sent a telegram to the Justice of the Peace the night before and made an appointment for that morning and now they were in a bit of a rush to make it.
Much to everyone’s astonishment, they
made it in plenty of time. The
Justice’s wife ushered everyone in the back room to get ready for the
ceremony. Already dressed, Jack headed
for the alter, when he was stopped by Nina, who seemed to have tears in her
eyes. She immediately hugged him.
“I am going to miss you terribly you
know that?” She sniffed.
“I have a pretty good idea. I’m going to miss you too. But we’ll see each other again. You’re a welcomed guess to all our holiday
stuff and Rose and I want you to come to Denver to visit soon. You’re the first real friend she’s ever
had. You care more about people then money
and that’s what Rose needs right about now.”
“You sure do aim high don’t you
Jack? A first class girl. Who would have thought,” Nina shook her head
in mock wonder.
“Hey what can I say? It’s that Dawson charm,” Jack grinned,
making Nina laugh. “But seriously,
thank you. Thank you for bringing her
back to me Nina. If it wasn’t for you…”
“Oh you two would have ran into each
other on your own. Even though you may
have been on your way to marry the wrong girl if it wasn’t for me.”
“Thank you,” Jack hugged her
tightly. “I’m going to miss you.”
“I’m going to miss you more. Now I have no one to horse around and get in
trouble with,” Nina snorted.
“Hey, you don’t need me for that,” Jack
laugh. Then he was once again
serious. “By the way, watch out for
Gloria. I know she’s going to be on the
warpath if she’s not already. Try to
avoid her if you can.”
“Don’t worry. I can handle that witch.
You just take care of Rose and that baby of yours.”
“I will. I better get out there.
The wedding will be starting soon,” Jack waved disappearing out into the
office.
Meanwhile, in the bridal room, Molly is
helping Rose get ready. She smiled at
the lovely bride dressed in a simple white dress. Her red hair was pulled up into the fancy hairstyle she hand worn
on Titanic and was held together by a band surrounded with tiny white
roses.
“You’re going to knock Jack’s socks
off,” Molly grinned.
Rose laughed. “I thought I already had.”
“You are a lovely bride Rosie. And to think, this time last month you had
no idea that you’ll be marrying the man of your heart.”
“You’re right,” Rose smiled
wistfully. “Finding Jack alive was a
dream come true. Now we can be a real
family.”
“Yeah.
It’s…it’s too bad Ruth can’t be a part of that. I’m sure she’s feeling right lonely right
about now. With Cal marrying that fancy
girl from New York. Cal’s done
neglected his responsibility to her. He
hasn’t sent her an allowance in weeks and the bill collectors are starting to
knock at the door again. Poor thing. Maybe you should drop her a line. Let her know that you’re alive and happy…”
“Molly no! There is no way I’m contacting that woman after what she done to
me! She deserves everything she’s
getting right now!”
“Rose that’s harsh.”
“I don’t care. It was harsh of her to refuse to let me
attend my father’s funeral. It was
harsh of her trying to force me to marry Cal and stop seeing Jack. So don’t tell me about harsh. I don’t want that woman anywhere near me nor
my son.”
Molly only nodded, just as the Justice’s wife stuck her head in the door.
“All ready?”
“Yes,” Rose curtly walked out the door
ready for her descent down the aisle to become Miss. Jack Dawson.
Nina stood in front and turned to see
her friend looking a bit irritated.
“Hey. Are you ok? What happened
to that smile? This is your wedding day
girl.”
Rose looked at Jack to get a genuine
smile on her face. Looking at him had
always made her smile. How could she
not? “Better?”
“Much.
Now let’s go get you two married,” Nina giggled with excitement. She led the way as the wedding march played
on the victrola.
Gently taking one Rose’s arms, Molly
and Rose began their path towards the two men ahead.
“Rose, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to spoil your day. I just thought…I didn’t know your anger was
still so fresh in your mind.”
“That’s ok Molly. I forgive you. Right now I just want to
concentrate on Jack, not my mother. I’m
not ready to even see her as of yet,” Rose swallowed.
Finally they reach Jack, who’s holding
Robbie and smiling gently at Rose. A
smile that she had once thought she’d never see again.
“You look beautiful,” Jack took both
her hands in his before handing Robbie to Molly who stood to the left, making
sure the baby didn’t eat the rings he had tightly in his little hands.
“So do you,” Rose smiled, getting lost
in his blue gaze.
The Justice of the peace smiled. The young couple in front of him was
obviously deeply in love with one another.
Usually in these situations, when there was a child involved, such love
was absent. It was refreshing to see it
not so with these two.
“Dearly beloved. We are here to join this man and this woman
in holy matrimony. Let us begin.
“Jack.
Do you take Rose to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold. From sickness to health? Till death do you part?” The Judge turned to
Jack who tightened his grasp on Rose’s hand as if she might disappear if he let
go.
“I do.”
“Rose.
Do you take Jack, to have and to hold?
From sickness to health? Till
death do you part?”
Rose swallowed and looked at Nina who
smiled happily. She smiled back and
gave Jack her most dazzling. “I do.”
After the exchange of rings and asking
if anyone objected the Judge grinned,
“In that case, with all the power invested in me, I now proclaim you man
and wife! You may kiss the bride!”
Jack pulled Rose into the warmest,
tightest embrace and kissed her with everything he had in him.
“I love you,” She laughed as they
pulled apart, tears of happiness gleaming in her eyes.
“I love you more,” Jack wiped the tears
away.
Five hours later, after having
breakfast and showing Rose the sights of Eau Claire, the small group gather at
the train station, ready to embark on their trip to Denver. Jack, Rose, and
Nina along with little Robbie stood gathered together as Molly went to check on
tickets.
“I’m going to miss you guys,” Nina
hugged both her friends. “Don’t forget
to write and let me know how things are holding up.”
“We won’t forget,” Jack smiled.
“Thank you for everything Nina. For helping me get Jack back and for being a
friend,” Rose hugged her new found best friend, regretting that she had to
leave before they got a chance to get to know each other better. “Hey, why don’t you come stay with us for
Christmas? I’m sure we’ll have a place
by then,” Rose grinned.
“That’d be great.”
“Or we can come back just in case we
haven’t,” Jack laughed.
“Either way, it’d be a blast,” Nina
hugged her friend. “Now, you take good
care of them, or you’re going to have to answer to me.”
“I’ll guard them with my life,”
Jack hugged his friend just as Molly came up, tickets held ready in her hand.
“Well darlings, it’s time to board our
train and head out of here. It was nice
meeting you Nina,” Molly nodded to Nina.
“The same here. It’s not everyday you meet someone famous,”
Nina nodded. “Bye Jack. Bye Rose.
I’ll miss you.”
“Bye,” The couple waved as they
followed Molly onto the train. Fifteen
minutes later, the train was rolling down the tracks, heading for Denver and a
whole new life for Jack and Rose.