CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO WORLDS
Chapter One
April 10, 1912
Rose Dewitt Bukater stares up at the towering ship that was going to carry herself, her mother, and her aunt Molly all the way back to America. It was magnificent. The most magnificent vessel she had ever seen in her life and she…Rose Dewitt Bukater seventeen-year-old debutante was going to be among the first to sail on her.
"Rose! Don’t just stand there and gawk at the ship, get moving!" Ruth scolded her daughter.
"Now Ruth, let the girl take it all in. This is Titanic, the grandest ship in the world," Molly Brown chuckled laying a supportive hand on her niece’s shoulder. She didn’t understand Ruth at all. The woman had a lovely daughter like Rose and all she can do is belittle her and treat her like she was dirt. Molly had to wonder what affect did Ruth’s carelessness have on Rose. Especially during this European vacation. Molly had caught her favorite niece staring out into space, the saddest expression in her clear green eyes. "Come Rose darlin’. We’ll be late," Molly urged the girl forward.
Rose nods and takes a last look at her surroundings, secretly knowing that this will be the last time she’ll see land again…if things go as planned that is. Then she won’t have to worry about her future as an old maid and having to deal with her mother’s hatred. Sighing one last time, she follows her aunt into the ship, unaware that she’s about to embark on a journey of a lifetime.
Caroline Simmons sighed irritably as she sets in a Southampton pub, watching her fiancée Jack Dawson and his friend Fabrizio DeRossi play poker with a couple of Swedish men. She didn’t want to be in this stuffy old bar watching a game of poker. She wanted to be outside waving to the Titanic as it set off on its maiden voyage. Or rather, she wanted to be on Titanic as it set off on it’s maiden voyage. She wanted to be aboard the grandest ship in history. Waving good-bye and perhaps joining the famous names of society for tea. Women such as Ida Straus and Madeleine Astor. Make some impressions on the big names of society.
But instead she’s in this filthy pub watching her fiancée play poker with a couple of sweaty men.
"Sven, I can’t believe you betted our tickets," a blond woman slaps one of the Swedes on the back of the head.
"Yeah Jack," Caroline glared at her handsome fiancée. "I can’t believe you betted everything we have."
"Well, when you have nothing, you have nothing to lose," Jack smiled up at her, his blue eyes shining with excitement. Caroline just rolled her eyes and continues staring out at the Titanic, imagining herself boarding the great ship.
"What do you mean you’re sorry!" Fabrizio’s voice interrupts her daydream. "My momma’s expecting me in.."
"I’m sorry. You’re not gonna see your ma again for a very long time. Because we’re going to America! Full house boys!" Jack laughed, slamming his cards down on the table.
"What do you mean?" Caroline comes to attention. What did we win?"
"Three third class tickets
aboard Titanic!" Jack laughs scooping Caroline up in his
arms and swinging her around. "We’re going home!"
"Look at me! I’m going to L’America!"
Fabrizio laughed excitedly.
"No mates!" The bartender yells. "Titanic’s going to America in Five minutes!"
"Oh shit!"Jack yelled scooping up their meager belongings plus the three tickets. "Come on! We gotta get out of here!"
All three of them dashes out the door and runs as fast as the can towards the ship, pushing their way through the crowd. Two minutes later they’re running up the gangplank with Jack shouting for the officer, who’s about to close the door to wait.
"We’re passengers!" Jack yelled out of breath as they made their way to the confused official.
"Have you been through the inspection Que.?" The officer asked, looking Jack squarely in the eye.
Caroline’s face falls in bitter disappointment. No they have not been through any inspection Que. There was no way they were gonna get on that ship. Her dreams, so in reach has slipped away from her once again.
"Of course we have," Jack lied. "Besides, we don’t have any lice, we’re Americans. All of us!"
"Ok. Come on in," The officer steps aside.
"Jack you genious," Fabrizio slaps his friend on the back as they dart into the interior of Titanic.
Caroline sighs irritably as she watch Jack and Fabrizio at the bow of the ship, watching some dolphins try to outrace the ship.
"Hey Carly!" Jack called her by her nickname, something he’s called her since they were children back in Chippewa Falls. "You oughta come see this!"
"I’ll pass," Caroline called back. Third class. That’s all they were and all they ever would be. She can still remember earlier when she had tried to go up to first class and was blocked by a snotty steward.
"You can’t go up there. First class only and that’s not you," The steward nastily denied her entrance.
"But…" She tried to protest.
"Captains orders! Now I suggest you go back down there where you belong!" The steward points back down to the third class area of the ship.
Caroline sniffed again. She had been so excited, so looking forward to a conversation with Madeleine Astor…now that was never going to happen. All because the stupid Swedes were not smart enough to get first class tickets. Her thoughts were interrupted all of a sudden by Jack.
"I’m the king of the world!" Jack yelled happily, a big smile on his face.
"No you’re not," Caroline mumbles grumpily. "If you were we’d be in first class instead of down here." How can Jack be so happy being down here in third class? Then again, he’s happy anywhere. He was even happy to be under that bridge they had slept under the other night. That was one of the things she hated about him. He didn’t have any worthwhile aspirations. All he cared about was his art and making each day count. She was hoping that the millionaires on board this ship would be a good influence on her young fiancée. That they’d give him some goals…maybe even help him get into the stock market.
Now that wasn’t going to happen either. Oh well, very well then. Caroline was patient. Maybe her raise to greatness wasn’t meant to happen here on Titanic, but it was going to happen and in the very near future. She was sure of it.