3
Rose awakens to loud noises downstairs, it sounded like pots clattering. She groans and turns around to find Jack still asleep. She smiles and reaches up lightly kisses his lips. Happy that for now he wasn’t haunted by the nightmares he was having two nights before.
"Rose," He mummbles. "You awake? Go back to sleep."
"Shhh, I’m fine," She smiles. "I’m have to use the restroom. Where is it?"
"Next door down," Jack mummbled, drifting back into his dreamless slumber.
Rose nods and slips out of bed, shivering at the coolness in the air. It was amazing how warm body heat was. She slips out of the room and heads for the door when she hears whispers from Lisa’s room.
"What if we wake ‘em?" a male voice asked. "Lisa it won’t due to let people know I come here. My ma will kill me."
"Don’t worry Ronald. You’re perfectly safe. My uncles are asleep and my cousin and his wife are probably busy doing the newlywed thing to even notice you’re here. Your precious mother won’t know a thing."
Well this was interesting. Seems like someone’s boyfriend had a Oedipus complex. Freud would really be interested in this. Rose scolds herself mentally for such thoughts. She didn’t know anything about these people. It wasn’t her place to judge. She quickly slips into the restroom and peeks out into the hallway to see a different man from the one that afternoon slip downstairs. "Well wonders never cease," Rose shakes her head. She wondered if Jack knew anything about this. Doing what she had to, then slipping back out, she goes back to her room and firmly shuts the door. She snuggles closer to her sleeping husband trying to warm herself again and drifts off to sleep.
*
Two days later Jack and Rose enter the general store hand in hand. Both had just been to the bank and brought a deposit box. They had placed the money they found in Cal’s coat and the heart of the ocean inside. Rose takes out two one hundred dollar bills and slips it into her purse. Now it was her plan to replace what Jack had lost.
"Jack! Rose! What a sight for sore eyes you two are!" Kyle exclaims happily.
"Hello Kyle. We’re just here to buy some supplies," Jack greets, leaving Rose’s side to look at the shelves.
"Mr. Lavery…I mean Kyle. Can you help me out?" Rose approaches the older gentleman.
"Sure thing Rose. What may I do for you?"
"Well you know Jack’s an artist right?"
Kyle nods. He was well familiar with Jack’s gift. He had a bunch of paintings done of his daughter and wife, all of them done by Jack. "Of course."
"Well…Jack’s portfolio…it was destroyed in a accident and I know he misses it terribly. I was wondering if you have any art portfolios on sale here? Plus all art supplies. I know nothing about art and it’d be a great help."
"Of course I have art portfolio’s and art supplies too. Come. I’ll help you shop," Kyle places a hand on Rose’s back and leads her into a separate section of the store.
Ten minutes later Rose is at the counter ready to pay for the items. "That’ll be twenty-five dollars."
"Ok," Rose hands him the one hundred dollar bill. Kyle’s eyes practically come out of his head.
"Where did you two get money like this?" He asked incredulously.
"We saved up for a rainy day," Rose clears her throat nervously. She didn’t want to tell him that the money once belonged to her pompous ex-fiancee.
Kyle just nods. "I’ll
wrap these for you while you help Jack finish shopping."
"Thank you Kyle. This means a lot to the both of us,"
Rose smiles gratefully.
"Anything for Jack and his young bride," Kyle takes Rose by surprise and squeezes her hand. "I mean it Rose. If there’s anything at all that you need, just give us a call. We’ll be happy to help out."
"Thank you Kyle. I’ll keep that in mind," Rose smiles, rejoining Jack just as a middle aged woman and her son enter.
"Wilma!" Kyle greets cheerfully. "And Ronald what are you two doing out this balmy day?"
"Ronald needs a new pair of reading glasses. He lost his last night," Wilma clears her throat. "I don’t know where he left them at."
Rose and Jack reemerges arms full of supplies. "Jack? Jack Dawson?" Ronald’s eyes pop out of his head when he spies his old friend.
"Ronald hi," Jack smiles happily.
Rose almost chokes when she sees the boy from Lisa’s room.
"Rose are you ok?" Jack looks at her in concern.
Rose quickly nods. She didn’t want to get Ronald in trouble with his mother. "I’m fine. I just swallowed wrong."
"And who is this?" Wilma Flintstine, Ronald’s mother asked.
"This is my wife Rose Mrs. Flintstine," Jack introduces Rose. "We just got into town a couple of days ago. You know Ronald, I’m surprised you and Lisa didn’t get together. It looked as if you two were going to become a couple when I left."
Ronald’s mother clears her throat haughtily. "Ronald knows nothing of girls. Especially THAT girl."
"Yeah right," Rose mummbles under her breath stifling a giggle.
"Excuse me?" Wilma turns her attention on Rose.
"That’s right. Keep a tight riegn on your son," Rose quickly covers.
Wilma just smiles. "Here you go Rose. And Jack here’s your supplies. Tell those Uncles of yours they still owe me a hundred dollar tab from last month!" Kyle hands them the packages.
"I sure will Kyle. Thank you for everything," Jack waves, taking Rose’s hand and leads her outside.
"What was that about?" Jack turns to his wife once they’re outside.
"What?"
"That comment when Mrs. Flintstine said Ronald knew nothing
about girls."
Rose couldn’t help herself. She just began laughing uncontrollably.
"Rose?" Jack looks at her, wondering what had gotten into his wife. "Are you ok?"
"Jack…Ronald knows a lot more than his mother is aware of. Remember when I woke up last night."
"Barely."
"Well…I heard voices from Lisa’s room. It was Lisa
and Ronald. I went into the restroom and for some reason I
can’t explain, I peaked out into the hall and it was Ronald
going down the stairs!" Rose bursts into renewed laughter.
"He was telling Lisa how scared he was of his mother."
Jack grins and shakes his head. "Lisa and her adventures. Wait until Wilma Flint hears about that. And knowing Chippewa Falls she will."
"Come on Jack," She grabs his hand and pulls him down the street. "Let’s go home."
*
That night after a dinner that Lisa had fixed, Jack and Rose found themselves alone in the living room. The perfect time for Rose to give Jack his gift.
"Jack, wait here," Rose runs up to their room and returns with the package. "I’ve brought something for you."
"Rose you didn’t have to do that," Jack shakes his head, accepting the gift. "What is it?"
"Open it," Rose laughs.
"Ok," Jack slowly begins to open the package. His eyes widen when he reveals the portfolio, paper and art supplies included. "R-Rose…this is too much…"
"I know how much you’ve missed just picking up a pencil and sketching anything you want. I saw it a awful lot on the carpathia and our wedding day. And when we went to the park when we came here. So I asked Kyle to help me and we came up with this."
"Oh Rose…thank
you," Jack hugs her. "I love this. And this one means
so much more to me than the other one did because you gave it too
me."
Rose blushed.
"In fact, this moment is an inspirational moment. I think this moment, right now, with you setting right there is a perfect portrait."
"Jack! Now?"
Jack nods. "You remember the drill. Set still and no smiling, laughing or talking."
"Jack!"
"Do it," He’s deadly serious by the look in his eyes.
Rose sighs. "Ok. But make it quick."
One hour later, Jack is hanging his masterpiece on the wall in their bedroom.
"Jack, you are truly gifted," Rose leans back into his embrace as they stand and stare at the drawing.
"I have great inspiration," Jack kisses the top of her head. "I love you Rose."
"I love you more."
The newlyweds stare into each other’s eyes and share a passionate kiss.