ROSE'S SENSE
Chapter One
April 15, 1912
Carpathia
The lifeboat was rowed up to the side of the
Carpathia. Rose sat up, watching, as several people climbed up a ladder onto
the ship. Others, less strong or in worse condition, were lifted onto the ship
in a sling-like device.
When her turn came, she made her way up the
ladder. When she was on board the ship, she turned to watch as the other
passengers came aboard, Jack among them.
Jack was in bad shape. He tried to climb the
ladder, but after he nearly fell, he was placed in the sling and lifted onto
the ship.
When he reached the deck, he leaned against
the railing, shivering and staring out to sea. Rose stood beside him and put
her arms around him, trying to warm him, but it didn’t seem to help. The chill
went too deep.
A moment later, a steward approached them and
spoke to Jack, pointing him in the direction of the ship’s hospital. He nodded
and stepped away from the railing, Rose trying to support him.
He got about ten feet before he collapsed.
Rose fell to her knees beside him as he tried to get to his feet.
The steward returned, and, with the help of a
Carpathia passenger, picked him up and carried him toward the hospital. Rose
hurried after them.
At the hospital, they set him down on a cot,
covered him with three blankets, and alerted the doctor to his presence before
leaving. Rose sat beside him and put her hand on his forehead. His skin was
like ice.
The doctor came by a few minutes later. After
examining Jack, he diagnosed hypothermia and exhaustion, and instructed him to
stay where he was, drink plenty of hot liquids, and get some sleep.
A nurse brought Jack another blanket and a
cup of tea. After drinking the tea, he set the cup aside, nearly dropping it in
Rose’s lap, and lay down. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
Rose set the cup aside and pulled the
blankets up farther around his shoulders. He was still shivering. She thought
about finding another blanket for him, but changed her mind when the shivering
gradually stopped as the blankets warmed him.
She sat beside him, watching him sleep. He
had not spoken since they were rescued a few hours earlier. Half-frozen and
exhausted, neither had said a word since the lifeboat had picked them up.
Rose settled back in her chair, closing her
eyes.
*****
About an hour later, Rose sat up abruptly as
someone walked into the room, looking around and speaking loudly.
Turning to look at the speaker, she
recognized Cal. He was arguing with the nurse, insisting that he be allowed to
look around.
Rose sat frozen in place as Cal began walking
around the room. She thought about sneaking away, but had no intention of
leaving Jack to Cal’s tender mercies. He was in no shape to fight Cal off, and
Rose had no doubt that Cal was capable of coming up with another devious plan
to get rid of him. One of Jack’s hands lay atop the blankets, the severed
handcuff still in place, reminding her of what Cal had attempted the night
before.
When Cal reached them, he barely looked at
her, but instead stood staring at Jack, glowering. Abruptly, he turned and
walked away. Surprised, Rose looked at Jack again, then got up and followed
Cal.
She wasn’t sure what Cal had in mind, but she
was certain it involved getting her back. If she went back with him for now,
she could rejoin Jack later, after she had thought of a way to avoid her fiancé.
Cal was outside, talking to an officer, when
Rose caught up to him. She only heard the last few words.
"...found her," the officer was
saying. Cal nodded and turned away. Rose followed him, scurrying to keep up, as
he headed back toward first class.
Rose followed him to a first class stateroom.
Inside, Ruth was sitting on a stiff, straight-backed couch, crying. Rose stared
at her in surprise. Her mother never let her emotions show in front of others.
Even when Rose’s father had died, Ruth had maintained a calm, dignified
expression until she was alone. The sinking must have traumatized her.
Cal walked over to Ruth and spoke to her in a
voice too low for Rose to hear. Ruth looked hopeful for a moment, then resumed
crying. Cal shook his head and walked away, shutting the door behind him.
"Mother, I’m here." Rose sat down
next to her. "What did he say to you?"
Ruth didn’t reply. She continued crying,
rocking herself slightly. Rose asked the question again, but still Ruth did not
respond. Rose finally gave up and put an arm around her mother, trying to
comfort her.