May 9, 1911
Streaks of a lighter blue began to appear in the sky, meaning sunrise was about to follow. Rose chewed on a small piece of bread, finding it was all she could manage to eat because of her nerves. Fabrizio had not yet awakened, even though it was five o’clock in the morning. Jack and Rose had slept for just three hours on the couch before Rose got up. She was scared of being found by Satine or Cal. She just couldn’t wait to get away from Paris. Rain poured down outside and Rose knew she was going to end up cold and wet by the end of the day. She had just three dresses and one coat, which Maria had given to her, but it wasn’t very warm. She had no pins for her hair and just one pair of shoes, which hurt her feet, but she knew until they reached England there was nothing she could do. She couldn’t be seen out and about in broad daylight in Paris. Jack emerged from the bathroom dressed in black pants, a gray shirt, and a brown coat. She still couldn’t believe he was running away with her. She felt like she was disrupting his life, but he had insisted on coming. He couldn’t be without her now.
Fabrizio yawned and stretched loudly. He could smell coffee. His brown eyes flickered open.
“Morning.” Jack grinned at him.
“What time is it?” Fabrizio stretched, seeing that it was still mostly dark outside. He threw back the sheets and scratched his head.
“Around five, but Rose and I have to speak to you.”
Fabrizio craned his neck to see Rose sitting at the table. He frowned. She hadn’t been there when he had gone to sleep the night before. A lot must have happened while he had been sleeping, but then, he was a heavy sleeper. Jack sounded serious, so Fabrizio stood, still smelling the fresh coffee. Rose stood and silently walked to the stove where the kettle was.
“Would you like coffee?” she offered.
“Si, but no milk.” He grinned at her before turning his attention back to Jack, who he knew was acting differently. “Jack, what is wrong?”
Jack sat in the chair across from Fabrizio at the table. “Look, the thing is, Rose and I have to leave Paris before sunrise.”
Fabrizio glanced from Jack to Rose, his dark eyes full of confusion. Rose held out a cup of coffee to Fabrizio and he took it. “We’re going to England,” Rose piped in, turning to look at Jack. “I have to get away from Cal. There’s too much to explain, but we thought maybe you’d come with us.” Rose smiled at him.
Fabrizio took a sip of his coffee, allowing it to try to wake him a little. “How can you just leave?”
Jack sighed, knowing it was going to be hard for both him and Fabri. He hoped with all his heart that he joined them. “If Rose stays here, then Cal will find her, and I have to keep her safe. Fabri, we have been in Paris for seven months, anyway. It was a temporary thing and we promised we would explore the world together.”
Fabrizio wanted that, too, but he had settled here and had a job. It wasn’t brilliant, but it was something that he enjoyed. “But, Jack, I have too much here. So do you.”
“You don’t understand. I have to do this…for Rose.”
Rose felt guilt pull at her. She couldn’t believe Jack was giving up his life for her, giving up his friends and his home. “No, Jack. I can go alone. You stay.”
Jack stood and shook his head. He put his arm around Rose’s waist and pulled her to him. It was hard, but if he had to leave Fabri, then he would. He had to keep Rose safe. He loved her so much. “No. I’m coming with you. Are you with us, Fabri?”
Fabrizio thought for a moment and felt tears come to his eyes. Two years he had known Jack, and in that time, they had become like brothers, but now there had come a time where they had to be happy for each other, even if it meant them being apart. “I’m sorry, Jack, but I must stay here. It feels like home to me.”
Jack removed his arm from Rose’s waist and came towards Fabrizio, hugging him. “I wish you’d come.” Jack couldn’t believe that he would have to say good-bye to his best friend. “But I’d never want you to be unhappy.”
Fabrizio pulled away, tears shining in his eyes. “Maybe I will join you one day soon.” He turned to Rose, who also had tears in her eyes. He held out his arms to her and she fell into them, tears finally escaping her eyes.
“Thank you for being such a good friend to me. I know we’ve only known each other a few months, but you have been amazing.” Rose felt Jack’s hand on her shoulder. She loosened her grip on Fabrizio and held out her arm to Jack. All three stood in each other’s arms, not believing this would be the end of them living in the same house. It wasn’t the end of their friendship. Jack stepped back first, holding Rose’s hand.
“When must you go?” Fabrizio asked.
“Soon. Maybe now. We don’t want to be seen. We have to get on a ship to England as soon as possible,” Jack muttered, feeling tiredness and pain overcome him, but he knew what he had to do.
“I understand.”
“The rent is paid for the week. Are you going to stay here after that?”
“I don’t know.” Fabrizio felt as though he was losing a part of him. “Living here without you two would be lonely. Maybe I will bunk with Henry.”
A crash of thunder sounded from outside and Rose jumped, seeing the rain pour and spatter against the window. “Shit. Maybe we should go now before the storm gets worse.”
“Yes. You two go. Please be careful.”
Jack hesitated for a moment, looking at Fabrizio. “If anyone asks, you don’t know where we went. We will write to you as soon as we are settled somewhere.” He pulled him into a hug quickly, for the last time, before opening the door. Fabrizio turned to Rose. He touched her face gently, seeing that the good-bye was killing her, too. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. She walked through the door, looking around the house one last time. It was a place she would never see again, a place full of good memories. Tears slid down her face, but she knew she had to be strong, because she was starting a new life again now, with Jack, and she couldn’t wait.
“Good-bye.” It was a word that seemed like they were never going to see each other again, but they knew it wasn’t the case. Jack turned, pulling Rose down the stairs with him and looking back just once as Fabrizio closed the door. Both of them knew they couldn’t look back now. It was just them, together, and their objective now was to flee Paris.
The rain beat heavily down as Jack pulled Rose through the narrow streets of Paris. They were heading to the docks to find a ship, any ship that was going to England. They had money and enough clothes to last them until they reached their destination, but after that they would need money and a place to stay.
Jack hugged Rose as close to him as he could, trying to shield her from the storm, but it was too late. Both of them were already soaked, their clothes sticking to their bodies and hair wringing wet. All of their belongings were crammed into a rucksack, which Jack carried on his back.
The stench of fish grew more and more apparent as they reached the docks. Several boats were unloading fish, while another loaded coal. It was almost light outside, but the storm continued.
A small building sat near the water where the boats were unloading. A plump young man with very red cheeks sat inside smoking a cigarette. Rose took in her surroundings. The last time she had been here, Cal had accompanied her as she had disembarked for boarding school. She had seen nothing. As soon as she had disembarked, she had been whisked into a carriage. Jack approached the man in the building, who looked at him as though he was crazy.
“Morning, sir.” Jack smiled at him. “Are there any ships bound for England today?”
The man removed the cigarette from his mouth and shrugged. “Je ne peux pas vous comprendre.”
Rose turned to Jack. “He doesn’t speak English. He doesn’t understand you.”
“Shit.” Jack sighed. He turned to the man once again, attempting to use hand gestures instead, but the man looked at him blankly.
“Les bateaux limitent sont-ils pour Angleterre aujourd’hui?” Rose’s voice interrupted Jack’s attempts at communicating with the Frenchman. Jack looked at her in disbelief. He hadn’t known she could speak French.
“Oui. Les S Otway à dix. Les voiles à Irlande et Angleterre avant Australie.” He smiled at Rose. She turned to Jack with a smile on her face.
“He said the SS Otway goes at ten, going to England and Ireland before Australia.” Rose felt relieved. She couldn’t wait to leave Paris, and she was soaked through.
“All right. Well, get third class,” Jack told her. “And say we’re married…Mr. and Mrs. Shaw.”
Rose furrowed her brows. “Shaw?”
“Yes. My mother’s maiden name. We cannot use our names in case we’re looked for. This way, it doesn’t look suspicious, especially if we are listed as married.”
Rose turned to the man and began to explain what Jack had told her. He watched her in awe as she spoke in fluent French. She never failed to surprise him. Rose handed him some money and the man gave her two tickets. This was it. Soon, they would be on their way to England, to live their new life together.