IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES
Chapter Five
Early Morning, Around 7 A.M
April 12, 1912
Thomas Andrews, the priest at St. Peter's
church in Santa Monica and Jack's close friend, sat at a table closely examining
different plants. Most of these plants were poisonous, and Father Andrews was
looking to see which were moreso and putting the different poisons in jars.
Thomas Andrews was an older man with graying hair and shining eyes. He was a
very kind and everyone who attended his services loved him. He was someone who
you could count on and was always there for anyone. Father Andrews squinted as
he held up a green root and examined it closely. Pressing a pair of tweezers to
the fat part of the root, he watched as white goo oozed out. He squeezed the
goo into its own jar and clamped the lid on.
"Father! Father Andrews!" a voice
called from the hallway outside his greenhouse.
Father Andrews immediately recognized the
voice of Jack. He was glad he was here. He had a few things to talk to him
about. "In here, Jack!" he called. A moment later, Jack's shining
face peeked into the room.
"Good morning, Father," Jack said,
coming in and sitting down in a small chair.
"Good morning yourself, Jack,"
Father Andrews said. "Now, tell me this, where were you all last night? I
talked to Adam and he said you didn't come home at all," he said,
referring to Jack's valet, Adam, who had told Father Andrews about Jack not
coming home. He saw Jack blush. "Oh, Jack, you were out with Eleanor,
weren't you?" Father Andrews asked in a way that wasn't asking.
Jack shook his head. "Eleanor? Father
Andrews, no. I have forgotten that name totally."
"Then what held your attention all last
night? Surely something important," Father Andrews said, getting up and
pulling his service robes on.
"Let me tell you," Jack said as he
helped Father Andrews with the robe, "that my heart is set on the fair
daughter of the rich Bukater." Jack saw Father Andrews gasp.
"Are you serious, Jack?" he asked
with disbelief on his face.
Jack nodded to him as they left the
greenhouse. "We met, we talked, fell in love, exchanged vows," Jack
said with a dreamy look in his eyes.
Father Andrews shook his head as they headed
down the hall. "Don't get in over your head, Jack."
Jack just bit his lip. "Well, I was
wondering…" he said before trailing off.
"Yes," Father Andrews said as they
entered the chapel.
"If you would…ah…marry us. Today, in
fact."
Father Andrews looked at the young Jack. What
is he getting himself into? Father Andrews silently asked himself. Then
something entered his mind. Could this possibly end the feud between the Bukaters
and the Dawsons? Images of the two families shaking hands and making up
after all these years danced in his head. He glanced again at Jack again. The
poor boy had a worried expression on his face. Father Andrews sighed. "All
right, Jack. Be here at six with the girl, all right?" Jack jumped about
ten feet in the air and let out a huge yahoo. Father Andrews shook his head.
"Thanks so much, Father. You won't
regret this," Jack said excitedly before running off, almost running into
a nun on his way out.
Father Andrews watched as Jack apologized and
hurried out. "I hope not, Jack," he whispered before starting to
prepare for the morning mass.
*****
Fabrizio and Tommy were down by the beach,
waiting to see what the day would bring.
"You haven’t seen him at all?"
Tommy asked as Fabrizio fooled around in the water. They were, of course,
talking about Jack.
Fabrizio shook his head. "Not at all.
He's going mad, Tommy. I am telling you. In a few weeks, he will have totally
lost it."
Tommy nodded. "I know what you mean. Did
you see the way he ran off yesterday? It was like a madman's run. Somebody's
gonna have to straighten him out."
Fabrizio agreed and shook his head.
"Poor Jack. Still so crazed over that Eleanor that he can't see
straight." Suddenly, the men heard something. They turned their heads and
saw Jack running towards them, shouting their names.
"Speak of the madman," Fabrizio
mumbled as Jack ran up.
"Good morning, Tommy, Fabrizio. How are
you?"
Tommy mumbled a hello and Fabrizio mumbled a fine.
Jack immediately got worried. "Are you
mad at me?" he asked timidly as they started walking up the beach.
Fabrizio and Tommy said nothing.
"Aw…c'mon, you guys. Are you still mad
over last night?" Jack asked, walking backwards in front of them.
"Why did you leave, Jack?" Fabrizio
asked angrily.
"Were you out with Eleanor?" Tommy
asked.
Jack shook his head. "I was not out with
Eleanor, but with my other love."
"And who might that be?" Tommy
asked sarcastically.
"I'd rather not say," Jack mumbled.
"Figures," Fabrizio said. "You
never confide in us anymore, Jack. What's happened? We all used to be so
close."
Jack shrugged. "I'm sorry. I have just
been busy."
Fabrizio and Tommy started laughing as they
sat down at a table by the pier.
"I'd rather not ask what you was busy
doing," Tommy said, laughing harder.
Jack shook his head. His friends were the
ones going crazy. Just then, someone started causing a commotion on the pier.
"Who is that?" Tommy asked,
standing up as someone approached their table.
"Hello, boys!" a woman called,
looking at them. It was, of course, Trudy. But Fabrizio and Tommy did not know
this and started laughing harder.
"I would like to talk to the one they
call Jack," Trudy said, smiling at them.
"I am Jack," Jack said, standing
up.
"I desire some conference with
you," Trudy said, pointing to Jack.
Tommy and Fabrizio were now doubled over with
laughter. They, of course, thought Trudy was in love with Jack.
"Guys, grow up," Jack said as he
got up and left with Trudy.
Fabrizio and Tommy started calling out
good-byes to them.
"Good-bye, lovebirds," Tommy called,
laughing through his words.
"We all know where you were last night!"
Fabrizio yelled, standing up.
Jack just rolled his eyes and followed Trudy
around to a little shop. She pushed him up against the wall when they were out
of site of Fabrizio and Tommy.
"If you should lead her in a fool's
paradise as they say—" Trudy got out before Jack stopped her.
"Ma'am, I love Rose with all my
heart."
Trudy smiled at Jack. "Go on," she
urged.
"Tell my love," Jack began before
starting to smile brightly, "to make an excuse this afternoon to come to
St. Peter's Church. There, she will be made a bride."
Trudy's smile brightened. "Oh, oh, that
is wonderful! I am so happy for the girl!" she exclaimed, causing a few
people to turn and look. "Oh, I'll go tell my lady right away. Good-bye,
Jack!" Trudy called, running away.
Jack smiled and watched Trudy leave. He was sure
he had never been happier in his life.
*****
Rose impatiently burst into the room.
"Trudy!" she exclaimed, seeing her maid bent over some vases of
flowers, obviously fixing the positions. Trudy turned and looked at her.
"What did he say?" Rose yelled, throwing her hands up.
"Can't you see I am out of breath?"
Trudy asked, sitting down on a couch.
"Oh, how can you be out of breath when
you can say to me you are out of breath!" Rose exclaimed, sitting down by
her maid. "Please, Trudy, tell me what my love said."
Trudy looked at the begging Rose. She had
never seen the girl look more scared and worried in her life. Yet her eyes were
also filled with anticipation and a certain excitement. Trudy sighed. "Are
you able to leave to go to confession today?"
Rose nodded. "Yes. I was planning on
going this afternoon."
Trudy smiled. "Then go and meet your
Jack at St. Peter's Church. There will Father Andrews marry you and Jack."
Rose screamed and jumped up.
"Shh," Trudy hushed.
"Oh, thank you so much, Trudy,"
Rose said quietly, but Trudy could tell she was more excited than she had ever
been. "I've got to go get ready," Rose suddenly said. "Thank you,
Trudy!" she shouted as she ran out of the room.
Trudy shook her head and laughed.
*****
Rose pushed open the door to St. Peter's Church
and slowly walked inside. She could see Jack waiting by the altar, talking to
Father Andrews. Rose looked around. No one besides her, Jack, and Father
Andrews were around. She took a deep breath and put on her best smile. As she
walked towards Jack, he turned and looked at her, smiling brightly. She smiled
back at him and walked up.
Jack watched as Rose approached him. She was
dressed in a simple yet breathtaking white dress and her hair was falling
freely around her shoulders. In her hand she held a bouquet of beautiful, deep
red roses. Jack smiled and held out his hand to her. Rose put her hand in his
and Jack pulled her towards him.
"Hello," Rose whispered, blushing a
bit.
"Hi," Jack said before leaning down
and kissing her.
"Ahem," Father Andrews said after a
minute.
Rose and Jack reluctantly broke apart and
faced Father Andrews.
He smiled at them. "Jack, Rose, I
welcome you both to my church."
Jack and Rose nodded, indicating that he
should go on.
"I hope that by this marriage, your…ah…family
problems, to put it lightly, will come to a glorious end," Father Andrews
said. "Are you ready?" he asked.
"Yes," Jack and Rose said in
unison.
Father Andrews smiled at their readiness.
"All right, then," he said before starting the ceremony.