ROSE'S SENSE
Chapter Two
June 1912
Philadelphia
Rose stood in front of her vanity, putting
the final touches on her hairdo. She heard the doorbell ring downstairs and
sighed. It must be Cal.
When they had been on the Carpathia, Rose had
waited impatiently for a chance to escape and find Jack. The opportunity had
never come, however, because Ruth, still traumatized by the sinking, had
refused to leave her room, and Rose had realized that she would not be able to
leave without raising questions. Neither Ruth nor Cal had had much to say to
her, but she didn’t want to push her luck.
When the ship had docked, Rose had left with
them. She had spotted Jack in the crowd, but had been unable to attract his
attention. Then she had been whisked off in a carriage, and then a train, back
to Philadelphia. She hadn’t seen Jack since.
Cal had come to visit a few times, though
less frequently as time passed. Rose had sat silently throughout his visits,
and he hadn’t seemed particularly inclined to talk to her either. Rose had
taken every opportunity to slip away, and most times Cal had just spoken to
Ruth, both of them very uncomfortable. He had spoken of the wedding a few
times, but hadn’t pushed the issue. Rose had been grateful. She had no idea
where Jack was, but she had no intention of marrying Cal.
Rose heard the door open, and a maid’s voice
echoed through the house. A moment later, Rose heard Ruth greeting Cal. Their
voices were tense.
Reluctantly, Rose moved down the stairs. Cal
and Ruth were in the parlor, discussing something. Quietly, Rose went inside.
Cal was speaking to Ruth in a quiet but firm
voice.
"This has gone on long enough, Ruth.
With no wedding in the offing, we cannot continue to support you. Rose made her
decision when she chose to run off with that gutter rat. We’ve been taking care
of you since the sinking, but enough is enough."
Ruth started to speak, her eyes wide and
disbelieving.
Cal cut her off. "Despite what you may
believe, the Hockleys are not without honor. We have paid your debts for you,
and I have a check for five hundred thousand dollars in your name. If you
invest carefully and spend wisely, it should be enough to last you the rest of
your life." He pulled the check from his pocket and handed it to her. His
eyes were cold. "We have no obligation to you, so you should be grateful
that we have given you anything." He walked out of the parlor, not even
glancing at Rose.
Rose was ecstatic at first, but her joy faded
when she saw the shocked, devastated look on her mother’s face. Ruth had
enjoyed being a member of high society, and this turn of events had insured
that, although she was well-provided for, she would no longer be a member. Her
lack of funds and the Hockleys’ contempt had sealed her fate.
Rose approached Ruth slowly.
"Mother..."
Ruth didn’t look at her. Hands shaking, she
set the check on the table, trying to compose herself.
"I hope you’re happy, Rose. I arranged
that match for the benefit of all. Now look at what the DeWitt-Bukaters have
been reduced to. You could have had a good life with Cal. Instead, you chose to
take up with that nobody from steerage. A pity he didn’t die, too."
"Mother!" Rose stalked toward her,
angry. "Do you have any idea what Cal was capable of?"
Ruth didn’t listen. She hunched forward,
wrapping her arms around herself, as though to protect herself from a blow.
Slowly, she picked up the check and rang for a maid.
"Please have the car brought around. I
need to run some errands."
"Yes, ma’am."
Ruth sat down, still staring at the check.
"God damn you, Jack Dawson."
Rose was shocked, not just by her mother’s
language, but by the despair in her mother’s voice. Still, Ruth was a strong,
resilient woman. She would survive, one way or another.