A TWIST OF FATE
Chapter Seven
After two days, Jack was missing Rose. He had
only met her three times, but felt that the sun had gone from his heart. At
first he thought she might appear behind him as she did on the last occasion,
but she did not. He hoped all had gone well when she returned home and that she
was too busy with society things to come by and see him. Also part of him knew
that he may never see her again, after all their meeting was pretty unusual
considering their class. Another part of him also knew she was another mans
wife. This part he chose to ignore.
But he couldn't get Rose out of his mind and he needed to know that she was all
right. I still owe Rose the two drawings I promised for the lunch, Jack
thought. If I find out where she lives I could drop by and leave the drawings,
maybe even see her.
The plan was crazy Jack knew, but it gave him something to hold on to. He went
home slightly earlier than usual to start the drawing he had planned. He let
himself into his apartment and grabbed some bread and cheese out of the
cupboard. Pulling his table over to the window, he settled down with a piece of
paper and started to rough sketch. Already he had decided to give Rose the
Titanic drawing she had admired from his portfolio. But he also wanted to do a
special picture for her.
The sketch done, he finished his sandwich and began again with a larger piece
of paper. However, no matter how hard he tried, Jack could just not get the
image he wanted. He screwed the paper up in anger and threw it into the corner
of the room. He began again but just could not get it right. He ran his fingers
through his long hair and sighed. It was a warm evening so he decided to go
down to the bar for a cold beer.
The bar was just round the corner from the block he lived in. It was the only
one he had been in since arriving in Philadelphia and the only people he knew
in the city were either staff or regulars. He walked through the door and up to
the counter. A young girl with long honey blonde hair beamed at him.
"Hi Jack, want a beer?"
"Yes please Susie"
Susie brought him a cold beer.
"So how ya doing Jack? I haven't seen you for a few days."
"I've been busy."
"What, with your drawings?"
"Yeah."
Susie wiped the bar top down and came back over to Jack.
"You been doing well then?"
Jack took a swallow of his beer. "Things have been good this week."
Susie looked at Jack, wishing he was looking at her instead of staring into his
drink.
"Look Jack, I had a really nice time when you took me to the Nickelodeon
last week."
Jack flashed her a brief smile that made her spirit rise.
"Good, I enjoyed it too."
"I'm off on Saturday night" she continued, hoping for some reaction.
But there was none. She was going to have to ask him herself.
"I wondered if you'd like to go dancing or something?"
Jack looked up at her. She was certainly pretty, but the interest he once had
in her had gone.
"Sorry Susie, I've got something on. Another time maybe?"
Susie looked really hurt. She had waited days for Jack to come back in. She was
really hoping that he would come in and ask her out again. He had been a real
gentleman, taking her to the Nickelodeon and for a bite of supper. He had
walked her home and not tried anything funny on like other men who had offered
to take her out. Just because she was a waitress some men treated her with no respect.
Jack had been different. Maybe he'd met someone else and that was why he hadn't
been in. She looked at him again, staring into his beer. Yes, she had seen that
look in a man before. The look of a lovesick puppy. Someone had beaten her to
Jack's affections. Susie picked up her cloth and her pride and went to another
part of the bar.
The beer refreshed him mentally and physically and Jack was ready to tackle the
drawing again. He put the coins for the beer on the counter, wished Susie good
night and was gone. She picked up the coins and sadly watched him leave.
Back at the apartment Jack began again. This time he mastered the strokes he
wanted. When the light began to fail he put on the light and carried on
oblivious of the time. It wasn't until he opened his eyes and felt how stiff
his arms and back were that he realized he had fallen asleep at the table and
dawn was beginning to break. Raising himself slowly, he rubbed the sleep from
his eyes and looked through the uncurtained window across the Philadelphia
skyline. The sky was streaked with pink, purple and orange. It was going to be
another fine day.
Jack dragged himself over to the stove and heated a pan of water to make a
coffee. He went back to the table and studied the completed drawing. Once satisfied
with it, he signed it and went to make the drink.
He then wrote a note on a scrap of paper:
Rose,
One debt repaid. Hope you enjoy them,
Best Wishes,
Jack Dawson.
Carefully he rolled the two drawings and the note in brown paper and tied it
with string. Only then did lay on his bed and fall asleep.
He woke a couple of hours later. The sun streamed in through the glass onto the
bare wooden floor. Jack suddenly felt wide-awake and full of a sense of
purpose. He changed out of his crumpled clothes and into some clean trousers
and muslin shirt. Over at the sink he washed his face with cold water and ran
his fingers through his hair before pulling on his cap. Not hungry, he decided
to skip breakfast and head off to the part of town he had never been to.
From the conversation he had with Rose he had a rough idea of where she lived.
It was quite a walk, but Jack was oblivious. On he went to the park and beyond.
He noticed the buildings getting bigger and grander as he passed into the upper
class area of Philadelphia. Now he was stuck. He wandered round a little
looking at the big houses trying to imagine what Rose's house was like. After
half an hour he decided to give up and ask. Two young ladies were walking
towards him. From their neat starched uniforms they were obviously ladies
maids. Jack took a chance and took off his cap.
"Excuse me ladies, could you please tell me where the Hockley residence
is?"
The two young maids giggled at each other, charmed by the good looking man who
had stopped them.
"It's two blocks from here, the big house with the drive. You won't miss
it" the tallest girl smiled.
"Well thank you very much ladies" Jack beamed at them as they
continued on their way.
He went on, turned the corner and stopped. He was faced with the largest drive
and most elegant house he had seen so far.
"Jeez, this Hockley guy must be rich" Jack said aloud to himself.
"He's gotta be a millionaire." A little voice inside his head added
"and Rose is a millionaire's wife." He dismissed this voice.
"It's a wonder Rose ever spoke to a poor guy like me."
Jack stared at the windows, wondering what was behind them or if Rose was
there. He suddenly didn't feel quite as confident. Well I came this far, he
thought. And I have to debt to pay, come on Jack Dawson, pull yourself
together.
Taking a deep breath he walked round the back to the sales and tradesman's door
and knocked upon it.