A TWIST OF FATE
Chapter Eighty
"Well, what do you think?" asked
Jack.
Rose studied the room. It obviously wasn’t as
luxurious as the suite she had in first class all that time ago, but it was
very nice. Jack put the luggage down on the bed.
"You OK?" he asked again.
Rose nodded.
"What if anyone recognizes me,
Jack?"
Jack sat beside her.
"I asked the steward if the staff
changed. I told him I traveled a year ago and wondered if some steward guy I
made friends with would still be on board. He told me they move the staff
around a bit, you know, on the other ships. And if we keep away from first
class, keep out of trouble, and keep a low profile, we may just get away with
it. You would have only met with the first class staff anyway, not down
here."
"Only really the dining room staff. I
had Trudy and the lovely Lovejoy hanging round all the time."
"Anyway, Mrs. Dawson, we can always have
meals brought here."
Rose giggled a little.
"Thank you for everything, Jack. I
really mean that. But...but if for any reason, we don’t work out, I will always
be grateful for what you did. You saved me, in every way possible, and I am
truly grateful. I just wanted you to know that."
"You don’t think we will work out?"
Jack asked, a little dismayed.
"It isn’t that, Jack. I...I...I don’t
know how to say this, but I’ll try. I have just done the unthinkable, the
unimaginable. I left my husband for a man that I hardly know; yet seem to know
so well now. All that has happened has left me a little confused, scared. But I
do want to be with you, Jack, and I do want this to work. Do you understand
what I’m trying to say?" She looked directly at Jack, her eyes full of
hope.
Jack took her hand. "I think I
understand, Rose. You are the most amazing woman I have ever met. And there is
something I must ask. I meant to ask earlier, but I never got the chance."
Jack reached into his pocket and removed a small black box.
"If you are going to travel as Mrs.
Dawson, then you need a ring. I know we can’t get married, but this is to show
my commitment to you. Rose, will you accept?"
Rose’s face broke into a smile. Not being
able to marry Jack was something that had bothered her, but this was another
solution. She opened the box, and there was a small gold ring, engraved with
leaves.
"Oh, Jack. It’s beautiful!" she
exclaimed as she removed it.
"Maria helped me choose the size,"
he confessed.
"I wondered why she had me try on her
rings!" exclaimed Rose. Jack gently took it from her, and holding her
hand, delicately slipped it on her finger. Their eyes interlocked, and for a
moment Rose realized her commitment to Jack and his commitment to her. She
could see it in his eyes, and feel it in his touch. The moment seemed to last
an eternity.
"Thank you, Jack. Thank you!" She
threw her arms round his shoulders.
Jack glanced at his pocket watch. Rose was
proud that Jack treasured her gift to him.
"Come on, Rose. It’s nearly twelve
o’clock. We have to wave good-bye to Fabri and Maria."
*****
Rose put on her bonnet, and Jack took her
hand and led her up to the deck, which was already getting crowded. He pushed
to the rails and scanned the crowd.
"There, there!" He pointed to Rose
and began to wave frantically. Rose spotted them, too, and also began to wave.
Fabri and Maria saw them also, and began to wave back.
"Good-bye! Good Luck!" they
shouted. Then the ship’s whistle sounded and it seemed so final.
Jack turned to Rose and grinned, his blue
eyes full of hope.
"To think, Rose, this is just the
beginning. We may not have been on the Titanic. This was all a twist of
fate."