Ocean of Memories

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Jack twirled around with a silly grin on his face. "Come Josephine, in my flying machine and it's up she goes, up she goes." I laughed loudly and pulled his jacket closer around my shoulders. I was cold in my short sleeved day dress, so Jack had given me his jacket.

I couldn't believe myself. It was 9:00 at night, I hadn't even returned for supper. Cal was going to be furious. But I didn't care. I was with Jack, and he seemed to have the unique ability to pick up the shattered remains of my broken heart and form them into something beautiful again.

"You okay?" He asked quietly as he slipped a hand into mine. "Yeah," I replied. "Cal will be furious," I added in a mocking voice.

Jack studied me. "You want me to come in with you?"

I stared at him. "No. No, that would just make it worse." I sighed. "The less he knows of you, the better it is."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

There it was, my stateroom door. Jack raised his eyebrows. "Ni-ice, Rose."

I elbowed him. "Oh, stop it. I'd much rather be in steerage- with you- than locked up here- with him."

I inserted my key into the lock and Jack leaned up against the doorway. "Oh? Really?"

I laughed and touched his nose. "Really."

I leaned in closer to kiss him, and the kiss flew me to heaven and back. It was crazy. Our love. Was crazy. But I didn't even care.

"Good night, Jack," I whispered and I opened the door to my stateroom.

There was Cal, sitting on the edge of my bed, puffing on a cigarette. "There she is," he bellowed into the next room, and Lovejoy affirmed the call to my mother. "Where have you been, Rose?" He snapped as he stomped over to me. "Huh?"

I swallowed my fear. "Out," I forced myself to respond cooly.

Cal muttered for a few moments, and for a second I thought he might let the issue pass.

Of course not.

All of a sudden Cal had my back pinned to the table, his face just inches away from mine. He banged my wrists multiple times on the oak top, screaming profanities at me.

Then he was pulled off me by two strong hands that magically appeared behind him. Cal stumbled backwards, and landed on the bed with a thump. I was sobbing uncontrollably, and I slid off the table into a heap on the floor. My arms hurt, my legs hurt...

"Don't you ever do that again to her, do you understand?!" Someone was shouting at Cal. I looked up to where Cal was, and there was Jack, yelling at him. Protecting me.

Jack turned around to face me and knelt down beside me. He held me close, like a mother would do to a child when they've had a bad dream. I nestled my head closer into his chest and gasped for breath.

"Shhh, Rose. It's okay. Calm down, baby."

I clutched his shirt frantically. I couldn't breathe. I listened to Jack's voice, and then blessed air rushed into my lungs.

He stroked my back until I had stopped sobbing. Trudy came in and handed me a glass of water. "Is this...?"

I nodded and she smiled brightly towards Jack. He nodded at her, then turned to the doorway as a voice said, "Rose."

It was Mother. For once she didn't sound upset at me. She came over to me and touched my face. "Are you alright?"

"No," I snapped. "I'm not. I'm sick of having Cal treat me this way."

Mother looked into my eyes, then she glanced at Jack. "Were you the one who-?" Her voice trailed off, but Jack understood and nodded.

Mother nodded, then turned to Trudy. "Trudy. Go call the master at arms, please."

"Mother!" I yelled. "No!! You can't take Jack!" The sobs were starting to rise again, and Mother placed a hand on my shoulder. "Calm down, dear. It's not for Jack."

Relief washed over me like a tidal wave. I collapsed down on the floor again, exhausted.

Jack stroked my forehead with his thumb. "Jack?" I asked.

"Mmm?"

"D-do you have to leave?"

He smiled. I could tell he liked the fact I wanted him to say. "Not unless you want me to, princess."

Mother breezed in at that moment. "Mother," I asked timidly. "Where is Cal going?"

"Nowhere."

My breath hitched up again. "B-but..."

Mother turned back to me and Jack, a glass of champagne in her hand. "Rose. Cal won't go anywhere, you know that. I've called the master at arms to come talk to him."

I shifted uncomfortably. "Mr. Dawson," Mother continued. "If you will please..." She gestured towards the door. Jack nodded.

"No, Jack..." My voice trailed off. "Please."

He held a finger to his lips and winked. "Trust me," he whispered. Then, placing a kiss on my cheek, he nodded to Mother and left the room.

"Rose. You are never to see that boy again, do you understand?"

My fingers shook as I changed into my nightgown. "Stop it, Mother."

"This is not a game," she responded in a shrill tone. "You know the money's gone."

God bless Trudy, she entered the room at that precise moment. "The master at arms is here, ma'am."

Mother sighed and left the room. "This isn't over, Rose," she called over her shoulder.

I closed my eyes and tried to catch my breath again. Switching the lamps off, I crawled into bed- just as the door opened.

A shadow crept into the room and I shrieked. "Cal?" I sobbed.

"Jesus, Rose, if that's my new nickname, I'm not sure I like it."

"Jack," I whispered. My whole body just relaxed. Everything would be okay now.

He came over to the bed, and I heard him kick his shoes off. "Where do you want me to sleep, Rose?"

"Here," I replied, patting the bed beside me. He didn't hesitate, not for a moment. Crawling in beside me, I nestled into his chest and relaxed. He kissed the top of my head and I kissed his neck.

"Goodnight, princess," I heard Jack say.

"Goodnight..."