MAPS! jack dawson

CHAPTER SIX, time for some real fun

April 13, 1912

Dinner surprisingly went smoothly. Mckenna had sat next to Jack and her brother, David, who sat near Rose. She had noticed the two sharing glances throughout dinner, David had even made the red head laugh a few times at one of his jokes. He seemed to be in high spirits, and his attention to Rose was both charming and subtle. Mckenna, although still feeling a bit self-conscious, found comfort in the ease of Jack's presence. They exchanged glances and shared quiet, supportive smiles throughout the meal, which helped to ease her anxiety.

The dinner itself was a lavish affair, with the table adorned with fine China and crystal glasses. The conversations around the table were a mix of pleasantries and light gossip, and Mckenna managed to engage in the conversation without too much difficulty, thanks in part to Jack's encouraging presence. She was able to focus on the evening's festivities and enjoy the meal, even if the corset was still an uncomfortable reminder of the constraints placed on her. Jack did have to come up with a believable story since some of the people they sat with didn't know his backstory and didn't know he was in Third Class. Third Class people weren't allowed in the First Class dining hall so Mckenna had been relieved to see her parents and brother playing along with what he came up with as well. She was surprised when he and her dad had a good conversation and he seemed to like him more which was good.

William had always been fond of Jack, even when his family worked their way up to First Class. He found Jack's company to be refreshing and honest, which was a rarity among the higher class. And he had a sense of humor, which was a nice change of pace from the dry, dull conversations he usually endured at these events. Mckenna's mom, however, was a bit more reserved. She somewhat like Rose's mom, Ruth, was wary of Jack's presence but tried to keep her concerns under wraps. Eleanor was always conscious of appearances and how things could look, so she didn't say anything that would seem suspicious. She simply smiled politely and engaged in conversation when necessary. But the look in her eyes spoke volumes.

Mckenna noticed her mom's gaze on her throughout the meal. Whenever she did something her mom didn't approve of, such as slouching or messing around with Jack, her expression would darken and her eyes would narrow. It was subtle, but Mckenna had learned to pick up on it over the years. It was a silent warning, a signal for her to stop. Usually when her mom sat by her and she did something her mom didn't approve of, her mom would squeeze her leg not so gently under the table so she was relieved she was sitting between Jack and David. It was a good buffer. When her mom was distracted, she would sneak a glance at Jack, who would return her gaze with a reassuring smile.

His presence was a balm to her soul. At one point, he had leaned closer to her, his hand discreetly finding hers underneath the table. His touch sent a jolt of electricity through her body, and she could feel the heat rising to her cheeks. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, and she returned the gesture, letting him know that she was okay. Even though she wasn't because butterflies were having a field day in her stomach. But she didn't mind because she was happy he was here with her. The whole situation was surreal. She was holding hands with her best friend. But at the same time, it felt right. Like this is how it was supposed to be. She knew that sounded cliche, but it was the truth. She didn't have the words to describe the feelings she was experiencing, but she knew one thing — she didn't want to let go.

When it was time for the men to get up and leave for brandy in the smoking room, where they usually talked about politics or whatever, Mckenna had realized Jack slipped something in her hand when he got up. She glanced at him with confusion and curiosity before she glanced down at her hand to see a part of a napkin he wrote on.

'Meet me at the clock, Kenna. It's time I show you what real fun is.'

Her eyes widened, her cheeks heating up. What was he planning? But, she trusted him. And the idea of doing something other than listening to the adults' boring conversations excited her. So, after giving her mom a quick kiss and making up an excuse about heading to bed early, Mckenna excused herself and made her way towards the clock at the grand staircase. Her heart pounded in anticipation, and her hands trembled. She had no idea what to expect, but she was willing to find out.