TITANIC - Jack And Rose, Both Are Alive!

Chapter 14

By Cecelia Dowdy - titanicfanfiction dotcom

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Chapter 14

Opening my closet, I studied my meager number of dresses. Upset, I dropped onto my bed, still staring at my awful wardrobe. Fisting my bedspread in my nervous hands, I recalled my dumb mom dragging me to the seamstress countless times to get measured for new dresses. I remembered wearing my fancy clothing made with silk, lace, and other fine material when I attended those awful formal dances. Most of the people I'd encountered had been uninteresting, boring, and self-centered. All the women wanted to talk about was fashion and gossip. The men gathered to talk about business.

Shuddering, I realized I didn't miss the fancy formal events with the shallow attendees. However, I missed my fine, expensive clothes. Jack would be arriving sometime today and I had to look my best. With much longing, I wished I still had my light-orange-colored dress with the fetching brown mid-piece. Standing, I walked to the mirror, gazing at my face. My cheeks had a bit of color and the dark circles beneath my eyes were disappearing. I pushed my fingers through my tangled mass of fiery red hair. How I wished I had a personal maid to help me with my hair! Lord, I look a mess!

Plopping back onto the bed, I finally decided that I had to make the best of things. If I ever found the courage to tell Jack about my pregnancy, I didn't want him to get angry. Closing my eyes, I recalled the short span of time I'd been on the Titanic. I'd only known Jack for a few days, and during that time, he'd mostly been happy, carefree, joyous. On the Carpathia, he'd tried to protect me from the wrath of Cal, but, Jack had been ill in the infirmary, too ill to do much damage to Cal. How would Jack react when I told him about the baby? Would he hate me? Would he abandon me? Again, I thought about our time we'd spent together yesterday. Jack reminded me that I needed to trust him. Closing my eyes, I rubbed my stomach. "Oh Jack," I murmured to myself, trying to calm my nerves. "I wish I could trust you. But, I don't know what you will say when you find out about our baby."

Taking my time, I used the privy, took a bath, and used some of my rose-scented water and the fragrant lotion that the Unsinkable Molly Brown had provided for me. After donning my drab, dark brown dress, I brushed my hair until it shined. I then fixed my tresses into a fashionable bun. Pinching my cheeks to give them some color, I then eyed my reflection in the mirror.

Breathing a sigh of relief, a thread of joy spread throughout my wounded soul. I don't look too bad. Searching through my belongings, I managed to find some lipstick. After placing the fiery red paint on my full lips, I glanced at myself again, pleased.

A knock sounded from downstairs. Could it be Jack? Excited, I hurried down the stairs, anxious to see my beloved!

Just like the previous day, Jack knocked on the door of the rooming house. When the dark wooden portal eased open, his heart skipped. Mesmerized, he stared at Rose, speechless. Her creamy pale skin had a bit of color and her lush red lips parted. Her vivid red hair was pulled back into a bun and her emerald green eyes held a twinge of…apprehension? Jack realized that Rose had never confided to him the previous evening. Unable to resist, he caressed her cheek, and she leaned into his hand, as if welcoming his touch.

"Hi," she greeted, her lovely voice shaky.

"Hi." Jack leaned toward her, and his mouth joined with hers. He deepened his kiss, massaging her neck with his fingers. Reluctantly, he ended the kiss, feeling off-balance and aroused. "I love you, Rose."

She blinked, as if taken aback by his comment. "I love you, too, Jack."

"You never got a chance to tell me what was wrong yesterday." He eyed her entire body before focusing on her jade green eyes. "You're upset about something and I want to know what's wrong."