A New Beginning

Chapter 35: Delay

Chapter 35: Delay

Jack turns from the pew to see Molly Brown staring at him in utter surprise.

"M-Molly?!"

"I can't believe it! You are alive!"

"Yes, yes I am... I guess"

Molly rushes over and gives the young man a hug. Tears begin to fill her eyes.

"Oh the good Lord does perform miracles!" Molly practically screams into the church.

Molly squeezes the boy tightly as if he is merely an apparition that will disappear if she lets go.

"Uh, Molly... I appreciate the hug, but...I can't breathe," Jack wheezes.

"Oh dear, I'm sorry Sonny," Molly says, letting go and brushes off the boy's shoulder. "I am just so happy you're alive and there's someone else who will faint and be happy to see you. Someone with red hair."

"Rose!" Jack gasps. "You saw her?! How is she...?"

"She's sad and she misses..."

There's a frantic knocking at the church door.

"Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Brown!" a voice shouts out.

Molly rushes to the hard oak door of the church and opens it.

A young man, approximately fourteen years old holds a yellow slip of paper. He seems to be sweating and in an awful hurry.

"I'm...I'm so, so sorry ma 'me, but your...your maid at your house told me you'd be around the neighbourhoods! So...So I've been..."

"Calm down and take a breath Sonny, " Molly says. She helps the boy into the room. She turns to Jack. "Uh, Jack can you get this boy a drink of water?"

"Sure," Jack says and leaves to find a faucet.

"Okay, Sonny what's this all about?"

"I have a telegram for you Ma 'me, it's very urgent," the boy pants. Jack comes back with a cup of water, while Molly takes the yellow sheet of paper and reads it.

The paper falls to the floor. "Oh, my!"

"What is it, Molly?" Jack asks.

"Family emergency, I have to go... My cousin has had a heart attack! I'm sorry Jack, I have to go..."

"But what about Rose? Is she...?"

Molly can't answer when she takes the boy by the shoulders so he faces her. "Please go and flag a cab, I'll take you back where you need to go." The boy nods and goes outside.

"Molly wait!" Jack calls out.

"I'm sorry Jack I have to go, but please if you want to see her again come to the dinner I'm hosting, it's here in town. Talk to Father Bill about it..."

"Molly!"

Molly is already out the door and heading to the cab waiting for her.

"Wait, Molly, when will you see Rose again? Where can I find her?" Jack tries to yell over the sounds of the city.

"Next time I see her, I will tell her you're okay!" Molly hollers back.

"But wait where is..."

"Bye Jack!" she yells before the cab pulls away.

Jack sits down on the stoop frustrated and angry. This was the first time in a while he's heard anything about Rose. He takes out a cigarette and lights it up. He runs his hand through his hair.

Where was Rose? Was she back with Cal? Is she already married to him? Where had Molly met her? Would Rose even be happy to see him? Here he is living in a church and working as an artist for very little money. He's basically in the same clothes he had back on Titanic and he has no steady employment or even a place to call home.

"I'm in a hole..." Jack mumbles.

"Perhaps," a voice comes from behind him. Jack looks to see Father Bill looking down at him. "Or perhaps this is a sign..."

"A sign for what?" Jack mutters.

Father Bill sits next to him. "Perhaps this is a sign that your life is turning around. God works in mysterious ways my son and maybe he is rewarding you for talking to him. You asked for help and he is giving it to you."

"But I have nothing to go on, all I know is that the girl I love is out there and she doesn't know that I'm alive. For all I know, she's still marrying that jerk who is abusive and made her life miserable!"

"But you do not know that yet and it is only a matter of time before you do..."

"What do you mean?" Jack asks.

"Our church will be sponsoring a dinner run by Mrs. Brown in the next month. There is a silent auction occurring, perhaps you can donate a few items..."

"You mean some of my art?"

"Perhaps..." the pastor says.

"I'm not good enough for that! Not by a long shot."

"How do you know if you have never tried?" Father Bill says.

Jack stops. The pastor did have a point, Jack had only ever sold his art for 10 cents, which always what he thought it was all it was worth. He'd never tried to make anything so it could be exhibited or even sold for a substantial amount of money. He never took the risk or even thought about it and here was the man who tried to make every day count.

"Do you think I could borrow some of the leftover supplies?" Jack asks.

Father Bill smiles and Jack smiles back before the pastor goes back inside.

Jack stands up, stomps out his cigarette and looks to where the cab disappeared down the street. He is suddenly filled with hope, something that had been lacking in his life recently. He looks at the sun as it sets behind the city as the nightlife began to awaken.

"I will find you, Rose. I promise" he whispers.