A New Beginning

Chapter 40: Reunion Part 2

Chapter 40: Reunion Part 2

"Rose, is that you?"

Rose's eyes fill with tears and her heart begins pounding loudly.

"Jack...is...is... am I dreaming?"

Jack embraces Rose tightly.

"I'm here Rose, and I'm not going anywhere...not ever again," he whispers

Rose lifts Jack's face to hers and they kiss. It is a deep and passionate kiss. Rose feels whole once again, her heart bursting with happiness. Now her child would have a father and she could leave the life she hated so much.

"I missed you so much," Rose says, once they break apart. She keeps her hands on his face and feels his skin as if he'll disappear. Tears are pouring down her face and her heart is going to burst in joy. Jack clings to her too, running his hand through her hair, her beautiful curly hair that he had attempted to capture in his painting. But now, here was the real thing, safe in his arms. God's work of art.

"I missed you too."

"But...but Cal..." Rose stammers and realizes how easily she was fooled. She felt awful for not trying to escape sooner and looking at the survivors' list for herself. She had simply given up all hope.

"Cal? Please don't tell me you're..."

"He found me when we were brought on board and I've been under lock and key ever since," Rose explains.

"But what are you doing in New York?"

"I donated some of those paintings for the auction, I just can't believe that 'Lady in Red' one was me,"

"It's how I saw you," Jack says. "A lady of beauty."

They kiss again. Rose cannot believe that Jack is here, alive and they can finally go off and do the things they had talked about on the ship and explore the world as they so desired. She felt a wave of emotions; happiness, sadness, anger, joy, all flowing through her and coming out in the form of tears and pressure of her holding him close. She never wanted to release him again. She'd almost lost him once, she doesn't want to again.

Suddenly, the front door of the hall opens in the distance.

"Rose?!" an all too familiar voice calls out.

"Oh no!" Rose screeches and shrinks into Jack's arms. Jack puts his arm around her tightly.

"Quick, we'll sneak in the back and get a taxi!"

Rose nods and they both go back towards the building. They press their backs against the wall and shift to the back entrance. Both of them slip inside, giving both of them a slight reminder of the night they were running away from Cal's manservant, Lovejoy. Except, Lovejoy wasn't as angry and wouldn't kill at the drop of a hat.

Once inside, they can hear the music playing from the nearby hall and the chattering crowd. This gives Jack an idea

"We should go through the crowd to give ourselves more cover," Jack suggests.

"I'm never going back to him again," Rose says. "Lead the way."

Jack squeezes her hand and leads her forward. They hurry back into the hall. Many people around them are swaying to the music enjoying the night. They begin shifting along the side, trying to make it to the front door exit to get to the street. It becomes difficult when the music picks up, but fortunately, it would take a miracle for Cal to find them. Rose struggles in her heels to keep up with Jack, she doesn't want to let go of his hand. Not ever again.

Suddenly, someone steps on Rose's gown, pulling her from Jack's grasp and she trips over someone's foot and lands on top of someone else, hard. They both grunt. Rose's mind immediately thinks about her baby. She landed on the man pretty hard and her ankle hurts now. It's the darn shoes she's wearing. Some people look down at them, suspicious looks on their faces, while others gather around to offer some kind of assistance.