My Heart Will Go On : Chapter 2
Rose
April 17th, 1912
"Operator, can you please connect me through to 56 Broadway Street?" I held my breath as I waited for the call to go through. I hated talking on telephones. You never know who would be listening in and these telephone booths were so cramped. I stared down at her feet, refusing to make eye contact with anyone who walked past the booth.
"Alfred Atwood speaking," A rough voice answered the telephone.
"Hello," I felt my whole body suddenly begin to shake. I hadn't spoken to anyone in days, especially in not such a well mannered way. My throat was also incredibly dry. "I was wondering if I could speak with Mrs. Molly Brown."
The man had a coughing fit before he asked who was speaking. I was about to give my new last name, but stopped myself when I realized that Molly wouldn't recognize the name. I thought about giving mother's last name, but decided against it as well and merely said, "Rose. I'm an old friend of Mrs. Brown."
"Hold on just a moment, miss," The line went quiet as the man went looking for Molly. I felt a smile break across my face and the sudden urge to cry out when I heard Molly's familiar voice on the other end muttering about something or other. I couldn't believe how ecstatic I was to hear a familiar voice.
"Hello?" Molly spoke in her usual loud tone into the phone.
"Mrs. Brown," I quickly replied as I tried to smother my excitement.
"Rose DeWitt Bukater?" Molly laughed. I couldn't get over how much of a mouthful my old name was. Dawson was a much better fit. "My dear, is that really you?"
"Yes, it's me, Mrs. Brown," I spoke in almost a whisper as I felt the tears begin to form in my eyes.
"Goodness, honey. How many times do I have to tell you to call me Molly? I feel like my mother when you call me Mrs. Brown. How have you been?" Molly sounded just as pleased to talk to me as I was to talk to her.
"I'm…" I thought for a second about how I was feeling. Alone? Naked? Lost? "well." I finally answered. Molly didn't need to know how horrible I had been doing lately.
"Where have you been staying? With your mother or maybe you're with that boy still? (I felt my throat tighten knowing that Molly was refereeing to Jack.) I've been staying with some friends of mine, the Atwood's, until I can finally make plans to head home. The old fellow that answered the phone was Mr. Alfred Atwood himself. The poor man has the beginnings of tuberculosis yet he refuses to admit it. He nearly fought off the butler just so he could answer the telephone. It makes him feel like he can do something for himself still," Molly let out a sigh. "Oh I'm so sorry for all the questions, dear. I've just been so worried about you!" What I always loved about Molly the most was her ability to not care whatsoever what people thought of her. She talked with such confidence rather than with proper ladylike English.
"It's so great to hear from you, Molly. It really is," I didn't know where to start and I definitely didn't want to admit I was currently homeless, but isn't that why I called Molly in the first place? In search of a place to live? "No, I actually haven't even seen my mother since last week," I wasn't even sure if my mother knew I was even alive. "And no, I'm not saying with Jack because…." I couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence.
"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry," I was so grateful I didn't have to explain herself to Molly. "Jack was such a nice boy, and I know you two cared for each other so much. He will be greatly missed."
"Thank you," I muttered and began to stare at a street sign across the street. I once heard that if you stare at something long enough, you can stop yourself from crying. I tried my hardest to distract myself enough so I wouldn't begin to cry. I decided I should probably just get to the point of my phone call. "As much as I hate to intrude-"
"Say no more. The Atwood's have plenty of room here, and Harriet would love to have another guest. Since her youngest son, Robert, moved out just last year, she's been a bit lonesome."
"Oh, I possibly couldn't- "
"I won't take 'no' for an answer, Rose. And I know that's exactly the reason you called here in the first place."
I felt my ears begin to burn and was so thankfully Molly couldn't see my face at the moment. "Well, if you think the Atwood's will be alright with it, and if you insist – "
"I insist. I really do," Molly said forcefully. "Where are you now by the way? Please don't tell me you're using a phone booth on the side of the street?"
At that very moment, a car honked loudly behind me and was followed by the several yells of angry drivers. I bit my tongue to stop myself from cursing.
"Oh, sweetheart. Stay right where you are. I'll have Harriet send Howard over to pick you up."
I told Molly what street corner I was at before hanging up the phone. I had to stand there for a moment and let it all sink it and go over my options. Staying with the Atwoods was only the first temporary fix to my problems. Of course I would have to get a job and find a place to permanently stay, but for the time being, I felt a weight suddenly rise off her shoulders that I didn't even know existed in the first place. My biggest hope was that I would be welcomed back into society as no longer just another rich girl, but rather an equal who could walk down the street without someone knowing how rich I was or what family I came from. I could avoid the gossip of the upper class and live without their options holding me down; yet another reason I was grateful to have not married Cal.
I sat on a bench near the phone booth and waited for Molly to arrive. I kept my eyes on the busy life style of New York pass by so quickly right before my eyes. I had always enjoyed the Big City, even as a little girl when I had visited it numerous times, but there was something about the country side and the simple life that had always been strangely pleasing. I remember visiting my great Aunt Lettie's farm as a child and wishing so desperately to be able to wake up at the crack of dawn every morning just to milk the cows and watch the sunrise without a building obscuring the view. I knew Jack would have loved to live on a farm together some day.
This was the first time I had felt joy, maybe even a bit of excitement, since the ship sank. I thought about making myself presentable before my ride arrived, but my red hair was impossible to comb my fingers through. It was tangled and filled with salt, and I knew that Jack would have said I should be worried that a bird might decide to make a nest in it. The thought of it made me laugh out loud. My dress was torn and full of sea salt as well. The people walking by must have thought I was a crazy old hag, but they were so involved with their own doings that they didn't even notice me for a second. I twiddled my thumbs to pass the time, refusing to put my hand in Cal's coat pocket, and thought of how I could not wait for the moment she could sink into a warm bath.
Molly was with Howard, the Atwood's driver, when the car arrived about half an hour after I made the call. Molly greeted me outside the car with open arms. Howard bid me a warm hello and held out his gloved hand. At first, I found him to be slightly intimidating with his unshaven face and his worn clothing, but I found only kindness in his striking green eyes. He even pointed out that Ms. Brown could easily be taken for my mother since they were both blessed with striking red locks. Molly and I both laughed at the statement.
"Look at you!" Molly let go of my for only a moment to get a good look at me. "I'm sorry to say it, but you're a wreak, sweetheart. I'm sure you can't wait for a bath."
"You have no idea," I replied with a smile as the two women slid into the car.
The ride to the house consisted mainly of Molly discussing the past couple of days and how she came to stay with the Atwoods. They were old friends of her husband's and she always found Harriet to be such a kind woman. She vaguely touched on that tragedy that had only happened days before, merely saying that it's in the past and everyone must move on, even if so many souls were lost. Despite the talk of the tragedy, I was so grateful to be with such a positive person, rather than my mother's harsh tone.
We finally pulled on Broadway after making our way through the afternoon traffic.
"Now, darling," Molly voice was suddenly serious. "I know your mother is not exactly the most sensitive - or sensible for that matter - of woman, but you need to let her know that you're alright. A mother deserves every right to know that her daughter is alive."
"But she wouldn't understand!" I pouted like a child. I couldn't believe that Molly was suggesting such a crazy idea like running back to Mother. "She would drag me right back home and force me to marry Cal!"
"I would never let that happen," Molly said forcefully taking my hand in hers as she looked directly into my blue eyes. "I would go to the ends of the earth to make sure you never end up with the slime. He doesn't deserve you one bit. All you need to do is write your mother and tell her that you're alright. You don't need to tell her anything else."
I knew Molly was right, whether I wanted to admit it or not. Heck, even Molly knew she was right, but I could only pull my eyes and hand away from her and stare out window. I wasn't ready to be brought back and torn to pieces by her mother and her rich friends like she was some porcelain doll. My life has suddenly opened up to so many new possibilities. But it was only a letter, right? There was no harm in a letter to merely tell Mother that I was alive and that I didn't completely hate her. I had already decided I would start the world anew as a Dawson and Mother wasn't going to take that away from me. And as a Dawson, I would make my own way in this world whether Mother, Cal, or anyone else protested or not.
"By the way, love," Molly said in almost a whisper as they pulled into drive in front of the Atwood's Victorian home. "I'm sorry to hear about the boy. I know you two would have been very happy together."
Howard announced we had arrived and helped me from the car all while I fought back the urge to cry.
A/N: God, Rose is such a baby in this chapter but she'll get better I promise XD I'm trying to get this fic going while I'm still home. For those of you who don't know, I'll be leaving for summer camp in a couple of weeks, so I won't be writing much of anything while I'm gone… which is why I'm writing now. This chapter was meant to have both Jack and Rose's parts, but they both got too long that I had to put them separate. Anywho, reviews are always appreciated :D
