Chapter Four;
Rose was able to talk Joseline out of inviting Cal over, with a promise that they'd go into town and do some shopping and spend time together the coming weekend. The week came and went, with nothing major going on. Work was slow since Cal had stopped doing business with over a dozen people. Joseline was doing her class work, so Rose didn't have to make any visits to the school.
"Isn't this nice." Rose said as she pointed to a dress hanging in a store front window.
Joseline wrinkled her nose up and shook her head "Actually, Mom... It's quite hideous!"
Rose shook her head and laughed "You sure are using some big words, little lady." She sighed. She reminded her so much of herself when she was that age.
"Well, you taught them to me.." Joseline said as she looked through a stack of clothes.
"You're correct, I did." Rose said as she sat down on the near by chair, watching Joseline browse through the clothes. She stood just like Jack, with one hand in the pocket of her pants.
Joseline hadn't liked to wear dresses since she was eight years old. She would only wear them when she felt like it. She preferred to wear pants. Rose had thought about making her wear them, but decided against it because she believed that her daughter should be able to make her own decisions about what she wanted to wear. That was something that she never got a say in when she was a child.
"Mom, how about these?" Joseline asked as she held up a pair of blue pants for Rose to see.
"Are you sure you want those? I mean, that dress in the window is very pretty." Rose giggled.
Joseline shook her head "Maybe next time.. I want these!" She folded them and laid them across Rose's arm.
Rose looked down at the pants on her arm and inwardly screamed in horror. They were so hideous and the color was too much. "Whatever will you wear with these?"
"I have a shirt... or two... At home."
Rose looked at her then back at the pants "Alright..." She looked over to the dress in the window and sighed, secretly wishing she would get it.
They paid for the pants and headed to Lombardi's, a little pizzeria a few blocks away. They stopped along the way to pet some horses that we're attached to carriages.
Rose couldn't help but remember that Jack was supposed to teach her how to ride a horse, like a man. "Oh, Jack.." she whimpered as she placed a hand to her mouth.
Joseline heard her and turned around to see a pale Rose with a hand to her mouth, staring blankly.
"Mother..." she said as she placed a hand on her arm, trying not to startle her. She knew what was happening. She shook her hand enough to vibrate Rose's arm "MOM!"
Rose dropped her hand and shook her head. "I'm fine.. I.. I just had a memory of..."
"Of dad, I know.." Joseline said as she placed her hand inside of Rose's.
Rose looked down at their hands and rubbed them with her free hand. "Let's get to Lombardi's before all the good tables are gone."
They sat at the table closest to the kitchen. They could smell the delicious pizza being made and hear the clatter of the pans hitting the counter. Rose didn't know why, but that was one of her favorite sounds. Of course Joseline didn't agree.
"That sound is almost as atrocious as nails on a chalkboard." She cringed as she thought about her teacher that did it every time the students got too loud during class. "It makes me want to gouge my own eyeballs out with a spoon." She said as she placed her elbows on the table and placed her head in her hands.
Rose gasped in shock, she definitely wasn't expecting her to say such a thing. "Why would you say that?..." she eyed her "Get your elbows off the table... Right now young lady!" she said sternly.
The waiter came over to take their order. Joseline ordered a pizza with anchovies and mushroom.
Rose looked at her, trying not to vomit. "That is disgusting..."
"I won't know until I try it." She eyed Rose. She was just being a stubborn brat and only ordered that combination of pizza to disgust her mother. "Right?"
Rose looked at her, shook her head and ordered herself a pepperoni and extra cheese pizza. "We'll both have a cola."
"No. I don't want cola." she glared at her mother "I will have a sweet tea, extra sugar please." She looked back at Rose and smiled.
"You little..." Rose stopped herself. "Why did you order that? I know you absolutely dislike drinking tea..." Inwardly she was calling her a little shit. She was being a stubborn brat, just as she has once been.
Joseline couldn't contain her laughter "Only to annoy you." She winked at her mother and smiled. "Don't worry, I'll finish it all."
A few minutes later their food and drinks had arrived.
"Taste delicious" Joseline said as she took a bite of the pizza. She lied, it was really disgusting, but she wasn't telling her mom that.
"Eww... just no..." Rose was covering her nose, the smell of the anchovies was making her want to vomit. "Don't..."
Joseline eyed her over the piece of pizza in her hand "Don't what?" She took another bite.
"Don't eat it." Rose said as she tried to swat it out of her hand.
She jerked her hand away before Rose could reach it and took another bite. "It Taste like chicken." She said with a full mouth.
Rose watched her with wide eyes. There was no way she was going to take another bite. "Put it down!"
She took another bite "Oka..." Her words were cut off by gagging sounds. She jumped up and ran to the restroom, barely making it to the commode.
Rose walked in and stood in the door way, looking at her. "See. I told you to put it down." Feeling bad for her, but also trying not to laugh
Joseline walked over to the sink and washed her face with cool water. "I was just trying to annoy you..."
Rose laughed "Yes, I knew exactly what you were doing... Well... right after you said it tasted like chicken."
"You always know." Joseline sighed.
"Well, I am your mother." She couldn't help but smile looking at her, she was such a blessing, even when she was being a little shit. "Lets get back, we can share my pizza."
"Pepperoni is my favorite!" Joseline disliked the taste of pepperoni, but it was way better than anchovies. Just thinking about it made her want to vomit again.
They we're finishing up their pizza when Rose heard a familiar laugh a few tables over. She looked around and was surprised to see her. "It can't be?" She whispered to herself.
"What did you say?" Joseline asked as she took the last sip of her tea.
"That woman over there with that fur coat on, that is Molly Brown!" she said as she pointed towards her.
Joseline looked at her mother puzzled "Who?"
"She's a really nice lady... New money..." Rose cursed herself, who was she to call someone new money?
Joseline raised a brow and look at Rose. "New money? What in the heavens are you talking about?" She was so confused right now. She'd never heard such a thing before.
"I didn't mean that... I shouldn't have said that... Don't ever repeat that... " Rose said, kicking herself for even saying it.
Joseline shook her head, still confused "Okay.!"
Rose stood up and motioned for Joseline to follow her. Together, they walked over to the table Molly was sitting at. She was sitting with some other older ladies.
She walked around the table so she was in Molly's view. "Please do forgive me for interrupting you." She said. "Do you remember me?" Rose asked politely.
"Oh my heavens!" She exclaimed as she stood up. "Rose? Is that you Rose?" She asked as she placed her hands on Rose's shoulders.
"Yes it's me." Rose smiled.
"I thought you went down with..."
Rose interrupted her, tilting her head towards Joseline. "I've been just fine." Not wanting her to say anymore infornt of Joseline.
Molly looked at her and then down at the girl who was standing beside her. "Oh isn't she lovely..." Molly stepped back to get a better look at this girl, who looked familiar in some way. "Is she yours?" Molly asked.
Rose nodded "Yes she is."
Molly couldn't take her eyes off of the girl, she was trying to think of who she reminded her of. Then it hit her once she saw how blue those eyes were. "Oh my heavens.! She gasped. "You look identical to Jack Dawson!" She cried.
Joseline shrugged. "I know, right? My mom and Uncle Cal tell me that all the time."
Molly stepped back and looked at Rose "Uncle... Uncle Cal?... Caledon Hockley?..." She questioned, confusion as clear in her voice, as it was on her face.
Rose smirked and shrugged her shoulders "Correct. Caledon Hockley."
Molly sat back down trying to process this. This little girl, Jack and Rose's daughter, was calling Caledon Hockley, uncle. This didn't make sense. She looked from Joseline back to Rose. She rubbed her forhead. Surely Jack didn't approve of this. He couldn't have. Did him and Rose call it quits? "Where is Jack?" she asked hesitantly.
A look of grief fell over Rose's face and she went pale. "He's..."
Molly stood up and guided Rose to the chair, "Are you ok?"
Joseline rushed to her mother's side, placing her hand in hers. "My dad passed away thirteen years ago."
"What!" Molly cried out. "How?"
"I'm not sure, mom has never told me. I just know that he saved her.."
Molly's hand flew up to her mouth "Oh, Rose! I am so sorry..." She bent down to hug Rose.
"It's ok, Molly... I'll be okay." Rose said as she hugged Molly back. "It just hasn't gotten any easier. Each time someone mentions him, I miss him more."
Molly sighed. "I am sorry." She turned to face the ladies at the table. "I'm sorry, but I think we'll have to continue this some other time. What do you say...tomorrow, maybe?"
"Take your time, Mrs. Brown. We see that you have a friend who needs you right now. Let us know when you're ready, and we'll meet up again."
"What do you two say about joining me in my hotel for a bit?" Molly asked. "I have a car waiting outside."
Joseline answered before Rose had a chance to "Yes... We'd love to."
Rose eyed her and giggled lightly "Well thanks, Joseline!"
Molly escorted them to her waiting car and let them in first. "To the room, Escobar!" Molly said to the driver.
"That is a beautiful name, I've never heard it before." Molly said. "How did you come up with it."
Rose smiled placing her arm around Joseline "She is named after an aunt, on my fathers side."