Chapter Four

I was sitting on the train, I had said goodbye to Nancy and had officially left my life as Rose DeWitt Bukater. I did not need a maid to take care of me anymore, and I did not need Cal. A man was sitting across from me, reading today's paper. The front page had more information about the sinking, and Bruce Ismay who survived. I looked out my window as I thought about Jack and the ship, how beautiful it was. But also, how-

"Tragic, isn't it?" the man spoke from behind his paper.

"I'm sorry?" I stopped looking through the window and looked across the table.

"The Titanic, quite tragic about the loss of lives."

I looked down and then back up, "Yes, very tragic."

The gentleman was handsome, he reminded me of Jack. He folded up his paper and looked at me with a smile.

"I'm John Calvert." He extended his hand out for me to shake and I accepted saying "Rose Dawson."

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Dawson. If you don't mind me asking, where are you heading today?"

"Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin."

"Ah, very nice place this time of the year. I was just there a few months ago ice fishing with my brothers. We vacation there during the winter." I nodded, with a smile.

I found it interesting that Mr. Calvert had something in common with Jack.

"Is Wisconsin your final destination for today, Mr. Calvert?"

"No Ms. Dawson, it is not. You can all me John by the way, I am headed to California."

"I see and you may call me Rose."

"Is Chippewa Falls your hometown?"

"For now it is. It is more of a leisure trip that I am on." A waiter came in and took our order for breakfast.

"What about for you, John. Is your journey to California business related?"

"No I am just returning from a business trip, I travel all around the country." I nodded, and the waiter entered with our drinks.

John and I chatted some more about mindless things. He seemed like a gentleman, and he did remind me of Jack. But I was not looking for a relationship. My heart still belonged to Jack and I was not ready to move on yet. I suppose that is why I was heading to Jack's hometown. To see where he lived, to breathe the same hair as he did.

"So Rose, where did you grow up?" this question took me by surprise.

"Philadelphia." Should I have said that? Philadelphia is where I was truly born.

John nodded, "That's interesting, for I was as well. You wouldn't have happened to know the DeWitt Bukaters, would you?"

Oh god, what have I done? I shouldn't have even started talking to him.

"They do not sound familiar to me, sorry."

"I didn't either. I only brought up the family because Caledon Hockley's fiancé died in the sinking. The funny thing, that the paper was printing today was that Cal was arrested for harassing a women who he swore looked exactly like his wife."

I kept silent as our food was placed in front of us. I did not bring up the subject of Cal after our food was served. We exchanged words and he told me about his life and vacationing in such places like Cedar Rapids. It sounded like a wonderful place, his stories comforted me but at the same time, all I could think of was Jack. A few more hours went by which involved various conversations when the train stopped in Wisconsin. John helped me exit the train and we stood on the train station's platform.

"John, shouldn't you get back on the train before it leaves?" John turned around and glanced at the train, then back at me.

"No, I'm staying overnight here in Wisconsin before I continue my journey to California."

"I see."

"May I help you with your luggage, Rose?"

"Yes, thank you." I walked over to where one of the conducters were placing the luggage on the platform from the train. I showed John which bags of luggage were mine. I picked one of the bags up and before I could pick another up, he had grabbed the rest and his luggage.

"Where are you lodging at, Rose?"

"I did not make reservations, I was just going to look for a hotel when I arrived in Wisconsin."

"Well, if you don't mind, I'm lodging in a hotel that is close to the train station. I'm sure they have some vacancy." John smiled at me which automatically made me smile as well. "That sounds fine to me, John."

"Well then, I will lead the way."

We arrived at the hotel, the lobby was beautiful. After John and I checked in, separate rooms of course, he helped me take my luggage upstairs.

"Thank you, John. I appreciate your help."

"Rose, I've had a wonderful time talking with you today. May I have the honor of having dinner with you tonight?" I smiled, blushing.

"John, I would be more than welcome to have dinner with you tonight." John smiled, I could tell he was pleased with my decision.

"Excellent, I shall call on you around 5 'o clock."

"Alright, I will be ready."

"Do you have any plans for now?"

"Not exactly, no."

"Would like me to give you the tour of Chippewa Falls?" I smiled, "Gladly. Let me grab my coat and hat."

John was an excellent tour guide. He showed me the "extensive tour" of Chippewa Falls he had told me. He showed me where he spent his winter vacationing near Lake Wisota where he went ice fishing with his brothers and the cabin.

"Do you know how to ice fish, Rose?" I smiled, and looked down to the lake.

"I have a good idea of how to ice fish." John nodded, his hands in his pockets and looking at the lake, "I think you would like it."

"Perhaps I shall try it sometime then."

"You are serious, aren't you?" John seemed to be shocked, and looked at me with a chuckle.

"Why Mr. Calvert, I'm shocked that you would think that I would joke with you on such a sport."

"Well then, Ms. Dawson I will look forward to seeing you this winter at the lake."

We laughed together and a strong wind blew by us. John looked at me, a way that Jack looked at me. I stared back, thinking about what I was doing here with John. I liked John, as much I did talking to Jack on the decks of Titanic. I knew in my heart that I was not ready to have a relationship in my life. I wasn't ready to move on, I needed a little bit more time. Time to find out who I am and where I want to be. I did know one thing, John made me feel confident about myself just like Jack did, he didn't judge me because of the fact that I am a female either.

"Well Rose, shall we return to the hotel? The wind is picking up quite well." John extended his arm and I interlocked arms with him walking back to the hotel.

When we arrived back at the hotel, I started to get ready for dinner. I decided to wear a dark blue dress with sequins on it, and put my hair up in a bun with a comb that had costume diamonds on it. After putting my shoes on, making sure I had my key and purse, there was a knock on my door. I opened it and saw John, he was dressed in a dinner suit and his eyes lit up.

"My god, you're beautiful." I blushed at his comment, and looked down so he would not see my extra rosie cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Rose. I didn't mean to embarrass you."

"It's quite alright, John. Shall we leave for dinner?"

John smiled, "Certainly."

We interlocked arms and walked down the stairs towards the dinning lounge. When I looked over at John from the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Jack. When I looked farther over, my eyes exposed John. His bone structure was the same as Jack's, but he had brown hair, beautiful blue eyes, and California tanned skin. I then turned my direction forward again. I was always afraid that I would fall down the stairs. Luckily, though we reached the bottom of the stairs. John and I were escorted to a table seated for two and talked while we waited for our food.

"Rose, I know we've only known eachother for only a day, but I know so much about you. The only thing I don't know is whether I can call you if I am ever in Wisconsin again?" I looked at the white table cloth for a moment, and remembered what Jack said.

'You're gonna get out a here, and your gonna go on, and your gonna make lots of babies and watch them grow…'

I looked back up at John, he almost seemed excited to find out what my answer was.

That made me smile, "I would like that John, very much."

We ate our dinners, which were very good. John escorted me back to my room.

"Rose, may I ask a favor from you. You don't have to agree to it if you do not want to but it would bring much joy to my heart."

"What would that be, John?"

"I would love for you to see me off at the train station."

"I would love to."

John smiled, "Very well then, my train leaves tomorrow at eleven 'o clock, but perhaps, if it is not to much to ask, we could have breakfast tomorrow."

I nodded, agreeing to John's itinerary.

"Good night, Rose." John kissed my hand, his lips were soft on my hand. If I would have closed my eyes, I would have sworn those were Jack's lips.