When Jack, Rose, and Trudy returned to the apartment, Fabrizio was home waiting for them and preparing dinner. He smiled brightly at Trudy in greeting.
"Caio, bella. We have pasta tonight. My mama's recipe," Fabrizio grinned.
Still taken aback by the idea of men cooking, Trudy could only nod in reply. Rose sighed and smiled at their new friend.
"That sounds lovely Fabrizio. We look forward to it," Rose replied, glancing at Jack, who was now seated on the couch, flipping through his portfolio. She sighed, feeling discouraged. This was not how she had pictured things going. She had thought that it would be love at first sight with Jack this time around. Instead, she was having to work for his attention, which she seemed to lose all too quickly. She felt even more far away from him now than she's ever been. "I think I'll go hang up those dresses."
Seeing an opportunity to finally talk with Rose about her behavior, Trudy followed her into the room they shared. She watched as Rose began taking her dresses out of the shopping bag. She didn't know how to start the conversation. What could she say? Should she ask why she was flirting with Jack Dawson when she was very much engaged?
The maid cleared her throat, gaining Rose's attention. "Miss...I mean Rose...I am confused about something."
"What is it Trudy?" Rose asked, finding a hanger to hang her dress on.
"Forgive me, Miss. But I've noticed some things. With you and Mr. Dawson...Jack. Forgive me, but it seems that you are trying to court him. But if that is so, I am confused because you are engaged to Caledon Hockley."
Rose sighed. She was not surprised by Trudy's questions. Far from it actually. How could she explain things to Trudy without seeming like a loose woman? Could she trust Trudy with the truth? Would she even believe her? Looking at the woman, Rose just didn't know for sure.
Rose took a deep breath and sat down on her cot. It was time to have a heart to heart with Trudy. Perhaps tell her the truth. That she was from the future and had saved not only Jack and Fabrizio, but Trudy as well. Would she believe her? Perhaps it was time to guage what she could and couldn't say.
"Trudy...sit down. We need to talk."
The maid frowned as she sat upon her own cot, facing Rose. She didn't know what to expect from the other woman.
"Trudy...you're Irish right?"
Trudy nodded. "Yes."
"The irish believe in superstitions like leprechauns and making wishes on stars, right?"
"I suppose. I know my grandma did."
Rose knew what she was about to share would sound crazy and fantastical to Trudy, but how else could she explain why she was determined to get Jack to love her and not to return to her old life as a first class debutante, bored and miserable? Maybe, if Trudy believed in such things...maybe she would believe her. Even if she didn't believe her right at that moment, she'll have no choice to in a few days when Titanic would meet it's end.
"Did your grandma ever say anything about wishing on falling stars?"
Trudy frowned and searched her mind. There had been so many stories and superstitions told to her as a child, she couldn't really remember them all. But she did remember something about falling stars. "She said a falling star was a soul searching out heaven. That to wish on one, a person has to be in great personal pain and the need would have to be great for that wish to come true. It's just an old wives tale, really."
Rose nodded, as if something had just been confirmed to her. Back in the old timeline, Jack had told her about the shooting star being a soul going to heaven, so she wasn't surprised to hear the same from Trudy. "That makes sense...especially with what's happened..."
Trudy's frown deepened. She was becoming more and more confused. What did wishing on stars have to do with what they were going through now? "I don't understand..."
"I know and I'm sorry. Things will probably get a lot more confusing, unbelievable, really. I probably wouldn't even believe me and I'm living it! But it's the truth and it explains everything. You see...this isn't our first time in Southampton and this isn't my first time meeting Jack..."
Trudy frowned. "You met him before? When? I do not remember...was it during a time I was serving your mother?"
"I don't know how to explain this Trudy. It sounds like something out of a book. Or one of those moving pictures. You see...I first met Jack on the Titanic..."
Trudy's frown deepened. "But that's impossible. We missed the boat and..."
"I guess I should start from the beginning. I know this is going to sound insane, but humor me. You see...this isn't my first time in April 1912. I guess I should start at the beginning..."
For the next hour, Rose told Trudy everything about the original timeline. How they had indeed boarded and stayed on the Titanic and how Jack had won third class tickets on the ship. How she had tried to jump off the stern and how he had saved her and how that had led into a passionate love affair. She then told her of the iceberg, Jack's getting framed, the sinking, and finally losing Jack. She tearfully told of how he had her gotten on the door, sacrificing his life for hers and how he had made her promise to go on.
"But it was a promise that I couldn't keep. Oh I avoided going back to mother and Cal...but I couldn't bring myself to fully live without Jack. I made my way to California and got a job and worked, trying not to drown in my grief. It was a year after the sinking,, 1913, when I looked up at a falling star and made a wish. I wished that I could go back and save him. Keep him from boarding the ship...and I did. I saved him, Trudy. I saved Jack, Fabrizio, and I saved you. You didn't make it either...mother had you go prepare tea for her and that had been the last time I saw you. So you see, Jack and Fabrizio aren't the only ones benefitting from that wish. I stopped you from getting on that ship. I stopped Jack from boarding as well...I just...I didn't count on the fact that he no longer knew me...that I'm now just a stranger to him, so the love I still have for him...it has yet to be returned. I have to start all over with him. That's why I've been courting him, because we were in love before and I want that love back. As for mother and Cal...I'm not going back to that world either. I've lived on my own for a year without their interference, and I will continue to do so."
Trudy just sat there and stared at her former employer, not knowing what to say or think. What she had just been told...it sounded impossible. It sounded like Rose had finally been pushed over the edge.
"Miss...I understand that you've been under a lot of stress with your mother and Mr. Hockley..."
"I knew you wouldn't believe me," Rose said, not surprised. She barely believed herself and she was living it! "It's alright, Trudy. You don't have to. You will though. In a few more days. When Titanic sinks. But for now, it doesn't matter. You don't have to believe me."
"Miss...I just think that maybe you need some rest. Maybe some time in the countryside when we go home? Or..."
"I'm not crazy, Trudy. It's true what I told you. This is all a do over. I saved you, Jack, and Fabrizio. You won't die on Titanic after all. I just regret that I don't have Jack's affections, but I believe that can change. We just have to get to know each other and it'll be better because it'll be longer than three days."
Trudy couldn't help but believe that Rose had gone out of her mind. That she had created some fantasy scenario to deal with what her mother was forcing her into. But for now, she'll humor the girl. Let her flirt with the handsome and kind Jack Dawson. Let her enjoy this small amount of time she had left as a single girl. Goodness knows, that when they did return home, all of Rose's freedom would be gone. She'll become Mrs. Hockley and that will be that.
...
Jack glanced at the door that Rose and Trudy had disappeared to and sighed, wondering what the girls were talking about. Rose had been rather quiet since Trudy had returned. But that wasn't what was confusing him. What confused him was Rose. He could have sworn that she was going to try to kiss him. But why would she? That was deemed inappropriate in her world, right? Could it be that she really did like him? But how could she? They had only known each other for a day.
"Jack is quiet," Fabrizio observed, putting the pasta on to boil.
"I'm just thinking Fabri."
"Rose?" The Italian guessed. "How did things go with her today?"
"They went...nice. She's...she's an amazing girl. She's smart and full of dreams and ambitions and...she's unlike anyone I had ever known. I like her...maybe even a bit too much..."
Fabrizio frowned. "What do you mean a bit too much?"
"I mean...in the park, we were talking and having a great time and then...I may be wrong...but I think she was going to kiss me and...I was going to let her..."
Fabrizio's eyes widened. He couldn't help but feel hopeful. Jack had been so reluctant to get into another romance after the Mary incident and now here he was flirting with a beautiful girl. Was this proof that his friend was finally moving on?
"Did she kiss you?" the Italian asked.
Jack shook his head. "That maid Trudy, she interrupted."
"Oh," Fabrizio bowed his head in disappointment. "Maybe next time, yes?"
"You see, that's just it. I don't know if I want there to be a next time. All things considered, she's still a first class girl. She's still engaged. Who is to say that she won't change her mind and return to her world once we get back to America, huh?"
"Who is to say that she will? I think you should let things happen like they will. Rose is nice and beautiful. She likes you. You always say to roll with the cards life deals. Take your advice, Jack," Fabrizio lectured, turning back to his cooking.
Jack sighed, going back to looking at the work in progress in his portfolio. It was a sketch of Rose. She was in the pose that she did when she had said that she wanted to be a moving picture actress. Indeed, she was the most beautiful girl he had ever set eyes on, she was definitely way out of his league. But that didn't seem to matter to her. He still remembered the feel of soft warm breath on his face as she was about to kiss him. He couldn't help but wonder what kissing her would be like.
Trudy was the first one out of her room. Looking at the maid, she seemed even more confused than before. Rose was next. She looked deep in thought, like she was contemplating the world's problems. Then she looked at him and her small frown turned into a smile, making all of her worries fade into the background.
Fabrizio said to give Rose a chance. Maybe he was right. Maybe he should. He didn't want to let her go then look back and wonder what if. He wanted to make his time with her count.
