They lay next to one another; their bodies shining with beads of sweat. The past few weeks they had spent together had been incredible. It was finally their chance to have the happy ending they never thought they'd have; the life together they never thought they'd have. In some ways it was as if they had never been apart and deep down they were still the same people they were when they first met masked by time. Every moment that they spent together felt so magical and so precious, as if it was about to be snatched away from them. "I won't let you go this time Rose," Jack whispered as they danced together under the stars. "I made the mistake of letting you go before."
They had the same passion, desire and chemistry for one another like they had when they were on the Titanic. They had never felt more alive; it was as if the sun had shined for the first time in ten years or they had awoken from a coma; a reality which wasn't their own until now. Everything felt more real. They spent all of their time together doing things that people in love did. They spent every day together; it was easy especially as Frank never noticed her away. Opening her heart to Jack again was the best thing that she had ever done. They reminisced every moment they had shared together on the Titanic. She even got Jack to draw her again. In fact he drew her several times. Things were wonderful; Rose almost forgot she was married to Frank until the papers arrived that morning.
"This is bullshit!" Jack fumed furiously. "They have no business getting involved in our personal affairs; all they want is something to gossip about."
"This could destroy my reputation!" Rose cried. "This could ruin my career and Frank could take my children away."
"Don't you worry Rose darling that's not going to happen. I'm not going to let it happen," he said touching her cheek tenderly.
"You don't know Frank; you don't know what he's capable of. He has more authority and status than you do, plus he knows just how to fuck people over."
"I can hire some good lawyers to sort this out; you can get a divorced and you'll get custody of the kids and we can live happily ever after."
"What if we won't live happily ever after Jack? What we have now is great, but what if it won't last? Do you really think we'll always be happy together, that we'll always be like this?"
"Rose why are you talking like this, I can make you happy. I'll never treat you like Frank treats you if that's what you're worried about. You've got to trust me ok."
"How do you make your money Jack? I've heard things about how you've made your fortune and Frank will use that against you, he'll dig the dirt on you."
"How I've made my money is nobody else's business and I'll make sure that you're secure, that we're secure."
"Don't you care about what people think of you? Their saying that you're a crook, a thief and a bootlegger."
"Well these people don't mind coming to my parties do they? Let them talk; people will always find reason to talk. We can move away; we could go to England or maybe Europe where people don't know us."
"It's unfair to cart the kids halfway around the world."
"Or we could stay here and not care about what people think. Times are changing Rose and soon no one will bat an eyelid at a bit of scandal; people like to talk, that's all it is Rose. I bet in a few weeks they'll have forgotten all about it."
"Frank won't like it, he won't be able to deal with that sort of publicity. It'll make him look bad."
"You say he has loads of mistresses; why don't you tell everyone what a terrible husband he is?"
"Men like Frank are allowed to have mistresses and nobody bats an eyelid."
"I'd never have any mistresses Rose; I'd never cheat on you. I'll keep you safe and we'll get past this ok? You've got to trust me Rose. I can't let you go again."
...
It was sweltering hot; Rose felt as if she were being roasted to death. Rose had invited Jack, Arthur and Katherine over for the afternoon as Frank was away for the afternoon or supposedly as he entered the room like a tornado.
"Darling, I thought that you were at the office today," Rose asked nervously.
"It was too darn hot, with heat like this it's impossible to get any work done. Hello Arthur, Katherine," Frank nodded at his visitors. "Dawson, what on earth are you doing here?"
"I invited him for tea, I thought it would be nice you know to return the favour, especially as Jack was so kind to invite us to his parties."
"Apparently you both seemed to have a wonderful time at these fabulous parties as I can see in the pictures. What gives you the right to run off with another man's wife?" Frank bellowed.
"Please Frank!" Rose mediated. "You know how out of hand the press can be, making up stories."
"We don't need to keep this a secret anymore. Tell him that you don't love him Rose," Jack said protectively, clutching Rose's shaking hand.
"I...I don't love him."
"Nonsense, of course she loves me I'm her husband," Frank snorted, reaching over to the cabinet containing different bottles of alcohol. He reached the bottle of whisky, pouring himself a generous measure.
"I know we haven't always seen eye to eye Rose, but we still love each other."
"How can you love me when you're always cheating behind my back with some whore?" Rose raged.
"Come on Rose, you know that they don't mean anything to me. I always come back to you don't I? If I really wanted to be with those whore then I wouldn't be here with you!"
"You make me sick," Rose spat.
"Why don't you do the honourable thing and just let her be with me?" Jack said.
Frank laughed. "You're no good for her! I know all about your dodgy dealing and your past. I got a friend do a little research for me. It turns out a lot of these rumours are true. You're not going to want him after you hear what I'm about to tell you."
"Why don't you leave him alone?" Rose cried.
"Your boyfriend here was in prison for three years for burglary and he makes his millions by stealing artwork and bootlegging. I could tell the authorities and they'll send him right to prison. You'll be back to being a poor man in not time. I've got the proof here," Frank said, producing a large file of documents.
"Tell me this isn't true Jack!" Rose quivered; her eyes all of a sudden were large and wide, like a frightened little girl's.
"Why don't you just tell her the truth, it'll be easier for all of us," Frank sneered.
"Why don't you just shut up Frank!" Katherine snapped. "Haven't you done enough?"
"Why don't you shut your mouth you filthy whore?" Frank barked. Arthur sprang from his seat in a fit of fury and punched Frank in the face.
"Don't you dare call my fiancée a whore!"
"I'm not sure you'll want to marry her once you find out what a whore she really is. Why don't you just tell your best friend the truth and your fiancée?" Frank hissed.
"Rose, Arthur you're going to hate me," Katherine cried, tears were spilling from her cheek.
"What is it my darling, I could never hate you," Arthur said tenderly.
"I slept with Frank. It was a long time ago and I didn't even know he was married. I too was one of his whores and I thought he loved me but he just used me. It was then I joined the theatre and became friends with Rose, I didn't even know until she introduced me to her husband, that she was Frank's wife. I swear to God Rose! Frank told me I'd be in trouble if I told you. I'm so sorry Rose, Arthur I'm sorry too, I hope you still want to marry me."
"You have nothing to be sorry for, if anything he should be sorry, you son of a bitch! Why don't you do us all a favour and leave us alone? Rose deserves better than you; you're a pathetic, insecure and nasty little man!" Arthur yelled.
"I'm not wrong about Dawson, why don't you tell Rose who you really are if you really love her?"
"It's true, but I only did it so I could be close to you again," Jack said.
"I can't believe you lied to me, you're no better than he is! How can I be with a man who lies and steals for a living?"
"I'm not better than he is! You don't think he fucks people over to make money? He just gets away with it because of his background and status, I'm only new money."
"You're no better than he is," Rose said coldly.
"Rose please, we can make this work, we can still be together. I only did all of this because without wealth I never thought I'd get close to you again. I don't want all of this money, I made all of this money for you. You know why I threw all of these parties? It's because I hoped that you would come."
"You could have just come and found me without doing all of this, without making all of this money."
"I just thought that maybe we'd have a chance of being together, you don't deserve a third class life Rose, you're better than that. I only stole because I had nothing; I could barely survive out on the streets. Even being in jail was better than being out on the streets. After I got out of prison I met Robert Steele and he helped me get all of this. I thought if I got rich we'd finally be able to live together. I never believed that you had died on the Titanic; I knew you were a survivor the minute I set eyes on you. We still can be together. I've got some good lawyers who won't be threatened by Frank," Jack said emotionally.
"Well isn't this romantic eh? You don't fool anyone Dawson. Now she knows who you are she doesn't want you. Come back to me Rose, we can make it work? I promise we'll start a fresh, you, me and the kids. I promise I won't be unfaithful anymore and I'll be a good husband, I know I've been neglecting you recently but I was just so busy and stressed with work," Frank begged.
"Not busy or stressed enough to sleep with your whores, you make me sick. This is over! If you really want me to be happy then give me a divorce! You don't love me, you're only putting on a show because your ego wouldn't be able to bear it if you lost me to another man and your perfect little bubble will be burst. I was the perfect dutiful little wife who turned a blind eye to your affairs and did everything to get you to love her, I gave you children and I made you look good. Around you I became the women I swore I never wanted to be again, the submissive rich girl."
"I'm so sorry I made you feel like that, you know I really do love you. I've been so selfish and such a bad husband, but it's only now I realise that."
"You just don't want a divorce to mess up your image and you can't stand the fact that I'm no longer willing to be your dutiful and stupid wife."
"He's not going to bother us anymore; I'll make sure of that Rose darling, we can finally be happy together. I'll sort everything out. I won't allow this moron get in our way," Jack said.
"I don't want to be with you either Jack. I can't be with a man who lies, cheats and steals."
"Rose don't do this please! I can't bear to lose you again!"
"Leave me alone!" Rose cried, running out of the room.
"Rose!" Jack yelled, running after her.
"Leave me alone Jack!" Rose shouted. She ran towards the yellow Cadillac; she jumped in and speeded off before Jack could stop her.