Big, big, BIG apologies, I know it has been more than a month since I updated but I had a mixture of lack of focus and writers block. So today I thought I'm going to get this chapter done! I hope 2,273 words and 6 pages of writing make up for it. I will try not to let that happen again but I'm struggling a lot with this story. I really don't want to give it up so if you guys have any ideas about what could happen in this story be sure to tell me. Anyways without further ado here is chapter 11. I hope you enjoy it.
The time for Jack's arrival was fast approaching, and Rose was getting more and more nervous. She hoped it would go ok. In fact she prayed it would go ok. Rose knew Cal was no way a hundred percent happy; he was still scared about Jack trying to take her. Jasmine had been a little pest today, and it was proving impossible for her maid Elizabeth to dress her.
Jasmine ran down the corridor giggling wearing just her vest and undergarments. She got in these silly moods sometimes, which resulted in a stern word from her father. Elizabeth ran after her, gripping the dress in her hands.
"Miss Jasmine, please get dressed," She begged.
"You'll have to catch me first!" Jasmine called speeding round the corner straight into the arms of Cal.
"Got you," Cal smiled tickling her.
Jasmine giggled.
"Now Jasmine, your friend Mr Dawson is dining with us tonight. You can't show up to dinner in your vest and undergarments can you?" Cal said sternly.
Jasmine shook her head. "I guess not Daddy,"
Cal smiled as he kissed his daughter on the head, and set her down. Jasmine walked over to Elizabeth and took her hand. The maid gave a sigh of relief and a small smile to Cal as she led Jasmine back into her room to change.
Cal watched them leave; he was the first one ready. He always was, Rose was busy doing her hair, and Jasmine was been hyperactive. This gave him alone time; he made his way downstairs and checked himself in the mirror. He wore his best suit with the white bow tie, his hair was gelled back as always and his jacket was crease free. Cal altered his bow tie slightly and pulled his jacket down.
He made his way into the room where they were dining. Kate had just added the finishing touches to the table; she curtseyed as she left the room. Cal glanced at the table. The cutlery had been lined up for four directly the same distance away from each other. The best china was been used as the starter plate was laid in the middle. The glasses that were only used for special occasions were set out on the table. In the middle there were candles giving off a warm glow.
Cal went over to the brandy stand and poured himself a glass. He leant against the wall his hand in his pocket and tried to remember the last time Dawson had dined with them. He had certainly made an impression. So Cal wondered what he would be like this time. He tipped back the brandy before placing the glass back on the table.
He looked at his watch and then at the grandfather clock in the corner, just to check it was the right time. 6:45, fifteen minutes to go. He hadn't thought about what he was going to actually say to Jack. It had been a long time. It's no big deal Rose had said, but it was a big deal to him.
Plus Rose was acting very strange and distant today. He knew it was about this dream she had had last night but she refused to open up about it. Everything was going strange ever since Dawson showed up. Cal realised he was judging way to fast again. It had been seven years after all and Jack had no recollection of him at all. He heard thundering down the stairs and excited giggles. Jasmine was finally ready. She skipped into the dining room and paused as she looked at the table all beautifully decorated.
"Wow," She said.
"Kate did good didn't she?" Cal asked.
Jasmine nodded and turned to face Cal.
"Mommy's angry with me isn't she daddy?" Jasmine asked.
"No she's not angry with you,"
"She is she shouted at me this morning," Jasmine said sadly.
"No sweetie she just didn't get a very good night's sleep last night. That's all,"
Jasmine slowly nodded. Suddenly Rose appeared looking as radiant as ever. Jasmine immediately ran over and hugged her mother hard.
"I'm sorry for not listening this morning Mommy,"
Rose knelt down and held her close. "I'm sorry for been snappy with you sweetie."
Cal smiled at them happy that the water had been kept under the bridge.
"Darling you look beautiful," Cal said to Rose.
Rose smiled. She had chosen a lilac dress with crystals embedded on the side. She wore her hair up held together by the butterfly hair piece she adored. Her face was made up with heavy lipstick which complimented her beauty even more.
"Thank you Cal," Rose smiled.
Suddenly the doorbell sounded and Cal's heart skipped a beat, so here was the moment they would meet again. They could hear Kate hurrying to answer the door. Rose slipped her hand into Cal's and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Cal gave a warming smile back and they both made their way to the hallway to greet Jack.
Cal caught sight of him and realised he hadn't changed much at all. He wore a dining suit with his hair slicked back, which reminded him of the evening they dined above the Titanic. Cal stayed frozen in position as Rose went over to greet him. He took her hand and delicately kissed it.
"Good evening Mrs Hockley," He smiled.
Rose giggled softly. "Jack may I re-introduce you to my husband Cal,"
Jack made his way over and held out his hand. "Pleased to meet you Sir, even if we have met before," Jack smiled.
Cal managed to snap himself out of the frozen stance and shake Jack's hand. "Pleasure to see you again Dawson,"
"Yeah, I'm sorry I can't remember you but I guess that's just how things are at the moment,"
Cal just simply nodded, while Rose breathed a sigh of relief.
000
Jack smiled at Kate when she poured him a glass of wine. Cal noted how he picked the glass up by the bowl to take a sip and he smirked to himself slightly. He still hadn't changed.
"So Dawson enlighten us of your tale," Cal said taking a sip of his wine.
"Jack," Rose said to Cal.
"What?" Cal asked slightly confused.
"His name is Jack Cal,"
"Oh I'm sorry, Jack," Cal said though he wasn't really apologetic at all. Jack noted Rose shaking her head slightly at this, but he chose to ignore it. Cal seemed ok.
"Well my memories a little foggy so you will have to excuse the gaps," Jack joked, causing Jasmine and Rose to giggle. Cal smiled slightly though he didn't find Jack that amusing to be honest, but maybe it was just a clash of different personalities.
"Jack's been to Paris Daddy," Jasmine said excitedly.
Jack smiled at the innocent girl.
"Yes I believe you telling me once," Cal said putting a forkful of lamb in his mouth.
Jack strained his memory at the thought but he couldn't remember ever meeting Cal. Of course he knew they did meet. Rose looked at Cal in uncertainty he really was been quite snobbish tonight which Rose really didn't understand. He didn't normally act like this, refusing to start a scene she simply gave Jack a reassuring look.
"Oh of course silly me, you can't remember right?" Cal said quite intimidating.
Jack chewed in uncertainty and Jasmine looked down at her plate, she had never seen her Daddy act like this.
"Afraid not Sir," Jack finally said.
"Well do tell us what you have been up to all these years," Cal ordered.
"Cal," Rose said abruptly.
"What I'm only asking sweet pea,"
"Well like I told Rose, I was stampeded upon and bashed about a bit, well a lot," Jack added humorously.
"A passenger she took me to the lifeboats, I kept asking what was going on she thought I was delirious so she pleaded with them to let me board-,"
"Wait a second so when there were still women and children aboard and you took their place in the lifeboat?" Cal asked.
"What, no, no sir it wasn't like that," Jack stuttered.
"Jack didn't know the ship was sinking Cal," Rose said defending him.
Jasmine ate her dinner nervously aware of the tension in the room between the three of them.
Cal held his hands up in defence. "I was only acknowledging something, please continue,"
Jack looked unsure at first before continuing. "I slipped out of consciousness the entire time I was in the lifeboat. Then I spent all the time in the ships infirmary because they didn't know what was wrong with me. When the ship docked I was sent to the hospital where they said I had amnesia. They didn't know how serious it was so I had to get on with my life and start again."
Jack glanced up at the others they were all looking at him now in interest, even Cal.
"So I began drifting, place to place, sight to sight. I got to Philadelphia and for some reason my instinct told me to settle here, and I think I know why," He said looking at Rose who returned the look and smiled softly, before looking down at her plate in embarrassment.
Cal noted this and felt his grip tighten on his cutlery. "So what do you do?"
"I work at the art museum down town, just as a tour guide I hope to open up my own place one day. Who knows what the future holds. Since my injury I was determined to make a memory each and every day, hold onto it, time is a gift I don't plan on wasting it. Make it count every day is what I think," Jack finished his speech.
"Well you seem to have blown us away once again with your interesting life Jack," Cal said smiling.
Jack smiled back slightly; he seemed really different to the man whom Rose had described.
"Thank you sir," He said softly nodding his head.
0000
When dinner had finished they all went into the lounge where Jasmine was performing a dance. Cal had signed her up for dance lessons as soon as she was old enough to walk. She loved them and had proved to have great talent. Jasmine was eager to show them all the new dance she had learnt it was an Irish jive and Rose and Jack watched in anticipation as she began her starting stance.
Suddenly the music flickered and John Ryan's Polka played. Rose's mouth dropped when she heard the familiar tune. This was the first song she had danced to with Jack. She looked over at Jack who watched Jasmine smiling, of course he was none the wiser he wouldn't remember. Cal noticed Rose staring at Jack and he glared at Jack. Rose managed to turn her stare back to Jasmine trying to push these thoughts of Jack out of her head.
When the dance had finished a tired Jasmine accepted the applause before deciding to go to bed.
"Say goodnight to Jack Jasmine," Rose said.
Jasmine made her way over to Jack and gave him a hug. "Goodnight Uncle Jack,"
"Goodnight Cora," Jack said.
Rose froze, at the realisation of what he just said. He called her Cora. Cora as in the little girl Jack was fond of, did he remember her?
"Cora?" Cal repeated confused.
"I mean Jasmine,"
"Who's Cora?" Cal asked.
Jack strained his mind again trying to remember. "I have no idea," he admitted.
Cal laughed cruelly. "Honestly how could you get my child's name mixed up with someone you don't even know?"
"Cal!" Rose snapped.
"I think I should be leaving now," Jack said standing up in anxiety. He just had to get out of here. Rose followed him and Cal closely behind.
Rose opened the door and he kissed her hand before shaking Cal's "Thank you for dinner, it was great,"
"Thank you for coming Jack," Rose smiled and she watched him leave, when he disappeared from the premises, she shut the door before giving Cal a cold stare and stalking past him. Cal's eyes widened in shock and he went to grab her arm but she pulled it away.
"Rose," He said addressing her but she was already half way up the stairs before she turned around.
"I didn't even recognise the person you were tonight Cal," She said coldly.
"Oh come on Rose don't be so sensitive,"
"The way you treated him, it was atrocious you had no respect or sympathy. This was your chance to start again Cal and you blew it. You were nothing but a," Rose paused.
"A what," Cal dared her.
"A jack ass!" She screamed before stalking up the stairs angrily.
The words burnt at him and he froze shocked at what she had just said. Sighing he made his way back into the lounge and had another glass of brandy or two. He twirled the glass in his hand and looked back on his behaviour that night. He realised Rose was right, he thought he had put that behaviour behind him years ago. Cal didn't know how Dawson made him change perhaps it was just his insecurity. He knew he had to make it up to Rose. So he made his way up the stairs however when he reached the room he saw the door to their room was locked. Sighing he knocked softly.
"Rose please open up,"
When he got no reply, he had no choice but to settle in one of the spare rooms for the night. As he lay on the hard mattress he wished that Rose was lying next to him.
Hope you liked it remember to review! I will try to update soon.
