April 14, 1912
The next morning Jack and Fabrizio awoke bright and early. Fabrizio wore his Good Morning smile as they entered the Mess Hall and met up with Tommy.
As the trio took their places at the table, Tommy noticed Jack seemed to be deep in thought. "Is there something heavy on your mind?" Tommy asked.
"I've decided to tell Rose my exact feelings for her, and how she is a prisoner to her society," Jack stated, not really expecting Tommy to understand.
Tommy sputtered into his orange juice. "Jack, no offense," Tommy said casually, "That's more than crazy. I mean, how ya supposing ya gonna get into first class?"
The look in Jack's clear blue eyes told Fabrizio that he really hadn't thought about that.
Fabrizio chimed in with the solution. "You still have 'a that tux, no?"
Jack let out a small sigh of relief. "Of course. After I return the tux to Molly I can probably find Rose again easily Molly ought to know where she is."
Tommy pressed on. "Even so, you'll probably be kicked out. If I remember correctly, she is engaged, and who knows what her fiancé is capable of!"
Fabrizio was also concerned about that, but he would honor his promise to never again doubt his best friend.
"You do not yet know Jack like I do, and he will surprise you with some of the things he is able to do," he said, matter-of-factly.
"Anything is 'a possible when l' amore is involved," he said reassuringly to Jack. "Just 'a tell her what it is you feel. Speak from you heart." Fabrizio said , placing his hands over his own heart.
"I will try," Jack assured him.
Fabrizio smiled at Jack. He had found a new respect for his best friend.
Fabrizio was in the middle of a card game with Tommy when suddenly Jack came bursting in.
"Jack! What happened?" Fabrizio asked with concern. He did not like the expression on Jack's face, for he looked very upset.
Jack gave a very exasperated sigh and approached them as he explained. "I can't believe it! I returned the tux to Molly easily. Then I went to the first class dining saloon where I could find Rose. I was there the other night, remember? The stewards wouldn't let me in, they didn't recognize me! Then that manservant of Hockley's came and said I was forbidden to speak to Rose. He even bribed the stewards into taking me away!
Fabrizio was just astounded. "That's... That's just inguisto! It's 'a no fair!" he exclaimed in disbelief. He was upset as Jack was.
Jack sat down beside them, shaking his head as he sighed deeply. "I don't know what to do now," he said sadly.
"Jack, you really should just forget about that rich girl," Tommy said urging.
"Her name is Rose!" Jack said with frustration. "And I cannot forget about her!"
Fabrizio laid his hand on his best friend's shoulder as he said, "You no have to worry, amico. You can still find way into first class from outside," he gestured with his other hand toward the third class gates.
Jack looked up at Fabrizio with his face brightening slightly. "That's right. Why didn't I think of that?" he said with a slight smile grazing his features.
Jack stood and began to walk away. Fabrizio at once stood with him and followed. "I come with you," he said. "I make sure you get in safely." He would do the same for you, his heart was telling him.
Tommy stood and began to follow them as he said anxiously to Jack, "Jack, this is crazy! She's a goddess amongst mortal men, there's no denying. But she's in another world, and closed the door!"
"It was them! Not her!" Jack said over his shoulder, trying to explain.
Fabrizio knew what Jack meant, and he understood, better than Tommy, what Jack was going through.
The trio left the third class general room and went outside to the deck. Jack walked quickly and with much determination towards the first class entrance as Fabrizio and Tommy followed closely behind him.
Jack looked around the area carefully, making sure that no stewards were noticing them. It seemed the coast was clear and so Jack walked along as he concentrated on finding a way to get to where he wanted to be.
"Forget her, Jack. She's not worth it. Just forget her," Tommy urged him anxiously as they followed along.
Jack completely ignored Tommy and kept on looking for a way in.
Fabrizio really knew how determined Jack was and that there was no point in arguing with him. Tommy, however, didn't know this fact, yet.
They finally reached the rail that would lead into the first class. Jack moved furtively to the wall below the A-Deck promenade, aft.
Tommy sighed with exasperation. "She's in a different world, Jack. She's not for you! Just forget her!" he said, almost pleading with exasperation.
Once again, Jack ignored Tommy.
Fabrizio knew that Jack couldn't forget Rose, especially not after last night. Tommy didn't seem to understand this fact, either. But how could he?
Tommy couldn't believe how Jack was ignoring him the way he was. "He's not being logical, I tell ya," he said with annoyance to Fabrizio.
Fabrizio smiled warmly as he simply said to Tommy, "Amore is 'a not logical," as he had to Jack the other night.
With a sigh of resignation, Tommy put his hands together while he crouched down. Jack stepped into Tommy's hands and was boosted up to the next deck, and Fabrizio gently steadied him with his own good, capable hands as Jack pulled himself over the wall and onto the first class deck.
Almost as soon as Jack was safely over the railing, Fabrizio and Tommy heard a voice with an English accent call out to them. "Hey you! You don't belong here!"
Fabrizio looked and saw the steward walking toward them quickly. Much alarmed, he and Tommy rushed out towards the gates to third class.
"We go! We go!" Fabrizio exclaimed as the steward followed them, closing the gates behind them.
Once they were both safely inside, Tommy heaved a deep sigh of relief and said, "That was a close one! Am I ever glad to be in here again!"
Fabrizio smiled. "I just 'a hope Jack does not get caught before he finds la bella Rosa," he said very hopefully.
Tommy sighed as he ran his fingers through his curly hair. "Well, I don't understand why Jack is risking himself for that lass. I mean, he just almost got us all into trouble!"
"Jack will be all right," Fabrizio reassured Tommy."Amore always finds a way."
"But how does he know she loves him?" Tommy asked with confusion."And how do you know?" he asked Fabrizio as an afterthought.
Fabrizio thought on this. How did he and Jack know? "We just... We just know... Here," he gestured at his heart. This was the only logical answer he could think of. He didn't know why he knew these things, and yet he just knew them.
Fabrizio and Tommy quickly returned to their previous card game.
Fabrizio sat next to Tommy in the steerage common room as they were continuing with a light conversation.
"So, have ya got serious with Helga, or what?" Tommy asked, dully.
"Is too soon. Best not to rush 'l amore," Fabrizio wisely said.
Suddenly, Jack came back down. Fabrizio was at first relieved that his best friend had made it safely back; but then he saw Jack's expression, so lonely and sad. Fabri was suddenly extremely concerned.
Jack went right by them. Fabrizio followed after him. He entered their cabin and found Jack sitting on his lower bunk with his elbows on his knees, and his head in his hands, and Fabrizio noticed traces of tears in his eyes. He became very concerned
Sitting down beside him, he put an arm around him and asked very gently, "Jack, are you okay? How did it go with la bella Rosa?"
"She said to leave her alone, she closed the door," Jack said,sounding extremely depressed. "I don't understand..." he continued. "I said all that I felt... and now I won't see her again and her spirit... the fire I love in her will die. I know it will."
Fabrizio had never seen Jack so depressed and sad about anything before. It just wasn't like him. Jack had always been cheerful and determined, never giving into despair. He was just glad that he could be here for him now that this had happened.
"Jack," Fabrizio said, wrapping his comforting arm around him, "I saw you with la bella Rosa last night. I know you love her, and I know she loves you, too. She may have just 'a been afraid at the moment. I know she will come back to you." His warm and sweet accent made the words sound even better.
Jack looked up at him with hope shining in his eyes. "You really believe that?" he asked.
"Si, of course," Fabrizio assured him. "Just 'a be patient, mio amico. There is 'a always hope."
Jack looked in Fabrizio's sweet eyes and embraced him tightly for a moment. Fabrizio's arms were warm and so were his hands as he patted him on the back.
As Jack pulled back from the hug his eyes were close to overflowing. Fabrizio promptly took out his handkerchief, which was quite clean, from his pants pocket and kindly lent it to Jack to dry his eyes on.
Jack wiped the tears out of his eyes with Fabrizio's handkerchief and then handed it back to him. Fabrizio smiled and tucked it into his pocket again.
They were silent for a moment, and then Jack sighed and said, "I need to think things over by myself, I'm going to go to the bow of the ship." Fabrizio gave him a very understanding smile.
When Jack was gone Fabrizio leaned his hand against his chin. He really had meant what he had said to Jack, he just hoped it would soon prove to be true. He knew he couldn't have Jack and Rose carrying broken hearts when the ship docked in America. It would dampen his happiness as well.
He quickly decided to go into the steerage common room again to find Helga, for he wanted to have another night of dancing with her. As he looked around, he spotted Rose, and could tell she was looking for Jack.
He approached her quickly. "Ciao, la bella Rosa," he greeted warmly. "Remember me? I'm Fabrizio."
Rose smiled briefly, and then looked desperately into his warm brown eyes and said, "I'm looking for Jack, have you seen him?"
Fabrizio nodded. "He was 'a just here. He went 'a to the bow. Said he had to think."
Rose gave him a quick hug. "Thank you." She turned and hurried away quickly to find him.
Behind her, Fabrizio had a smile as wide as his face. He was sure that what he felt all along was just confirmed, and Jack would be happy again.
"Fabrizio!" Helga had found him and he embraced her with a smile on his face.
"Come with me," he said as he led her to the center of the room where he held her closely as they began dancing to the music.
As he held her he could feel her strength, and he tried to take in as much of her scent as possible. It reminded him of the morning glories in his mama's garden in the Spring. It had a very soothing effect.
After a while he began to feel that he would like to dance with her alone. So as the music began to end he led her quietly and gently outside to the deck, the wind making each of their clothes ruffle.
As soon as they greeted the sight of the ebony black sky which was studded with countless glittering stars they watched as a shooting star lit the sky as it sailed across it. It was gone almost as soon as it had come, and yet it was so beautiful that the other stars seemed to just stop and watch with them.
Fabrizio had not seen a shooting star before now, and it was one the most magnificent things he had ever seen. He remembered something his mama had said about shooting stars.
After a breathless moment he leaned closely to Helga and whispered, "It's magical. Make a wish. . . for anything you want. . . and it will come true."
They each made a silent wish in the same moment. Fabrizio made a wish for Jack and Rose, and Helga and himself to all be together and be happy in America.
After a few moments, Fabrizio took Helga into his arms and twirled her around as they began a waltz like dance. His eyes were shining at the pleasure of the moment. He felt like his body was bathed in warm light. He also felt as if a pure, white light was lining his heart and soul. With these feelings of peace, warmth, and unadulterated happiness, he began to sing a song to Helga which seemed to fit the moment perfectly.
Al di la del bene piu prezioso, ci sei tu.
Al di la del sogno piu ambizioso, ci sei tu.
Al di la delle cose piu belle.
Al di la delle stelle, ci sei tu.
Al di la, ci tu per me, per me, soltanto per me.
Al di la del mare piu profondo, ci sei tu.
Al di la de i limiti del mondo, ci sei tu.
Al di la della volta infinita, al di la della vita.
Ci sei tu, al di la, ci sei tu per me.
La la la la la...
La la la...
(Ci sei tu...)
Fabrizio was taught that music was the language of the heart. He truly believed this now as he could tell that while Helga was unable to understand the words alone, she easily took in the message of the song.
Beyond the most precious good, there you are.
Beyond the most ambitious dream, there you are.
Beyond the most beautiful things, there you are.
Beyond the stars, there you are.
Beyond, there you are for me, for me, just for me.
Beyond the deepest sea, there you are.
Beyond the borders of the world, there you are.
Beyond the infinite vault (the sky), beyond life.
There you are, beyond, there you are for me.
la la la...
(There you are).
When the song came to its end Fabrizio wrapped his arm around Helga's shoulders and led her inside again.
When he led Helga back to her cabin, they paused by her door. Fabrizio looked into her ocean blue eyes and said, "I," as he gestured to himself, "love," as he placed both hands over his heart, "you," as he gestured to her."
Helga smiled as she repeated the gestures in the same way.
Helga wrapped her arms around his shoulders and he allowed his hands to rest lightly on the backs of her shoulders, his fingers tracing the perfect row of lace outlining her back. The tips of his fingers grazed her fine, silken curls. He could also feel her fingers grazing the black, silky strands of hair by his ears. Their lips met. He felt he was putting a little of his soul into the kiss. He could feel the desire to go deeper, but he couldn't, not now anyway.
Smiling, Fabrizio went to his own cabin, one corridor down. He entered and found their Swedish roommates sound asleep, though Jack was nowhere to be found. This didn't worry him, though. He was sure wherever Jack was he was with Rose, and they were they were having a really good time together.
Jack has Rose, I have Helga, and when we dock in just a few more days it will be the start of a new life for us all, especially for me. It was with these happy thoughts that Fabrizio fell fast asleep.