by Cecelia Dowdy - visit titanicfanfiction dotcom
This story was based upon characters created by James Cameron! Please read and review!
Chapter 21
"Oh, Jack, I'm having the time of my life!"
Jack grinned, squeezing Rose's soft hands. "I'm glad you're having a good time!" Still clutching her hands, he turned toward the small band of musicians. "Hey could you speed up the music?"
Soon, the small band began playing a fast-paced jig and Jack whooped and hollered. A small, dark-skinned, gray-haired man strummed the lute, the magical notes filling the hot humid air. A violinist eased his bow across the strings, keeping rhythm with the clarinet, flute, and trumpet players.
Their hands still joined, Jack and Rose turned round and round in a circle. Their wedding guests clapped, stomped and swayed to the music. Rose grinned while they spun, round and round, he never took his eyes away from her amazing face. The massive trees in the secluded woods provided some protection against the scorching hot sun. Rose's cheeks flushed, and he wasn't sure if it was the heat or the wedding excitement that caused her to blush. "Oh, Jack," she breathed while they spun. "I have to stop. I'm out of breath."
They crashed to a halt, and Jack's body still felt like it was spinning. He looked up at the canopy of brilliant green leaves and it appeared that the tree was still spinning.
"Hey, you two!" Thelma spoke, holding a huge blanket in her arms, Paul coming up behind her. "You two need to sit down and rest for a while on this blanket. We do have a few chairs but the elderly people are using those. Also, we don't want Rose to get any dirt on her borrowed dress."
Grateful, Rose and Jack fell onto the blanket, out of breath. Paul shook Jack's hand. "Congratulations. She's wonderful, Jack."
Jack grinned. "Thanks, Paul." Paul presented them with two ice-cold bottles of Coca-Cola. "We placed some bottles of soda in a secluded place in the river to keep cold. Drink up. We'll have the food ready in a minute."
Rose's beautiful green eyes widened with delight. "You mean there's food, too?"
Paul nodded, grinning. "Yes. We have a whole feast prepared. So you two just sit back and relax and enjoy yourselves. Thelma and I will bring your plates in a minute."
Using Paul's bottle opener, Jack popped the tops off their sodas and presented Rose with her beverage. He tipped the glass bottle back and drank, enjoying the cold, sweet fizz that traveled down his parched throat. Rose guzzled her drink, watching their wedding guests having a good time. "Oh, Jack. I still can't believe we're married!"
He took her hand, toying with her fingers. "Well, I can believe it. You're stuck with me, now." He leaned his head toward hers, kissing her soft, ruby-red lips. He then brushed his fingers over her fiery red hair, frowning.
"Jack, what's wrong? It's our wedding day and it's not the time to be worried about something."
Jack blinked, looking around the forest. Although the band still played, many of the guests had stopped dancing, probably tired from all of the movement. A light breeze blew, rustling the leaves on the large oak trees. He took a deep breath, tilted his head toward the sky, enjoying the light wind. Visions of Rose whimpering and crying invaded his mind and he gasped, his heart skipping a beat.
Rose dropped her empty soda bottle onto the ground, grabbing his hand. "Jack, what's wrong? You look like you've just seen a ghost."
Rose's mouth drooped with worry - there was no way he could share his vision with her. Was it possible he was still paranoid because of all they'd been through with the Titanic sinking? Could he be imagining things? Maybe he was so happy today that it was hard for him to accept the Lord's blessing of a wonderful wife, a baby, as well as the most wonderful church family he'd ever had in his life.
He cupped Rose's face in his hands, stroking her soft skin. She smiled, moaning, her pale skin rosy. He took his time, finally deciding to tell her what he could without causing her to worry. "I just love you so much. This is the most joyous, most happiest day of my life, and…."
She blinked, her face still comfortably snuggled in his hand. "And," she prompted.
"And, I just don't want anything bad to happen to you. I don't want you to suffer or get hurt or anything."
Rose grinned, taking his hand into hers. "Jack, you worry too much. Nothing's going to happen to me."
He shrugged, still bothered that he could not ignore the dangerous feeling. "I can't help worrying about you, Rose. You're my wife and I love you."
"Here we go." Paul's deep voice interrupted their conversation. Paul and Thelma presented them with two heaping plates of food. Jack was amazed that the church members had gone through the trouble of bringing food along. There was golden fried chicken, ham sandwiches, and pickles. "Don't forget to save room for the watermelon and the cake," Paul announced.
Paul and Thelma left them alone to enjoy their food. Jack relished the salty ham, the soft yeasty bread and the moist, delicious chicken. After they'd eaten, the church ladies whisked Rose away to touch up her makeup. When they returned, Jack spotted a white man coming toward them, holding a sketch pad and pencils. "Who is that?" asked Jack.
Thelma responded, Rose standing behind her. "That's a sketch artist. We figured you wanted a sketch of you and your new bride. Just stand still and pose. We hired him to do a few sketches of the two of you."
Jack posed with his new wife, feeling weird. Since he was an artist, he was used to being the one doing the sketches. Since he'd discovered his artistic talent, Jack couldn't recall ever having anybody to sketch his picture before. The artist proved quick and about an hour later, Jack and Rose were presented with three professional sketches encased in a leather binder. Jack studied the drawings, pleased with the talent of the artist. He'd captured the happy sparkle in Rose's eyes and he'd even captured the detail of the roses etched into Rose's dress. Jack appeared happy and carefree in the sketches. There was one sketch with their faces close up. The look of adoration they had for one another was apparent in the drawing.
After admiring the sketches, they enjoyed huge slices of ruby red watermelon and Rose expertly cut into the small white vanilla cake. They served the cake alongside the watermelon. Jack bit into his watermelon slice, enjoying the icy cold sweetness of the fruit. While Rose dropped morsels of cake into her pretty mouth, Jack shuddered. Visions of Rose, naked and bruised, whimpering, filled his mind. Something was wrong! He looked away from Rose, not wanting her to see him worrying. Lord, what's wrong with me? Why am I having a hard time enjoying my wedding day?
I tossed the last bite of cake into my mouth, enjoying the moist sweetness of the vanilla-flavored treat. Jack looked away from me, staring off into the distance, probably not wanting me to see his face. However, before he turned away, I'd seen his furrowed brow, his eyes glistening with torment. Lord, what's wrong with my new husband? Why is he so worried?
I knew Jack loved me and being loved by Jack Dawson filled me with a warm, euphoric, wonderful feeling. Just being with Jack made me feel happy, carefree, alive…I loved his man so much that it ached, it was a wonderful ache right in the core of my being. This man was a part of me and I needed to figure out why he was so worried. Was he still upset about Cal, afraid he'd shatter our happiness?
As I set my empty cake plate aside, I thought about The Heart Of The Ocean. Jack was probably worried about the necklace! I was upset about it too. After all, if we returned the necklace to Cal, he'd probably have Jack falsely arrested for theft. I was sure of it. Visions of Jack going to prison for a crime he didn't commit filled my mind and I whimpered. Jack heard me, and he turned to look at me, his beautiful blue-gray eyes full of pain. "Honey, what's wrong?"
I shook my head. Should I tell Jack about my fears? He stood up and offered me his hand, helping me to stand and we moved away from our blanket. "Rose, I think we need to talk. You're my wife now, and we need to be honest with each other about everything, okay?"
I sighed, nodding. Jack lifted our blanket and we walked further into the woods, finding a secluded rock near the rushing river. The hot sun shined upon the moving water, creating wonderful sparkles of light. I gazed at the pretty water, spotting a few minnows rushing in the current.
He spread the blanket on a huge rock and we sat. Jack took me into his arms, kissing me. We kissed long and hard, and I enjoyed the taste, smell, and presence of Jack Dawson. We finally broke our kiss and Jack took his wonderful hands and massaged my stomach. My tummy fluttered with excitement and my heart pounded.
His mouth pressed against my ear and he spoke. "I can't wait to put my hands on you tonight." His warm breath tickled my ear, and I whimpered with delight, turning around to face him.
"Oh, Jack."
He took my hand into his, toying with my fingers, pressing his wonderful lips against my forehead. "Rose, what's the matter?"
I sighed. "I'm still worried about Cal's necklace. What if he tries to make you go to prison for stealing it?" I glanced down at the rushing river. "What if he tries to kill you?" I moaned. "Oh, Jack, we've been through so much already, I just don't know what I'd do if I lost you." I swallowed, still trying to put my feelings into words. "I'd die if I lost you," I whispered.
"Rose, you're strong. Whatever happens, we'll get through it. Remember, we have to rely on our faith in God." I finally nodded, agreeing with him. My faith in the Lord was still weak, but, I was working on strengthening my faith. Hopefully, we could pray away these bad feelings and nothing awful would happen to us.
"Jack, why are you worried? I feel as if there's something you're not telling me."
My husband winced, holding me tighter in his arms. "I feel like you're going to be hurt. Rose, I don't want anything bad to happen to you."
"I guess your faith is weak, too, Jack. You shouldn't worry about me. We need to pray about what we're feeling. We also just need to enjoy one another's company right now, be together as husband and wife. We've worked hard for this day to happen and I'm sure the Lord would want us to enjoy each another."
Jack nodded, and my heart skipped when he leaned his head closer to mine and kissed me, placing his hand over my pregnant belly.
Cal stood at the edge of the secluded woods. Using Lymen's high-powered binoculars, he witnessed Jack and Rose's kiss. When would they come up for air? He flinched, spotting Rose's creamy white body in Jack's arms. Anger pierced through him like red-hot arrows. He shook with unrestrained rage before Lymen spoke, interrupting his spell of anger. "So, are you satisfied?"
Cal nodded, still spying, his anger deepening. Nobody made a fool out of him... nobody. After the Titanic sank, and the Carpathia landed in New York, he'd been the subject of stares and ridicule from his acquaintances. Most now knew that Rose had been on the Carpathia and that their marriage never took place. The shame swept over him, making him feel sick. When Rose and Jack finally ended their kiss, Cal scanned the surrounding area, noting the ton of Blacks dancing and singing nearby. "What on earth?" he gasped, shocked.
"What is it?" asked Lymen.
"All those nig—"
"Don't say that dreadful word," Lymen said, his mouth set in a tense line. "I told you that Jack and Rose had been attending a Black church."
Cal gasped when Jack took Rose's hand, guiding her away from the rock and toward the crowd of Blacks. Anger surged through him as fast as a speeding train when one of the Blacks took Rose's milky white hand into his and all of them started dancing in a circle, in rhythm to the five-piece band. Amidst the crowd of Blacks, the only white person he saw besides Jack and Rose was a tall, bulky, muscular man, standing in the midst, and he was holding hands with a Black woman, and they kissed!
Cal shook his head. Disgraceful! Very disgraceful!
"So, I found Rose Dewitt Bukater, as you've hired me to do." Lymen held his hand out, ready to be paid. After he'd had lunch with Cecile in the coffeehouse, he'd hurried over to Cal's hotel and led him to the secluded woods. Now, he was glad that he'd made Cecile's acquaintance.
Grumbling, Cal removed his billfold, counting out the money. Lymen accepted the cash, wadding it up and placing it into his pocket. "Well, I'm leaving right now, unless you needed me for anything else?"
Cal shook his head. "I'm going to borrow your binoculars. I promise to return them to your office in the morning." Cal planned on watching the rest of the wedding celebration, and then he needed to plan on how he needed to make Rose pay for making a fool out of him. She didn't seem to understand that Cal Hockley always won. Always…
What do you think about Jack's and Rose's wedding? What do you think about Cal spying on them with the binoculars? Read and review! I enjoy feedback and comments! titanicfanfiction dotcom Cecelia Dowdy