In the middle of the night, Jack was suddenly hearing a noise. Someone was actually knocking on his door.
"Jack", he heard someone saying.
Jack wondered who on earth this could be. Maybe he was just imagining things, but the knocks on the door got louder.
"Jack please."
Josephine? No, why would she come here at this time of the day? Jack thought he had heard someone crying outside. He got up and put on his clothes. Now he really was curious if there was somebody outside.
"Jack, it's me. Please I…I've to talk to someone."
Jack finally opened the door and there she was, completely soaked and wet.
"Josephine? My god what are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry…I didn't know where else I should go…me…I had to talk to someone…"
Jack felt honored that she had actually chosen him for this. Josephine was shivering.
"I think it's best if you come in first."
Once inside Jack closed the door again.
"I…I didn't want to wake you up…"
"No, it's alright. You didn't wake me up", he lied. He didn't want to upset her anymore than she already was.
Jack wondered what had happened to her. She looked completely out of place as if somebody had just told that she'd die tomorrow or something like that. She was still standing in the middle of the room, not knowing what to do.
"Josephine hey, before you tell me anything I think it would be best if you first get out these clothes, you'll be getting a cold if you won't. Come with me…"
He led her to this bedroom.
"Here you can put on what you want. Sorry I don't have any women's clothes."
"No problem", she whispered.
"Look while you put these on, I'm going to make us some tea. O.k.? Or would you like coffee?"
"No tea will be fine."
"Great. You just come in the kitchen afterwards. Alright?"
Josephine nodded.
…
A few minutes later Josephine had changed her clothes and they sat down at the kitchen table. Jack meanwhile had made some tea and had heated the oven.
"Hey. I guess it would be best for you to lay your wet clothes down on the oven for them to dry. I mean you'll need them if you're going back to your family."
"I don't want ever to go back to them", Josephine said tears streaming down her cheeks, causing Jack to put a protectively hand on her shoulder.
Do you know how many stars there be,
In the deep blue sky above?
Do you know all the clouds that flee
Over all the world that we love.
God alone has counted over all,
That not one be missed at all,
|: Of the number that there be. :|
Josephine looked up glad that he was there. After hearing her mother and her…no he wasn't her father…last night, she had been feeling totally out of place, like she didn't belong there at all. Jack knelt down beside her, looking at her with concern in his eyes.
'I'm only doing this, because I love you.'
Now Josephine knew that he had lied. She had heard it out of his very own mouth yesterday. But she still wondered who on earth they had been talking about and why Cal obviously hated this Jack so much.
"Hey, dear. What's wrong?" he asked. "What happened with your family?"
True Jack hated Cal with a passion, but he still didn't think him capable of doing the things he was about to hear. He thought that maybe it had been some normal family quarrel. But then again would she really have come to him in the middle of the night, if it wasn't something serious? Nothing could've prepared Jack for what she was going to tell him however.
"I heard Mama and…" she didn't want to say father "…I heard them talking…"
"Who did you hear…your parents?"
"Mmh."
Jack just sat there in front of her, not wanting to push her.
"And what did they talk about?"
Josephine looked at him. He really did worry about her; she could see it in his eyes; that was something she had never seen in Cal's eyes before. They were only always just full of hatred or rage or both.
"Josephine, you know you can tell me anything."
She was starring at the ground now, again having tears in her eyes.
"Hey don't cry. You know if you're crying, you'll make me cry too", he said to support her.
"I just don't know where to begin."
Jack was really concerned now. What was she about to tell him?
"Does it have to do something with your father?"
Josephine nodded. And Jack immediately felt hatred for Cal.
How dare he'd do something to my girl. Jack couldn't believe himself. Had he really just thought…his girl?
"Tell me what happened? What did he say?"
"They were talking about me", she finally said.
She really didn't know how to tell him this. True mean she knew him better now, but in terms of truly knowing a person he still was a complete stranger. She couldn't very well just tell a complete stranger that her father wasn't her father and that her parents…no her mother and Cal…had lied to her for her whole life. Now, could she?
"Josephine come on out with it. I promise I won't be getting mad at you."
"I know that."
She knew that he wouldn't be mad at her. She feared his reaction concerning Cal.
"My…he doesn't love me…"
Do you know how many gnats do fly
On a sunny summers day?
Can you count all the fish that ply
The deep waters, on their way?
God called every one by his name
To bring life to them, all the same,
|: And that they all happy be. :|
Without saying it Jack instantly knew that she was talking about Cal.
"He said things to my mother…he was calling her words that I don't…well you know…"
Jack nodded, talking one of her hands and squeezing it.
"They were talking about someone else a man…and…and…"
"What, dear?"
"…and then he said that he hated me and this man…and that he had never loved me…I was just some bastard child he said…and that he isn't…"
Jack now was really worried of what she was about to tell him.
"That he isn't…?"
"…that he isn't my father", she finally got it out.
Jack's jaw dropped he couldn't believe what he had just heard.
"What?"
"I'm still so confused…I don't know…maybe was just…not understanding things correctly."
Jack didn't know what to say.
"What did your mother say?"
"She was defending me. She said that he had no right to call me a bastard. He answered, that he didn't care at all what happened to me. I've never seen my mother so sad. I mean I've always known that…that there union wasn't a match made in heaven but…"
"…but you never expected this?"
"Yes. Why doesn't he love me? Why didn't they tell me the truth? Why did my mother lie to me? I think I don't mean anything to them."
"You mean a lot to me."
Do you know how many children rise
Every morning from their bed,
So they all may, in a care-less guise,
Through the day, be happy led.
God does take in all his pleasure,
His delight and we are his treasure,
|: And he knows and loves you too. :|1
Josephine smiled.
"Look I don't know an answer to these questions, but I'm going to help you."
"Thank you."
Jack wondered if he should tell her about Hockley that he knew him and what he thought about him. Josephine was heavily crying again.
Standing up Jack told her: "I'm going to get you a handkerchief. Alright?" He stood up and left the room, leaving Josephine alone.
Her eyes scanned the room, at last spotting this portfolio on the other side of the room. Surely he won't have something against it, if she'd take a look through. She opened it and saw some drawings of her by which she felt very flattered. As she skipped through the pages she gasped. This was actually her mother. How did he know her? Was he some crazy insane man? Josephine opened the drawer and took out a knife.
Jack was about to be shocked yet again, when he returned. Josephine was standing in front of him with a knife in her hand apparently to – threaten him? - Why would she do that?
"Josephine, what are you doing with the knife? You know you could hurt someone."
That's exactly the point.
He saw his portfolio in her hands.
"Oh you've looked through my drawings. Did you like them?" he asked moving a little closer to her causing her to push the knife more his direction. Jack was stunned and moved back a few steps.
"Josephine, what's wrong?"
"Don't come any closer. You sick bastard. Did you think I wouldn't find out? What did you want get to her with kidnapping me?"
Jack had no idea what she was talking about.
"What are you talking about?"
Why would he want to kidnap her?
"You knew her. You knew her the whole time. You lied to me."
"I didn't lie to you."
"You're insane."
"Josephine, calm down. Alright I'm insane if you want it that way, but please would you tell me what do you mean? Who should I know?"
"My mother."
"Why should I know your mother? I don't know her. Really I swear."
"And what's this!" Josephine screamed practically throwing him one drawing of Rose in front of his eyes.
Jack was unable to say anything for a few moments.
"That's your mother?"
"Yes. Now would you explain to me, how come that you've hundreds to pictures of her, even though you claim that you've never seen her."
Jack felt the world spinning around. His Rose was alive?
"My Rose…she's your mother?"
"She isn't your Rose. You've no right to call her that. Now tell me how you know her."
"I met her…some time ago…I told you about it…the Titanic…we met on the Titanic…I didn't want to scare you. Please you've to believe me…"
Josephine was stunned. So she was the reason why he been sad and drinking last?
"I…I love her."
"You're lying. My mother told me yesterday that she loved my father. She didn't ever love you. Here…"
She took out the piece of paper her mother had given her yesterday. "My father gave it to her ..."
Jack was shocked. This was actually the note he had given to Rose that long night ago, to invite her to the steerage party. But that meant that…that she was really his daughter.
"She told me that only he and she knew what was written on it."
Jack had to sit down.
"What if I tell you that I…that I know it too?"
"Why should you?"
"Please let me try."
"If you want…go on", she said still with the knife in her hands.
"It reads Make it count. Meet me at the clock."
Josephine looked shocked. How could he know this?
"That's right. How do you know about it? Have you stolen it from her?"
Jack didn't answer anything, he simply said: "Look I'm tired, I'm going to lay down a little bit. If you want something to eat…you can take everything you want." With that he turned around. Josephine didn't still get it.
"Wait…how do you know this? Please…"
Suddenly the realization hit her.
"Papa!" she shouted causing Jack to turn around again. Now he too had tears in his eyes.
"You're really my father", Josephine said running to him.
Jack was taking her in his arms.
"Yes…I'm…"
He was stroking her hair.
"Papa…"
"My dear little daughter…don't cry…everything will be fine now."
1 That's actually a German nursery rhyme called „Weißt du wieviel Sternlein stehen". I've used it as I think that it's one of the most beautiful children's songs. I always thought about it, when Rose was laying on the door in the middle of the Atlantic looking up at the stars.