It was Wednesday and Jack was at work. He loved his job but it was hard keeping his mind off of Rose.
"Excuse me…sir? Hello? Are you there?"
Jack snapped out of it.
"Mrs. Marshall…how can I help you today?"
"I'm looking for some new art work for my husband. He's coming home from a business trip and I would love to surprise him. Can you show me some?"
"Sure, ma'am. I'll show you where the new pieces are."
Jack showed Mrs. Marshall around. He wasn't having too much fun because the woman could not make up her mind what she wanted.
"No…not this either…already have this…"
He was about to give up…he had shown this woman practically everything.
"What is this? I haven't seen this artist before. 'JD'…hmm…well whoever it is, it's exquisite. I'll take it."
Jack smiled. It was one of his pieces. It was a drawing of an old scraggly man…looking out against the surf as if he were looking for his long lost love.
"Who is this JD? He must be new."
"Well actually ma'am…it's one of my pieces."
"JD…Jack Dawson…why did I not think of this before? These are amazing Mr. Dawson."
"Thank you, Mrs. Marshall."
"I will be back for more pieces. Keep up the good work sonny."
"Will do, ma'am."
The woman paid for her purchase and left the store. Mr. Lawson noticed the empty spot where Jack's drawing was.
"Did Mrs. Marshall just come in and by your piece?"
"Yes, she did."
Jack laughed slightly…he couldn't believe it. He was used to selling his drawings from the pier…but to have them sold in an art gallery? He didn't see that one coming…
Meanwhile at home…
-Phone ringing-
Rose was right in the middle of baking with the children.
"Okay children, the cookies have cooled down. I'm going to answer the phone so just start decorating them."
She ran over to the phone.
"Hello?"
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Dawson. It's Mr. Phillips, how are you today?"
"I'm doing well, how can I help you Mr. Phillips?"
"Well, the girl who does Romeo and Juliet during the week has fallen ill. Do you think you might be able to take her spot until she returns? She should be back next week. You would start tonight."
"I understand. Of course I'll be there. I'll be there about an hour before the show starts, I have to wait for Jack to come home from work."
"No problem, Mrs. Dawson. See you soon."
Rose hung up the phone.
Rose finished baking with the children.
She was smiling all afternoon. Not only was did she have a lead part in the play…she would now be having extra nights to perform. She was delighted.
Jack came home a little early that day to Rose's surprise.
"Jack what are you doing home so early?"
He pulled out some bills from his pocket.
"What's all this?"
"I sold one of my drawings, Rose."
She hugged Jack tightly.
"Oh Jack! That's wonderful news!"
"I'm used to selling my drawings at the pier and other places…but this was different. It was amazing."
"I believe it."
He noticed that Rose had her hair and make-up done and was wearing a beautiful dress.
"What's going on? Are we going somewhere tonight?"
"Well, yes. I received a call from Mr. Phillips today. It seems Samantha has fallen ill from the play and won't be in the rest of this week so he asked me to fill for her. I hope you don't mind that I accepted."
"Why would I mind, Rose? It's what you love, and I love that you're doing what you love. That means the most to me. I think maybe me and the girls will join you tonight and watch you perform. The girls love it…and so do I."
"That's sweet, Jack. Well…I have to leave in about a half hour."
"I'll get ready and get the girls ready as well. Maybe we can go to dinner afterwards for a celebration for both of us."
Rose smiled.
"Sounds perfect."
At the Brown Residence…
"Ruth! Are ya almost ready? We're going to be leaving soon for the play! That is if you still want to go…we don't have to."
Ruth came downstairs.
"Why wouldn't I want to go?"
"Just sayin'…"
They both went outside and into the carriage and went on their way to the theater.
At the theater…
Rose was getting ready for the play. She was almost done when Jack came in with the girls and gave her a bouquet of lilies.
"Oh Jack, they smell wonderful!"
"I thought you would like them. Good luck! We'll be right in the front row."
They kissed each other goodbye.
The curtain slowly went up.
On the balcony in the theater…
"Thank goodness…we made it here just in time. These are perfect seats so we can see the play."
Molly just nodded. She had a strange feeling.
Thank God it's a Wednesday…Rose shouldn't be here. That way I can get Ruth outta here and figure out how I'm gonna deal with the situation.
The play began. Ruth was actually smiling. She had a little child glint in her eye as she watched the play. As it went on, she sat there mesmerized by the players.
"Oh Molly, look! I wonder who will play Juliet."
Molly just nervously smiled and nodded.
Just please let this play be done so we can get outta here!
Juliet stepped onto the stage.
"How now! Who calls?" Rose said.
"Your mother", the nurse exclaimed.
Now, this wasn't any regular Juliet. It was Rose.
Molly's eyes went big. She gulped as her breaths started to come faster and faster.
God Almighty!
She couldn't prevent what happened next. She looked to Ruth. Ruth's smile had gone away and was replaced by a surprised yet hateful look.
She dropped her glass and stood up. She leaned a little more to see if this was actually her daughter, her dead daughter. It was. She just stood there not knowing what to do. She looked around the audience. In the front row she saw a man with sandy blonde hair falling around his face. Her eyes widened with pure hate. He was talking to two little girls next to him that had red hair, matching Rose's hair.
She put a hand to her mouth.
"Ruth…I…you see…"
"SHUT UP!"
Molly was shocked at her outburst. She was loud enough that the entire crowd in the theater had heard her. Including the players on the stage. Rose attempted to keep on with her part but soon realized that the rest of the players were staring at the balcony.
What in the world is going on? Did someone faint?
She looked up to the balcony towards the loud voice. She seemed to be arguing with the woman next to her. She saw Molly getting yelled at by this woman.
What in the…
She put her hand to her head as everything in the room started to get hazy.
"I'll be Goddamned…"
She saw Jack who looked at her with worry in his eyes. He whispered something to the girls and was about to run up to Rose.
And then everything went black for Rose.
