The train ride to Denver in second class was very comfortable. Jack and Sally were occupying a cabin just for themselves and were astonished about all the luxury around them. They were waking up in their bunk Jack having his arms wrapped her from behind as Sally too was beginning to move her head. With the money from Molly Brown they could've eaten in the board restaurant every day, but as both weren't used to spending they had only bought food from stations at occasional stops so far.
But now finally reaching the third day on train Sally had finally had enough of chicken sandwiches.
"Jack?" Sally asked.
"Mmh…," he turned his head rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Are you awake?"
"Yes…yes, I'm…," Jack answered resting his head of his arm moving towards her and giving her a kiss. "What's the matter with you?"
"I was thinking…I mean I don't want you to think that we're wasting our money, but…do you think, it would be possible, if we'll try out the restaurant for once? You know I'm tired of those sandwiches," she looked at him with pleading eyes.
Jack began caressing her cheek, grinning at her.
"Would this be a problem for you? Jack?"
"Of course not, sweetheart," he gave her another kiss on her lips. "I was already wondering, when you would be coming up with this idea. In fact I think with your pregnancy you should really eat more."
Sally enjoyed him kissing her down on her neck, his hands moving to remove her nightdress, which he got done after a while. Sally giggled as his touch sent goosebumps all over her body. Jack too loved that feeling, when he felt her hands on his naked figure. They shared some newly-wedded bliss, Jack collapsing down on her afterwards.
"I love you," he panted his lust satisfied for the moment kissing her on her nose.
She looked so beautiful in this. He loved holding her in his arms knowing that she was his wife.
"Do you think anybody noticed?" Sally wondered only half-serious.
"Ah, I don't care about this...snobs will be snobs...," Jack only commented making her laugh, before moving his hand to look at his pocket-watch. "I guess we should stand up...if we want to get breakfast that is."
They got up and after getting dressed took their seats at a table in the restaurant. It was pretty crowded already and by nine o'clock every table was taken, only a few seats here and there remaining free.
"What can I get you?" the waitress asked.
Jack decided on ham and eggs and coffee, while Sally ordered bread, butter and marmalade with green tea. She had read somewhere they this was good for unborn babies. Both were in marital bliss barely noticing anything doing on around them. It was a whole new experience for them especially for Sally, who had never travelled other than in third class and it was so wonderfully quiet here – nothing compared to the rough and loud noises they were normally used to.
"Do you think Mrs. Brown will like me?" Sally wanted to know after a while.
"Molly is a very generous person. She'll love you."
Jack then took out his sketchbook drawing Sally closer to him so that she could take a look as well. They had passed many cities in the last days and though from driving through they had seen not much more than trees and bushes, Jack had succeeded in giving everything an individual character.
"That's so beautiful, Jack. I don't know how you do this. I wish I would be able to draw like this."
"Would do like me to teach you?" Jack asked being totally serious now.
"No, thanks…some things can't be learnt, you know…and talent is one of them," she laughed, while they shared another kiss.
Jack moved a strain of hair out of her face and smiled happily at her. After the dreadful occurence on Titanic and the incident with Rose he had thought that everything was over for him and that he could never be truthfully happy, but his long term friend and love had shown him a way out.
"You'll see once we get back to Philadelphia the first thing we'll do is look for a new and bigger apartment."
"Yes, Jack, far away from whores and drunkards."
Both laughed at this not noticing that they were approached by some stranger until he made himself known by coughing slightly. Jack turned his head towards the intruder his face showing that he was clearly not happy with the disturbance. This was supposed to be his honeymoon. Couldn't this man see that they were newlyweds, who wanted to be alone?
"Yes…?" Jack asked his voice unmistakably displaying his annoyance.
Sally meanwhile smiled inwardly having her eyes closed, her head resting on Jack's shoulder. If he wanted to, Jack could be very evil as well.
"I'm sorry, Sir…to disturb you and your…friend…but you see this here is the only seat available here and I was wondering if…," the man stammered towards Jack.
"Of course, you can, it would be our pleasure," Sally answered not giving her husband a chance.
Jack shot her some little annoyed look, but Sally decided to ignore it. He would get over it and should just be pouting a little bit.
"We're on our honeymoon," Jack added, but the man gladly failed to hear him.
"Thanks so much, Madam," the man took the seat in front of them. "Sir…"
"No, problem…," Jack answered not wanting Sally to think that he was bad-mannered.
The man then noticed the empty plates in front of them.
"What did you have? To eat…I mean?"
"Bread and butter…"
"Ham and eggs…"
"And was it good?" he asked Jack.
"Yes, you can order it…it was certainly not poisoned," Jack added, causing the man to laugh at this very lame joke.
"By the way I haven't properly introduced myself, the names is Allan Legrande," he told them shaking their hands.
"I'm Jack Dawson and this is my wife Sally."
"Nice to meet you," he added.
After having requested some dishes as well, the man took out a map or better register, which Sally noticed contained all kind of articles with prices written underneath. Suddenly curious she tried to take a closer look.
"Here, Madam, have a look," Mr. Legrande told her. "These are very exquisite things. Everything you see here I can't get you."
Sally took a glance at some winter coats. After all she really could need some new one for once. They were indeed superb. Was this collar there made out of real fur?
"They're pretty, right? We also have muffs matching them, if you want to see."
Jack meanwhile just rolled his eyes, finding the man quite unnerving.
Sally gazed down a bit more at the price, her eyes nearly falling out.
Two-hundred-dollars for a coat? Seriously? Where there really people paying such high sums? Oh, of course, there must be…otherwise it wouldn't be necessary to print a whole catalogue for it.
"I am…I think that I already have enough coats…," she eventually told him.
And it's certainly not my price range.
"What a pity…maybe you'll want to view some…"
"No, thanks," she cut him short noticing his face turning a bit sad. "I mean, if I've everything I need," she added not wanting to be rude.
"No, problem, Madam…maybe next time…"
"Yeah, maybe…"
He must be making his living with this. Jack, however, couldn't care less, but decided to engage him in some conversation to kill time with him. It was for sure better than having to see him flirting with his wife.
"You're producing these things?" Jack asked him.
"No, only selling them…I'm working as a sales rep for various companies' including Macy's…you know, that's the store in New York owned by…"
"The Strauss's, I know…they died on Titanic," Jack finished for him.
"Pretty good, Mr. Dawson…," he sounded presumptuous and smart-alecky now like he intended to lecture Jack. "What have you heard about them?"
"Only what was written inthe papers afterwards," Jack lied.
Sally knowing how much the topic about Titanic was still ailing him; stepped in for his help, asking Mr. Legrande about the stuff they were selling, learning that it was women's clothes, jewels or watches.
"You'll see, Mrs. Dawson, most of these rich ladies don't care very much about spending their time together with hundreds of others in a crowded shop, so we're making it easier for them and are offering home visits…they can also call us in advance and we'll bring patterns for a new dress with us…or whatever they request…"
"And you can make a living with this?" Jack couldn't resist asking.
"Jack," Sally shushed him silently into his ear, but smiled inwardly.
This man really deserved it.
"Yes, Sir…Mr. Dawson…very well in fact…I've just bought myself a new home in Chicago."
"So, you're heading for Chicago?" Jack guessed.
"No, Denver…"
"Denver? Well how nice…," Jack forced a grim smile.
Hopefully we won't meet you again.
"Why only women's stuff?" Sally wanted to know eventually.
"That's very easy…Mrs. Dawson…women are spending much more on clothes and all kind of luxury articles than men…," he told her and turning towards Jack he added "I don't know about you, Mr. Dawson, but my wife is eating me out of house and home and I always dread the time, when she goes shopping," he laughed loudly, but stopped once he noted that Jack didn't join in.
Jack put his arm back around Sally, hoping that Mr. Legrande would notice and finally leave them alone. After what seemed like an eternity to Jack he really did, standing up.
"Mr. and Mrs. Dawson, it was a pleasure meeting you," he said and couldn't resist to hand Sally his visit card to call him, if she should change her mind about the coat.
Jack let out a sign of relieve once he had left.
"Come on…he wasn't this bad," Sally giggled planting a kiss on his cheek.
"You're right, he was worse…," Jack answered.
…..
Luckily Mr. Legrande left them alone for the next days until they had reached Denver. Standing on the platform Jack at first wanted to ask someone how long it would take to walk up to Molly's house, before remembering that they had enough money now to hire a car.
Molly was living at Pennsylvania Street clearly some of most reputable parts of this city. Arriving there the driver thanked them for the ride and helped them with their luggage over to Molly's house. Jack paid him giving him some extra-large tip knowing how hard this business must be.
"Thank you…every time again," he smiled at both nodding his head towards them.
Having knocked on the door, a man in a butler's attire opened it for them.
"You must be Mr. and Mrs. Dawson, I'm Stanley…Stan for short…Mrs. Brown's butler…," he told them in a thick British Oxford accent taking their bags with Jack and Sally following him inside.
Sally nearly fell faint at only seeing the entrance. The whole floor was made out of marble stones and even the umbrella stand seemed to be made out of gold as Sally thought taking a closer view.
"It's only gilt copper. You know, I'm not so snobbish and lavishly to be buying golden umbrella stands," a woman's voice rang out Jack and Sally turning towards her. "Hello, I'm Molly…," she smiled at the young woman.
"Mrs. Brown…"
"Oh, no…Molly for you, honey…you must be Sally," Molly told her and didn't even wait a second to turn into a hug. "Welcome in Denver you two…," she smiled as she embraced Jack as well. "It's good to see you again…did you have a nice journey?"
"Yes, very nice…Mrs…Molly…," Sally answered not believing that she was really talking with the Mrs. Brown.
"Thank you for the invitation, Molly," Jack added.
Molly led them into the living room. She had already ordered the cook in advance to make a special meal for the arriving of her special guests.
"Excuse me, I'm just going to look, if everything is going smoothly…," she said to them disappearing into the kitchen. "You probably will want to rest after your long ride. Stanley will get your baggage upstairs and Thelma will show you your room."
Once Jack and Sally were alone once more they instantly let out a loud sigh, both overwhelmed with everything. Thelma had left too by now leaving them alone to change into something more comfortable for dinner.
"Jack, did you see the rooms?"
"Yes, Molly has some Van Gogh paintings…"
Sally laughed at this.
"Always thinking about your art, aren't you, Jack?" she giggled wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Why? What did you have in mind? The wallpaper?" he teased her receiving some slight punch. "Hey…," he protested slightly.
"No, Jack, have you noticed that this room alone…or should I say apartment is bigger than our whole flat in Philadelphia?"
Of course Jack had noticed this as well clearly realizing once more that he too would never get used to this extravagance. However, he wasn't interested in art and rooms just now. He looked at Sally mischeviously.
"What are you up to now, Jack?"
"You know Molly isn't expecting us down again anytime soon. Don't you think that it would be nice to try out..."
He didn't get a chance to finish his sentence. His wife had already understood.
"Jack, you men are only thinking of that," she scolded him on the outside, but Jack knew right away that she wasn't angry, because he saw her smile, which she couldn't hide from him. Eventually Sally started to move towards him opening up the buttons of his shirt.
After they had put on some unused clothes and refreshed themselves in the small bathroom attached to their room they went down again, finding Molly reading some journal.
"Come on; don't just stand there…sit down you two…," she smiled up at them. "Make yourself comfortable..."
"Madam…," Stanley appeared behind Sally moving out the chair for her.
Molly had to smile at her clear confusion.
"Don't worry…if you want I'll tell him to stop with this…I also find it kind over the top…but you see he's old-schooled…," Molly explained.
"No…it's no problem…I'm just not used to this is all."
While they were eating beefsteak with potatoes and vegetables, Molly started questioning them about their wedding and their life back in Philadelphia.
"It's a pity they don't sell this newspaper here, Jack…I would love to see your work," Molly told him.
"Jack will one day hold a whole exhibition in the Louvre and then everyone can see his masterpieces," Sally spoke up proud of her husband.
"Well, I'm not so sure about this," Jack said.
"Ah…no false modesty, young man…every famous artist has started out slow…," Molly added as the others started smiling.
Sally then told her about the man they had met on the train, which made Molly burst out laughing.
"Oh, I know these fellows…have had the pleasure with them many times over. But now tell me what are doing the whole day? Where are you working at?" Molly at last wanted to know from Sally.
For sure she was astounded no less than Jack had been, when she heard the answer.
"I would be lying, if I'd say that I'm not a bit shocked…it seems like Mr. Hockley really has changed…good for him I must say and of course for Rose…after all her wedding is in a few days…"
Jack and Sally shared a meaningful look, which was immediately noticed by Molly.
"Come on, you two…what are you keeping from me?"
"I'm sorry, Molly…we can't tell you…"
"We promised not to…," Sally added.
"Oh…of course…sure…," Molly was a bit confused now looking for something different to talk about. "Has Rose already gotten her memory back?"
"Not the part about Titanic, if you're referring to this…"
Molly noting his anger, but also sadness almost wanted to tell him how sorry she was, but remembered in time how much things had changed by now. Jack was clearly in love with his wife here and didn't need to be reminded of some long lost love affair.
"Maybe we should speak about something else," she added. "So how about your baby…I hope everything is going well with your pregnancy?"
"Yes, thanks…very well…thanks to Jack," Sally answered her before sharing a kiss with her husband.
Molly found that these two indeed fitted much better together than Jack and Rose. They both knew how it was to be poor, they were both used to hard work and they apparently both did have something still troubling them about their past. For Jack this was clearly the Titanic and most likely also his parents early death and for Sally she didn't know so far, but she too seemed to be hiding something.
…
On the next day, when Sally woke up, Jack was still sleeping soundly. Sally decided to let him sleep some more planting a kiss on his cheek as he shifted over to the other side.
"Please, just five minutes longer, Ma…school is only starting at nine," Jack was sleep-talking.
Sally giggled putting on her wardrobe noiselessly closing the door behind herself and coming face to face with Molly, who was already fully dressed up.
"I'm sorry…I didn't know that…I mean…I totally forgot that…," Sally muttered a bit embarrassed now.
Molly only laughed good naturelly.
"Don't worry, honey…everything's fine…"
"Would you like me to arrange a bath for you, Madam?" Thelma asked.
"I…," Sally was stunned not knowing what to say.
"Say yes…you'll see its fantastic…and don't worry about waking up Jack…there's another bigger bathroom at the end of the corridor…"
Sally finally nodded thanking Thelma, wondering how many bathrooms these house contained.
The bath indeed proved very relaxing. Sally stretched out her feet enjoying the feeling of water absorbing her. She was summing some tune she had learnt in school and closed her eyes envisaging herself in another world. Once she got out, Thelma had already laid out a bathrobe for her and when she extended the room she was there again to help her get dressed.
Eventually Sally made her way downstairs seeing Molly sitting at the table. Of course Stanley was there too, but she managed to sit down before he could assist her, Molly signalling to him that it was alright.
"I hope I didn't hurt him…"
"No need for trouble…I'll speak with him later…now tell me, did you sleep well?"
"Too good…I almost drowned in the pillows," Sally told her.
"Haha…," Molly smiled at this. "You know, I still remember Jack at the first class party…I'm sure he has told you about it."
Sally nodded.
"Well, it was funny, because even though Jack was so well-dressed up and appeared outwardly like the gentlemen like everyone else there…I realized that people could right away tell that he wasn't…I remember J. J. Astor looking at him totally perplexed, when Jack mentioned that he was from the Chippewa Falls Dawsons…," Molly chuckled. "J.J. was clearly pretending that he knew them…it was over all a pretty funny situation," she said getting suddenly a faraway look "…it's a pity with his young wife and all…oh but enough of these gloomy talks…"
Sally only smiled at her finding Molly very amusing. Molly then asked her how she and Jack had met and Sally told her that it been around two years ago in Rochester.
"We lived there together for about a year, when Jack announced that he wanted to see the world and leave for Europe. He never could stand staying long at one place. I guess I too wasn't prepared to continue our relationship at this point and refused to accompany him…this was in February, but I came with him to New York…at the last chance almost changing my mind, but then I got a new proposal for a job and…"
"Life is strange sometimes, isn't it?"
"Yes, that's for sure…especially since Jack and I had never talked about me moving to Philadelphia…we did write each other letters of course, but his last one was from the beginning of April, before he boarded the Titanic…so it was really pure coincidence that we met again in Philadelphia…I suppose I've to thank Rose once for this, I mean it was her he initially wanted to meet…"
Molly thinking that Sally was sad reached out for her hand to calm her down.
"No, I'm not jealous anymore…or insecure…I know that Jack loves me…but of course I also know that I've to accept her as a part of his past."
"Were your parents at the wedding too?" Molly suddenly blurted out. "They certainly must be thrilled to have a son-in-law like Jack," she added smiling brightly and was utterly confused, when she noted the grim face of the young woman. "Something wrong…? Did I say something to hurt you?"
"No…it's just…they're much occupied with their jobs and…"
Too occupied to attend the wedding of their daughter?
But Molly kept her mouth shut, not wanting to disturb their honeymoon.
"I understand…it's not easy sometimes to bring everyone together at the same time, right?" Molly grinned seeing her nod. "I grew up in a very large family with parents and five siblings…," she laughed. "…ah, but I loved it…it was loud and cramped, but we always had fun together."
Sally could only join in with Molly's amusement; her cheerfulness was clearly rubbing off on her. They spoke about Molly's youth a bit and her marriage and how her husband had stuck gold one day, both enjoying the time with each other. Sally laughed again, when Molly told her the story of how her husband had heated the oven full of money.
"There you are," Jack's voice rang out.
Although he was fully dressed he still appeared to be quite sleepy.
"Sleep well?" Sally asked giving him a kiss.
Jack nodded.
"Coffee, Jack?"
"Yes, thanks Molly…with milk please…," Jack sat down. "So what have you been talking about? You look like you were contriving something."
"We were just speaking about our lives."
"Yes, not everything is about you, Jack…you're not that interesting you know," Sally kidded him receiving a punch.
"So, what did you plan on doing today?" Molly wanted to know.
"I've no idea…I've never been to Denver…any suggestions…," Sally looked at her.
"There's the capitol, a history museum and oh…we've an art museum as well…and of course there many nice bars and restaurants and small shops that are certainly worth visiting too."
Both thanked Molly for her recommendations and once they had finished breakfast the first think they did was putting on their coats to make a tour through the city.
"Molly, just one more questions…"
"Yes, Jack?"
"What about your cats? I miss them…especially you know…Champollion…they're not…"
"No, Jack…everything's fine with them…they're with my daughter at the moment…now go on and have a nice day you two."
….
Not surprisingly Jack was absolutely fascinated with the art displayed in the museum. He moved around effortlessly telling Sally all kinds of stories in remembered reading in papers. Although he had never savoured higher education, due to his lack of money and his parents' early death, he had done to get a glimpse on everything he could get. His mother and father too had bought him art supplies, even if it meant sometimes that they would've to save on their own.
"These paintings are from the 17th century mostly. See here the robes they're wearing…," he commented standing in front of a Rembrandt painting.
"They don't look very comfortable."
"Corsets are more?"
"I never wear them, you should know this," she said as Jack drew her over to another painting. "Here this one is his most famous."
"The Night Watch," Sally read aloud, before turning to another one. "Must say these people don't look very happy…well in fact I've noticed this with today's rich people in the newspapers too. Do you think they're recommended to be appear sad as compensation for being so wealthy?"
Jack laughed slightly giving her a kiss on her head.
"But Molly is rich too and certainly not unhappy…"
"Just the exception of the rule…oh here look…another one…Infanta Margarita Teresa in blue dress…aged eight," Sally gasped. "Dear god, eight years? Poor child…what did people think back these days?"
"Mostly about marrying off their children to the richest and most influential one available, just like today," Jack whispered into her ear. "Here see these are some others of Velázquez' paintings. He was Spanish and drew many portrays of the Royal family."
Sally could only look at him in awe. She certainly had married a very sophisticated person.
"What was that for?" Jack wondered as she had given him a kiss on his cheek.
"For you…and for the wonderful free tour, you're giving me. I've never met anyone, who had more knowledge about these things than you."
"Thanks…," Jack blushed a bit. "Come on I want to see some modern ones too…"
"Like Monet?" Sally asked already knowing her husband well enough.
"Yeah, like him…"
They went over to the room containing the 19th and 20th century paintings. Jack was of course searching for his favourite artist, while Sally strolled around alone a bit coming to stand in front of a huge painting, which showed an old man holding a younger one in his arms the one latter was quite obviously dead. It was dark and depressive and Sally didn't even care to read the description. Pregnant women certainly shouldn't get in contact with such gloomy things.
"There you're…come on Monet's paintings are much more lovely than these," Jack told her taking her hand as they walked over to the Monet section. "Here see…these colours…aren't his pictures just marvellous?"
"Yes, Jack, very much…," she said feeling a bit tired already.
"This was his wife Camille. On this one he painted her in a green dress."
"She was beautiful," Sally only commented as Jack was already walking on the next one.
Sally gazed at the clock hanging in every room, finding that the museum would close in fifteen minutes. Thank god or her art loving husband might never stop.
"Jack, I think we should better go to the entrance…they're closing…"
"Only five more minutes...I just want to…," he started, but stopped, when he noted her eyes looking tired. "Alright, I'm coming. I guess it was really enough for today," he put an arm around her back leading her out. "Do you want to eat outside or go back to Molly?"
"Rather go home, Jack and lie down a bit…you know my feet hurt…I may not wear a corset, but us women still got horrible shoes…"
Jack laughed at this before they took a car to head home.
….
The next day saw the arrival of an already well-known, but not very welcomed guest. This time Jack and Sally were up at the same time and when they got downstairs they already heard the voices of the Molly and – dear Lord – the horrid man they had met on the train.
"I assure you, Mrs. Brown, you won't find any better quality."
"Mr. Legrande, I completely believe you, really…but you see I've absolutely no need for another skirt…," Molly sounded pretty annoyed alreay, but of course her counterpart didn't take notice.
"Then a coat maybe?"
"No, I've enough things…of everything…"
Mr. Legrande seemed to understand slowly that he had come here in vain, but he wouldn't be a good sales rep, if he didn't try out everything.
"We've also wonderful jewellery necklaces, earrings, watches…you name it, we've it…," he clearly knew his text.
"Please, Mr. Legrande, I'm sure they're all beautiful and whatever, but I've enough of them…I'm totally satisfied…"
Jack and Sally decided to step in to her help. Especially Jack got aggressive, when he saw this man. Didn't he understand the word No? They walked down the rest of the stairs, Mr. Legrande instantly spotting them. Molly Brown immediately forgotten he walked over to his next victim – Sally.
"My, if this isn't lovely, Mrs. Dawson…the world is really small I must say," he spoke up.
"Indeed it is," Jack sneered rolling his eyes.
"Do you know this man, Jack?"
"We met him on the train ride here…"
"Yes, we had the pleasure already there."
Molly could tell that it certainly hadn't been one for Jack. He looked like he wanted to hit this man, who was now bowing and scraping around his wife.
"Have you thought once again about the coat, Mrs. Dawson? You see, if you want…I could give you a special price…," he told her moving closer and closer to her.
While Sally was feeling uncomfortable, but didn't quite know what to do best as she didn't want to be rude, Jack already made a step forward an angry look on his face and Molly quickly spoke up, before he would say something he'll regret.
"Ahem, Mr. Legrande…I think we've heard everything now…we'll contact you, if we need something," she put an arm around his back and led him to the door, not giving him a chance to protest.
"I don't think we'll see him again," she said to Sally and Jack. "In fact for his profession he was pretty good..."
"But very pesky too," Jack added.
Everyone laughed at this.
…
Two days later, while they were eating dinner, Molly had kind of a gloomy mood, knowing that her guests had planned to depart in the morning.
"So you two that's your last day in Denver I hear. You're certain that you don't want to stay longer? I love company, you know and particularly yours."
"We need to get back to work, Molly and earn money."
"But what about the one I sent you? You surely haven't run out of them?"
"No, of course not Molly, we just don't want to spend them all at once…you see we left most of it with a friend in Philadelphia," Jack explained noticing Molly's confused look. "…for safe-keeping…I guess we both aren't used to these things and still think that we'll be robbed," he clarified for her.
Molly only nodded. For sure the two of them had been living in a completely different world.
"I understand. I'm just curious, what are you planning to do with the money? I mean other than pay your rent…"
"Well first we'll get a new and bigger flat…," Sally told her. "And I might attend some courses and probably become secretary in the White House one day," she joked. "No, seriously I've no idea. I've to sleep over it."
Jack was much the same. He had never really thought about it as the money had never been there anyway.
"I'm sure, you'll find something. You're both young and intelligent," Molly finally said.
"Especially, Jack. He knows so much about art. It's really a pity that you're only drawing pictures for a newspaper. You should be doing much more. You know, Molly, he took me through a tour of the museum…," Sally told her clearly filled with pride.
"Yeah, Jack, you should study or something…," Molly spoke up at first only joking, when she thought that this was in fact a great idea. "Hey, that's it Jack…make some courses…go and study…"
"I haven't even finished the highschool."
"Well, then go on…now you've time for it…I'm sure there're courses in the evening as well, for people working at day."
Sally supported Molly deeming the idea great and Jack too thought that it certainly was worth trying. Maybe he could really work in a gallery one day? Even sell his own work in one?
They were interrupted by Stanley informing Molly that someone wanted to speak with her on the telephone.
"Now?" Molly wondered standing up and following him into the hallway. "I'll be back in a minute," she told Jack and Sally. "This shouldn't take long."
"Hello, who's there?" she picked up the receiver quite shocked at hearing the person on the other line. She had never thought that she would ever see or hear from this woman again. "Ruth…how nice to hear from you…," Molly lied. "No, of course, you're not disturbing me…," she rolled her eyes. "…the wedding…no I haven't read the newspaper…," Molly motioned for Stanley to come here and whispered to him to bring her today's newsprint.
Ruth had told her that she instantly needed to read the articles about Rose's wedding. Apparently it was covered country wide. This woman was full of herself, always wanting others to praise her. She mentioned all kind of utterly uninteresting things like, what kind of great and famous people had attended the wedding and that everyone had told her how wonderful and sweet a bride Rose had looked.
Never mind that I haven't been invited and that you never called me once to ask how I'm doing - Molly thought annoyed, but didn't want to steer up anything now. After all Jack and Sally were sitting in the living room and she really didn't want to keep them waiting for long.
"Yes, it's a beautiful dress…sure the necklace…sorry The Heart of the Ocean is above all spectacular…," she told Ruth what she wanted to hear, while in reality finding everything hideous. The dress was pretty much crushing Rose and she necklace was by far too big and pompous for her neck.
Ruth luckily seemed satisfied asking her only half-serious about her own doings.
"What I'm doing now...sitting with some guests and…," the word guests was willingly ignored by Ruth and she simply started telling Molly about the wonderful wedding and now pleasant everything had been all over again. "…I'm sure it was…," Molly finally said thinking of something to end it. "…Ruth, you know, I would really like to speak with you some more…but you see I've tickets for the theatre and…," she heard a sniff on the other line, which could be either interpreted as I understand so you don't want to hear about the wedding, why didn't you say so right away? Or Of course, I should've known myself that you're not interested in that stuff. You're new money after all – whatever it was it clearly served its purpose, because Ruth finally hung up.
"I'm sorry…," Molly came back into the living room sitting down.
"Who was it?" Jack wanted to know.
"Ruth."
"Mrs. Dewitt Bukater?"
"Yes, Jack…she wanted to tell me about the wedding…told me that I needed to read the paper…well, if it makes her happy…," Molly explained to them not noticing yet the looks on their faces as she had picked up eating again.
"Which wedding?" Sally wondered.
Molly looked at her like she had lost her mind.
"What do you mean – which wedding? Well of course Rose's and Mr. Hockley's…you know I had completely forgotten that it was today."
"The wedding took place?" Jack asked, while Sally frowned already fearing the worst.
She still remembered the talk with Mr. Hockley about his employee Felix. She had known right away that he was up to no good. Molly had by now noted the frowns and confusions on their faces.
"Alright, come on, you two…what's wrong here? What do you know?"
Jack and Sally shared a look not really knowing where to start.
"Mrs. Brown…the telephone again…it's a Mr. Weingartner…"
"Matthew?" Molly wondered getting up once more.
Molly had come to know Matthew long ago in New York, when he had still lived there with his parents. Molly was friends with them and had inspired their son to make something out of his talent to write. In time they had become very good friends.
"Jack…something is very wrong here," Sally told Jack, while Molly was talking with Matthew. "I think that Mr. Hockley's new employee might've something to do with it. I'm almost sure about it."
"You're right he was…is some strange man…"
"Do you think that something happened to Daphne?"
"I hope not…," Jack said, but his face showed differently.
He didn't even want to think of it. They were just gone for a week and everything seemed to be going downhill already. Molly eventually came back, her face now also displaying distress.
"You won't believe what he told me…," Molly began. "His fiancée came to him in the morning telling him that she had gotten a letter, but didn't tell him about the content…then shortly before the wedding she came again crying and lamenting…"
"Has she told him why?" Sally wondered.
"No…but Matthew seems to think that it had something to do with Rose's wedding…"
Jack wondered if he knew something.
"You two, have you got any idea what this is all about?" Molly asked already knowing the answer, when she saw the expression on their face. "You do know. Alright come on…out with it."
Jack and Sally first made her promise not to mention a word to Matthew and then explained everything to her.
"And you believe that this Felix had his hands in it?" she asked seeing them nod. "Well…I must say…this doesn't really come as a surprise for me…Matthew and his fiancée… they have been engaged for so long already and…I just think their relationship has run out of steam. I hope she tells him the truth now, she clearly seems to need a friend at the moment…"
"I don't believe that Matthew is the best one for this job."
"Don't say that, Jack, ex-fiancés can become the best friends. I've seen it many times. Matthew is a generous man, I'm sure he'll forgive her whatever it is to be forgiven."
"I would like to know what happened with Daphne and Mr. Hockley. I refuse to believe that he really just left her for the sake of his inheritance. The last time I spoke with him he was really determined about standing up against his father…"
Indeed, everything was in the wrong here. Molly also commented on now strange it seemed to her that Rose had married Cal without even recalling, who he was. She realized right away that this could only end badly once she regained her memory. In fact the only two people, who could really be happy with this arrangement, were Ruth and Nathan Hockley.
Now could this really be a pure coincidence? Molly for sure didn't think so.
