Chapter Six;
"So tell me, Rose, what have you been up to all these years.." Molly laughed "Besides raising Joseline, of course." She really was curious about Rose's life outside of the High Society.
"Well, it's been full of surprises, some disappointments and other things." Rose smiled "I don't know where to begin."
"Start from after everything you told me earlier." Molly suggested.
"This could take awhile." Rose laughed.
"I've got exactly three days." Molly laughed.
"Well I found some work at a diner two weeks after the Carpathia." Rose shook her head. "It wasn't the best job and some customers were rude, obnoxious and down right pigs." She shivered as she remembered all the men who would make sexual advances towards her. "One guy, an older guy, tried to put his hand up my dress.."
Molly shrieked in disgust "Damn pig!"
"Yeah, I got fired that day because I punched him in the eye."
Molly laughed "I told Cal you were a pistol."
Rose gasped in mock shock and laughed "Right. Really I just have a thing for punching men in the face."
She told her about how she had ran into Cal not long after she found out she was pregnant with Joseline and how he had given her a job. She told her about most of the things she had done those years and how raising Joseline was an adventure.
"Has Cal changed a lot over the years?" Molly asked, her curiosity setting in.
Rose smiled "He has changed tremendously. Some remnants of the Cal from Titanic remains."
Molly looked at Rose over her cup of tea. "What remnants are those?"
"The money. He's always worried about his money." She laughed.
"That's good, I guess." Molly chuckled.
"He gets upset with me if I don't let him buy Joseline certain things." Rose sighed. "He tries to spoil her."
"She's your only child, you should spoil her." Molly said.
"You sound like Cal." Rose laughed. "He's always wanting to buy her expensive things. Stuff that she'd be bored with in a week or so."
"You see a problem with that?" Molly chuckled.
"Actually, yes. I see a big problem with that. I want her to know that not everything will be handed to her."
Molly eyed her "Yes... Yes I see where you're coming from." Rose was nothing like a spoiled little rich girl, she had moral standards.
Rose laughed at Molly eyeing her. "Cal has been like a brother to me." She said, changing the subject.
"Go on." Molly said.
"I slapped him when I first ran into him again."
Molly gasped "What for?"
"Because he called Jack a gutter rat." Rose shrugged. "Before we agreed to forgive each other."
"That is a good reason to slap anyone." Molly said. Not understanding how anyone could call a person like, Jack, anything less than extraordinary.
"He hasn't called him that since." She smiled. "He doesn't bring him up much, but when I do, he only says respectful things about him and he lends me his shoulder to cry on, anytime I need it."
Molly's eyes widened and her mouth dropped "Are we talking about Caledon Hockley...?"
Rose laughed "Yes."
"What about Uncle Cal?" Joseline asked as she sat on the couch, in the middle of Rose and Molly.
"Nothing really. Just that's he's been... My... There for me for a long time." Rose said, almost calling him her friend. She hadn't told Joseline that he wasn't really her uncle and she didn't think she needed to right now.
Molly looked at Rose and arched a brow. "Mmhmm." She shook her head not knowing what to make of this.
Rose looked at Molly and shook her head, letting her know not to say anything else while Joseline was in the room.
Joseline looked at Molly then to Rose "I want to talk about Uncle Cal.!"
"Ok... But what are we going to talk about." Molly asked glaring at Rose, in a funny way, trying not to laugh.
Rose tried to glare back at Molly, but laughed. "Joseline, tell us about the time he took you shopping."
"Which time? He's taken me numerous times..."
Rose placed a finger on her chin, thinking. "When you two went to Moscot Eyewear." Laughing hysterically as she remembered.
"This must be quite the hoot." Molly laughed.
"A hoot indeed." Joseline replied. "So yeah... Uncle Cal took me to Moscot Eyewear because he needed to get a new pair of reading glasses." She chuckled. "I was so irritated with him, because I wanted to go to a toy store."
Molly listened to this child tell her story. She was amazed with her vocabulary and how well spoken she was.
"He picked up one pair of glasses that were just hideous. He put them on and I couldn't help but laugh hysterically at him." She laughed remembering. "He looked at me and frowned and asked "What are you laughing at, brat?" So to that I said "You look like a pigeon." He turned around to look in the mirror and he jerked the glasses off his face. He turned back to me and huffed in irritation. "You were right.." We spent a good three hours in there and he didn't even get a pair of glasses.
"A pigeon?" Molly asked through laughter.
"Yes. A pigeon. The glasses made his eyes look like little black marbles." She giggled, glancing at Rose, "Or maybe I was just being a brat."
Rose chuckled. "Yeah. A brat. A spoiled brat."
"Why a spoiled brat?" Molly asked, not sure why she'd call her that because she seemed like a well behaved child to her.
"Molly, this child does some bratty things sometimes." Rose chuckled. "Just a few days ago she woke me up and had me rushing. She waited until I had hurriedly dressed to tell me that it was Saturday. I thought she was late for school and I was late for work."
Molly laughed "That is pretty funny though."
Rose looked out the window and noticed the sun was setting. "Molly, we must be going."
Molly sighed "So soon?"
"Yes, it'll be dark soon and you know the crazy people come out."
"Wait before you go." Molly said as she got up and rushed to a roll top desk in the corner. She grabbed a pen and piece of paper and jotted down her address for Rose. "I'm here for three more days, then I'm back to Denver. If we don't see each other again while I'm here, just write me a letter or come visit." She said as she handed the paper to Rose. "Seeing you again has been wonderful."
Rose hugged her. "Seeing you has also been wonderful. Thank you for listening to me ramble on about my boring life."
"Anytime.!" Molly looked at Joseline. "May I hug you?"
"Sure." Joseline said as she wrapped her arms around Molly. "It was nice meeting you. I hope to see you again."
Joseline placed her hand inside Rose's and together they headed for the door. Molly watched them and smiled. "You two be safe."
Walking home seemed to take forever that night. Rose and Joseline stopped at a Street side Cafe and ordered a drink and a muffin. The street lights were on and the traffic was low. Rose and Joseline we're lost in conversation when Cal walked up to their table.
"Where have you two been?" He questioned with concern.
Rose was shocked by his tone. "We have been around town.."
"I have been worried about you two!" He said "This isn't like you to be out this late."
Rose waved away his concern. "Joseline and I were out spending time together and we ran into Molly."
Cal placed his hands on his hips and gasped "Molly?" He only knew of one Molly. "Molly Brown?"
Rose watched his reaction and couldn't contain her laughter "Yes. Molly Brown." She took a bite of her muffin "You remember her, right?" Of course he knew who she was, she just wanted to mess with him, to get him all riled up.
Cal gritted his teeth, forgetting that Joseline was sitting there "That fowl mouth cow.. how could I forget."
Joseline's mouth flew open and her eyes grew wide as she looked at Cal. "Uncle Cal!" She screeched with total surprise. She'd never heard him talk like that.
Rose was looking at him as if she could punch him. "Don't talk like that in front of her!" She said harshly.
Cal noticed the look in her eye and flinched. "I'm sorry... I don't know what came over me."
"Yeah you better be sorry." Rose said as she glared at him. "Molly is a nice woman and I won't have you or anyone else talking about her that way."
Cal took a seat at the table and hung his head "I'm sorry you two. It won't happen again. Please forgive me." He didn't want either of them mad at him.
Rose took another bite of her muffin. "I forgive you... This time."
Joseline was still staring at him with disgust clear on her face. She shook her head. "That was uncalled for!"
"I know." Cal said.
"I think you need a stern talking-to." Joseline said as she looked at Cal, her blue eyes piercing his.
Cal chuckled looking at her. She had a look in those eyes that scared him. A look that said she was serious. "I get it, ok... I said something I shouldn't have..."
"Just hush and eat some of my muffin." Rose said as she broke him off a piece. Wanting him to just be quiet.
They finished their drinks and muffins and headed home, with Cal following behind. They had refused to ride with him, so he told his driver to just go home. They ignored Cal almost the whole way home, even walking faster every few minutes just to annoy him.
"Slow down!" He yelled.
"Walk faster." Rose said.
"I can't... My feet hurt.. I'm not used to.. walking.. this far." He said, almost out f breath.
Rose laughed "The life of the rich and famous, huh?"
"This.. isn't funny.. Rose!" Cal said, gasping for air. "I.. need.. to.. sit.. down."
"You sit down, were walking and aren't stopping until we get home." Rose said as her and Joseline picked up their pace.
Rose stopped outside the fence to her house and turned around looking for Cal. She didn't see him at first. "Joseline, I think Cal was being serious."
Joseline shook her head. "I'm going inside."
Rose walked towards the door and turned around once more and there he came. Walking like he had been walking for days. He was all sweaty and he was dragging his feet. Rose laughed and shook her head. She walked down the sidewalk and grabbed him by the arm, helping him the rest of the way. She helped him to the couch and laughed as she let go of his arm.
She sat in her chair and looked at him, he looked so worn out. She couldn't help but feel bad for him.
"I'm so tired, Rose. Do you mind if I sleep here tonight?" He asked as he yawned.
She laughed "No Cal. You should go home." She was only teasing him.
"Home.. is.. so.. far.. a.." he said, his words cut off by another yawn.
"I was teasing. Of course you can stay here, but you stay on the couch, understand!" She said sternly. The last time he stayed the night, Rose found him trying to get in her bed.
"Thank.." his head fell on the side of the couch and he started to snore.
Rose removed his shoes and put his legs up on the couch. "Joseline, bring me a blanket and pillow for Uncle Cal." She called out.
Joseline brought her the pillow and blanket. "I can't believe that little bit of walking wore him out." She laughed.
"Like a big ole baby." Rose laughed.
She gently lifted his head and placed the pillow under it, careful not to disturb him. She looked at him and moved a strand of black hair from over his eye. "You are something." She whispered. She placed the blanket over him and caught herself, she was going to kiss his forehead. She jumped back and placed her hand to her lips. "What in the world am I doing?"
"Yeah Mom.. what are you doing? Joseline asked with a giggle. "I saw that. Don't worry, I won't tell him." She winked. "Thanks for the amazing day. I had fun." She hugged Rose goodnight and kissed her cheek. "See you in the morning. Love you."
"I love you too."
Rose sat back down in her chair, looking at Cal. There was something about him laying there. Something that made her heart beat faster. "Stop it Rose." She said to herself. "Stop it now." She couldn't tear her eyes away from him.
Cal moved and the pillow fell to the floor. She got up and put the pillow back under his head. She again moved the hair away from his eyes. She couldn't stop herself. She bent down and kissed him on his cheek. His eyes flew open and she jumped back and screamed.
Cal jumped up off the couch looking around like a crazed person. "Wha.. what is it?" He looked around again and saw Rose standing there with her hands over her chest. "Why on earth are you screaming?"
Rose was too startled to say anything. His eyes opening has almost gave her a heart attack. Her eyes were wide and she shook her head as to say 'nothing.
Cal looked at her, knowing she was lying, but not feeling up to arguing right now. He laid back down and covered himself up. "Goodnight Rose."
"Goodnight, Cal." She sat back in her chair and picked up her book and began to read. She caught herself glancing over the book, looking at Cal every few minutes. "Am I losing my mind?" She asked herself, but not quiet enough.
"Yes!" Cal grumbled. "You are losing your mind."
Startled, she threw the book up in the air and yelped. "Goddamnit Cal! You scared me!"
Cal laughed "Good. You deserve it for not letting me sleep."
"Go home, Cal!" She said
"No! I'm staying right here on this couch!" He grumbled. "Now let me sleep!"
She picked her book back up and sat back in her chair. Trying not to look at Cal anymore. "I hate you, just thought you should know that."
"Is that why you brought me a pillow and cover?"
"No!" She said harshly.
"Is that why you put the pillow under my head, moved my hair out of my face and kissed my cheek?" He asked
"I did NO such things!" She shot back.
"Sure Rose, sure.." he sat up on the couch "I must of been dreaming."
Rose looked away from him, trying to hide her guilt. She placed the book up to her face as if she were reading. "Must of been."
Cal stood up and walked over to Rose, pulling the book away from her face. "You're lying!" He laughed. "I wasn't asleep."
Rose looked at him dumbfounded and shook her head, trying to think of something quick. "I knew you were awake."
"You're not a very good liar.. you never were." He said as he laid back down on the couch.
Rose laughed inwardly to herself. "Why did I do that?"