13rd November 1918, writing to Boston, MA, United States of America.
Dear Rose, I'm certain that you've heard great news, it's the talk of the town, of the nation and of the whole world. Dearest, there will be no Ocean between us. Come meet me 11/23 - South Station.
I'm eager to hold you in my arms again. I love you, Your Jack.
23rd of November 1918, South Station - Boston, MA
The platform was congested. There was yet no train in sight, but nobody seem to notice. It looked like the whole city was up there. There were war veterans waving the US flag above their heads in the cloudless sky. Children were chasing each other, their carefree laughters caught the attention of a young soldier in a wheelchair. His absent eyes seem to wonder of the last time he had been that jolly. It must have been before the war, before having lost one of his limbs to the knee down. Rose couldn't help but notice the multitude of women waiting patiently next to her. A portion of them wore their finest dresses and coats in all colors, others were dressed in black. The latter refused to engage in any kind of conversation, as they were grieving for their men, who had fallen while on duty. Some were waiting for people, but some were there waiting for ghosts.
Rose's feet started to hurt, she had been standing for a while now. The night before had been a total nightmare. Both girls had been unable to rest and fall asleep. Rose's baby had been moving non-stop in her, as if they knew that their father was finally coming back. While Lucretia had sobbed all night, hugging her brother's picture tight to her chest.
"Ladies and gentlemen please take a step backward, the train is approaching". Rose took a deep breath. This was real. Jack was real, and he was finally coming back home to her, for her.
Finally, the train appeared from behind the corner, windows down. Hundreds of men were reaching down to the waiting women. Sisters and wives. Flowers, gloves, hats and letters flew in the air. As soon as the train stopped, the men promptly jumped out of it, ready to meet the women. Rose searched the crowd for blond hair, or his scent. She kept looking for Jack, until everyone was gone and the moon was up in the night sky.
"Promise me that you'll take care of yourself, I'll be back before you know it".
She had promised and she had faithfully kept her word. She had tried to have faith, for Jack was asked to serve in the army during the last months of the war. It was both good and bad news; they had been able to stay longer at each other side, but they knew that joining the soldiers especially when Germany was getting on a tight corner, was dangerous.
Now her faith was shaking, something was terribly wrong and she was well aware of it. Lucretia silently stared at her, Rose had come back alone with a pair of red eyes. "H-he w-wasn't there" Rose stuttered and fresh tears began to fall down her round pink cheeks. "What do you mean by that?".
24th of November 1918 - Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
Rose wasn't actively working as a nurse anymore. As soon as she had entered the final months of her pregnancy, her colleagues had strongly advised her to move to the check-in desk. Her job was to register the new patients, by writing their names on a dusty notebook, assign them a bed and after that, she would call a doctor for a first visit.
But Rose missed the old days, those days of stitching wounds, or bringing oxygen to those who were unable to breath on their own, thanks to that mysterious pandemic of Influenza. She proudly remembered when she had helped a young woman giving birth, the woman's screams and tears, but also the genuine smile that the mother gave to her son. Soon she would feel those same emotions. Yet, the imminent joy that would come with motherhood, was distorted by the fixed thought of Jack's inexplicable absence.
"Here, you are eating for two" Lucretia pushed her sandwich towards Rose, who rolled her eyes but accepted anyway. "I'm getting off a bit earlier today, I'll cook dinner for the three of us", the blonde girl winked, a happy smiled lingered about the corners of her mouth.
Rose's emerald eyes were dancing around the packed hospital room, there was a visitor, that much was clear. Some nurses started whispering to each other, few glanced directly at her.
"Nurse Dawson, someone's here to see you".
The baby inside her started kicking vigorously, Rose stroked gently her belly, trying to calm them down.
"Thank you".
The redhead walked along the left wing of the building, to the meeting room. The bottle-green glass door gave away a glimpse of the silhouette of the person inside. In that instant, she realized that there was something insanely intimate in the air. The figure lingered on the handle, as if unsure whether to open the door or not, Rose realized she had been seen.
"What are they doing here to you, sweetheart?".
Rose wasted no time, she hugged Jack tightly, as if to make sure he was real. They kissed tenderly but with burning ardor, making up for their stolen time. "I've always tried to imagine you carrying our child, how you'd look like". He stroked her bump with trembling hands.
"Where were you?"
"I was detained. On the way back, on the Atlantic, a soldier suddenly became seriously ill, they forced me to quarantine. I had no contact with the world outside. I slept for ten hours straight, I was so afraid".
"Stay with me tonight, Jack".
Nurses's sleeping quarters
The apartment was small and neat. Jack scanned the room, roaming around with his blue eyes. The oven was half-closed, a lovely smell invaded the kitchen, a small round table was spread for dinner, and a handwritten note laid on the checked tablecloth. Jack turned to Rose, who seemed even more surprised than him. "Did you talk to Lucretia?" She crossed her arms to her chest, rising an eyebrow. "I met her earlier, a-at the hospital" Rose laughed and kissed him full on his lips. "So you decided to ask my roommate to cook a nice dinner for us" Her voice grew low "and to spend the night out, Mister Dawson, that's scandalous". Jack kissed her flushed cheeks, then nipped at her neck, not caring if their dinner would get cold.
"Let's run away"
"I'm about to give birth, we can't move now"
"I want to go somewhere warmer, I want our child to grow up with sand between their toes. I want to teach them how to swim. I wan't to take you there too, Rose".
"Then let's do it, giving birth on a train to the West seems exciting". They both laughed at that hideous idea. "You promised then!" Rose nodded "I think I did".