*Twenty-Six*
All Good Things Come To An End
After the press and publicity died down. Which seemed liked it lasted forever. The two couples could get back to their lives. Jack and Rose went to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Jack's hometown.
Parting ways with Zipper was especially hard for them. Never had a friend been so true. Jack knew he owed her his life. That night in April he had felt his life slowly draining from his body. Then she had saved him.
A few weeks after the last lawsuit, that Lowe needed to attend, they were wed again. Since the papers had been lost at sea. It seemed only the right thing to do. It was a church wedding this time. Beautiful really.
Rose and Jack were unable to attend. But they did send a wedding gift. A portrait, drawn by Jack, of Officer Lowe and Zipper. Over the weeks Jack had worked in a mercantile store, until he had saved enough for a good art set. Which he used immediately after purchasing. He began to sell his art for good money.
Zipper, Cora and Lowe retreated to a small house, Mr. Rosenberg had bought them as a wedding gift, in New York City. Life was grand here. Lowe wasn't at all accustomed to it. But he didn't complain either. Cora on the other hand didn't want to act like a 'little-lady'. She still liked to dance, to run and to play. Of course with Zipper and Lowe, both being so understanding, she wasn't denied any of that.
Zipper had made a full comeback in her strength, and was back to her old self only a month after Titanic sank from under her.
One day in August her family had set up a family reunion. At the Rosenberg Mansion. Lowe and Zipper attended of course. She looked forward to meeting the rest of her new family.
"Michaela. I'm so glad you two could come." Her mother greeted as they entered the main hallway.
Zipper took off with her mother to mingle with the other ladies. While Thomas, her father, stepped up to Lowe.
"So, Harold. Married life treating you good?" He asked, a slight chuckle to his voice.
"Of course, sir." Lowe replied with a smirk on his face.
"And being a father?" Thomas asked. He smiled down at Cora. She wore a very pretty pink dress. So much more lady-like now, than when he had first met her.
Lowe nodded. He loved Cora as his own. Which she was really, since they had adopted her only days after Titanic sank.
Zipper and her mother walked around talking endlessly to the women of the family. Everyone was anxious to hear her tales of Titanic. One man in particular wanted to hear the stories more than anyone else. Her brother.
He stepped up to her. He hugged her tightly. Making her uncomfortable, because she had no idea who he was. "God, how I've missed you."
"I've missed you too." She smiled, though she was utterly dazed and confused at that moment.
"Riley!" A woman called out. She walked over to them.
"Michaela you haven't met my wife, your sister-in-law yet, have you? We were married just a few months ago." He said. "This is Madeleine."
Zipper nodded politely. Sister-in-law? She questioned herself. Well this man must be her brother. Riley Rosenberg. Then she knew something immediately. This was her great-grandfather. She had never met him before. But she had seen pictures of him. But he looked so different now, than in those pictures. He was young now. Handsome and strong.
She couldn't believe she was in her great-aunt's life. But she had to be. How can she live someone else's life? That wasn't possible was it?
Well she couldn't let this factor freak her out. Or frighten her. She was having a wonderful time with her family.
Unfortunately, the gala didn't last as long as Zipper wanted. She hugged and kissed her family members. Everyone shook Lowe's hand. He was the newest addition to the family. Well he and young Cora. Both were welcomed with open arms.
After the guests were almost completely gone. Lowe and Mr. Rosenberg walked outside.
"I just love they way you two look at each other." Her mother said hugging her.
Zipper smiled. She knew everyone could see the love she felt for Lowe.
"So glad you didn't stay with Ray Peterson. I'm sorry we were forcing you into such a thing, dear." Her mother said sympathetically. Though, Michaela had no idea who she was talking about. Then she put her name with his. 'Michaela Peterson… Oh my God.' she thought to herself. She remembered this name from the passengers lists. Rich girl, marrying the rich boy on the Titanic. She had read the story. She never even dreamed that woman was her great-aunt. But she had died on Titanic. And never even looked at Lowe.
'Oh God. I've really messed up.' She said to herself. Now knowing she had changed the past. Though it wasn't the past now. It was the present. So she went on. She didn't think anything about it. What was done was done, there was nothing she could do about it.
She finally remembered she was talking to her mother. "Yes, mother, I'm happy as well. Because I love Harold. Truly and deeply.
Her mother smiled then hugged her again. Shooing her out the door. So happy that her only daughter was happy. "Get back to your man." She laughed.
Zipper smiled. Heading out the door. She was greeted by her father, Cora and Lowe.
"Ready to go?" Lowe asked.
"Yeah." She turned to her father, kissing him on the cheek then hugging him. "Bye, father."
She waved back to her mother. Then looped her arm through Lowe's and took Cora's hand. They went directly to the train station.
When they arrived at their home. Cora was fast asleep. Lowe took her upstairs to her room immediately. When he came back down the stairs. Zipper wasn't there.
"Michaela!" He called out. No answer so he decided to use the nickname she had said to use. "Zipper!"
He walked out the back door of the house. And looked to the stables. They owned four thoroughbred horses. Magnificent creatures. Zipper always loved to ride them, and no not side-saddled. She never rode like a lady. She never even used a saddle, only the reins.
He stared at the stables. Wondering if she was there. Then suddenly he heard a horse whinny, and she came racing out of the stable doors.
Lowe laughed to himself as he watched his wife race across the fields. Here he would be going back to sea soon. He'd probably come home to a championship racer. He said to himself.
He watched her ride faster and faster. Then he spotted something that wasn't there when they had left. A borderline fence between their field and the neighbors field. They had never even mentioned such a fence would be made.
She raced right towards it, not able to see it because of how fast the horse was going.
"Michaela!" Lowe called out to her. But it was too late for her to turn the horse. She spotted the fence, and pulled back the reins. But the black mare ran right into it. The barbed wire cutting into the animals legs. She went down hard. Whinnying out in pain.
Lowe watched in horror, like nothing he had ever felt before. Even the Titanic was not this bad. He watched his wife topple off the horse and land hard on the ground hitting her head extremely hard.
Lowe ran out to her and fast as he could. When he reached them the lame horse was crying uncontrollably. He didn't have a gun with him, so there was nothing he could do for the horse.
He knelt down by Michaela. Cradling her head in his arms. She was bruised and bloody. Tears formed in his eyes.
She coughed, as a trickle of blood formed in the corner of her lips.
"No, Michaela!" He wasn't even sure if she could hear him. And the horse's cries made her silence all the more deafening.
The neighbor ran out. "Oh my Lord! What happened?" He exclaimed.
Lowe was furious. It was his fault. "You know damn well what happened! Now get the doctor!"
The neighbor stumbled over his own feet as he raced into town.
"Michaela. Michaela talk to me." He pleaded.
"I'm sorry." She said, her voice barely audible. She was expecting the worst. Now she was doomed to not live in the past or future. She wasn't going to live at all. She said to herself.
"I'm sorry, Harold." She whispered.
"No, no. It wasn't your fault." He shushed her. He knew she was thinking she had been a disappointment in a wife. Because of this accident. The horse may have been his favorite. But he cared for her more. She should know that. He held her tightly. Stroking her hair.
"Harold, I love you." She said.
Tears fell over the brims of his lower-eyelids. He let them freely come, and didn't care who saw. The neighbor's family had come out. The wife walked over to them. She wiped at the blood with a damp cloth.
"I love you." He said back.
She smiled. Loving the fact that she had found love at last.
She took in a deep breath to say something. But was unable to. Her breath exhaled involuntarily. And she was gone. Lowe grabbed up her body, hugging her. "No." Was all he could say.
