Chapter 3:
Rose was two months pregnant when she found out. That meant that she got pregnant the night that the Titanic sank. Slowly, she got bigger and bigger around the stomach. By the time Burt's opened, she was already five months pregnant, and you were starting to be able to tell. Burt's became an over-night success. The first few nights they were packed, but slowly, they got just the regulars. People who came nearly every night, and became part of the family. They young men and women came to adore Cora, and would often force Rose to take it easy. Rose loved her life. She didn't have to worry about parties or soirées that she often had to go to before. She now had a schedule. She would get up at 8:30 every morning, no matter what. Jack would already be up for several hours, cleaning up the pub. Rose would get Cora ready for school, and walk her the four blocks to the Catholic Girls School. Molly graciously paid the young girl's tuition, despite Rose and Jack's protests. Rose would then stop at the bakery on the way home, and pick up two Cinnamon Rolls. That would be her and Jack's breakfast. The couple would then spend all morning getting ready for the crowd that night. They would cook, bake, clean, and shop. At 3:15, Rose would leave to go and get Cora. By the time they got back, it would be close to 4:00, and Burt's would be open. Everyday it was the same thing, rain or shine, and Rose loved it!
"Hello beautiful," Jack whispered into Rose's hair one morning as she stood behind the bar. Jack then proceeded to kiss Rose's neck.
"Daddy!" Cora exclaimed, trying not to laugh.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Jack said. Then, he leaned over the bar, and kissed Cora's cheek. "Happy now?" Cora shrugged, and slid off the stool.
"Come on, Mommy! It's time to go to school!" Sighing, Rose put away the glass she was cleaning, and picked up her coat. She was now nine months pregnant, and due any day now. Many of the women at Burt's had offered to walk Cora to school and pick her up, but Rose declined. It was her only chance to spend some time with her daughter.
Rose took Cora's hand, and they began to walk to school. They were about halfway there, when Rose let out a gasp, and grabbed her stomach. She had just had a painful cramp.
"Mommy, are you alright?" asked Cora. Rose looked at her, and nodded quickly. She stood up, and began walking again. Five minutes later, Rose was standing outside of St. Mary's Catholic School for Girls, when she had another painful cramp. This time, one of the Mother's of Cora's friend came rushing over.
"Rose, Rose, are you alright?" she asked. Rose nodded.
"I'm fine Jessica. Must be something I ate," she replied. Jessica took Rose's arm, and began leading her back to Burt's.
"Well," she said. "I'm going to make sure that you get home safely." Rose waved her away.
"No, no, I'm fine. Really, just some really bad cramps."
"When is your baby due?"
"Any day now. Why? That can't be what's wrong with me, the baby's healthy. I was at the doctor's last week."
"No, Rose. I think you're having the baby." Rose froze, and began shaking her head.
"I can't be having the baby. I just can't be having the baby. We're not ready. Jack and I aren't ready to have the baby yet! The doctor said another two more weeks or so!"
"Doctor's can be wrong, Rose. They're people too. People are wrong all the time, just look at the people who said that the Titanic was unsinkable! Now, the grandest ship in the world is home to a bunch of fish!" Jessica laughed slightly, but Rose froze. "Is it another contraction?" asked Jessica. Rose shook her head. "Is it something I said?" Rose nodded. Jessica gasped. "Did you loose someone on the Titanic?"
Rose shook her head, and said in a low voice, "The three of us were on the Titanic. Jack almost died, and that's what killed Cora's real Father. Jack and I adopted her after the accident." Jessica hugged Rose.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't know," she said quietly. Her apology was interrupted by Rose crying out in pain. "We should get going. Come on, we need to get you home."
When Jessica and Rose got to Burt's, Jack was eating breakfast at the bar. He immediately stood up when he saw the two women.
"What's wrong?" he asked as he helped Rose upstairs.
"Rose is having the baby," explained Jessica. Rose sank into her bed, and closed her eyes. "Where is the doctor's office?"
"Down the street. Send Maria, you stay here to help," Jack ordered. Maria was the blonde German girl who rented the spare room above the pub. She worked in Burt's, and also helped to look after Cora. Maria immediately ran down to get Dr. Johnson, whose office was three blocks away.
After several hours of painful labor, Jessica left to go get Cora. The young girl was going to go to Jessica's house for the night. Jack packed a bag for Cora, and gave Jessica a quick hug.
"Thank you so much," he whispered in her ear.
"Um…Jack, Rose told me about the Titanic, if you want to talk, I'm always here," she offered. Jack smiled.
"I think we're fine. Thank you so much though, Jessica. I don't know what we'd do without you." With one final hug, Jessica left.
Rose was in labor for twelve long hours. With one final push, she heard the distinct cry of a baby. Jack smiled and kissed her forehead.
"It's a girl!" Dr. Johnson announced. He cleaned off the child, and handed her to Rose. Rose held her new daughter close. This, this was her child, her and Jack's.
"She's beautiful," Jack said quietly. Rose nodded.
"She has your eyes," she observed. The couple decided to name her Marlena Elizabeth, Marley for short.