Philadelphia summer 1912
Heat had slowly started to take over the city. As Rose stepped onto the porch a soft warm breeze of wind blew through her hair. She looked over the backyard, watched how the gardeners tried everything to keep the flowers and plants somewhat alive. Sweat was dripping from their faces, the sun burning their skin. She looked over at the table and grabbed the tray off of it. Walking over to the men she called them over and handed each a fresh glass of water. The gardeners were beyond thankful for the lady being concerned about their wellbeing, even surprised she started a conversation with them. It was only when they saw the presence of someone else heading over, they quickly turned around and continued their work.
Rose felt the touch of a hand on her lower back followed by the placement of a kiss on her cheek. She held her breath for a moment, like she always did when he touched her.
"Their lunch break is in half an hour." He stated, commenting on the scene he walked in to. Rose shrugged her shoulders, collected the glasses and moving straight passed him.
"They have been working for hours on end, Cal. I can't watch them dry out because of this heat."
"Why do you always have to be like this, Rose?"
She stopped her tracks and turned towards him. Ready to receive another load of insults, she noticed a kind of softness in his face and tone of voice she couldn't grasp.
"What do you mean?" She spoke softly.
"Be this good to anyone who is below you."
"That's where is begins, Cal. No one is below me."
Philadelphia, January 1912
People had come in and out of the house ever since the passing of her father. Never having a single moment of privacy anymore, Rose had made the decision to spend most of her time in her room. The past couple of weeks have been a rollercoaster. The next day worse than the other. It didn't take a long time before the truth came out. Her father had gambled all the money they had, investing in projects that were destined to fail. Rose and her mother were bankrupted. He mother couldn't stop crying, holding her daughter in her arms and telling her that they had to sell everything. Her mother had to go work as a seamstress. Surprisingly it didn't bother Rose that much. She had always detested their way of living. Having done much charity work as a young teenager, she came in contact with a world that was real. Most of the things those people had to go through weren't any better, but she felt it was too unfair that she lived in a bubble of luxury and wealth when she had done nothing to deserve it. Perhaps this was meant to happen.
Watching the snow wall gently onto her balcony, she saw the gate open again. Two men, dressed in the finest suits, walked over to the house and she could hear the doorbell ring. Within seconds her bedroom door opened and Trudy came in.
"Your mother would like for you to come downstairs, miss Rose."
"Who are those men, Trudy?"
"I don't know, miss. But they are here for you."
Her heart was racing in her chest. Not knowing what to expect she slowly strutted down the stairs and followed the voices coming from the drawing room. She recognised the two men the moment she laid eyes on them. The older one was Nathan Hockley, Pittsburgh's Steel Tycoon, one of the richest men on the east side of the states. The other one was his son, Caledon Hockley, whom she had met a few months ago in New York. The two greeted her most warmheartedly and asked young Rose to join them for tea.
The visit lasted for more than two hours. Feeling Cal's eyes on her the whole time something felt completely off to her. Her mother was also acting too happy for the mental state she had been in lately. Her heart continued to beat faster and faster, a knot forming in her stomach. As they finally left, Rose turned towards her mother and cleared her throat.
"I have to marry him, don't I?"
They spend the rest of the afternoon in silence. To her surprise Rose was able to allow his presence around her. He was sitting beside her on the porch whilst she was reading a book and after a while his hand slowly moved to her leg. He rested it there and she just let it be. Just think about him, Rose. The way he touched you, the way he looked at you. It will all be alright in the end.
Then she stood up, looked at him for a while and placed a soft and gentle kiss on his cheek before heading back inside.
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, 1912
A big smile appeared on her face when she saw his silhouette from out of the distance. As he came closer the sun lightened up his face. He sat down next to her, kissed her deeply and leaned his back against the trunk of the tree. Jack couldn't remember the summers being so hot around here. Chugging his bottle of water he let out a deep sigh. Florence laughed at him yet tried to keep herself cool with her fan. It was their private moment together. Before Florence had to go to work she had Jack would meet up by the lake to have an hour of total privacy. Ever since their kiss after the party, the spark between the two had grown stronger by the day. Only no one knew, it was their little love affair, their secret.
Florence leaned her head gently onto his shoulder and closed her eyes by the feeling of his hands stroking gently through her hair. Everything felt so natural around him. But that night, as her lips pressed against his, a sudden feeling of shame came up. She quickly pulled away and looked at him, apologising immediately for her behavior. A smirk grew on his face and he took her face in his hands and returned the kiss. This time it was more passionate, Florence melted in his arms.
"Tell me." She suddenly said.
"About what?"
"Your life when you were away. I know you have travelled around, but where did you go? What did you do and whom did you meet?"
Jack simply shrug his shoulders. What was he going to tell her. Canada, the only place that held his last memories. In his mind, he was still the careless seventeen year old boy. Florence freed herself from his embrace and looked at him. He just stared at her with simply no expression in his eyes. Was it a horrible thing to ask? What was going on inside his head?
"Is it so hard to think about?" She laughed.
He drastically shook his head and stood up, "No it's not. It's just that nothing much has happened the past years. I've just worked my way from place to place. Mostly tramp steamers. Just as anyone was making something of their lives I fled."
"That's nothing like you, Jack. You have always had a free spirited mind. Just because John is out there in the big city doesn't mean it's something you have to do."
Just think, Jack, he tried to encourage himself. Make something up. But as much as he tried, he simply couldn't.
"But what if I do, Florence? I need to start making something of my life. For us."
"Us?" Florence could feel her cheeks starting to turn red. She stood up, now standing in front of her he took her hands in his. They shared a kiss, she couldn't keep her eyes off of him, "Why would you want to do it for us?"
The words he then spoke totally caught her of guard. She felt as if she was dreaming. If she was, she never wanted to wake up.
"You're joking."
Jack laughed and shook his head. "No I am not. Florence, I want you to marry me. I want to build a life here again and I want you to be part of it. We have been through so much together when we were little. So what do you say? You want to become my wife?"
"Yes, Jack. I can't think of anything else I'd want more."
Philadelphia, January 1912
Her mother walked over to her and embraced her. Rose's body was completely frozen. Cal Hockley hadn't asked her officially but she just knew it. The way he was all over her this afternoon was just too much for someone she had only seen once before. But he had given her attention before. When they met at a party in New York, she could feel his eyes all over her. Rose's friends were envious of the attention she got that night. Being one of the most attractive bachelors whole of America's high society was all over the man. Later that evening he headed over to her once more and asked her to dance. As she agreed they shared a few words whilst twirling around the room. Rose could remember that she only wanted to go home.
As Ruth finally let go, she was only able to smile. Like an excited teenager she hopped around the room. Rose called her a few times before she turned back around.
"I believe that is a yes."
"Oh my darling." Ruth nodded her head, "I understand this might feel a bit rushed. But this is the most perfect match you could ever ask for. Nathan and Cal are the most refined business partners of North America. You'll have a life of luxury just like before. We can finally leave all the misery behind us and focus of the future."
A bit rushed was an understatement. It felt as if the ground beneath her was crumbling down. She took hold the side table so she would not collapse down onto the floor. Her breath was starting to get heavy and she watched how her mother left the room. Trudy, who had been listening to all the conversations from out of the other room came rushing in. There were some tears rolling down Rose's cheek and she looked up.
"It can't be true now can it?"
Unfortunately for young Rose is was true. Having had multiple conversations and even fights with her mother, she had to accept the fact that she was about to become Mrs. Hockley. Two weeks after their meet up, Cal invited the two women for a luncheon at their house. The place was perfectly decorated and he had hired to best chefs in town to create the most delicious meals for all the guests. Then there was the moment. As Cal stood up and turned towards Rose, he spoke a few words before kneeling down. The whole table gasped and cheered when Rose accepted his proposal.
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, 1912
The house was quiet when Jack got back. Having dropped Florence off at the pub he walked his way around town before heading back home. He put on a few oil lamps for it was always dark inside. Having a quick scan around the place, he noticed it was a mess. Mr. Hughes illness had taken a toll on everyone, therefore forgetting many things. He packed up the dirty dishes and cleaned them, dusted up the counters and swapped the floor. It took him more than three hours for the house to become somewhat clean again. As he put away the supplies in the cabinet he jumped back as a collection of newspapers almost fell down on him. Picking them up, his heart skipped a beat.
TITANIC SINKING; NO LIVES LOST
Underneath it there was another one saying: TITANIC SINKS, 1500 DIE
It was a whole collection of newspapers from the sinking. Jack picked them up and carried them to the dining table. Scanning every single one of them, staring at the pictures of the ship, nothing came up. He had not a single memory of the whole journey. But he was on the Carpathia, he somewhat noticed the chaos around him when he arrived in New York.
Reading the last paper, it was mainly about the rescue ship. He stopped a page containing pictures of the survivors. Molly Brown was the first he laid his eyes on. She was being described as a here which didn't come as a surprise to Jack. Then there was a picture of her.
Caledon Hockley, Pittsburgh's Steel Tycoon together with his fiancee Rose DeWitt Bukater at Pier 54.
Jack felt sorry for the young girl as he scanned the photograph. She looked just as sad as the last time he saw her in New York. But Jack truly believed she was confused. how could he have been romantically part of her life when she was engaged to another man. He had once heard from someone that if a person experienced something traumatic, their mind could make up non excitant scenarios to cope with the situation. Perhaps he did help her with something, like Molly said, yet nothing more. He stared at Rose for one more second before glancing at Cal. He looked as mysterious and creepy as when he sat next to Jack's bed.
The door opened behind him and Mrs. Hughes came walking in. The expression of confusion grew when she looked over Jack's shoulder and saw all the newspapers scattered around the table. She dropped her basket onto the floor and started collecting them to put them away.
"I think it's best not to read this in public, Jack." She quickly said.
He simply apologised, but her reaction came as a total surprise. Why wasn't he allowed to read them? He stood up and followed her into the kitchen. Lucky for him, she came with an explanation. The sinking came as a total shock to Mr. Hughes. Having been invested in the making of the ship, he followed every single detail published in every paper he could find. As the news was already bad, it soon became worse when the family received a letter from his older sister. Mr. Hughes niece had died that night.
"She worked as a maid for one of the richest families here in the states," Mrs. Hughes said, "She had always loved her job, felt like she was somewhat part of the that luxurious life herself."
"I never knew Mr. Hughes had any brothers and sisters." Jack said.
"He barely spoke to them. Never had such a good relationship with his family."
Jack nodded. "I am sorry to hear it. But thanks for telling me, I won't do it again."
"It's not that your fault, Jack. It's just that every little thing can worsen his condition. Even emotional circumstances." The sadness could be seen in her eyes. Mrs. Hughes was tired. Tired of taking care of her sick husband, but the love she had for him was too strong. She couldn't give him up, it was a promise they had made before the eyes of God.
"What was her name?" Jack then asked, "Of his niece."
"Trudy. Anyway I need to get going. John and Louise are leaving tomorrow morning and I want to have one last meal together tonight."
Jack smiled at her and took the basket out of her hands. "I'll help you."
Philadelphia, 1912
In the back of her bookshelf, behind an old bible she got for her christening when she was a baby, there still was a full pack of cigarettes. It was her secret hiding spot. When she was twelve she had saved all of her own money behind that bible. After another fight, she took the cash and bought herself a train ticket to New York. But as the arrived at the station, her father had already caught up with the little girl and dragged her back home. She was kept inside her room for the whole week.
Rose heard a knock on her bedroom door and quickly hid her smokes. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw Meredith peaking her head around the corner.
"Your mother already left for Pittsburgh."
"Why? We were to leave together tomorrow morning?"
Meredith shrug her shoulders. "I don't know, Rose."
"Well alright." She took a cigarette out of the packet and waved it in the air. Her maid laughed at her and followed her onto the balcony. Rose inhaled the smoke, let in burn inside her to calm down her nervous. Tomorrow was the day she had to live Philadelphia for good. With the wedding being only a month away, they all had decided for her to live with Cal's mother. Her mind wandered off to that time when she was twelve. This would be an excellent moment to have her own money and take the train to wherever they would never be able to find her. She then looked over at Meredith and offered her a smoke. She shook her head and let out a deep breath.
"Are you okay, Meredith?" Rose could see that something was wrong with her. Her eyes were even starting to get watery.
"It's just that..." It was hard to find the words, "When you were away today I had a conversation with Mrs. DeWitt Bukater. She told me that she doesn't find my relationship with you isn't professional enough and I am not allowed to come with you to Pittsburgh. I am leaving first thing in the morning."
Rose couldn't believe what she was hearing. "No!" She said out loud, "No I won't have this!"
"Rose, please. There is nothing we can do about it. We can still keep in touch if that is what you are worried about."
"I've been dictated for nearly eighteen years. Everyone is always making decisions for me. I have even let the love of my life go so I won't have this. You're coming with me to Pittsburgh tomorrow and that is it." As an angry and frustrated child, Rose marched out of her room down the stairs in to the night.