Chapter 73

February 26, 1913

Rose slowly folds and carefully packs her new hand-made wedding dress into a suitcase, after she tried it on and had previewed it to everyone in the living room. Soon, her mother quietly knocks on the door. Little Tommy cooed on the bed as she turns around. Rose opened the door, letting her mother in the room. She quietly and slowly sits on the bed, hoping not to fuss her little grandson.

"I'd like to say I'm so sorry for what I have put you both through. There should be no excuse for my behavior. But I want you to know, I still love you very much, even though I may have slowly improved a lot over the months since the sinking, and it's almost a year since then, but Rose, I still have a lot to learn. A lot has been going on during that time, but I want you to know, I love you very much. I don't want to lose you like I lost your father. It's just that when I see you being happy and loved, I get envious and guilt floods over me that I never gave you the opportunity to give you all that while you were growing up. You were always given to nannies, who would guide you while you were growing up. And here you are, among the people who love you dearly and a man who respects and loves you more than I probably did. I'm proud of you, Rose. Very proud, as you ran away from that monster of a man who I failed to see for the first time around, and you had found someone who cares for you. I know this isn't the life I pictured you to be in, but I see you're very happy," Ruth silently weeps, as she gets out her handkerchief to dab her eyes, before continuing. "And I love for that…I also want part of that adventure you're being part of, as I was raised differently, and had hoped to raise you in a manner, but I guess I failed in that part as well. I know I should have made you happy, but I am an old woman, and also hope to do my best as a perfect grandmother…" She points at Tommy, who was starting to fall asleep.

Rose had tears in her eyes, mainly happy tears. She hugs her frail mother, as they both cried. Ruth was also laughing, a more happy laugh, something Rose had never heard from her. Then she knew. Her mother had fallen for Jesse's father, as she tried to hold back the feelings for her own father. Ruth looks into her daughter's green eyes, her husband's and her own father. Ruth knew sooner or later her daughter would be against her courting another man, something that would go against her father's wishes, and the betrayal. The two sat in silence, as Tommy's sounds were the only one in the room, and little Jack tearing up the place downstairs, while his mother tried to control her young son.

"Mother…" Rose finally breaks through the awkward silence.

"Yes, dear."

"Mother, please don't take this the wrong way, but…" Rose stammers, as she tries to find the right words.

"Is this about Jesse's father, Mr. Williams?"

Rose doesn't say anything, as she only nods and tears fell from her eyes again.

"Oh, my child." Ruth says, as she brings Rose in a comforting hug. "I thought this might be hard on you, after your father and pushing you to be married to someone who won't show affection or respect." Rose continues to sob, as Ruth began to slowly rock her daughter, as she has seen Trudy before after the news her father died in the study. The hug was a bit uncomfortable, as Ruth had never shown any warmth or comfort, but she tried her best, after watching Trudy so many times. She wipes Rose's tears from her cheeks, then hands her the handkerchief. Rose didn't care if the thing was a bit disgusting, after all, she is still her mother.

"I miss him too, dear. Not a day goes by without thinking about him. Even when I'm with Mr. Williams, I still see your father in that man; his warm smile, the twinkle he has in his eyes, his warm hugs; it's like we're young once more, when he courted me around that small town. When the Titanic went down, a part of me was also lost, and that had changed me greatly. God has opened my eyes and made me realize that the disappearance of my beautiful daughter, has opened me even further to the possibilities of what life has to offer; more than money, power, fame. Now I know what true love is, after you went back for Mr. Dawson, and I also wanted that for myself. If it weren't for you and your father, I would be still on love with money. But now, that is no longer the case, as Mr. Williams is now with me, and that made me realize once more that life is too precious and you should spend it with those who you love the most. Please, understand I still love your father and I always will." Ruth hugs her daughter once more, as Rose remembered Jesse's grandfather, telling them their family history, and she realizes how they were much closer than they really were.

"You've just said one of Jack's philosophies." Rose sniffles, before managing a smile.

Ruth manages a small chuckle. "Maybe that Dawson boy is finally rubbing on me as well." She smiles once more.

"I love you, Mother, and thank you. Thank you for being there, even if have tried your best." Rose hugs her mother once more, before Tommy fusses behind them. Rose scoops up Tommy, and places the babe in her arms as she gently rocks him. Ruth was touched, as she watched her daughter grow into a woman, and the marriage with man she despised back on the ship, but she grew more fond of Jack after Christmas, when Jesse was kidnapped by the man she nearly put her daughter in danger of marrying to. She was also glad Jesse made it out of Cal's grasp and was back with his family. Ruth gets up from the bed, as Rose prepared to breastfeed Tommy. Before she made it to the door, she turns around.

"I love you very much, Rose. Just keep in mind, I'll always love your father. I am no longer looking for money, just someone to love and be respected, like your father had always been. I am very sorry I put you and Mr. Dawson in an awkward situation, and I see you're moving on from the madness that had happened since last year, and I want to put that behind. I now know what it's like to fall in love once more and that nothing matters except to those that are the closest to. I am now looking for a respectable and caring man, someone who can treat me like your father did and so much more."

Rose looks up, and she smiles at her mother once more. "It's all you need, Mother, all you ever need is love." she says, then turns her attention to Tommy.

"Indeed, and a man to tell you that you are beautiful, no matter what." Ruth says, as they both laugh, before Ruth gives Rose a kiss on her cheek, then leaving her and her infant son in privacy in Jesse's bedroom.

…

February 27, 1913

Jack, Jesse and Fabrizio were waiting for a train that would take them to Chippewa Falls, as well as a couple of men from Fabrizio's employment who wanted to join them, to help with the house construction. Jack was overjoyed, and the fact Jesse's father also gave him some money to start out with the materials he needed to build the house, for Rose and their child. The train whistled from the west as Jack looks at his new pocket watch he bought while back in New York.

"Train's a little late today." Jack says, as Jesse gives him a playful punch.

"Where's your sense of adventure?" he says, as Fabrizio picks up his luggage. Jack was beginning to feel the sadness again that this would be the last time before he sees Jesse again, as he didn't want these times to end. The train stops at the platform, before letting out a breath of steam, then people began to file out of the cabins.

Before he left the house, Marion cried and kissed her husband, telling him to be safe and come home. Jesse told her things were going to be fine, as he hugged her for the last time. Jack, Fabrizio carried their luggage to the car, and Jesse was the last one to the car, as Jack managed to get his car running, before he tried to think of something to get his new-to-him ride back to Chippewa Falls.

They boarded the train, as does some people who were waiting at the platform. These train cars had regular seats, instead of the ones that had tables, as Jack and Fabrizio sat in front of Jesse, and he took the seat to himself. The cold winds began to give way to spring, as March had just started, and some people didn't bring any jackets with them. Jesse assumed these people came from California, Arizona, and headed for warmer climates like Texas.

"All aboard!" The conductor shouts, as last-minute stragglers rush to get on the train, before it left the platform. Jesse once again sees his familiar hometown being left behind as the train steams east. He sees his lone house in the far-off distance, a tiny speck among the sage brush, as the train crosses the mighty Rio Grande. The train runs through a meadow, as they behind the small town of Albuquerque, before making its way through the Sandia canyon. The train toots as it enters the forest, before ascending through the mountain.

Fabrizio takes off his jacket, then puts it on his head for a nap, while Jack looks out the window, at the passing landscape, then he cranes his head upward, as he sees jagged rocks in the peaks. Jack turns around behind him, and sees Jesse, head bobbing as he tried to stay awake. Eventually, he falls asleep, as he crosses his arms in front of him, his hair swaying as his head bobs up and down. Jack turns back around, and sees people around him, either sleeping, or reading the paper to make the trip go by faster. Fabrizio was also in the same position as Jesse, his hat had fallen and was on his lap. Jack could also hear he was snoring slightly, even though the train clacked along the tracks. Jack decided that he too, will catch him some shut eye, for he had a long work ahead of him, and the upcoming marriage with Rose. He knew he had less than a month to prepare for the big day, and the honeymoon that would soon follow.

Jack knew he would be guilty, but he wanted to have the wedding one year after the tragedy of Titanic, aboard the sister ship, the R.M.S. Olympic, the same ship Jesse was very familiar with. He had plans on where to go for their honeymoon, mostly in and around Paris, the places he spent when he was a penniless artist just a year prior. He had all of one month to plan, and prepare, for their big day that is yet to come. He knew Jesse would be working back in Europe, for this Mr. Smith character, at least a week somewhere, as he hoped he would be in old Paree as well, and have ideas for their honeymoon as well. Jack curled up, before going on a long, dream filled sleep, of Rose, and their bright future.