Titanic - The Heart Goes On By HL Griffiths

(Sequel to The Heart Never Lies)

Chapter Five – Mrs Dawson

1st October 1912

Rose

The water lapped at the golden sands of an empty Santa Monica beach, the sun was rising slowly casting a golden glow over the sands. It was Five Am and Jack and I were walking hand in hand through the surf catching a quiet moment together. I felt utterly at peace. We walked slowly in unison feeling the water swishing over our bare feet.

"Today's the day Mrs Dawson" Jack said.

"We are so lucky Rose, to have this opportunity to have our lives when so many lost theirs." I nodded, the gentle wind blowing my curls round my face

We walked on silently in thought. "I miss my family and my friends" he said quietly, "I miss Fabrizio, I miss Tommy. They didn't make it I know. What I wouldn't give to have Fabri as my best man today, we did everything together" I could hear the sorrow in his voice.

"He'd be happy for us" I said gently "He was a good man"

"Yes, he would, I have lost a good friend" he said and stopped and embraced me tenderly and laid his head on my shoulders like a child.

"Jack, its ok, I will always be here for you" I stroked his vivid blonde hair, soothing him.

"I know, we will always be together my Rose" he replied.

"I miss my father too; he died very soon after my sixteenth birthday, a heart attack. Then the Hockley vultures moved in"

We continued walking. The sad moment passed

"I want to meet your aunty" I said quickly

Jack stared at me, eyes wide with surprise at my suggestion.

"Ok" he said at length "I suppose I should see Janette again. I haven't seen her since I was fifteen. Tell you what we'll go and visit her in Chippewa Falls after the Art Exhibition in a few weeks"

"We must go back" I said at last. "We have a wedding to get too, ours!!"

Jack grinned at me suddenly and started to tickle me. I squealed and I tried to get away, he chased me playfully across the sands as I moved slowly due to my increased pregnant state. "Come here Mrs Dawson" he yelled. We held each other and laughed.

Then we stood and gazed at the roller coaster in the distance.

"Rose" Jack called "When the child is older, we will ride on the coaster and go horseback riding, all of us, all us Dawsons!"

This was a happy day. The start of all our tomorrows.

Jack

"Dearly Beloved we are gathered here today to join this man Jack Charles Dawson and this Woman Rose Elizabeth Dewitt Bukater in holy matrimony"

The vicar's words echoed round the small beachside waterfront church. Rose stood besides me in a plain simple white gown with her hair pinned up and dainty white flowers in her luxuriant red curls, holding a tiny posy of baby red roses. We were standing looking deep into each others eyes, her eyes dancing.

How I had longed for this moment, this beautiful girl was my wife. In the space of six months I had gone from my "rootless existence" to quote Ruth to being a married man with a home, a wife and I would be a father in the New Year.

I slipped the narrow gold band onto her figures we gripped hands tightly. I could feel the gazes of Ruth and Molly and our friends on us as we became united in matrimony.

When the Vicar said you can kiss the bride out lips met in a soul searching kiss. Like the one we had in the Titanic boiler room, passion enveloping both of us. The strength of our feelings bigger than both of us, some infinite life force that could not be explained

We were interrupted by the cheers and confetti being thrown on us. Rose was laughing. She was my wife!!

My soul-mate. My years of hopeless, lonely drifting over.

"Thank you God" I whispered.