Titanic - The Heart Goes On By HL Griffiths

(Sequel to The Heart Never Lies)

Chapter Eight- The Homecoming

Mid October 1912

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

Rose

The sign on the station read "Chippewa Falls". We grabbed our couple of valises and slung them wearily onto the platform. Jack helped me alight from the train. It had been a three day train ride, stopping at rural stations and halts, meandering our way to Jacks home.

"God its good to be back, strange but good" he said to no one in particular.

I shivered in the chill October winds. "Yep its cold here" Jack remarked pushing his windblown blonde hair out his eyes which were shining with excitement. "You get the breeze straight off Lake Wisota".

"Are you gonna go ice fishing on it?" I teased picking up the nearest case. "Mmmh Nope, had enough of ice to last a lifetime" he said. Jack grabbed the case off me.

"No Rose, I'll carry these, you just bring my leather portfolio" I carried the art folder Jack was storing his work in and all his tools. He was certainly prolific these days his pencil was never off the paper. Hamish was looking forwards to new material for a spring exhibition. The recent collection had sold very well and we had a nice nest egg. The Necklace was well hidden in my case. Jack had said we would go to Eau Claire the biggest town nearby and deposit them in a safety deposit box.

"Come on Rosebud" he called playfully as we walked out the station, "We'll take a slow walk to The Farmhouse, and it's not far. Janette is expecting us"

We walked slowly down the main street, being; late evening no one was about. The small number of shops were shut. It was a quaint rural one street town but was very green and leafy.

"It's very pretty" I said tiredly. "You Ok?" Jack said looking back

"Yep just tired from traveling Jack and a bit nervous of meeting Janette and William"

"Not far to go darling, just down this track and through the gates at the end" he remarked.

10 minutes we arrived at small but pretty brown old fashioned looking farm house, surrounded by a few fields. There were hens rushing about in the yard and I could hear some cows mooing in the nearby small cowshed. There was a light on in the downstairs of the house. Jack knocked briskly on the oak door.

A small grey haired woman with heavy lines round her eyes and opened the door. She was dressed old fashioned in a black high necked dress with an apron on the top. Her grey hair in a bun. She looked at Jack and burst in to tears not seeing me at all "Jack, Jack, Oh your back" she sobbed and hugged him so hard he dropped the cases.

"Auntie" he said and kissed her cheek.

She stepped back, wiped her eyes and took a long hard look at Jack, not believing what she could see. "Jacky you're grown, my you're the image of James your pa" she said.

"Auntie, so happy to be here" Jack breathed.

"This is my wife Rose" he said indicating me. I stood shyly with the portfolio clenched to my chest.

Aunty Janette's eyes swept over me and the happy look that had been in her eyes as the sight of her beloved Jack turned frosty. As her ice blue eyes just like Jacks surveyed me coolly.

"My your a one" she said in a cold tone "A haughty toity one by all looks"

Jack

My chin dropped at Janette took in Rose. She read her in a trance. All of Roses demeanor spelt out what class she was even dressed simply. Rose's chin stuck out in defiance. "Nice to meet you too" she drawled in an imperious voice, strains of Ruth coming through in her sarcastic voice.

"Aunty, please, we have been traveling for days, I did cable you that I was bringing MY WIFE" My voice rose in displeasure.

Janette recovered herself. "Aye Jack, I wasn't thinking, just surprised, come in and warm up" She looked at Rose. Rose's eyes were flashing with anger "And you too Miss" Aunty finished

We were sitting round the table near the fire sipping hot tea. Aunty still eyeing up Rose. Rose eyeing up Aunty.

"Rose is it?" Aunty enquired.

"Yes" said Rose. Her cheeks flushed and she looked beautiful, her hand went her tummy and rested there.

"Baby on the way I see" Aunty said, "When's it due?"

"In January" Rose retorted sourly.

"Aunty Janette, I know it's a shock seeing me grown up, married and with a baby on the way" I said curtly. Aunty heard the tone in my voice and raised her eyebrows.

"We don't need this coldness" I continued "We have been through hell, we both nearly died on Titanic. Rose has been through hell, yes as you've guessed she is an upper class woman but we love each other and that's all that matters"

Aunty said nothing. I has always remembered Janette as a homely loving woman, this distaste for Rose was not nice.

Rose sat quietly eyes lowered, biting back weariness and anger.

"We'll find a hotel in the morning" I said testily.

Aunty sighed. "Oh no need for that Jack Dear" she said in warmer tones. "I must apologize. Just a shock to me, you look quite the young man, and Miss Rose is quite a picture, typical redhead I guess." She chuckled. Rose managed a faint smile.

"Trust you Jack to pick yourself a stunner" Aunty laughed. The tension in the room lessoned.

"William will be in soon, he's just closing down, now let me show you where your room is, I am sure you need a good nights sleep, we'll talk in the morning, there will be a cooked breakfast for the pair of you" She smiled at me and picked up a light and said she'd show us to the room.

Janette went over to Rose and took her hand. Rose was taken aback.

"We'll get to know each other dearie. Wasn't expecting such a lovely well educated lady Mrs Dawson. We'll chat tomorrow".

Rose speechless for once nodded and went up the stairs to bed.

Once in the small but cozy room, we undressed quickly and huddled together in the big bed.

"Your Aunty seems very unsure of me" Rose whispered sleepily

"Oh she'll be fine, she's very caring" I said then exhaustion claimed us and we slept curled up together.

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