Chapter five:
A sharp gust of wind came from nowhere sending Rose's hat flying from her head and tossed it across the lawn of the garden. That was where Molly found young Rose; squatting about the grass trying to salvage her only sun hat. She stopped just at the front of the lawn, taking in the loveliness of the late evening sun. A tut of her tongue and shake of her head, ensured her presence was known to Rose. Her arms went onto her wide hips, thrusting her bust upwards as she tapped her fingers against her dress.
''You quite all right there?'' She grinned as Rose started back towards Molly.
''Yes, thank you.''
Molly nodded. Rose had caught the sun across her face, her cheeks and on her arms. It was lovely to see her with some colour in her pale cheeks.
''Is everything all right?''
''Sure, I just had a telephone call from my son. My grandson is now quite a chatter.''
Rose couldn't help but smile. ''How precious.''
''Yes, it is. Not two moments since I was wired and informed of his birth and now he can talk a mile a minute. My children were just the same. They grow too fast.''
Rose followed Molly's gaze out to the sky, the outline of the mountain in the far distance as the faint smell of the spring flowers lingered in the air.
''Elizabeth will grow, too. So much that you will wish that time slowed down. Trust me when I say you will blink, you'll be forty, your children will have their own families and you'll look on another young family with all the memories of your own children with such fondness.''
Rose smiled weakly. ''I can only imagine.''
Molly started out on the lawn, taking small footsteps and Rose followed closely behind. She couldn't remember a lovelier evening, especially with great company. It wasn't too often she came out here especially after lunch but the odd once or twice was a change.
''Do you miss home?'' Molly asked out of the blue. Rose's gaze met hers before she clasped her hands together. Slowly, she shook her head.
''Not one bit. I lived there all of my life and yet I feel as though I never even existed in that life.'' She sighed. ''I can only wish that my own Mother was just a little more like you, Molly. You raised your children with wealth, with happiness and finer things and yet you still continued with your own charitable work, you worked in politics. My own Mother wouldn't dare utter such a word.''
Molly raised a fine, arched brow. ''Quite.''
''The trouble with my Mother is that she wanted everything handed over to her, she felt as though she was worthy without having to lift her finger.''
''She wanted that for you, too.'' Molly pointed out.
''Yes, but I am not worthy, Molly. None of us are. With hard work and maybe a little luck, we can make the life we want for ourselves, for our children.''
Molly smiled brightly. ''You are such an old head on young shoulders, dear Rose. Where did one learn such wisdom.''
''Jack.'' She said, simply. ''He taught me a lot about life in those three days aboard Titanic than I had ever experienced in seventeen years.''
The wind wrapped its warm breeze around her body sending Rose's pastel pink day dress flying about. As it washed over her, she welcomed the serenity it brought, taking with it any last remains of stress which she may have carried.
''I do love Spring.'' Molly broke the moments comfortable silence. ''It brings such new promise.''
''Yes.'' Rose agreed. Molly glanced at Rose through sharp eyes. ''This year more so.''
Molly twisted at her wedding ring as they slowed down their walking pace around the garden. Her own heavy mind was weighing her down. She sighed briefly.
''I heard from Ruth.'' Molly started. Immediately, Rose's eyes were on her, imploring for her to speak more. ''Just this morning, after you, Jack and Elizabeth left.''
Rose curled her bottom lip into her mouth and chewed at it. ''Oh?''
''Yes. She told me of your flee with Dawson, willing me to be honest if I knew of your location.''
''And your response?''
Molly smiled, placing her arm around Rose's taller shoulders. ''My dear, I told her I haven't seen you since the morning at the Waldorf Astoria before you departed bound for home just after the sinking.''
She felt her stomach unclench for a moment. ''Oh, thank you.''
''Rose, fear not. That woman wouldn't so much as breathe in this direction.''
''Cal might.''
Molly raised her eyebrows. ''That man will be in hiding for a long while with his reputation in such tatters. The family will be ashamed, his father will be digging his own grave soon.'' She laughed as the wind blew in their face but not so wild it took their breath away. It was calming.
''Nathan never did like scandal.''
''Not when it was one of his own.'' Molly agreed. ''You see, I know that damned family, from when I was a bit older than you. Those Hockley boys were probably ten or so. There was always whispers here and there.''
Rose frowned, gazing up to Molly with curious eyes. ''What?''
''Just involvements with less than reputable companies. I don't believe it was wholly legal how Nathan and his father built that company and rolled in the millions so fast but of course, that is just chatter.''
''And now, his son's business is in all of the newspapers. My own face. My Mother. Just what we all detested.''
Molly rubbed at Rose's shoulder. ''Yes, but the exposure ensured your freedom. It ensured you another life away from them. It freed you all.''
''Why do I feel as though I am living below the law then? As though once we leave these grounds we will have to go into hiding.''
Molly stopped her walk. Tilting her head to one side, she smiled warmly to Rose. ''Do you not think I don't think of this? Rose, when I look at you, I half imagine you as my own child, something which I know isn't right at all.'' She breathed out slowly. ''I worry for you, for Jack and Lizzie. What will become of you? You're right to think you cannot stay here forever. You are young and in love, you will wish to go explore and sample the world.''
Rose dipped her head as she glanced at the grass.
''When Jack looks at you it's as though he is witnessing an Angel, standing above him on a great precipice.'' Molly laughed, exaggerating such actions with her hands. ''He will look after you. I know he will. I trust him.''
''I do, too. Always.''
''Which is why, we will always worry for our loved ones. I will worry about you but you cannot let fear keep you here, never let it stop you from living your life. You have a child to guide in this harsh world. Both of you do.''
''Yes, I know.''
Rose bit at her lip once more. A nervous habit which she had recently begun to do. She debated one thing and then another.
''Hockley will not look for you. Not now. Too much has passed and too much has happened.''
Rose offered her arm to Molly who linked her arm through as they continued their stroll towards the pond at the bottom of the gardens. ''Do you believe that?''
Molly nodded. ''Greatly. The only fear I would have is people knowing your face, from the papers.''
Rose simply hadn't thought of that.
''Don't worry. I know just a person who can change some of that. Jack, too.''
Rose was about to ask what she meant by that until she realised that they had come to an open area of the garden which Rose had never encountered before. A large pond sat out before them surrounding the area as it opened out. Lillies sat atop the water. It was just like the painting. Rose smiled, noting to fetch Jack here tomorrow.
''This is wonderful.''
''Isn't it? JJ loves the fish. He collected various types from all over the world. Call it a time passer if you will. I hardly venture out this way.''
Rose glanced over the pond to see large undistinguishable fish swimming just beneath the surface of the water...some black, white...orange, yellow. She felt her worries melt away for just a moment. As Molly watched Rose's slender hand touch the top of the water, one or two of them larger fish came up to investigate, their mouths gulping as they come to the top. Rose dipped her finger less than in an inch into the water, a daring fish touched her finger, tickling her as it swam past. She giggled. It was then in that moment that she was the carefree young woman once more. Molly squinted in the sunlight, her heart growing heavy.
''You know, this ain't the place for you. Denver isn't nothing but you can go just about anywhere you want to.''
Rose's face fell serious but she didn't remove her hand from the water. ''We always talked about Santa Monica, down by the pier. Before Elizabeth came along, that was all I thought about. I thought of going by myself but what would I have there when I though Jack to be dead?''
''You never been out that way?''
Rose shook her head.
''Well, it's not the cleanest of places but it's got a great atmosphere. California would suit you. The beach would be a great place for Elizabeth as she grows.''
Rose nodded. ''Perhaps.'' She glanced out at the fish. How content they were from swimming about the same pond each day. But was it because they knew nothing else or because they were simply happy? She shook the thoughts from her head. ''I just haven't thought past today for a long time and now the future is a little scary. I don't know what to do, where to go.''
''You will. Jack needs to know this you know, for I had a very similar conversation with the poor boy this morning.'' Molly rubbed her arms from the breeze tickling her slightly. Rose removed her fingers from the pond and stood back beside Molly.
''You did?''
Molly nodded, a playful glint her eyes. Why was she a woman with such a fabulous personality? Age hadn't dimmed her but fetched out this side of her which she had never known in any one else, especially one past forty years of age.
''Rose, you have a life to live. Go, live it, my darling.''
The wind picked up once more as the sun had begun to head off to set. The grass crunched behind them and Rose saw as Jack approached the pair of them, his long-legged stride distracting her. His hair moved in the wind, he swatted it away from his face as his eyes fell first onto Rose. Their blueness beautiful in the setting sun.
''Good evening, ladies.''
''Your little lady asleep for now, huh?'' Molly nodded.
''Uh huh.''
''Great. Well, I will leave you two to it. I will see you at dinner if you will be joining me this evening.''
''Sure.''
''Great. We will have lamb I think.'' She called as she headed back into the house.
Jack thrust his hands into his pockets as he stood inches away from Rose.
''Did she go down all right?''
''Yes. A day at the park with so much to see must have satisfied her curiosity beyond exhaustion.''
Rose giggled. Her eyes meeting his. He removed one hand from his left pocket and he caught her hand in his, entwining their fingers like lovers. She felt her stomach flip inside. She found herself leaning against him for warmth and he welcomed her right away. He kissed the top of her head as they found themselves turning toward the pond.
''You been feeding the fishes?''
Rose frowned, until he pointed to the water.
''Oh, no. We just took a little look down here. I haven't seen it so closely. Its lovely.''
''Yeah.'' Jack said simply. After their deep conversations that day he couldn't help but feel lighter, freer and like his mind was no longer so heavy.
''Today was wonderful.'' Rose muttered quietly.
''And last night.''
Rose felt herself blush immediately as she recalled their lovemaking. She was just about to swat the memory from her mind so that she could retain a clear head until Jack took her face in his hands, stroking across her cheeks and then he pressed his lips to hers just once so tenderly that she forgot to breathe.
''Oh.''
She licked her lip, slowly. He did it again but this time, it wasn't just once, it was continuous. She felt herself weaken against him and his arms supported her wilting body. Her hand fell against his chest and she fought the urge to pull at his shirt. She was breathless and sinking further into him all the while forgetting they were in full view of the house for all to see...
''I have wanted to do that since this morning.'' He whispered to her, his voice tickling her ear. She closed her eyes and this time she was the one to kiss him. She pulled him as close to her as she could, throwing all caution to the wind.