Chapter 38: On the Town

The train came to a complete stop at the station, steam is released into the morning air.

Rose stands up. "This is it, Wendy. This is our stop,"

The maid follows her mistress down the stairs and onto the platform, feeling very excited. She had never been to New York before, or much of anywhere before. She helps Rose with her bags as Rose flags a taxi down in the street. The platform is filled with people, many of them businessmen trying to get to work on time. Wendy's eyes go upwards on the street when she sees how massive the buildings were. She'd never seen such big buildings in all her life, she wonders if they reached heaven.

The taxi on the street honks, waking Wendy up from her dream. She puts the bags in the trunk of the cab and climbs into the car next to Rose. Rose gives the address to the driver and the cab pulls away into the city streets. Wendy can't help but stare at the city life as it zooms by. Everything around her is fascinating and so amazing. Rose was happy to see the big city again too, despite the fact that this is where the Carpathia docked to let off the survivors. Big cities always excited her, she had considered coming here once she ran away from home.

The two women check into their hotel and unpack. They get one of the top floor rooms, where you could see what felt like the entire city. Wendy keeps staring out the window, the view is giving her inspiration for some new poems about urban life.

"It's all so beautiful!" Wendy sighs in amazement.

"It really is, I've always loved New York City, it is the place where your dreams can come true and anything can happen."

"What should we do first Rose?" Wendy asks.

"I'd like to show you some of the sights. We have tickets to see a Broadway show tonight, so we have lots of time."

"B-But Miss, I don't have any dresses that would be appropriate for the theater."

"Then we should go shopping for one," Rose says with a wink. "Shopping on Sacks Fifth Avenue!"

"You'd really take me to the theater?" Wendy asks.

"Wendy, on this trip, think of me as your friend, not your boss," Rose smiles.

"Okay," the maid smiles.

The two women begin walking along the streets until they came to Fifth Avenue.

"Wow!" Wendy says in awe, looking into the shop windows, admiring all the glamourous dresses.

"Which shop would you like to stop in first?" Rose asks.

"But Miss how can you afford anything here?"

Rose holds out a purse full of money. "Mr. Hockley was able to give us a very generous loan," she smirks with a wink.

The two ladies go into several of the stores, trying on many different dresses. Wendy feels so dizzy like it was almost a dream. She feels nervous that the others in the shops would judge her, clearly not being from the same class. However, Rose being there gave her reassurance that she wouldn't be judged. She feels like a princess, trying on all the different kinds of dresses, twirling and giggling like a little girl. Both buy several dresses each. Wendy couldn't believe her good fortune; these dresses would be the prettiest things she'd ever owned.

Afterward, both girls walk down Fifth Avenue and stop by Tiffany's, the diamond and jewelry store. Wendy's eyes light up looking at all the glittering stones.

"I've never seen such beautiful treasures!" Wendy exclaims.

"They are really pretty, I bet Cal has a membership here or something for all the diamonds he's bought me," Rose mutters.

Next, the women go down to Central Park to walk around and see the beautiful natural beauty. Wendy was getting, even more, the inspiration for her poems, seeing the budding trees and flowers, as well as the children running around, flying kites and sailing little boats.

"Nothing beats the natural beauty of Mother Nature," Wendy sighs.

"That's for sure," Rose says.

They then go to a café for lunch and spent the rest of the afternoon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Rose loves looking at all the fantastic exhibits, all the different pieces of art. She sighs to herself, trying not to tear up. She is wondering if this should have been something she and Jack would've done together. They both had a love of the arts and Rose hoped that one day Jack's art would've been put in a museum, he had such talent.

That night, Wendy and Rose go to see the Broadway show that night, courtesy of Cal's money. As they wait to see the show, Rose stares at a poster of the young leading actress, stars in her eyes.

"Someday that'll be me!" Rose says.

"You want to be an actress Miss?" Wendy asks, stunned by this revelation.

"Either in the theater or a moving picture actress, it's so glamourous and just the thrill of being famous and performing has made it my dream since I was little,"

"Maybe when you…um…leave home you can become an actress," Wendy suggests.

"Maybe, but not until I have this baby of course," Rose whispers.

The two women enjoy the show. It was A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen, Rose could especially relate to the character of Nora, being forced into a life she did not want and by the end rather be a prostitute on the streets than be trapped in her marriage. Rose knew she wouldn't be exactly like Nora; she'd have some money, enough to keep her off the streets, but the uncertainty of what will happen next at the end of the production made her nervous. She walks home with Wendy, trying to calm herself just enough to go to sleep.

…

The following day, the women sail out to the Statue of Liberty, the same one that had greeted Rose back on the Carpathia. She still has a heavy heart now, much like before, being here without Jack, but Wendy is so excited that Rose tries to remain positive for her maid's sake.

Later on, they go to deliver the paintings to the banquet hall for the event. The place is very large and quite beautiful for the dinner. There are many ladies, as well as men hard at work to set the place up for tomorrow night. The tables had been set up and tablecloths overtop, all the china and glasses were set and there was podium on the stage for the keynote speaker and the band.

A woman with gray hair greets them.

"Welcome," she says.

"Hello," Rose says. "I'm here to drop off my donated paintings for the auction."

"Name please."

"Rose DeWitt Bukater."

"Ah yes, Mrs. Brown told me you would be donating a few paintings. We certainly have some great art this year. Three paintings are being donated by an amateur artist, but a few more recognizable pieces are greatly appreciated."

As Rose signs a few things she asks the woman.

"How is Mrs. Brown?"

"She's alright, the shock of her cousin's heart attack put her under a lot of stress, but she's a strong woman. She is busy today, but she will definitely be attending tomorrow."

"That's good to hear," Rose says. She also pulls out the money to buy tickets.

"Thank you, Miss, we will see you tomorrow," the woman smiles.

Rose puts the tickets in her purse.

"Where would you like to go next Wendy?" Rose asks.

"I was hoping to stop by that library with the stone lions in front of it."

"Sure thing," Rose says, knowing that Wendy wanted to try reading something with her new reading skills.

Wendy couldn't believe how massive the library was.

"There must be thousands of books here!" Wendy shouts.

"SHHHHHH," is the response from Rose and several other people around them. "This is a library; it's supposed to be quiet," Rose explains in whispers.

"Oh, sorry," Wendy whispers.

Rose follows Wendy as she looks through the shelves of books, her eyes wide in excitement. She looks like a child in a candy shop as she examines all the titles, clearly very proud that she can now read them. She picks several off some shelves and then finds a leather chair to sit in. Rose sits in another and simply watches the maid, so happy that she had made a difference in her friend's life. She lays back to take the pressure off her feet. She still didn't look pregnant, but she certainly felt like it. She leans back and closes her eyes for what felt like hours.

Eventually, Wendy leans over to wake her.

"One day, my books will be in here," the maid whispers.

Rose smiles. She wanted to be an actress and Wendy wanted to be an author. Dreams that they wanted to pursue if they weren't trapped in their perspective worlds.

When it starts to get dark, Rose suggests they go get something to eat.

Wendy sighs. "I really want to take this book home," she says.

"You can," Rose says. "That's what a library is for."

"Really?" Wendy asks. "I thought it was just a fancy word for a building full of books."

The two girls snicker until someone nearby hushes them.

Wendy borrows two books for one night, since after the dinner, they would be going home to Philadelphia. The two women grab something to eat and then travel to Times Square, just as it was getting dark. They watch the lights come on and all the people rushing past them in no particular directions. Both of their eyes are filled with wonder and awe at the beauty of the nightlife in the city.

…

The next day is quieter and soon Rose begins to prepare for the dinner.

"Come on Wendy," Rose says. "You're my plus one tonight."

"Just let me finish this chapter," Wendy says, her nose in a book.

There is a knock at their hotel door.

"I'll get it!" Rose calls.

She opens the door.

"CAL!" Rose shrieks. She takes a few steps back in shock, her hands shaking from surprise and fear. "W-what are you doing here?"

"I had some business in New York this week and I heard you were in town…"

"Who told you about that?" Rose snaps angrily.

"Your mother, of course, she was concerned about you being in the big city all by yourself. Since I was in town, she decided to let me know about it so I could accompany you to this dinner."

Rose didn't buy it, not for a second. Her mother tipped off Cal to make sure someone kept an eye on her. Her anger began boiling to the surface, she wanted to scream and yell at Cal, but she might make him mad. She was worried he might hurt her or her child.

"You don't have to be so angry," Cal says.

"I-I'm sorry, y-you just surprised me, showing up like this,"

"I thought I'd surprise you and take you to this dinner that Margret Brown is hosting,"

"But…" Rose stammers. "I'm taking Wendy."

Cal frowns, his face goes a shade of red, most likely from embarrassment. He knew full well that Rose would pull something like this, inviting a lowly maid to such a grand event. He knew that the maid was untrustworthy to make sure that Rose stayed out of trouble, so it was up to him to do so.

"I'm sure…um…uh,"

"Wendy."

"Wendy. I'm sure Wendy wouldn't mind if a man and his fiancée had a night to themselves. After all, it has been awhile since we've been together."

"For good reason," Rose mutters under her breath. Cal glares at her.

Wendy stood at attention realizing Mr. Hockley was present, dropping her book on the bed and trying to look professional.

"You wouldn't mind would you Wendy?" Cal says in such a tone that he is daring her to say no.

"N-Not at all s-sir!"

"Good," Cal says. "Besides, I see you have some reading to do. Not that reading would be very valuable to a woman."

Rose's hands clench into fists when he says that. Like always, Cal saw women as possessions, nothing more. They weren't valuable to him and were simply put this earth to serve men and look pretty. She can't even believe that he's even coming to this dinner with such narrow-minded views.

Cal clears his throat. "Now I'll allow you to get dressed. I will meet you in the lobby."

"Alright," Rose says before shutting the door.

When she shuts the door she begins to cry. Wendy comes over to comfort her mistress.

"It's alright Rose… It's alright."

Rose curls up into a ball.

"I can't escape it, Wendy, I can't escape this life!" Rose cries.

"You can and you will!" Wendy says with confidence.

"How do you know?" Rose weeps.

"Because you are so strong and different. I've worked in other houses and the women of your class that I served, could never survive on their own, but you can. You treat everyone as equals and you've learned to care for yourself. You will escape and I will be waving a white handkerchief, happy to see you free. Tonight should be no different, you must be strong for yourself and your child. You survived the Titanic for goodness sakes, you can survive another dinner with Mr. Hockley. It will only be for a few hours. I know you can do it, Miss!"

Rose looks up at Wendy, so happy to have a friend that she could confide in and be her moral support. She hugs the maid again.

"Thank you…" Rose says.

"You're welcome, now let's get you dressed."