Oh my god, it's been over a year since I updated this story. I finally found the courage and motivation to continue. It is still one of my favorite storylines I have ever created for myself, so hopefully you still want to stick around and watch where this story will go xoxo.

Gambling With Fate

The chaos had almost made her forget how she ended up here. As she stood with her suitcase in one hand and Cora's hand in the other, she aimlessly stared in front of her and let the traffic pass her by. Last week, Rose had started to gain the feeling that she was finally starting to get her life together. But now, like a gust of wind, it was starting to collapse in front of her feet once again.

She knew she could go back. Back to her harbour of safety. It was the place her mind longed for, but her heart yearned for somewhere else. Her heart was begging to gain her own strength. Strength took courage and a whole lot of pain. And the pain she could feel.

Cora looked at her, trying desperately to get a notion of what was going on in her mind. Those big dark eyes that, Rose thought, had started to glisten, were now on the verge of dullness. She believed it to be her fault. How content little Cora seemed when she came walking down the stairs and the whole world had turned into one big festivity. Garlands hung up the walls and ceilings, Elizabeth had fixed her gramophone and music echoed between the walls of the living room. Everyone had gathered around her and sang birthday carols galore. Rose felt nothing but proud of what she had managed to create for the little girl. Perhaps it came from her own wishes and longings of her youth. Her inner child begging for the type of celebration which she never got to experience herself. Looking back on the early years of her life, there was often only silence on her birthdays, apart from the company of her nanny or governess. Then, when she turned sixteen years old, her parents had the strange urge to throw her, her first grand party. There were none of her friends, only her father's equal mighty powers and her mother's close minded gossip partners that she got to spend the night with. Despite of it all, Rose was still the object of admiration. The product of her ancestors who was only there to be looked at and admired.

Now, to give Cora a piece of love and attention; it was a task she was determined to fulfil. Rose wasn't quite sure how she had managed for the somewhat strangers from around town to come and celebrate the birthday of another total stranger. Perhaps her charm and vulnerability had somehow worked to convince them.

That morning, Rose had woken up before the birds could even start with their daily encore. Her finger traced over the inside of the palm whilst Vivian's words from the night before did not seem to leave her mind. They had managed to stuck itself onto her soul.

Rose was still in bed when she could hear both their voices coming from downstairs. There was laughter, followed by the sound of a door opening and closing before she was confronted with silence once again. Silence and darkness created the ambiance of a still and calm morning. Only a slight streak of light dared to peak itself through the curtains. She stood up, wrapped her still cold body in her dressing gown and slowly headed towards Cora's room. Soft snores echoed between the walls. Rose smiled before heading down the stairs and into the kitchen. Her self-made cake stood perfectly presented on the counter. It was the only recipe which she had managed remember. As a child herself, Rose found it fascinating to sneak down into the kitchen and watch how their cook created a perfect tasting dish from nothing. As she got slightly older, he let her help her at times. From stirring to pouring to eventually making something all by herself. But as she was eventually sent off to finishing school, she never set foot into a kitchen again. Until now; reminiscing the craft of baking a perfect Victoria Sponge.

"Good morning to you, early bird." Rose heard Elizabeth's voice say from behind her.

She turned around. "I could say the same thing about the two of you. Good morning, Vivian."

"Good morning, Rose."

"Vivian and I just went to collect some fresh eggs," Elizabeth held up a basket before almost dropping it onto the table, "We thought maybe we could have a nice breakfast for the birthday girl."

"I think she'd love that." Rose felt Vivian's gaze burning in her neck. She was starting to get the idea the woman was watching her every move. A wave of paranoia ran down her spine. Elizabeth came from a wealthy family just like she did. Who knows what kind of people she is close too. The world was small, and gossip spread faster than a tornado. What if Vivian knew something. Rose shook her head back into her consciousness. It couldn't be. Elizabeth would never put her in danger.

As the sun had finally showed all of itself to the world, footsteps could be heard from Cora's room. Rose's stomach dropped. She looked behind her at the women's faces, all as eager and excited as her own expression. Then the creaking sound of the stairs. Mabel put on the candles which she had pun on top of the cake. Within seconds her silhouette appeared in the doorway, her eyes widened yet still filled with sleep.

Rose looked down at the girl. She was still holding her hand. How happy she looked that morning, Rose thought. Now that joyful gaze had replaced itself with fear and confusion.

"We have to cross the road, Cora." Rose mumbled and slowly pulled the little girl with her.

"I'm hungry." Cora moaned and released herself from her guardian's grip.

"Yes. Let's go and eat something." Rose sighed. Neither of them had consumed any food at all that day. The idea of starting over was more filling for the both of them than a proper meal. San Francisco felt welcoming the minute they stepped into it. The sound of the water and the rattling of the trams. Rose could see herself living here. She imagined Cora growing up here. In her hand she was still holding the piece of paper which had the address of the boarding house written down on it.

That afternoon, as Cora's birthday party had stationed itself outside on the porch. Rose found herself caught up in a conversation about a young working girl on the other side of the country.

"But my niece likes it there," Mrs. Gibson defended her statement, "She has an excellent time at her job as a typist. She says it gives her a form of independence."

"How will she ever meet a nice man if she is scrumped up behind a desk all day?" Mrs. Jones, the lady who was still stuck in the nineteenth century, cried out. Some other women nodded their heads as if being unmarried in your early twenties was as if you had made a deal with the devil.

Rose gently put her cup back onto the saucer and leaned somewhat forward in her chair. It gives her a form of independence. That sentence sounded like the sweetest melody. The idea of never getting married sounded scary and exciting at the same time. "And how did she manage to land this job, Mrs. Gibson?" Rose asked curiously.

"She found it through an advertisement. It is a big company, always expanding."

"And are they looking for any more typists?" Everyone then turned their heads towards her.

"Miss Cartmell, who is it you're asking it for?"

"For myself," she stated, "I want to get a job."

Now the party went completely quiet. Rose laughed nervously and tried to find solace in the gaze of her friend. Elizabeth stood up from her chair, marched over to where she was sitting and placed her hands gently onto her shoulders. "I think it is a great idea, Rose."

Still, everyone remained silent and even though her friend was extremely supportive of her decision, Rose was starting to feel rather uncomfortable. Mrs. Gibson cleared her throat and nodded her head. The look in her eyes didn't give anything away of her inner thoughts. "I'll give my niece a call. See what she can do for you." Was all she said.

Within the span of three days, Rose and Cora had started packing their belongings and were dropped off at the train station before entering their future. Mrs. Gibson had written down the address for a boarding house they could stay, but that boarding house was nothing but a façade. A curse on their well-constructed plan.

"You can stay," the old woman mumbled between her lips as Rose and Cora stood in front of the door, "but that girl has to stay somewhere else."

"You're mistaken, ma'am," Rose protested, "Mrs. Gibson has informed me that it would be possible for us to stay here. I've already paid for the first month!"

"I only allow working women. My sister used to own this place before she died. Let in every lost soul God would throw onto this doorstep. Nothing good came from it and now she is rotting underneath the ground because of her so-called good heart," The woman looked down at Cora before meeting Rose's eyes again, "Well, you can accept my offer, but you have to put her somewhere else."

Rose tightened the grip on Cora's hand and pulled her closer. "Good day to you, ma'am."

For a second she was afraid the woman was coming after them, for she leaned out of the doorway and roared her haunting voice through the alleyway: "You will find nothing, you ungrateful Wench. Trust me!"

Thus haunting, that Rose could still hear it clearly as she was sitting inside of a diner a few blocks away. As Cora munched on her sandwich, Rose carefully counted her money on top of the table. This is what it meant to be poor, she thought. This is what it meant to have nothing. Her mind wandered off to him and to one of their conversations on deck. She could still hear her voice clearly as it echoed over the ocean into nothingness: "You know my dream has always just been to run away and become an artist. Living in the garret, poor but free!"

Jack laughed. "You wouldn't last two days. There is no hot water and hardly ever any caviar."

How foolish she believed him to be. But in this exact moment the only fool she could think of was herself. Jack was optimistic to believe it to be two days. She probably wouldn't even last one. Rose groaned and leaned forward, her face resting in her arms.

"Aren't you hungry, Rose?" Cora suddenly asked.

Looking up, Rose shook her head and tried to force a smile. She was starving. If she had to pay for a hotel there was no money left for a proper meal.

"When are we going home?"

"We're not going back, Cora. You and I are going to create our own home."

"But I want to go to Elizabeth and Mabel."

"Listen," Rose sighed and put out her hands to the little girl. Cora refused her touch and leaned back in her chair, "I know you want to go back, but we can't. I am going to work from now on. I am going to take care of you." Just like I promised your father.

Perhaps the girl was too tired to argue for she simply nodded her head, her eyes filled with tears.

The summer heat was slowly starting to cool down and the clock was nearing the late hours of the day. After an hour of strolling through the unfamiliar city, Rose had finally managed to find a place for them to crash for the night. The room was small, yet delicately finished with soft bedding, a sink, and a balcony. As Rose put Cora down, sleep took hold of her consciousness within a matter of seconds. She stared at her little body for a while whilst guilt was starting to get the better of her and she finally allowed herself to cry. Frightened was too small of a word to describe how she was feeling. Rose was mortified of both the present and the future. There was nothing.

As the weekend moved on so did Rose's tears. At night, when Cora was sound asleep in the creaking bed, Rose would sit outside and listen to the sounds of people on the streets below. The girls had barely spoken to anyone in two days for they had locked themselves up inside of their room. Rose would read stories and watched how Cora drew of what she was able to reminisce from Oklahoma. Tomorrow will be different; Rose spoke to herself as she wiped the wetness off her face. The urge to start working and earn her own money felt like butterflied flying through her stomach.

Both excitement and anxiety made it difficult for Rose to get a good night sleep. At the break of dawn, she jumped out of bed and quickly put on her linen skirt with a soft cotton blouse. Jewelry did no longer exist in her life, nor did the fresh layers of creams and powders. Now, even with nothing, Rose still managed to look somewhat put together. She was ready.

Determent to make a good impression, Rose kept her head high as she entered the building. It looked bigger on the inside than she could have imagined. Phones rang in the background mixed with the fast clicking sounds of the typewriters. An older woman skipped in front of her, holding a pile of files before rushing around the corner. Eventually, Rose managed to find the more tranquil part of the building where a secretary was gently putting a stamp on an envelope.

"Miss, you can't bring in a child in here." Was the first thing the woman said as she noticed the visitors.

"I figured, ma'am," she tried to keep her voice low and steady, "but I've had some trouble with my accommodations, so I don't have anyone to look after her."

"I am very sorry to hear that, miss. You can come back whenever you have found someone who can."

"Are you being serious right now? I have an appointment with Mr. Mills in five minutes!"

"I'm sorry, miss. These are the ruled of this company." She stood up from behind her desk and lead them back to the hallway. Another door slammed shut in her face. Yet her hopelessness had turned itself into anger. Rose could feel her face burning up as she slammed against the door a few more times. No answer.

"For fuck's sake!"

Back outside, Rose remembered she had a packet of cigarettes in her purse. With trembling hands, she lit one of them, the damp burning her throat.

"What are we going to do?" Cora eventually asked as she watched how Rose started lurking on her third smoke.

"I don't know, darling. If I bring you back to the hotel, will you be able to be on your own for an hour?" But of course she wasn't. She had just turned six.

"Rose Cartmell?" a voice suddenly called from a distance. There was a young woman, about the same age, running up to her.

"Yes?" Rose threw the bum of her cigarette onto the ground.

"I am Winifred Clark," The girl said and shook Rose's hand, "Tilly Gibson is my aunt. She wrote to me about you. You're looking for a job, aren't you?"

"It doesn't matter anymore, miss Clark. They won't let me in now I have my cousin with me."

"Go in. I am on my lunch and can look after her for a second."

"Thank you. Thank you so much." Rose let out a deep sigh of relief and followed Winifred back inside. They marched back into the secretary's office who could only gaze at the women with big and annoyed eyes.

"Miss Cartmell has an appointment with Mr. Mills. Can you let him know she has arrived?" Winifred crossed her arms and stamped her foot in an impatient manner.

"That is right," another door opened, and a short middle-aged man leaned against the doorway. His hair was greasy and slid back tightly. Through the thickness of his mustache, it almost seemed impossible to see him speak. His dark eyes locked with Rose's before looking down at Cora.

"I didn't have someone to look after her, sir." Rose quickly said as she could almost read her mind.

"You're Rose Cartmell I assume?"

She nodded her head. "I am, sir."

Winifred placed a gentle hand on Rose's shoulder. "I'll take her with me to the cafeteria."

"You hear that, Cora? You can go with miss Clark. I'll be back in a few minutes." Rose watched until they had turned around the corner before following the man inside of his office.

"Please sit down, miss Cartmell."

"Thank you." The room reminded her of Cal's office back in Pittsburgh. Men even went as far as to use interior decorations to fuel their egos. Everything had to be big and shiny. Dark and mysterious. It smelled of old smoke and sweat with a mixture of strong liquor. Rose could feel a shiver run down her spine. How she hoped she wasn't going to get sick.

"I see you don't have any references?" Mr. Mills said.

"That's right, sir."

"Do you have any work experience whatsoever?"

"No, sir."

A laughter of mockery escaped her lips. "This is going to be a short conversation then."

"Sir, please. You might think I am not well-suited for this job, that I have nothing to offer you. But I am a fast learner. I know how to use a typewriter and I can speak three languages."

"Three languages? Where did you grow up?"

"Just a small town in Oklahoma." She mumbled.

"You're not from the city?"

"No, sir."

"And you speak three languages?"

Rose nodded her head again. "English, French and German."

"I grew up with a governess and even went to Harvard, yet I can barely speak English. But why haven't you thought about finding a job in education? Have you parent's just thrown you into the wild on the other side of the country?"

"My parents are dead, sir. It's only me and my cousin. And it doesn't matter wherever we strand in this country, we have nothing. I promised her parents to take care of her and that is what I am trying to do. Starting with this job."

"I am sorry to hear that," He stayed quiet for a while whilst twirling his greasy mustache, "I give you one month. One month to prove me you are worth it. Otherwise, you're out."

Mr. Mills' words were meant to sound threatening, yet within Rose, a fire was slowly starting to burn. She stood up from her chair and straightened her back like soldier who was ready to fight. "I won't disappoint you, Mr. Mills."

Back in the cafeteria, Rose found Cora and Winifred in the far corner. She walked towards them and sat down.

"How did it go?" Winifred asked and took a sip of her drink.

"He's giving me a trial period. One month to show that I am capable enough to do the job."

"That is wonderful. Congratulations, miss Cartmell."

"You don't know how grateful I am that you wanted to look after her."

"Oh, she is a funny little girl. I didn't know she is English."

"Yes. Her parents passed away on their way to America."

"I am so sorry."

"Don't be. We're managing just fine," Rose stroked Cora's hair gently. Her curls felt exactly like her own, "I see that miss Clark has given you a proper meal." She smiled at the girl.

"She even finished half of my plate," Winifred grinned, "Would you like something to eat as well?"

"No thank you, I am good."

"You look like you're about to faint at any moment."

"The truth is that I don't have enough money for a proper meal. I just want Cora to be alright."

"And you're saying you are managing just fine," Winifred shook her head, "Do you even have a place to live?"

"We're staying at the Timber Hotel. Your aunt kindly arranged a room at Mrs. Williams' boarding house. Yet, that woman threw us out before we could even enter the house because children are apparently prohibited. I had already paid for the first month and now my money has disappeared in that woman's pockets."

Without responding, Winifred stood up from her chair and soon came back with a tray that was filled with warm food. "Finish this first and then I might have something to show you."

….

It was already starting to get dark by the time they arrived at a colorful Victorian house. Rose and Cora had waited impatiently for hours until Winifred was done with her shift. Then the three of them just started walking into still lingering mystery.

Even inside of the house it was pitch black when they stepped inside. Winifred carefully lightened an oil lamp, revealing a soft orange wallpaper and several wooden doors. "When I arrived here, I also felt like life was slipping out of my hands. I didn't know what I was doing, but I couldn't go back. Going back to my hometown and parents meant that I had failed. Then one night I met my friend Sophie, who lives just behind that door," Winifred pointed to the end of the hallway, "She offered me a place in this house. Now follow me."

Going up the stairs, Rose held an already sleeping Cora against her body.

"Mildred left about two weeks ago to get married, and her room is still empty. Because Sophie helped me, I've always felt the urge to do the same one day. I know it's not a big room and it can get quite hot all the way up here, but what do you think?"

Her heart had started to beat so hard; Rose almost believed it was going to burst out of her body. "You can't be serious."