Hello everyone, I hope you are still enjoying this story. It took me quite a while to get this chapter right. To be honest, I'm still not totally satisfied, but I could keep myself from posting it any longer. I hope it's not too bad and you will like it xoxo

Chapter 16

Déjà vu

"I can't believe it!" Cora jumped in excitement, "He came back to her, isn't that romantic?"

"I didn't know miss Cartmell was courting anybody."

Henry snorted out a mocking laugh. "Mother, it's the twentieth century. People don't court each other anymore."

Catching her breath again she joined the two at the table. "The thing is," she started, "Henry Calvert has asked Rose to marry him before, but she turned him down."

"Really?" Mrs. Taylor asked curiously.

Cora nodded her head. "I think it was one and a half year ago. He had gotten a promotion and had to move to Philadelphia, but Rose didn't want to go."

"I can't imagine not wanting to move when you love someone."

"Well, Rose had her reasons," Cora quickly shot into a defensive state, "but that is not for me to tell." Within seconds she felt Lauren's hand gently rest on her arm. She straitened her back and froze into her seat. It was a strange sensation within herself that she did not want to move, afraid he would remove his hand.

Mrs. Taylor smiled again. This time there lingered a sadness in her eyes. "I truly believe that God put people in our lives for a reason," Cora was certain she was talking about her husband and that his passing had left an emptiness inside her soul that could never be filled again, "the fact that he came back to her means a lot. They are meant to be."

Removing his hand from her shoulder, Lauren raised his teacup. "To the future bride and groom."

The ladies followed his movement and Cora let out a soft giggle.

"If you don't mind, I am going to write them back straight away." She spoke.

Mrs. Taylor agreed. "Of course, dear. Can't we send them something small to congratulate them?"

"Good idea mother. But what would they like?" Lauren turned his head towards Cora who shrugged her shoulders and thought for a second.

"I have no idea what Henry likes, but Rose likes anything small and especially handmade."

"Great!" Mrs. Taylor smiled and stood up to collect her purse, "I am going to see Jack now to talk things through about the renovation, maybe I can ask him to make something for them. If he has time at least." As she waved the children goodbye, Cora held her breath for a second as she noticed they were now alone. She had seen people in love before and she knew that what she was feeling wasn't love. Yet, Lauren triggered something within her which she could not explain. It was a combination of nervousness and warmth, making her both hate and enjoy the sensation all at the same time. She watched how Lauren took his last sip of tea and cleared her throat.

"Do you know what he can make for Rose?"

"Maybe a painting or something. Jack is a very good artist. We have one of his paintings in my father's office. Let me show you." Lauren stood up and lead Cora to the wooden door in the hallway. She had always wondered what was behind it for no one ever took a step inside the room. Turning on the light, they both walked in. In front of them stood an old desk with paperwork still scattered around the surface. Cora quickly realized that the room had not been touched since the death of Mr. Taylor. You would believe he could walk in at any moment to finish his work.

"I'm sorry for the mess," Lauren mumbled, "Even after four years, mother can still not bring herself to clean it up."

"Don't apologize. It's nothing to be ashamed of." She then looked behind the desk where she saw a rather large painting hanging against the wall. It was of a woman with raven black hair. She was naked underneath a transparent white cloth which was draped around her body. The woman looked over her shoulder, her mesmerizing blue eyes burning through the canvass. Cora found the woman all sorts of things: Scary, beautiful, arrogant, and elegant. Perhaps, she thought, she wanted to be like her. Cora stepped closer to look at it in detail. The way he had portrayed her was the perfect mix between reality and abstraction. It was like being inside a dream, you could see the beauty but not touch it.

"It's a beautiful painting." Cora admitted.

"I know right. I always think it's a shame that it's hidden here in this dark room, but then I remember that I don't really like to look at this woman."

Cora raised an eyebrow. "Why not?" she asked curiously.

"Her name is Cecilia James, and she was Jack's fiancée. I've always disliked her to be honest. Obsessed with the illusion of fame, she believed that being the muse of an artist would open the gates to fame, but apparently it didn't, and she ran off with a moving picture director back in March."

"What a snob!" Cora gasped and shook her head in disbelief.

"I know right. Poor Jack has never been lucky in love I'm afraid. And now mother is trying to set him up with every bachelorette she encounters."

Keeping her eyes locked on the artwork, Cora felt the urge to touch the painting. Her fingers traced the lines and shadows until she stopped at the bottom right corner. A strange sensation of familiarity crawled within her. Cora scanned the painting even more close and looked at the initials on the bottom right.

"Lauren?" she breathed.

"Yes?"

"What is this Jack's last name?"

"Dawson. Why?"

A wave of heat rushed up her body, followed by shivers running down her spine. Dizziness overtook her and for a moment she believed she was going to faint.

"Are you alright?" Lauren asked worriedly when he saw the pale expression of her face. He shot forward and helped her to stand up straight.

"I suddenly feel a bit dizzy." Cora whispered.

"Come here, let's get you to sit down. It is because of the weather, isn't it?"

"Yes, I believe so." Cora lied as she was being brought towards the living room. Lauren eventually placed a glass of water in her hands. They were trembling badly.

"Are you sure you are alright?" Lauren asked again. He noticed that she looked as if she had seen a ghost.

Cora nodded her head and it then hit her that a ghost from the past had started to haunt her. She had told Rose many times that she was starting to forget his face for it was such a long time ago, but suddenly she was able to remember every line and crook of his expression. The way she sat on his lap as his hands helped hers over the paper and those hands that spun her around the room as the music played lively in the background.

"You are still my best girl, Cora." He smiled at her small frame. How jealous she was then, of Rose. How badly she wanted to pull on her red beaded gown and jump back into his arms because in that moment she was his. And now, she remembered everything as if it happened yesterday.

"If you don't mind, I am going to lie down for a little while." She stood up, shuffled passed him and dragged her body up the stairs. Inside of her bedroom, she shut the door behind her and dropped down onto her bed. As the news slowly started to settle inside her mind, she quickly came to the awareness that it all had to be one big coincidence. It had been eleven years since the sinking. Eleven years had to be enough time for both Jack and Rose to find each other. Jack was a common name as well as Dawson was a common surname. Yes, Cora let out a deep breath and felt her heartbeat starting to slow down, Jack Dawson was long gone. Downstairs she could hear Lauren's footsteps and she started to count them. One at a time before she closed her eyes and allowed herself to fall asleep.

A soft touch brought her back to reality and Cora shot up. Mrs. Taylor was standing next to her bed with a concerning look on her face.

"Oh dearest," She cried out, "Laurie told me what happened to you, and I was too concerned not to come up and check on you."

"Nothing to worry about, Mrs. Taylor. I was just taken aback by the heat unfortunately."

Mrs. Taylor sat down next to her and handed her another glass of water. "It's important to keep yourself hydrated.

"Yes, thank you."

"Is there anything else I can do for you, dear?"

"No, thank you." Cora tried desperately to smile.

"Alright. Well, Laurie and I are going back to the gallery in half an hour. You are more than welcome to come along if you would like, but I can imagine that you want to stay here if you are not feeling well."

Cora stared out in front of her. Her brain felt paralyzed. If she went, she would know, but for a moment she thought she did not want to know. Why was she still having doubts about something so obvious. There was no possible way her chimeras were true. The past was not possible to raise itself from the death and return. Mrs. Taylor eventually left her alone. Looking inside the mirror it was too obvious that the heat had not affected her. Her skin was dry, and her lips seemed to be slightly blue. Changing her dress, Cora then headed back downstairs where mother and sons were preparing themselves for their departure. No words were being spoken towards the girl; they only smiled, both happy she was feeling good enough to join them.

It was a fifteen-minute drive towards the art gallery of late Mr. Jones. The building looked old and in even worse condition than Cora had at first anticipated. Gazing over at Lauren she could see in his expression that he was happy to be there. For him, fond memories rested between those walls. His father chasing him through the artwork and watching him sculpt beautiful figures. On the inside of the building, there was a small light burning with the rest remaining dark. Then, a figure walked past the window and Cora held her breath. She could not see any detail of the person, only that it was a man and from a distant he looked rather tall.

"Jack told me he is really excited to see you, Laurie." Mrs. Taylor told her son as they stepped outside the taxi. Then she turned her face to Cora, "and he is also excited to meet you, Cora."

If her was excited to meet her, Cora thought, he could not be the person she thought he was. Surely, he would have made a remark to Mrs. Taylor about her presence. Slowly but surely, she followed the two inside. Inside, it smelled old mixed with the scent of cigarette smoke.

"Were back!" Mrs. Taylor yelled. Her call was answered by footsteps and a man's voice that welcomed them. Lauren rushed forward and embraced the man. When he pulled back and his face was revealed, Cora stopped in her tracks and now felt as if the floor was starting to fall from underneath her feet. His face had aged a bit, but in the end, he still looked the same. His blonde hair was messily pulled to one side, and he was wearing a white shirt with suspenders that hang down. When he looked at her, he gasped, and his eyes widened.

"Then it is true." Jack said with a trembling voice. "When I heard your name, I thought I was starting to go crazy, but it really is you."

Cora was at a loss for words and simply kept staring at him. He smiled at her and slowly came closer, "but you were so small. You must barely remember me or remember me at all. I met you over ten—"

"Of course I remember you." Cora caught him off. Tears were starting to burn in her eyes, but she managed to push them away.

"You… you know each other?" Mrs. Taylor spoke as she was confused by the whole situation.

"Yes," Jack stated, "but it is a long story."

"What about you share that story tonight whilst having dinner with us? My curiosity is about to burst through the roof!"

In a strange way, Jack's presence did not at all feel strange or alarming to Cora. He kept a respectful distance with here and there a small glance. The number one priority was to bring the gallery into perfect condition. Cora followed them around the rooms and listened to all the alterations that needed to be done. Yet, her mind drifted off to the past and she felt herself standing on the deck of what then was the grandest ship in the world. Her father had lifted her up and placed her against the railing of the ship where she could see the waves cutting against its stern. Through the hard wind that pierced her hears, she heard the voice of a man interrupting their activity.

"I'm sorry to bother you, sir," he spoke to her father, "my name is Jack Dawson." As the two men shook hands, Jack showed his artwork before asking to draw the two of them.

"We would really like that, won't we Cora? But unfortunately, I don't have the money for that sir."

"Oh no. I absolutely don't want your money. You can see it as a gift from me to you."

Cora had always wondered what had happened to the drawing. Just how she had wondered what had happened to Jack. Now, they were only a few feet away from one another.

After a few hours, the four of them arrived back at the Taylors' house, where Mrs. Taylor started to set up the table in the backyard. Lauren pulled Cora in the living room and straightened his glasses before he dared to speak.

"Why didn't you tell me you knew Jack?" He asked curiously.

"How would I have known that Jack was the Jack I knew?"

"I told you his last name."

"Yes, which was followed by me having a heatstroke." There was a noticeable annoyance in Cora's voice, and she took a step back.

"I'm just curious, that's all."

"There is nothing to be curious about, Lauren."

The two were interrupted by Mrs. Taylor peaking her head around the corner. She sighed. "Jack and I are waiting for you two."

Cora quickly followed Mrs. Taylor outside. Jack was already waiting and stubbed out his cigarette. A smile appeared on his face when Cora took a seat at the table. With the nervousness consuming every part of her body, she did not dare to sit next to him. But sitting across from him meant she was confronted with his presence even more. Every second that passed by, Cora was afraid he would disappear and she were to wake up in her bed in her own room back in San Francisco.

"Now you must tell me everything I need to know." Mrs. Taylor said as she poured everyone a glass of lemonade, "How and when did you two meet?"

Jack and Cora looked at each other for a second, not knowing who was going to speak the truth. For eleven years, the truth had been resting on the bottom of the Atlantic and now it had casually resurfaced. After a reassuring smile Jack then cleared his throat.

"Cora and I met on… the Titanic."

The faces of Lauren and Mrs. Taylor turned as white as tablecloths, and it remained silent for a good while.

"Jack, you never mentioned anything about that," Lauren finally managed to say something. Then he turned to Cora, "and you neither!"

"I was six or something," Cora quickly defended herself, "I can barely remember anything."

"So when you moved to America you came on the Titanic?"

"Yes."

"And Rose, did she come with you?" Mrs. Taylor spoke loudly.

Cora could see Jack sit up straight in his chair and he breathed. "Rose?"

"Her cousin."

"No!" Cora could feel her heart starting to pound at an unhealthy rate, "Listen, my parents and I were about to move to America to live with Rose, my cousin and aunt and uncle. My aunt and uncle died two months before the sinking due to influenza and my parents died during the sinking. Then, when I arrived in New York, my cousin picked me up and we moved to a friend of hers in Oklahoma before moving to San Francisco. That's all there is to the story." Cora looked at Jack again who looked rather concerned, "Jack, of course I remember you. I remember your face, but nothing more. I can barely even remember my own parents." The lie had melted thus far within her being that she almost believed she was telling the truth.

"Of course." Jack smiled, his expression soft but with a noticeable sadness in his eyes, "And now we all know how we met, I'm rather curious how you two met since you said you live in San Francisco?"

"We met because of Rose, her cousin," Mrs. Taylor answered the question, "and my sister as well. Cora is a good friend of my sister's daughter. And now Cora is staying with us for the summer."

"Sounds good. And have you been enjoying Los Angeles thus far?"

"Very much," Cora admitted, "I actually like it more than San Francisco if I am honest; it's much more relaxed."

Lauren chuckled, "Don't let Rose hear that or she might be afraid you won't come back."

"Maybe I won't"

"You're more than welcome to stay, dear," Mr. Taylor said, "As long as you go back for the wedding. Oh, Jack I totally forgot to ask you. Her cousin just got engaged and we wanted to gift her something. We were thinking that maybe, if you have time, you could draw or paint something for miss Cartmell for she apparently likes handmade things."

"It would be my pleasure," Jack then lifted his glass in the air, "Let's make a toast then. To the engaged couple, to the renewal of the gallery and for our reunion, Cora. To make it count."