bAt the age of twelve, Jack Dawson spend the whole afternoon ice fishing together with his cousin. It was a cold December day, only a week before Christmas. His cousin, Edward, was a tall and strong boy for the age of fifteen. It made him believe he was on top of everything, that he was superior than most of the children his age. He pushed Jack that day, to go all the way into the middle of the lake as far from the side as possible. Jack looked up at Edward, hesitated at first, but didn't dare to argue with him. So he went, only to fall through some thin ice as soon as he stood there. Edward laughed at first, but panicked when he didn't see his cousin come back up, yet he did nothing. The young boy cried for help when an older couple finally came to the rescue. The couple brought him home where he was immediately put in a hot bath. But the cold had hit him hard and Jack developed pneumonia because of it. He had to stay in bed for a little over three weeks. He could hear, his family celebrate the holidays and only came to check on him once a week. Loneliness was a feeling Jack had known too well in his lifetime. It was what he felt now as he drove back home for dinner.
"You're late." His sister scolded him as he arrived home. Everyone was already dressed or still in the process. He rushed up, rang for the valet and rushed back down where everyone was waiting in the drawing room. Amelia smiled at him when he entered and stood up from his chair. He kissed her cheek, yet remained silent.
"I was starting to worry about you. Are you alright?"
"Yes. Why?"
"You look quite distraught, and your hair." She moved her hands over his locks to put it in place. "That is much better."
It was, once again, the same mindless chatter that passed the time. The same narrow people. He looked over at Amelia who was talking to his sister. Her beauty radiated through every room she was in. "You would be so lucky, Jack." everyone would say to him. Young women their age envied her in every way, they hated yet loved her at the same time. Jack stared at her for a long time, but he felt nothing.
After dinner, the gentlemen remained inside the dining room to, of course, discuss the latest business matters. Cal Hockley, Pittsburgh Steel Tycoon was about to come over within a week. Ernest wanted to beat him in every way possible, but first had to gain his trust. Loneliness, the feeling burned inside him. He closed his eyes for a minute, heard the other men speak and come to the conclusion that everything was up to him.
He woke up early the next morning, grabbed his sketchbook and headed out the door. First, he made his way to the docks where he sketched two young boys playing with a football. Two ladies walked by with baskets in their hands, spilling over with the most fresh food. They talked to each other in a language he did not understand, looked over at the young boy and moved further. There was a market close by which made him come up with an idea.
Back home he took the servants entrance and went straight to the kitchen, where the cook and undercooks were busy preparing breakfast for the family. All the staff looked at him wide eyed. The only one to come down here was Mrs. Dawson and only when she wanted to discuss something with the cook. Jack hadn't been down in years. He did come here often when he was a little boy. He would sit on the counter and watch their every move. His little hands would go inside the bowls when no one was watching, or at least, they pretended they did not see him.
"Mr. Dawson?" Mrs. Clarke, the cook, looked surprised at him. Her gaze went straight to the bag he was holding.
"Mrs Clarke, may I ask you for a favour?"
"I am busy at the moment, sir."
"I can come back after breakfast."
"What is it for?"
"I want to surprise someone, but I have no idea how."
Mrs. Clarke understood what he meant and laughed loudly.
"I'll see you back here in an hour."
Rose heard ticking on her window, looked up from her sewing machine and saw little rocks being thrown against it. She sighed in annoyance as the children outside didn't have anything better to do than to irritate her. She then heard her name being called and she looked outside.
"What are you doing here?" Rose asked as she opened the window.
"I'm sorry I ran off the other day. It was rude of me." Jack was standing outside and held his coat over his head to prevent the rain from making him wet.
"And what is all this you are carrying?" She pointed at the basket he was holding in his hand, which was clearly overflowing with fresh produce.
"It's a surprise."
"I don't like surprises."
He looked at her dead serious, not getting the fact she was only joking. She told him the door downstairs was open and waited for him until he reached the apartment. Oliver stood next to her, his eyes widened when he saw all the food.
"Since apparently you don't like surprises, I have decided to cook for you tonight. To make amends."
"You?" She laughed, "cook?"
"Oh come on, Ro" Oliver pulled her arm, "it can't be any worse than the leftover sandwiches."
"There is some truth in that." She agreed.
There was a devilish smirk plastered on his face and he followed her inside. He put all his stuff onto the table and Rose showed him where he could find anything. He lit a cigarette, prepared everything and ordered the two to get out of the kitchen.
"Jack, there isn't anywhere I can go besides going outside." She protested.
"Then go on a walk."
"It's pouring."
Oliver looked at the man he had only seen once before and inspected his appearance. "You don't look like a cook, sir."
"Oh and why is that?"
"You don't wear the the silly suit, you don't have a moustache and you aren't fat."
"Oliver!" Rose corrected him. The little boy bursted out in laughter and Jack did too.
"There is truth in that," He said, "Where are the glasses?"
"Here." She placed them in front of him. Filled with a beautiful burgundy red wine, she took a sip. The warmth of the alcohol rushed through her body as she watched his every move. Where did he come from? She asked herself, but found out quickly that it was just a case of a fortunate event. Rose and Oliver demolished the food as if they hadn't eaten anything in years. All the flavours were fresh and intense. Leaning back in her chair Rose felt her stomach pushing hard against her corset. The wine had made her head slightly heavy, but she felt happy. Oliver was trying to hear out the strange young man as good as possible, asking him every little detail about his life. Jack didn't seem to mind whatsoever.
"But what do you want to be when you grow older?" Jack asked Oliver later that night. The boy was already eating his second desert and was about to go for a third slice of cake.
"Oliver is turning ten in a month and is going to work at the docks." Rose answered for him.
"The docks?" Jack raised his eyebrow. "I can't quite believe that is a place for a young man like you. You don't go to school?"
Oliver shook his head. "Mrs. Adams, our neighbour, teaches me sometimes. I can borrow her books as well. She has so many you know, because she used to own a bookstore."
"I'd send him to school in no time if I could," Rose said, "But we simply don't have the money."
"Should I be worried?"
"No of course not. We can manage just fine."
But Jack was worried. He was more occupied by the situation than he could have guessed. As the days moves forward, Rose and Oliver wondered through his head like two ghost. They haunt him. His mother stared at him as they were walking home together.
"Where are you with your head, Jack? You haven't said a word today."
"It's nothing, just busy at work."
Mrs. Dawson nodded, but stopped walking. She looked at her son, his head in the clouds and smiled sincerely at him.
"You don't have to wait much longer, son. Everyone is already expecting it."
Jack was caught by surprise by her sudden remark.
"What do you mean?"
"Amelia. You've been ever so quiet ever since the evening you cooked for her."
This can't be, Jack thought. The housekeeper had seen Jack and the cook down in the kitchen and asked Mrs. Clarke for every single detail as Jack had left. Of course the surprise dinner had to be for no other than miss Huntington. Who else could it have been for. Rumours spread quickly around the house and when Mrs. Dawson heard what her son was planning on doing, she almost jumped into the housekeepers arms. This was all he had been hoping for. Her time and investment in the two was finally paying off, or so she thought.
Back on the other side of the city, Rose kept continuing her hard work. More families had asked for her assistance as well as the orders that kept coming in from the store. She was now able to pay their rent on time without any difficulties and that was the only motivation she had to keep going. Her job among Boston's riches was nothing compared to her time at Mrs. Dawson's. She'd often spend her time downstairs in a small room with barely any sunlight and with no lunch. The stress was slowly starting to take a toll on her health, she noticed. Her muscles ached from time to time, paired with a nasty sounding cough. Sometimes, she would even fall asleep whilst having dinner.
"You look tired, Rose." Jack told her as they were having their weekly stroll down the park. It was the only thing Rose kept looking forward to at this moment. Every Wednesday they'd meet each other down the street as Rose was walking home from the store. They could spend hours just roaming around and talking about everything. Just two young people enjoying each other's company.
Rose shrug her shoulders to brush off his comment. "Just didn't sleep that well." She said. Jack nodded, but kept looking at her suspiciously.
"Listen," he said, "I won't be in town for the next two weeks. I have to go to Pittsburgh for business."
"For that Hockley fella? I thought he was already here in Boston."
"That was the idea, but his father has gotten ill so he wants to stay close to home."
"I can understand that. Then I must ask one of my other guy friends to accompany me on Wednesdays."
"Ha. Can't believe they'll be as good looking as me."
"Oh but they are and far less arrogant."
"Take that back."
"No." She giggled.
"Rose." He warned her and took a step closer. She couldn't help but laugh, distracted him for a brief second and took off. He ran closely behind her, eventually grabbing her by her waist and they both fell onto the grass.
"Take it back Rose." He laughed, completely out of breath. Rose shot up took his hand and pulled him back on his feet.
"I am sorry, Mr. Dawson, that I have offended your ego."
Jack's eyes suddenly widened as he looked over Rose's shoulder. His mother, Who had witnessed the whole scene, cleared her throat and headed over to him. Rose turned around looked at the woman, then back to Jack and back to the woman.
"Mother." Jack said all surprised. "How lovely to see you here."
She didn't say a word, but looked the girl up and down. Rose's coat was completely covered in leaves and her hair had fallen down due to the fall.
"Mother, may I introduce Rose Smith. The girl who was of assistance to grandma."
"Charmed I am sure." Was all she said.
"A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Dawson." She could feel the tension cutting like a knife. Mrs. Dawson looked at her as if she was an insect. A dangerous insect, which must be squashed quickly. Rose regained herself and pulled her clothing straight.
"I must go pick up Oliver. Good luck in Pittsburgh, Jack." She said. Jack thanked her and was put back into reality by his mother as soon as she had left.
"What was that all about?"
"I don't know what you mean?"
"Don't fool me, son. You don't have time to get with the likes of her. I know she is your grandmother's seamstress. And that is all she is." On their way home, Mrs. Dawson continued her sermon about her son's behaviour. She had gotten back from tea with Mrs and miss Huntington, only to find out Jack hadn't surprised her at all with his chivalrous action. Amelia turned completely red when Mrs Dawson asked her about it.
"I don't understand you, son. Instead of putting time and effort into your future wife you spend time with such a girl." Mrs. Dawson hissed annoyed.
"Pardon me?" Jack started to get furious and raised his voice. "Yes I met miss Smith a few times at grandma's place then I walked into her here at the park, nothing more! So don't make your assumptions based on a one time encounter."
"But the dinner?"
"The dinner? Am I not allowed to meet my friends?" He stopped for a moment to take a deep breath. He had calmed down a bit, looked his mother straight in the eyes and simply asked: "How can you put this on my shoulders?"
"Your father left is with nothing but a legacy of debts hidden by a good name. That name is our only survival. The Huntingtons can help us. Amelia adores you so I don't see the problem here."
"I don't love her mother!"
"Love." She scoffed. "You think I loved your father when I married him? It will grow darling. Trust me."
The train left early for Pittsburgh the next morning. Amelia and her mother were already waiting for him at the station. She had arranged it herself to spend more time with Jack, despite his disapproval. The journey felt long, too long for him and every once in a while he would stand up to march through the other cabins. Ernest took him by his arm as he was about to go again.
"Stay. We are almost there." He said.
Ten minutes later the train stopped at their final destination. They took their belongings and were welcomed by the one and only Caledon Hockley. Ernest clapped in his and and smiled at his little brother.
"Let's get the guy, Jack."
They were brought immediately to their new hotel, followed by a luncheon downstairs. Jack had never met this Hockley guy in person, only corresponded with him through telegrams and the phone. Apart from delivering steel for new buildings and other projects he had also decided to invest in them, putting Dawson inc. in a difficult position. Ernest was determent to ruin the position of the Hockleys. Their minds were strong, difficult to deal with, but the sinking of the RMS Titanic back in April had taken a toll on Cal's mental state. Amelia had told Jack all about it a few days later.
"Isn't it horrible, Jack? He found a child all alone, parents probably dead, and had to take the child with him on a lifeboat. He felt so ashamed taking someone else's spot, but he had to save her." She explained.
"And where is the child now?" He simply asked, finding the whole story somewhat suspicious.
"At an orphanage somewhere in New York."
Just as he thought. Using a poor child's life for his own advantage. "The child could have better died there with her parents."
"How could you say that, Jack?!"
"Have you ever been to an orphanage, Amelia? It's like death itself if not worse."
Amelia and her mother walked down to meet the brothers for dinner later that evening. She looked over and saw Mr. Hockley already waiting for them. He smiled at the ladies walked over to them and kissed both their hands like the gentleman he was. Amelia couldn't help but feel bad for the man. The sinking and now the Dawson's using his weakness for their own good. She wanted to warn him, but knew she couldn't dare. In fact, it was her future too that was at stake. She knew that for certain. She simply smiled and behaved like the beautiful rich girl she was. She took Mr. Hockley by his arm and let him lead her to the dining room.