Rated PG-13
© 1999 Shirley @ SDL747@aol.com
based on some characters
and situations originated by James Cameron
Jack and Rose stood in the Men's Department of
Marshall Field and Co. There was a growing pile of clothes on the wooden counter.
"Jack, who is going to wear all of that," asked
Rose, pointing to the various garments. "There is enough for several people
here. So far all we've gotten are things for you."
Jack was counting up what was in the pile. Two
heavy flannel jackets, several woolen shirts, two pair of Levi's, and some heavy
socks.
"I told you that you were not going to be a lady
in Yellowstone, Rose."
She put her hand up to her open mouth.
"You can't mean that you expect ME to wear that,
that stuff,"she said, a little of her old Philadelphia tone of voice coming
through.
"Why not," he countered, laughing.
"Well, because, because I never saw anyone, any
woman that is, dress in clothes like that. Riding clothes, yes. But this? I
can't Jack."
She shook her head firmly from side to side.
"What happened to the girl who wanted to ride
like a …,"he teased.
As usual, she could not resist his joking manner.
Skeptically, she asked, "Are you sure about this?"
"Trust me Rose, and besides, you'll look great
in pants,"eyeing her from the waist down.
"Will that be all sir?"asked the tall, spare,
sour looking man who worked in that section.
Jack checked the stack of clothes one more time.
"Boots, we need boots. Let's see,"as he glanced
quickly at Rose's feet. "I think one pair in size 11 and the other a 7."
"Very good, sir. I'll get those for you and then
add this all up. You know sir, that you've got two different sizes here,"said
the clerk as he pointed to the shirts and pants.
"Yeah, well," said Jack, "some of it's for my
friend."
Jack smiled at the man who gave him a rather
polite, but suspicious look. He had heard about the motto of this store, "Give
the lady (or in this case the gentleman) what she wants." Jack knew that there
would be no more questions.
* * * * * * * * * *
Several hours later, Jack and Rose sat in the
back of a taxi. They had purchased the clothes and an extra suitcase in which
to put them. After depositing all of this in their hotel room, they set off
to see Lake Michigan.
Jack had hired the taxi in front of the hotel
and asked the driver to take them to the nicest spot along the shoreline. As
they rode along Michigan Avenue and onto Lake Shore Drive, the taxi driver pointed
out some of the sights along the way.
"See that tower just ahead?" he asked.
Rose and Jack's heads collided as they tried
to get a glimpse of the limestone building.
"What is it?" they both asked at once.
The driver stopped on the side of the street.
He turned to look at them.
"That's the old water tower and pumping station.
Only structures right around here that survived the big fire. 41 years ago already.
Time sure does fly."
Rose and Jack tried to look impressed. They really
wanted to be alone and walk by the lake. But this man was trying so hard to
please them and show off his city.
They continued driving for another two miles
or so. There were many beautiful mansions in an area they passed through. They
were told it was called the Gold Coast. Rose was reminded of the life she had
left behind her, but instead of feeling sad, she felt relieved, free. Now that
she was securely in a position to be with Jack and live life as they wanted,
going back to an existence like that was the furthest thing from her mind. In
fact, she felt sorry for the people who were stuck living such a regimented
life.
* * * * * * * * * *
A few more minutes brought them into the area
known as Lincoln Park. The driver let them out next to a walkway by the water.
"You'll be able to get either the trolley or
a taxi to take you back, if you don't stay too late."
"Alright, thanks very much,"said Jack paying
and tipping the driver. "Thanks for the tour too."
Jack took Rose by the hand and they stepped down
to the pavement that followed the lake. Being a weekday it was quiet. But here
and there were mothers and nurses with children and some older couples out walking.
A few fishermen sat on the concrete wall, with their buckets of bait and bags
of lunch next to them. The air smelled damp with an odor of fish and seaweed.
Neither of them had much to say as they strolled
along the water's edge. They were happy to be alone, and away from the noise
of the city. Here, there was only the occasional laughter of children and the
quiet lapping of the water along the sea wall.
"Here Rose, this is a good spot. Let's sit down
here."
He brushed the sand off the step that he pointed
to and after he helped Rose sit down, he joined her. He put his arm around her
and instinctively she put her head on his shoulder.
"Pretty here, isn't it" murmured Jack.
"Yes, yes, it is," answered Rose quietly.
They listened to the birds calling and watched
the seagulls swooping around them. Jack had been waiting for the right moment
to ask Rose about her father. He was curious about that part of Rose's life,
a part that she had never spoken about. Rose was so different from her mother,
that he could only assume that she was more like her father. He had a feeling
that the emotions connected with him and his death were bottled up somewhere
inside her.
"Rose, I need to know,"he began gently. "I need
to ask you something, but only if you want to talk about it."
Rose lifted her head and looked at him. She was
feeling so relaxed that again she had almost fallen asleep.
"What, Jack?"she whispered.
Jack held her hands tightly, before he began.
"Rose, tell me about your father."
She gazed into his eyes. No one had ever asked
her to talk about him before. Mother had almost seemed happy to put that part
of their life behind her. Rose was always afraid to bring up the subject. Now
for the first time, someone actually cared enough to ask. And of course, it
was Jack.
"Jack, I've never talked about him to anyone,
since he's been gone. No one ever cared and mother actually told me to forget
about all the things he and I did together, because she didn't want me acting
like that anymore."
Her eyes were moist and she gripped Jack's hands
even tighter.
"It's alright,"he urged. "I'm won't let go of
your hand."
She looked at him again for reassurance. He nodded
and she took a deep breath before speaking.
"Jack, you can't imagine how hurt I was when
Mother had the funeral and didn't let me come home."
He listened patiently as the story unraveled
of the sadness she had suffered at not being able to say goodbye to her father.
Ruth had known he was dying, but never told Rose.
"We had some wonderful times, Jack. He made everything,
even doing homework, fun. When he died, all of that was buried deep inside of
me until now. I want to remember that happy part of my life. But until this
moment, I've kept all that locked inside."
As Rose told him of her childhood, he could imagine
the pretty little girl with red hair, flying kites in the park, feeding the
ducks in the park and tramping through mud in the woods, off on some imaginary
expedition. Apparently Edwin Bukater had been a fun loving man who doted on
his only child. He had been determined to open the world to her so that she
knew more than just the rigid routine of society life. He had battled with Ruth
enough about that. But whenever she had time alone with Rose, she worked long
and hard to rid her daughter of those foolish notions.
"I can just hear her saying over and over again,
that proper young men don't want girls whose heads are in the clouds dreaming
about looking for lost treasures. She assured me that I would never get a husband
and have a secure life unless I settled down and conformed. I never paid any
attention to her until Daddy died. Then when the money became an issue, I thought
for awhile that she might be right."
She sat looking out at the water for a long time.
"You know, Jack, I think he would have liked
you. In fact, I know he would have actually approved of you,"Rose continued,
finally looking up at Jack.
"I think I probably would have liked him too
Rose. I can see now where you get that fiery adventurous streak. And that is
one of the things I love about you, Rose. You're not like anyone I've ever met.
And that's what makes you so special."
He took out his handkerchief and began dabbing
at her tears. Gently he kissed her hair.
"You know, we're going to be having lots of adventures
in our lives," said Jack, as he paused to kiss her again, "and I'm glad that
I married someone who wants to do those things. We're going to have a good life,
Rose. We'll have to work hard, but we'll have fun too."
She leaned back against him and nodded. Gently,
almost without thinking, she placed her hand on her stomach. Jack noticed this
gesture and thought for a moment. This might be a good time, to get an idea
on Rose's feelings for a family. So he continued.
"We'll have a family and lots of pets and a big
house, and we'll try and make everyday an adventure. What do you say, Rose?"
Rose stood up and put her hands over her eyes
to shield them from the afternoon sun. Jack also got up and stood with his hands
on her waist.
"I'd like that Jack, and I know that my father
would have liked this kind of life for me too. He and I were both misfits. Neither
of us ever wanted to conform to those upper class standards. But we had been
born into it, so everyone expected a certain kind of behavior."
She turned to look at Jack.
"I don't want our children to grow up in that
kind of sterile, environment. I want them to yell and get dirty,"she said. "I
want them to learn about everything and anything they want. I want them to be
polite and have respect, but I want them to be free, Jack. That's what I want,"
she finished.
He rested his chin against her head and hugged
her.
"Then that's how it will be,"he said, relieved
to hear that Rose wanted a family. "In fact, we'll make our kids'childhood a
real adventure. Something they'll always remember and talk about forever. How
does that sound Rose?" he asked.
Between her tears and smiles, all Rose could
do was nod. Jack had opened her heart even more today. The memories of her father
were released at last. Maybe he HAD been looking out for her all these years
and had sent Jack to her, to care for her and rescue her from the life she detested.
Whatever it was, or whoever was responsible,
she had Jack and they loved each other. She looked toward the west, to the direction
in which they would be heading tomorrow, and knew that she could now treasure
the memories of her past and relish each moment as she made new ones with Jack.
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