A Promise to Keep

Prompt: A New Life  | Genre: Fan fiction |  Word count: 1000 words

Credit: This story is based on the characters, setting and times of the movie “Titanic”. All credit for the background story and the protagonist’s character goes to James Cameron and his team.

Cal was looking for her. More likely, he was just looking for the Heart of the Ocean. In either case, Rose had no intention to be found. She had resolved to keep her promise.

The nurses at the makeshift hospital were kind. But Rose didn’t want to linger long, in case they started asking her personal questions. So she left unobtrusively. Her only goal for now was to get away from the port as soon as she could, before she bumped into someone who recognized her. She walked hurriedly but it never drew attention to her; everyone in New York walked hurriedly.

After a while, when she felt safer, she started looking around. New York was a much bigger, busier city than Southampton.  It should have scared her, but instead she felt a sense of freedom she had never felt before. No one would find her here. She could start all over again.

But how?

She caught the scent of fresh bread from the bakery across the street. Her stomach growled. She could try to pawn the necklace in her coat pocket for some money.

Just then a thought struck her, ‘What if they think I stole it? Or worse, what if it leads to Cal to me?!’

It was too risky. She had to think of something else. And fast, because her stomach was growling in earnest now. That’s when she spotted it... the handwritten notice outside the restaurant. Rose took off her coat and draped it over her arm.

She then drew a breath, squared her shoulders, and crossed the street.

* * *

Joseph was busy wiping the counter, when the bell chimed. ‘A customer so early in the morning?’, he wondered, even as he straightened up and put on his usual smile.

But when he saw her, his smile turned to open-mouthed wonder. He was sure he was seeing a goddess, with auburn hair and ivory skin. And the goddess was looking directly at him.

Just like that, he felt himself crumble and feel so small. His ears burning, Joseph averted his eyes and busied himself doing...

‘What was I doing?’, he felt confused and his brain seemed to scramble for the train of thought he had before he had seen her.

Her.

Suddenly, he felt consumed by her presence. Numb, he looked up. And there she was, standing right before him, with only the counter separating them.

“Hi,” she spoke in a voice that made his knees buckle a little. “I read your advertisement outside. I’d like to apply.”

Joseph wasn’t sure he had heard her correctly. Confused, he frowned as he asked “Advertisement?”

“Yes the one that’s hanging outside the door. You are still looking for a waitress, aren’t you?”, she asked.

“Yes, but why would you...”, he trailed off, suddenly realising he might be embarrassing her by mentioning her status, or at least the status she seemed to exude. That thought made him give her a second look: her hair was hanging limp as if she had washed it but not bothered to dry and style it; her clothes looked haggard, as if she wore them while they were still wet without waiting to iron or starch them. Her whole person looked as if she had just come out of the water.

‘Water?!’, he wondered. Suddenly, his eyes grew wide and confused as he mused, ‘A mermaid??’

* * *

Rose felt her cheeks burning. She had noticed the man’s scrutiny. She knew she probably looked like a tramp, who quite possibly had stolen a rich woman’s clothes. There was no one who knew her, no one to support her claim. But she had herself. And for Rose, that was enough.

“Sir, my name is Rose Dawson. I am originally from Sou... Somerford... in England. But I am quite fluent in French and...”

“You are hired!”, he piped in.

“Err... what?”, Rose felt confused.

“I said, you are hired! You can join us next week. Before you leave, please give your measurements so that we can stitch uniforms for you.”

“Oh, that’s very kind of you, Sir!” Rose answered, a little unsure. She wasn’t sure why this man would agree to hire someone like her who has no experience to speak of, but she decided to just go with the flow, “But if I may request, can I start work immediately?”

“Immediately?”

“Yes, you see,” she felt her cheeks turn a deeper shade of red, “I... I have no money and... I’m hungry. 

If you just let me work... and pay me daily wages, I can...” Rose found it difficult to continue. As a woman of means, she was used to a life of luxury. Her situation right now seemed too close to begging.

* * *

Joseph had decided to hire her because... come on!... who else had a mermaid working for them? But now, when she sounded so desperate, he couldn’t help himself, “Miss, you have nothing to worry. You can eat here at the bakery. One of the girls was looking for a roommate; so you can stay with her. No no...” he waved her off when she looked like she was going to protest, “please don’t worry about the money. When you get your payment at the end of the month, you can pay me back.”

“Thank you so much!!”, she replied, looking at him with wide, tear-brimmed eyes.

It made Joseph feel like he was her knight in shining armour! This Sunday he could go to church feeling a little more Christian. And perhaps another Sunday, he could be walking down the aisle... with her!

This wasn’t the first time Joseph had held such high hopes, but today he wasn’t letting any past disappointments deter him! Today, he would dream.

* * *

A month later, as Rose held her pay cheque, she looked to the sea and thought of Jack, ‘You are here, Jack... forever in my heart. And my heart will go on. I promise, love.’