THE SHIP OF DREAMS
Chapter Sixteen

Coddie Anna gave a great sigh as she lay on her bed, writing in her diary. She gazed at her tidy handwriting, chewing on her lower lip as she pondered what to write next. It was hard to believe that they had only been out at sea for three full days. Feels more like three full months, she thought miserably, scribbling the last line and shutting the red leather book. With a yawn and a stretch, Coddie Anna sat up, running her fingers through her curly auburn hair. Her mother had gone off to look for Jack--much to her irritation, Cal was in his room reading the paper, and her grandmother was at tea with her friends.

No matter how much she tried to go along with her mother’s instincts, she could not help but feel angry about Jack’s coming into her life. He did save her, after all, a voice spoke inside of her head, and she clenched her fists, throwing herself backwards against the mattress. The bed shook a little under her weight, and she pulled one of the pillows over her face. You might not have a mother now if Jack had not come along that night.

"Oh, shut up," Coddie Anna mumbled, removing the pillow and gazing up at the ceiling. She could hear the newspaper rustling from the room next door, and her brow crinkled with a sudden, newfound curiosity. I have to get to the bottom of this, she thought, to know whether or not Cal truly loves my mother. She could not rest otherwise. Coddie Anna slid to the floor, her stocking clad feet touching the rug. After placing the diary in the oak desk by the wall, Coddie Anna slid on her black shoes, brushed her hair, and knocked on the door to Cal’s room. For a moment, there was no answer, so Coddie Anna knocked a bit harder the second time.

"Come in."

She sighed with relief as she twisted the knob, and stood in the doorway, her heart racing. He sat at his desk, glancing over what appeared to be the stock section of the New York Times. Cal raised his head, setting the paper down slowly. "Are you going to stand there staring at me all day?" he asked, turning around. He nearly did a double take when he saw Coddie Anna, and he immediately stood. "Coddie Anna, I was not expecting you. Is everything all right?" He raised an eyebrow in concern, grasping the back of the chair for something to do.

"I’m fine, but I…" She cleared her throat, scuffing the toe of her shoe along the floor. "I wanted to talk to you about something."

Cal smiled, offering her his chair, but she shook her head. "No, thank you. I’d rather stand."

He nodded, sitting down again and smiling softly. "I’m all ears," he spoke up, and Coddie Anna took a deep breath, deciding it was probably best to get it over with, plain and simple.

"Cal, do you truly love my mother?" she asked, startled at how strong her voice sounded.

Cal cocked his head to one side, clearly confused and startled by the question. "Why…" he began, but she interrupted him.

"I need to know, Cal, because my mother is so unhappy. If I know that you love her, I’ll feel better about it if she marries you." She held her breath, shaking from head to toe.

At last, Cal nodded. "Your mother is perfect…everything I’ve ever wanted." He leaned back, his dark eyes studying hers. Coddie Anna shook her head.

"Do you love her? I mean…truly love her? From the bottom of your heart?"

"I do, Coddie Anna. I love her very much. In fact…" He stood, pointing to the hideous green safe in the corner of the room. Touching her shoulder, he whispered, "I want to show you something." He walked over to the safe, twisting the lock and opening it with a soft snap. Coddie Anna leaned forward, trying to get a better look inside. She could see several boxes of different sizes, shapes, and colors, and watched as Cal pulled out a blue velvet one. "This was meant to be given to your mother next week, but I want to give it to her tonight." He sat down with Coddie Anna, opening the box. She gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.

Nestled inside lay a beautiful necklace. The chain was covered with diamonds, and a blue diamond cut in the shape of a heart hung from the end. "You…it isn’t! Le Coeur de la Mer!" She reached towards it, her eyes growing very wide.

"The Heart of the Ocean, yes," Cal replied thoughtfully, taking the necklace out and placing it in the child’s hand. Coddie Anna held it up, shocked at how heavy it was.

"Fifty-six carats," he explained, watching as she fingered its rough edges.

"It is beautiful." She chewed on her lower lip. It was true. She had seen amazing accessories in her life, but this was beyond her imagination. It was one of the rarest diamonds in the world, originally owned by King Louis XVI of France. She lowered her head.

"She won’t want it," she replied softly.

Cal was quiet for a moment. "What makes you think so?"

Coddie Anna shook her head. "Because my mother does not care about riches. She wants someone who cares about her needs and desires. She does not care about the money. My father was not a rich man when she married him. In fact, he was of the working class, but my mother was happier than I had ever seen her when she was with him."

Cal appeared to be pondering this, but Coddie Anna could see his body stiffen when she mentioned her father. "It is because I love her that I buy these things for her. I want to give her everything she’s ever dreamed of."

They jumped when they heard laughter from a couple of passengers out in the hallway, and the sound of a door closing. Coddie Anna smiled at last, touching Cal’s hand with her fingertips.

"Why don’t you just tell her you love her? Just tell her the words? That’s what women like to hear."

Cal raised an eyebrow, giving her a look that said he hadn’t thought of that. "Really?" he asked, in such a serious tone that Coddie Anna had to giggle.

"Yes, silly!" she teased, looking at the necklace. "I would give this to her still, because you’ve gone through so much, I’m sure, to get it, but don’t just give it to her and expect her to open up to you on her own. Tell her you love her, and apologize that you have not been open to what she truly wants."

Cal shifted uncomfortably in his seat, nodding slowly. Coddie Anna grinned, wrapping her arms around his waist in a tight hug. He blinked, awkwardly petting her head. When she let go of him, she took his hand. "You seem lonely," she admitted, and Cal put the diamond back into the box. "Would you like to spend some time with me? I’ve nothing to do." Her eyes were sparkling at long last.

He smiled at her, nodding softly as he went to bring the box back to the safe. "Where is your mother, anyway?"

Coddie Anna felt her stomach lurch. Uh-oh, she thought. After asking him to spill out his heart, would it be wise to tell him about Jack? If you want to keep the lifestyle you are living now, it’s every girl for herself, she thought, chewing worriedly on her lower lip.

"She’s with Jack," she replied.

Clunk. The box slipped out of Cal’s hands and hit the floor. "What?" His face turned a brilliant shade of red. He started to storm for the door, but Coddie Anna held him back.

"Don’t do that," she warned him. "You don’t want to give my mother a reason to be upset with you, and she will be if you go chasing after her when you’re angry like this. Wait until she comes back for dinner. Then give her the necklace and tell her what I told you to tell her."

Cal let out a long breath, picking the box up off the floor and sticking it in the safe. "What makes you think she’ll come back for dinner? What if she decides to eat with that piece of steerage trash?"

Coddie Anna cringed at the insult, but straightened up. "She’ll come back to me, of course. She’d never forget about me."

Cal smirked. "Unless that idiot she’s with has messed with her mind."

Coddie Anna looked towards the porthole of the room. "Look, why don’t we take a walk and then have tea together? It’ll take our mind off of things. Besides, you did promise to take me to the swimming pool!" She grinned, and Cal shook his head with a chuckle.

"And Caledon Hockley never forgets his promises," he replied. "All right. Let’s go."

Coddie Anna beamed, sliding off of the bed, and followed Cal out of the room. Now, if only I can get my mother to come back to where she belongs, she thought as they made their way down their private promenade.

*****

Meanwhile, Mac and Anastasia climbed over the rail that would lead them to the first class section of the ship. When Mac broke the news of Jack and Rose finding each other without their help, Anastasia was naturally disappointed, and more than a little surprised. "I think they are soulmates," she grunted, nearly slipping as her dress caught on a tiny screw as they stepped down from the white rail. "Some outside force drew them together. How else could it have happened?"

Mac shrugged, touching Anastasia’s shoulder. "I don’t know, but I still think we can encourage…things…a bit. We’ll follow them, see if we can’t find moments where they could use a little push. Did you remember to bring the parchment?"

Anastasia reached into the pocket of her dress, pulling out several pieces of paper and her pen. "Yes. My father would have me buried alive if he knew what we were doing. He scolded my brother once for sneaking up behind me and throwing a snowball…he told him that he was behaving like a German."

Mac grinned. "Well, we won’t be throwing snowballs at anyone. And besides, if Rose does not help my father to overcome his grief for my mother, he is a hopeless case. I know he is afraid to go on and find someone else. He’s so afraid of being hurt again."

Anastasia rolled her eyes. "This isn’t just someone else. This someone else is already engaged!"

"Get down!" Mac grabbed Anastasia’s arm and pulled her around the corner. She saw her father and Rose leaning on the railing, chatting and laughing. The girls listened as Rose sighed wistfully.

"You know, my dream has always been to just…chuck it all and become an artist…living in a garret, poor but free." She watched as Jack’s lips pulled into an amused smile.

"You wouldn’t last two days. There’s no hot water, and hardly any caviar."

Rose gasped, putting her hands on her hips like a child about to throw a tantrum. "Listen, buster…I hate caviar! And I’m tired of people dismissing my dreams with a chuckle and a pat on the head. That’s what I want to get away from, Mr. Dawson." She turned away from him, her curly auburn hair rustling in the cold ocean breeze. Jack shivered, feeling his chest tighten a little, but fighting the urge to cough.

"I’m sorry," he apologized, blushing. "I really am."

Rose hesitated, and at last glanced over her shoulder. "Well, all right. I forgive you. You know, when Andrew was alive, I felt like I could do or be anything I ever wanted. However, after I gave birth to Coddie Anna, I kind of…forgot those dreams and devoted my life to her. She’s my pride and my joy, Jack, though she did tell me once that I should become a moving picture actress."

Jack laughed. "She did, did she? Well, I could see that, Rose." At last he gave in, coughing hard into his fist. When he recovered, he rubbed his forehead, raising his eyes to meet Rose’s concerned face.

"Jack, are you all right? I don’t want you to catch pneumonia." She reached towards his forehead to feel for a fever, but he caught her hand before she made it there.

"I’m fine, Rose. Just a little tired," he lied. And my chest aches, my throat hurts…he sighed, lowering her hand and turning back towards the water. I’m a little dizzy, and I have a headache…he felt a pang of fear as he counted off the number of symptoms he’d been producing in the past day or so that were exact replicas of when he’d come down with pneumonia before. She did not seem too convinced, but she nodded anyway, deciding it was better not to push things.

"So, anyway, Coddie Anna thought I was beautiful enough to be an actress, and at first the idea crossed my mind. But when you have children, Jack, as I’m sure you know, time is very restricted."

Jack smiled. "But every moment you spend with them is worth it," he replied, making Mac smile and want to run into his arms. But she looked at Anastasia, who was trying hard not to giggle. "I don’t know what I’d do without my little girl."

"I wasn’t saying that having a child means lost time in a negative way," Rose insisted, "but…"

Jack touched her shoulder. "I know you weren’t."

Rose suddenly grinned. "There’s always been something inside of me, Jack, even when I was married to Andrew. Some part of me that’s always wanted to be released."

Jack laughed. "Then unleash it."

She blinked. "What?"

He took her hand and twirled her around, pulling her close so that her back was to him. "You're sad. Sad, sad, sad. You've left your lover on the shore. You may never see him again. Try to be sadder, darling." He spoke in a loud, dramatic voice, startling Mac, who had to hide her face in Anastasia’s shoulder to muffle her sudden giggle burst.

Rose struck a theatrical pose at the rail. Rose eventually pulled Jack into the scene and made him pose. He grinned, and suddenly began yelling and gesturing, causing Rose to lean tragically against the rail again, the back of her hand to her forehead.

Jack soon climbed onto a deck chair, pretending to be a pasha, while two girls pantomimed fanning him like slaves. Next he was on his knees, pleading with his hands clasped, pleading with Rose. She sighed and turned away in bored disdain. Anastasia and Mac watched as Jack began a western shootout, pretending to hold a pistol in his hand. When Jack won, he let out a loud, evil laugh, catching Rose in his arms again. She giggled, pressing her hands against his chest.

"Jack Dawson, you say you’ve lost your touch?" She shook her head.

Jack smiled. "Thank you, Rose." He coughed again, massaging his throat a little. "Would you mind if we sat down for a moment?"

Rose nodded, taking his arm, and they shared a chair. "I really wish you would tell me if you felt ill. That cough seems to be getting worse." She felt his forehead and cheeks, clucking her tongue. "Well, at least you don’t have a fever."

Jack blushed, tensing a little under her touch. "I’m fine," he promised. "I’m going to be fine, Rose. It’s just a little cold." He watched as she carefully buttoned up his jacket.

"There. Now you should feel much warmer." She smiled. "So, you told me you’d one day tell me who the people in those drawings were, didn’t you?"

He touched her cheek. "And you’re going to keep asking until I break, aren’t you?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "Rose, I really wish I could tell you, but I can’t." She cocked her head to one side, confused.

"Why not? What’s the big secret, Jack? Are your family members escaped convicts or something?"

Jack snorted. "Hardly. I know you don’t understand right now, but it’s not safe to tell you here."

Rose sighed. "Well, then, we’ll go somewhere else. Please, Jack, I want to know." She stuck out her lower lip, folding her arms tightly across her chest.

"No," he replied firmly. She looked a little taken aback by his response, and lowered her head. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it come out in a nasty way, but I really can’t tell you. Not now. When the time is right I can, but it’s very unsafe at the moment. Please do not ask me anymore."

At last, Rose agreed. "All right, Jack, if that’s what you want." She folded her hands in her lap and gazed up at the sky, which was now a gorgeous deep sapphire blue and cloudless. "What a beautiful day it’s turning out to be." She breathed, taking in the scent of the salt air. Jack attempted to do the same, but it only caused him to sneeze. "Goodness!" Rose jumped, her eyes widening. "Bless you! Are you all right, Jack?"

He nodded. "I’m fine. I just…I…" He clamped a hand over his mouth and failed miserably when he tried to stifle another sneeze. "Excuse me," he croaked.

"You sound terrible," Rose told him with a frown. "Perhaps you should see the doctor."

Jack shook his head. "No, Rose. I’m fine, really."

Rose rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Jack, if you call that fine, I would hate to see you ill." She squeezed his hand gently. "Would you like me to bring you the infirmary? Maybe we can get some medicine for you."

His eyes widened. "No," he told her firmly. "Please, Rose. I’m all right."

She chewed on her lower lip, sighing. "Well, at least come in for some tea!"

"They’d never let me in, Rose. I’m a steerage passenger, in case you’d forgotten."

Anastasia and Mac watched, holding their breaths, waiting for Rose’s response. "Well, then, I’ll just have to dine in steerage for lunch."

Mac wanted to jump and shout for joy, but Anastasia nudged her arm, and the two sneaked away to head back down to third class. Jack raised his eyes, folding his arms. "Rose DeWitt Bukater, I do believe you’ve lost your mind." He chuckled. "What about Coddie Anna?"

"I’ll bring her with me, of course. She is my daughter, after all."

"So, let me get this straight. Steerage will let a first class passenger come in, but first class refuses to let one of us up. That makes no sense to me at all." Jack raised his arms in the air, struggling a little to his feet.

"Nothing in life makes sense, Jack," Rose replied, grinning. "So…how about it?"

Jack smirked. "You’re really serious about this?" he exclaimed.

"Of course I am!"

He laughed. "All right. All right. Get Coddie Anna, and hope that you can escape Cal to get downstairs. If you don’t come down, I’ll assume he barricaded you in your stateroom."

Rose folded her arms across her chest and put a foot forward. "If he thinks he’s going to try that, he has another think coming," she murmured through gritted teeth. Then she embraced Jack in a hug, pecking a small kiss on his cheek. He turned bright red, watching as she broke away. "I’ll see you soon, Mr. Dawson." She waved, hurrying towards her stateroom. Jack made his way back down to steerage, noticing Mac and Anastasia, who stood waiting for him with their arms folded.

"Hello, sweetheart," Jack announced, bending down to kiss the top of Mac’s head.

"So," Anastasia teased.

Jack gave her a strange look. "Now, girls, were you two spying on us?" he asked, his voice serious.

"Us?" Mac asked, pointing to herself, insulted. "Papa, why would you think such a thing?"

Jack shook his head, quickly reaching into his pocket for a handkerchief. Sneezing loudly, he groaned, massaging his chest. "This cold is starting to take its toll on me," he whispered, sniffling.

"You do seem to be getting worse, Papa." Mac sighed. "Why didn’t you tell Rose that you don’t feel good?" She took his hand, massaging his palm, feeling his strong artist fingers. Anastasia twirled around, watching as her dress rose in an umbrella-like shape. She pretended to be dancing, humming to herself as they walked towards their cabin to clean up.

"I couldn’t, Mac. I don’t want to worry her. I don’t have a fever, which is the main thing. Oops!" He stumbled a little as Anastasia knocked into him, and caught her shoulder. "Careful," he warned, stroking her head. She giggled, holding onto his arm.

"Will you dance with me, Jack? Like we used to do on the yacht?"

Jack chuckled and bowed. "I would be honored, my dear."

Mac’s mouth fell open as Jack and Anastasia began to dance a slow waltz, and she giggled as Jack began whistling the same tune. Anastasia soon let go of him and began doing a Russian dance, kicking her feet out so they made a heavy clunk, clunk on the wood. Jack and Mac clapped in unison as she continued dancing, and when she finished, she did a dramatic bow, making everyone around her laugh, clap, and whistle. She turned around, noticing that other steerage passengers had been watching, and she blushed a little, pleased.

"All right, Miss Imp." Jack lifted Anastasia into his arms, causing her to gasp in surprise. He walked with the girls back to their room.

Chapter Seventeen