by ID Johnson
She opened the large one first and marveled at the doll. “Now Dolly New Eyes shall have a sister!” she proclaimed. Each of the outfits also made her giddy with excitement until Meg thought the little girl might burst. She ran over to Charlie and flung herself at him, hugging him tightly and thanking him over and over again, proclaiming him the, “Best uncle in the whole world.”
“All right, Ruthie. Take your toys and go to your room so that grownups can talk,” Kelly instructed. “And be careful not to wake your sister.”
“Does she have her own room?” Meg asked as Charlie sat down next to her on the sofa.
Kelly collected the last scraps of wrapping paper and walked toward the kitchen. “She does for now. Lizzie’s crib is in our room, but we’ll move them together when she’s a little older.”
“Your home is so lovely,” Meg said, glancing around.
“Thank you,” Kelly replied, sitting in a chair near the sofa. “Thanks to Charlie.”
He waved her away. “Nonsense. Daniel is doing remarkably well. All of the workers at the factory say he’s just splendid, the best foreman they’ve ever had.”
“He’s working very hard,” Kelly nodded. “He wants to do good work for you. After all you’ve done for us….” Her voice trailed off as if she might get emotional if she wasn’t careful.
“My father is a firm believer that, if you treat workers well, they’re more loyal and will do their best work. I agree.” He said it as if it was obvious to everyone, and yet Meg knew her uncle didn’t have the same philosophy, nor did many other factory owners. Perhaps that’s why Westmoreland Textiles continued to lose business every year.
“We absolutely love it here,” Kelly continued. “I thought we’d be living with my cousin in a little flat across town for a year or so. This is not at all what I had in mind, but it is so much better.”
“Perhaps your cousin needs to find a new place of employment,” Charlie pointed out, hinting that he might be willing to offer her cousin a job.
“I’m sure he’d appreciate an opportunity. He’s a hard worker, too.”
“He’d have to be if he’s your cousin, I suppose,” Charlie said, making Kelly blush.
“The Irish don’t get enough credit for the work we do.”
Meg agreed. She knew there was still a lot of racial tension and hatred against Kelly’s people here, something she didn’t quite understand. She cleared her voice, hoping to change the subject but not wanting to ruin the chipper mood, either. “Have you heard from your mother?”
“Yes,” Kelly nodded, folding her arms across her lap. “I let her know we were all safe, my family that is, and that she shouldn’t worry about you.”
“But she knows we are together, doesn’t she?” Meg asked.
“I never told her for certain before we left what our plan was, but I’m sure she does.”
“And she sent a telegraph back?” Charlie clarified.
“She did. It was short. She only said she was so thankful to hear we were safe. I don’t think she knew for certain what ship we were on, but I’m sure she assumed the worst when she heard about Titanic.”
Meg nodded. It would be just like Patsy to think the worst, though in this case she was right to worry.
Kelly continued. “I’ve sent her some money, but I don’t know that it’s gotten there yet. I’d like for her to be able to stay home now that she’s getting up in years.”
“Of course,” Charlie said quickly. “I’m happy to send her whatever she needs.”
“Oh, no!” Kelly objected. “I didn’t mean… Daniel’s salary is more than enough for us to afford to send some money back home.”
“Nevertheless, if your mother needs anything…”
“You’re too kind, Mr. Ashton,” Kelly said, her face reddening.
“Mr. Ashton?” he repeated, looking at her like she’d lost her marbles. “Kelly, you’re practically family now. Please. If your mother needs anything, I’m happy to help. If she wants to come here, I’m glad to do that as well. Of course, I can’t recommend White Star Line.”
They all chuckled at the joke, but it still stung a bit as well, and Meg remembered her father used to say, “Sometimes you have to laugh so you don’t cry.”
“Have you seen the papers?” Kelly asked, her face quite serious again, and Meg felt her stomach tighten as her friend stared into her eyes.
“What papers?” Meg asked. “The ones about Titanic?’
“No, the ones about you,” she replied, her eyes flittering to Charlie.
“She hasn’t seen them,” he muttered, and Meg realized he must have read the newspapers himself.
“What do they say?” Meg asked, feeling a bit of panic rising in her throat, wondering if someone had discovered where she was or had decided she’d committed some sort of violent crime or other atrocity.
Kelly cleared her throat. “I have one. It’s weeks old, since it had to come across the Atlantic, and we all know how hazardous that can be.”
“May I see it?”
Kelly glanced at Charlie, who nodded at her, and then she crossed to her kitchen and returned in a moment with a well-worn newspaper. Meg pulled her hand away from Charlie’s and took it. The headline read, “Westmoreland Believed to be Dead.” She swallowed hard at a photograph of her uncle’s automobile slammed into the trunk of a tree.
“You can read it if you’d like,” Kelly said as she regained her chair. “Essentially, two days after Titanic sailed, Ezra showed up at your mother’s house, saying you’d stolen Bertram’s auto and forced him and Charlotte to go with you. He said he was finally able to get away from you, but Charlotte stayed, and he didn’t know where you were going. A few days later, they found the auto crashed into a tree near Exeter, and there was blood all over the front seat.”
Meg glimpsed the article briefly but didn’t read it word for word. “And no one knows where Charlotte is?”
“Not the last I heard,” Kelly said, shaking her head.
Meg looked to Charlie, and she could tell by the expression in his eyes he knew more. “What are they saying now?’
He cleared his throat and looked at the floor for a moment. “They think the blood is yours. Possibly Charlotte’s too. But right now, they’re saying she might have killed you and is now running from the law.”
Meg shook her head violently. “That can’t be. I mean—I know, obviously, you’re aware that she didn’t kill me. But Ezra and Charlotte left well before I did, and they took the motor coach.”
“They found your bag, and no one seemed to know the timeline exactly,” Kelly clarified.
That made sense. It was possible no one noticed Ezra and Charlotte left the night before Meg did. For that matter, her mother may have thought she managed to sneak out earlier than when Meg left with Kelly. “What about you?” Meg asked, scanning the article for mention of Kelly and her family.
“My mother told yours we had left for New York once she was certain we were gone. She didn’t tell her we were together. But it was enough that the police aren’t questioning our whereabouts.”
“Doesn’t it seem odd to anyone that this many people have gone missing from the same household in such a short amount of time?”
“Your uncle is under investigation for other reasons now as well,” Charlie explained. “Several women, including some socialites, have accused him of scandalous behavior. The banks are making cases against him for money laundering. So, yes, the police do find it odd that so many people left so quickly.”
Meg was discovering it was difficult to breath. “Do you think… do you think Charlotte is all right?” She was looking at Kelly, but she would’ve taken an answer from anywhere.
“No,” Kelly said, her eyes flickering between Charlie and Meg.
Gulping for breath, Meg said, “Do you think it was an accident?’
“I honestly don’t know,” Kelly said, shrugging, though her eyes revealed she thought otherwise. “You knew Ezra better than anyone. Do you think he
was capable of… hurting her?”
She hadn’t allowed herself to think about Ezra since she’d stepped foot on Titanic. The way he’d treated her had been unfathomable. She would’ve never thought he could use her the way that he did. And yet he had. Was he capable of harming Charlotte? She prayed not, but she didn’t know. “I hope not.” It was the only answer she could muster. “But as long as they assume the blood is mine, they won’t be looking for her properly.”
“That’s a possibility,” Charlie admitted.
“Then… that means I need to reveal my identity,” Meg said with a loud sigh.
“It’s probably for the best.” Charlie’s voice wasn’t as strong and reassuring as she would’ve liked, but she knew he was right. “Meg, you don’t need to worry, though. Nothing can happen to you now. You’re here. You don’t have to go back to Southampton to let everyone know you’re alive, and you’re with me.”
She turned to look at him, fighting back tears. “I do have to go back, Charlie,” she said, her voice shaking. “If others are coming forward and accusing Bertram, I should be there, too. I have more to accuse him of than anyone.”
“Meg,” Kelly interjected, “you can’t be serious. They would put you on a witness stand and make you relive all of those terrible experiences. In front of a crowd of strangers.”
She looked to Charlie, a question in her eyes.
“It’s quite possible,” he agreed. “I know you’re strong enough to do that, Meg, but are you sure it’s worth it? I mean, he’s likely to go to prison for a very long time based on the crimes he’s committed against the banks alone. He’s not a young man. He’ll likely die there.”
The idea of sitting in a room full of strangers and reliving the atrocities her uncle had committed against her made Meg feel like her stomach was caught in a vice. And yet, she couldn’t imagine having other women—ones she knew, ones she’d grown up with—testify to similar events and not stand up with them and speak the truth. “I need to go back.” Her voice was a whisper.
Charlie’s arm was around her shoulders, and he kissed her temple. “Let’s speak to the lawyers about it this afternoon, Meg. You don’t have to make a decision now.”
“Perhaps you can sign some sort of documentation and submit your testimony that way,” Kelly offered, though they all knew that likely wouldn’t be sufficient.
“I need to help Charlotte,” Meg reminded them.
“That you can do from here. We’ll decide how best to announce your presence, and then you can give everyone the true timeline so that Ezra can be questioned. Clearly, he’s made up a story, and the police will want to talk to him again after they know what he’s saying isn’t true.”
“I wonder how much time they’ve to devote to this now. You know we lost over five hundred men when Titanic sank?” Kelly asked, eyeing Meg.
Meg’s eyebrows shot up. “Five hundred? From Southampton?”
“Yes,” Kelly nodded. “Mostly crewmen.”
Meg hadn’t realized that, though it made sense. Her hometown was the last port of call for Titanic before the voyage, though they’d stopped briefly in Cherbourg. The vice grip had let go of her insides, but now she felt as if she might be ill all over Kelly’s pristine carpet.
“Are you all right, Meg? You look a bit… green.”
It was only slightly amusing to her that Charlie was so concerned about her coloring considering how many times recently she’d been worried that he had no color at all. “I’m fine, darling,” she said, quietly.
“I’m sorry what was supposed to be a happy reunion has become so morbid and disconcerting,” Kelly offered. “Let me get you some water.”
Before Meg could even respond whether or not she wanted any, a glass was thrust into her hand. She took a slow sip, and she vaguely heard Kelly going on about how lovely it was to have both cold and hot water from a tap in her very own kitchen, though she supposed it wasn’t really her kitchen since they were only living there on Charlie’s good graces, but it was still nice, as was the radiant heat and the bathroom facilities. They’d also met some lovely neighbors with a daughter Ruth’s age….
Meg knew she was simply trying to draw her attention away from the weighty topics they’d been discussing, but it really wasn’t working. Thoughts of returning to Southampton made her stomach lurch again, especially if the city was broken after such a loss of life. Not to mention she’d have to go by passenger liner, and Charlie had already said he’d never step foot on another ship again, though she thought he might be exaggerating since he did so much business in London.
“Meg?” His voice was soft against her ear. “Would you like to go back to your apartment and lie down for a bit?”
She turned to face him, his lips brushing her cheek as she did so. “I’d like to stay and see Lizzie if we could,” she reminded him.
“I think it might be best if you came back another time. You don’t look well. We can’t both be stumbling about like drunken fools.”
She knew he was teasing, but there was truth behind the statement. Meg was about to protest again when a soft whimper from the back bedroom caught her attention. She looked at Kelly.
“It sounds like the princess might be awake. Let me go see.”
As soon as Kelly was out of the room, Charlie’s lips found hers, and Meg was relieved to have the opportunity to think of nothing but him for a few moments. His hand softly caressed her cheek, and she leaned into him, hoping he understood just how much these stolen kisses meant to her; it wasn’t just the voices in his head that needed taming.
She heard Kelly in the hallway as she spoke in a sing-song voice to her youngest daughter. Ruth’s voice tinkled through the air as well, and Meg managed to pull herself away from Charlie, who straightened her collar and then his own tie, giving her a wink, which made her giggle despite the situation.
“Look who’s here, Lizzie,” Kelly said, stepping around the end of the couch.
The baby’s face lit up, as if she recognized Meg, and as Meg opened her arms, she swung into her embrace. “Hello, sweet girl,” Meg said, and Lizzie cooed at her. “She’s growing so much.”
“I know,” Kelly agreed, standing nearby. “She’ll be scurrying about, running after this one before we know it.”
Ruth made herself comfortable on Charlie’s lap, her new doll clutched to her chest. “Are you leaving soon, Uncle Charlie?”
“I’m afraid so,” he replied, wrapping his arms around her little waist. “Would you like to come and visit at my house one day?”
Ruth’s face lit up as she turned to face him. “Could we?”
“Yes, of course. Any time.”
“She’d get lost in five minutes at your house, I suppose,” Kelly laughed.
“We’ll assign Mr. Jonathan as your personal assistant then,” he said into Ruth’s ear but loudly enough for everyone to hear.
“Mr. Jonaffin is my friend!” Ruth reminded him. “I miss him.”
“I know you do, darling,” Charlie replied. “And he wanted to come, but he’s been quite busy at the factory this week.”
“Daniel mentioned he’d seen him. I’m surprised he’s back to work already.”
“We can’t all lay about all day long without doing anything productive.” Charlie was poking fun at himself, but Meg felt the need to jab him in the side, a reminder that he wasn’t just lying about for the sake of being lazy.
“You do seem much better than the last time I saw you, though your color is still a bit pale,” Kelly observed.
“I feel much better,” Charlie said. “I think I shall go back soon enough.”
“I feel better, too,” Ruth chimed in. “But I have bad dreams sometimes.”
“You do?” Charlie asked, leaning forward so she could see his face when she turned her head.
“Yes. About the boat.”
“Me, too,” Charlie admitted.
“I think we all do, love,” Kelly said. Lizzie made a fussing sound, and Meg handed her back. “Exce
pt this one. I don’t think she has any idea.” She kissed her daughter on the forehead.
“Lucky duck,” Charlie said, as he tickled the babe-in-question’s big sister until she laughed aloud.
Meg didn’t mention that she was also nightmare free when it came to the ship; her nightmares still contained spindly fingers and monsters that shadowed bedroom doors.
“I’m afraid we need to be off,” Charlie said, still looking at Meg with great concern.
She gave him a reassuring smile. “I am a bit tired.”
“It was lovely to see you,” Kelly said, bouncing Lizzie.
Charlie slid Ruth off of his lap onto the couch and stood, offering his hand to Meg, which she used to pull herself up off of the plush sofa.
“Can we really come to your house?” Ruth asked grabbing his other hand.
“You can.” He turned his attention to Kelly. “Ring the house and let them know when you’d like to come over, perhaps sometime next week. You have the number?”
“Yes, it’s over there by the telephone.” Kelly nodded in the direction of the contraption on the wall in the dining room. Meg wondered how she hadn’t noticed it before, as if it was commonplace now.
“It was lovely to see you,” Charlie said, giving Kelly a hug and a peck on the cheek before telling Lizzie goodbye in a sweet voice that made Meg melt just a bit on the inside. He scooped Ruth up and held her for a moment before kissing her cheek and making her promise to be a good girl.
“You don’t have my number, do you?” Meg asked as she hugged Kelly.
“I don’t,” she admitted.
“Just ask the operator for number four-forty-five Fifth Avenue,” Charlie explained.
“That’s a bit of a tongue twister, but I think I have it,” Kelly smiled.
“Goodbye, Aunty Meg,” Ruth said as she extended her hands from Charlie and Meg took her in her arms.
“Goodbye, darling. Be a good girl. I will see you soon.”
“Aunty Meg, don’t be afraid of the next boat. It’ll be safe,” the little girl assured her, and Meg looked at the other two adults in the room, wondering if there was any way Ruth may have overheard their conversation. Their wide eyes told them they didn’t think so. Ruth leaned in so that she was whispering directly into Meg’s ear, her breath tickling her so that she jumped. “Also, don’t worry about the monsters. Uncle Charlie will protect you.”