by Tonie Chacon
“Thanks and goodbye,” she said and left to go up top to watch the ferry leave. She skipped the freight elevator and took the inside stairs to E deck then went down the hall to the passenger elevator to go up two more flights. She got out on C deck and went through the door to fresh air. She moved to the railing and stared out at Queensland. Her first, but certainly not her last country. It didn’t look to be more royal than any other land by the seashore. Why name this piece of land for the Queen when she probably didn’t even know it existed? All these questions and no one to answer them. Megan sighed and gave a small wave toward the America for Lucas.
ALICE FOUND MEGAN staring out toward Queensland from the railing on the port side. It was their last port of call before New York. “There you are, Megan. We’ve been looking for you, haven’t we, Franny?”
“Sure, but only you have been looking for her. I’m just here with you.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter,” Megan said. “I’m happy you found me. I was just watching the last bit of land we shall see for days now. Come have a gander.” Megan turned back around to face the ocean. “Soon all we shall see is water. Water, water and more water. And then, a little piece of land that gets bigger and bigger, like that one is getting smaller and smaller. Soon, my friends, we shall see that lady statue that France gave to the Americas. A new beginning, a new life.”
Alice laughed at Megan. “You should go into politics. You certainly have the bluster.” Alice grew wistful. “I’ve been to America, you know,” she said. “I was born there.”
”Really?”
“I lived the first ten years of my life there. Then there was a terrible carriage accident. Both my mother and father died. I was thrown out the back and landed in a bramble bush. It cushioned my flight but still scarred me in both my body and my soul. After that, I was sent to England to my godparents, the Cheswicks, Lanie and Fletcher. I’ve been with them ever since. My life with them is where most of my memories are from. I don’t really remember my parents very much anymore, mostly just as a presence that I felt.”
“Lanie?”
“Helene. I couldn’t say my H’s very well back then, but Lanie came out and it stuck.”
Frances rolled her eyes. “My mother finds it adorable.”
“What else do you remember?” Megan asked.
“Well, I remember when Frances was a child. Such a little fuss. Not so different from now, I expect.”
Frances chimed in, “But haven’t I been a delight for you to adore and play with and dress up and put fro froes on and be your living doll? Which I love doing. Don’t get me wrong. I just wish you wouldn’t look at me like I was your little sister. I want it to be so much more than just your sister.”
“You are, silly. You are my best friend. Who else can claim that title?”
“I guess.”
Megan watched them with a little smile. “You remind me of me and my sister,” Megan said. “Which is not that much different than having a brother, let alone four brothers. It’s about right and wrong. Who is right and who is wrong.”
“No, that isn’t what I’m talking about,” Alice said. “It is about choice of family. My family was given to me by circumstance originally and by choice now. Sometimes you get to choose your own family. By heart, not by blood.”
Megan said, “Is that why you are still with them? You are nearly of my age and yet still unmarried like me. I’ve been working. Has that been your choice also?”
Alice took Megan’s arm and linked hers into it. “Of course, silly. I have had offers, you know, but none I liked. I’m tired of staring at the water. Let’s go play in water.”
“What a grand idea,” Frances said. “I’ll let Momma know what we’re doing and will meet you both at the pool in a half hour.”
ALICE AND MEGAN arrived at their cabin the same time as a young woman coming from the other direction.
“Excuse me, por favore. Oui?” The young lady stumbled with her wordage.
“You must be Alexandria,” Megan said as they all entered the room. “I didn’t even hear you come in last night. I’m pleased to meet you. My name is Megan Mahoney, and this is Alice Pearce. We’re your cabin mates. My brother, Colin, told me about you.”
“Your brother?” Alexandria looked bewildered. “How does your brother know of me?”
“It’s a bit complicated,” Megan said laughing. “I’ll let him explain. He’s one of your father’s friends. He’s playing tonight in the lounge. You should hear him play the violin. Now that is beautiful. You should join us.”
“Oh, I would like this very much. Perhaps later on this evening. No?”
“Yes, he will be playing in the First Class lounge,” Megan replied.
“For, you see, my father is soon to arrive and escort me around the ship to meet people. The important ones like his first mate and sorts. He is very proud and wants to show me off. I am also thrilled. But I shall see you both tonight?”
“Yes, that’s correct,” Alice piped in. She already had her swimming clothes in her hand. “Come along then, Megan?” Alice all but pushed her out the door.
Megan grabbed her pantaloons as she was swept away. She turned back to Alexandria and said, “Goodbye. I’ll come find you tonight.”
Alice shut the door behind them.
“Alice, wait up. Alice, please slow down. Alice?” Megan stopped where she was. Alice stopped too and turned around to face her. “Are you nervous, Alice? Is that why you ran out of there, practically dragging me? I thought she was pretty, and I loved her accent, and did you see that dress she was wearing?”
Alice moved to a deck chair. She sat down with a small thud. “Oh, why do I run when I’m uncomfortable? I think it’s when I have nothing to say that would be sensible. I am so sorry you had to witness this weakness of mine. It makes me feel so vulnerable.”
”If you just need to sit for a while, we can do just that. We can make Frances wait a little bit longer. And who says it’s a weakness?” Megan asked.
Alice said, “You’re so easy to talk to and I do need to talk about things going on. Mostly in my own mind, but still. I’m feeling very alone at this point in my life. I mean, here I am, old enough that I should be married, but I don’t want that.”
“What do you want?”
“I want a person I can call my own. Someone who thinks about me as much as I think about them. Do you even think that’s possible?” Alice was looking so earnestly at Megan. “Think, think, think, now I sound like you.” Alice laughed at her own admission. “I don’t really belong with the Cheswicks. I’m old enough I should be married and have babies. I’m returning to a homeland I can’t remember very well, and I’m still so wishy-washy in my own actions and words. I’m sorry. I’m a mess.”
Megan moved over and sat next to Alice. She held out her arms and Alice scooted over to be in them. She started crying and Megan let her. After a little bit, Megan reached into her pocket and pulled out a clean but well-worn handkerchief and handed it to her.
“I don’t even know why I’m crying,” Alice said. “I have so many emotions running through me I can’t see straight. Thank you for the much needed shoulder.”
“It’s all right. I always have a shoulder you can lean on or cry on in this case.” Megan patted Alice’s shoulder as they stood and resumed walking toward the swimming pool.
“It’s time for women only at the pool, isn’t it?” Alice asked.
“I think the women have it from three to five p.m. Just in time for the dinner appetizer time.”
“That makes this even more fun. I hope Franny finds us soon. Here we are.”
“OH, PAPA, IT is all so beautiful, and the Captain was oh, so very nice. I liked his beard. So trim.”
Her father laughed. She liked his laugh, a jolly ’ho ho’ like Kris Kringle. He took her around to all decks of the ship, introducing her to everyone. Alexandria was having a marvelous time meeting everyone. He was a well-liked chap. He pointed out various things he either construct
ed or helped build. “And this is the Palm Room. Care for a cup of tea? Some cakes? We can sit here.” He indicated a table in front of him.
Alexandria sat and looked all about. The white wicker furniture was like something back home at an outdoor café, so she felt right at home. Such a wonderful ship this was.
“Yes, please Papa, I would like this very much.” It somehow felt more right to call him Papa than Jacob.
As their pot of tea was delivered to them, Alexandria wondered how he would fix his cup. Will he fix it like Mama did, with a little cream but a great deal of sugar, or like she did with a lot of cream but very little sugar?
She smiled watching him fix his tea. He grabbed the sugar bowl, placed one cube of sugar into his cup, and then proceeded to fill the empty space of the cup with cream. He stirred to get it a cloudy brown and took a sip, swallowed, and said, “Ahhh.”
Alexandria giggled. “You are like me, no? Or I am like you. We both like little sugar but a lot of cream.”
Jacob joined in with her laughter. “So right you are.”
A young man stopped outside the window of the café and waved to Jacob. A moment later, he stood at their table. He nodded to Jacob and smiled shyly at Alexandria.
“Hello again,” he said.
Alexandra looked at Jacob, puzzled. Had they met?
“This is my pal Colin,” Jacob said. “He helped with your boarding yesterday.” Jacob gestured for Colin to join them.
“Aye, I had to,” Colin said. He pulled a chair up to the table and sat down. “If I’d left it to him, you’d have been bundled aboard like a sack of mail. Let me welcome you aboard proper.”
He held out his hand and, when Alexandria placed her fingers in his, he smiled brightly. He shook it up and down and released it as if it were hot. “You’ve met my sister by now, I hope?”
“Your sister?” Alexandria wondered for a moment what he meant, but then it came to her. “Oh, but of course. You resemble her very much. Your sister’s name is Magan, yes?”
“No, it’s Megan, like an egg sound.”
“Oh, Meegan,” Alexandria said smiling.
“No, not mee like mi, mi, mi, mi, miiii.” He broke out in song and a wonderful vibrato came at the end. “It’s like the egg, you have heard that long ago question, which came first, the chicken or the egg? ’Tis a vicious circle, one may never know.”
All three laughed at the joke, bonding them at Megan’s expense.
So this was her cabin mate’s brother. Megan hadn’t mentioned how handsome Colin was. Of course, she might not know. He was just her brother, after all. Alexandria could notice for both of them. Alexandria smiled at her father and Colin, talking about the ship and passengers, the mail and his violin, which never left his side. She listened and watched. Her life was so changed from only two days ago.
She thought of her mother and felt a deep pang that she would never see her again. She hoped Mama was at peace now after sending Alexandria off to be with Jacob.
Alexandria, at least, was glad. Her thoughts were interrupted by Colin asking, “Would you like me to finish escorting you around the ship? I’m sure your father has important things he could be catching up on? Hmm?”
“Do you have duties you need to attend to?” Alexandria asked Jacob. “I will be fine with Mr. Mahoney, if you need to see to them.” She smiled over at Colin.
Jacob leaned over and grabbed her hand. “Seeing you happy makes a man proud. Do well by her, lad. I’ll be seeing you both then later.”
Jacob left.
Alexandria smiled at Colin. “What part of the ship are you going to show me? I thought I’d seen everything.”
“Well now, did your Pa show you the library?”
Alexandria shook her head.
“It’s quite pretty with all the books lined up just so,” Colin said. “It’s a quiet place where we could spend some time together, getting to know each other a little better. All right?”
Alexandria tucked her arm into his and let herself be swept along, double timing her steps to keep up.
He stopped, dropped her hand from his arm and said with an apologetic face, “I’m going too fast for your legs. I’m sorry and will slow down to a stroll. I’m not on the clock at the moment. I want to enjoy my time with you.”
Alexandria smiled up at him. “I’d like that too. The library sounds grand. Shall we?” She tucked her arm in his, once again, and they strolled off.
Chapter Thirteen
11 April 1912 — At sea
EMILY FOUND THE three women at the pool, just as Helene had said.
They were such a sight to behold. Three lovely ladies, all unaware of their beauty and half nakedness. Titanic, you seem to keep outdoing yourself for my pleasure. Emily’s thoughts made the insides of her crotch tingle.
She placed a huge smile on her face as she entered the room and greeted them. “Ladies.”
Her three friends looked over at her, all smiling at first, though Alice seemed to remember that she had left Emily last night in a huff and looked away. Several women at the other end of the pool, all much older, looked also and turned away, ignoring the young women. Bright sun shone through the portholes onto the water, and the reflections cast sparkles all about the pristine white walls.
Emily removed her wrap to reveal her pantaloons and took a step into the water. “Brrr. This thing may be heated, but it’s not quite warm, is it? Did you all plunge in or was it slow and torturing? Hmm?” The water was up to her crotch. It seeped through her clothing as she entered the pool. She brought her hands up to cover her bosom and calm her nipples. They were hard as rocks. She didn’t need the whole world to know how she was feeling.
She crossed over to the other women. Frances and Megan were busy playing some sort of twist game. Together they were making little eddies, swirling around as each girl, in turn, stayed in the middle and spun. Their laughter was loud and boisterous, echoing in the cavernous room.
Emily watched Alice. She had drawn herself away from the other women when Emily entered the room. She had a prim expression on her face, but Emily noticed that her eyes kept wandering to Emily’s wet pantaloons. Emily removed her hands from her bosom. She didn’t need the whole world to know how she was feeling, but Alice was a different matter. She saw Alice’s lips part in a gasp. Her eyes swept up to Emily’s, and Emily smiled.
The staid older women climbed out of the pool, their clumsy Victorian bathing suits hanging heavy and dripping. They frowned at the girls and left. Good. Now they had the place almost to themselves.
Emily got out of the water, donned her robe, reached for her purse, and walked over to the attendant. “Be a dear and go have dinner, early,” she said under her breath, handing the woman the bribe. “You have a good half hour ’til the next shift.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the attendant said. She scurried away. She didn’t even look behind her to see if the door closed.
Emily assessed the others in their wet swimming pantaloons. Frances, now she was a beauty. A little young but that had never stopped Emily from pursuing a romp. Her wet clothes clung to her tight little body like a glove, with no imagination needed. Megan, on the other hand, was too innocent for Emily’s taste. Mind you, she too was a looker, with those long limbs and animated style, but she wasn’t for Emily.
Alice took the cake. She was the one Emily wanted. She stood there, dripping wet, little droplets suspended on her tit, dripping off every few seconds. Oh, if only Alice would let her use her tongue to catch those drips. Emily shook her head and turned, taking off her robe.
Emily tossed her robe on a chair and threw her arms wide. “Now then, this place is ours for the next—”
She was interrupted by the dinner gong.
“For heaven’s sake.”
“They’re calling the horses to feed again,” Frances said.
“Good,” Megan said. “I’m starving.”
Frances and Megan pulled themselves out of the pool and headed toward the changing rooms.
<
br /> Emily stood with her hands on her hips and looked at Alice, who remained in the water. “Well, I don’t want to leave yet. Care to stay with me Alice?”
Alice plunged under the water and came up sputtering. “I’ve wanted to put my head underwater this whole time. It felt so freeing there, under water, I mean. Now I’ll have to wash my hair. Um, Emily, will you help me with my hair in a little while? I don’t want to get out just yet either. You two run along. We’ll catch up with you both at the dining lounge in a bit. All right?”
Emily replied quickly, “Of course I’d be delighted to assist you. You two go on and we will catch up with you after dinner.”
“But when will you eat?” Megan asked.
“In a while,” Alice said. “Meanwhile, you go on up and meet the Cheswicks for dinner and tell them we will be along shortly.”
“If that means that I can eat in First Class again, I am all for it. Come on Franny.”
“No one calls me Franny, except Alice.”
“No one?”
“Well, not until now.” Frances giggled, grabbed Megan’s hand, and pulled her toward the changing rooms. “Meet you in a few minutes.”
ALICE WATCHED EMILY slip into the water on the opposite side of the pool and face her. They were the only two people in the room.
“Can you feel that?” Emily asked softly.
“Feel what?” Alice asked. She wondered if Emily could feel the beating of her heart from across the pool. They said that sound travels easier through water. Maybe vibrations did too.
“The feeling of the ship’s aura,” Emily said. She stroked gently toward Alice. “It has slowed down. Everyone must be getting ready for dinner.”