A FAMILY AFFAIR
Epilogue
Ardara
Comber, County Down, Ireland
April 24, 1912
"There is not much that I
can really say about my dear friend Thomas. He was a man of great character; a
character that I had come to respect in the years that I knew him. When I came
to Harland and Wolff those many years ago as a mere apprentice, he took me
underneath his wing. He taught me everything there was to know about
shipbuilding. He was very patient with me in that first year, everything
considered. Working so closely with him, I came to admire his talents very much
and wished every day that one day I would be as great of a builder as he. Being
with him in those final moments as the Titanic fell apart around him, he did
not panic, but rather he focused on saving the lives of others. He was a man
who always put the needs of others before his own. Today, as we bid him a safe
journey to his heavenly home, we remember not how he died, but rather we
remember how he lived. May you remain in our hearts forever," Archie said,
completing his eulogy. He said a prayer as he touched Thomas’ powder blue casket
one last time. As he walked back to his seat, he was met by Elizabeth, who was
waiting for him with open arms.
"Thank you, Archie,"
Elizabeth said as she enveloped him in a tight embrace. Arm-in-arm, they walked
back to their place with the family. The priest finished speaking a prayer as
he made the sign of the cross over Thomas’ casket. With that, the funeral
service had concluded. It was now time for the Andrews family to bid one final
farewell to Thomas before he was placed in the family mausoleum at Ardara, the
Andrews family home. Helen was the first to approach Thomas’ casket. Pulling
the black veil from her face, she gazed at her husband’s casket. A tear fell
from her eyes as she touched the casket, rubbing her hand on its smooth
surface. She still could not believe that Thomas was gone. The entire family
had a hard time accepting his death. Helen remembered how John had broken down
and sobbed when he learned that his brother was gone. Everyone reacted to
Thomas’ death differently. His father did not sleep for days, but rather he
would stare out of the window of his study, lost in his thoughts. His mother
spent most of her days in the wake of Thomas’ death comforting her children. As
for Uncle Pierre, he was very distraught to learn not only had he lost the
Titanic, but he lost his beloved nephew. He sent her a letter saying that he
could not bear to attend the funeral. Thomas’ death had affected him so much
that he felt it best that he grieve in private. As for her, she was holding up
as well as could be expected. In her mind, she wanted to give up. There was no
point in living life if she had to do so without Thomas by her side. But her
heart told her that she could not give up, because Elizabeth needed her. After
all, it was in her arms that Thomas took leave of this world. Shaking her mind
free of those thoughts, she lowered her head and placed a kiss on Thomas’
coffin.
"I love you, Thomas. No
matter where you are, I will always love you," Helen said as she kissed
her husband’s coffin one last time. After Helen took her leave, Thomas’ parents
came to bid their son good-bye one last time. Together, they placed their hands
on the coffin and bowed their heads in prayer. Each prayed that God would now
give him peace. Mrs. Andrews also pushed back the veil from her face and
lowered her lips to the casket, kissing her son good night one last time.
Thomas’ parents were followed by his brothers and sister. John had not been
able to stop crying since learning his brother was dead.
"Thomas, please forgive me
for not being a better brother to you," John said as he touched his
brother’s casket. Each of them said good-bye to Thomas and walked away, holding
onto each other for support. They joined their parents and Helen as Elizabeth
stepped up to her father’s casket. Keeping a safe distance, they watched
Elizabeth bid her father farewell.
"Daddy, you have no idea how
much I am going to miss you, your smile, the sound of your voice, or the warmth
of your arms," Elizabeth said as she rested her head on her father’s casket
in the same manner she had rested her head upon his chest the night he died.
She closed her eyes and stood there for what seemed to be an eternity. Then,
raising her head, she placed a long kiss on the coffin at the spot where she
knew her father’s head rested. "I love you so very much, Daddy. I promise
that I will never forget you. There will not be a day that goes by in which I
will not think of you and what you meant to me. One day we will be together
again, but until that day is upon us, rest in peace," Elizabeth said,
wiping the tears from her eyes. As she turned and walked towards her family, a
soft breeze brushed against her face. Elizabeth could feel her father’s
presence in the soft and gentle wind. He would always be there to guide her, no
matter where she went. As she looked back at her father’s casket resting on the
pedestal in front of the mausoleum, she knew she would forever keep the promise
she had made to him the night he became her guardian angel.
The End.