AN ADVENTURE TO REMEMBER AND A MEMORY TO FORGET
Chapter Eighteen
Harry’s POV
I had my eyes closed, resting
against the wall outside the ship’s hospital. Victoria’s father was inside with
her. It was only after I got still for a moment that I realized how exhausted I
was. With the sinking and working beforehand, I realized I hadn’t slept in over
a day.
"Officer, if I may have a
moment." I opened my eyes to see Victoria’s father coming out of the room.
He motioned for me to follow him. "Are you hungry? Shannon and I did not
get a chance to finish our meal. If you are hungry, I’ll be more than pleased
to buy your breakfast. I’m sure you haven’t eaten yet."
"No, sir, I have not eaten
since dinner last night, and that was a small meal, if anything. With
everything that went on, I am famished."
We walked together in silence
towards the dining room. The waiter led us to the same corner table that they
were at when I first came to get them about Victoria being alive. Mr. Metcalfe
ordered breakfast for both of us. He took a long drink of his coffee before he
started in.
"I just wanted you to know
how much I appreciate what you did for not only Victoria, but Rose, Jack, and
the other three people you saved out of the water. You were the only crew
member to go back and search for survivors. If it hadn’t been for your
generosity and bravery, I’d be preparing to take my daughter home for
burial." Mr. Metcalfe stared down at his coffee cup, preparing what to say
next. "I know buying you breakfast is a small token of my gratitude, but
what is the going rate for saving my daughter? I also know that Victoria has
feelings for you. While I originally objected to her feelings, I realize that
she is an adult and is capable of making her own decisions." He stopped to
take another drink of his coffee. "I wanted to invite you here today to
not only thank you for what you’ve done, but also to find out what your
intentions are towards her. She is my daughter, and I know you care about her,
but it is my duty as her father to protect her as much as I can. I do not wish
to see her hurt or harmed in any way."
I was floored at what I was just
told. I stared down at the water glass in front of me, unsure as to how to
answer. "Mr. Metcalfe, I…" I was interrupted.
"Please, call me James. You
have saved my daughter’s life. I believe we are on a first name basis."
I continued again. "All
right, James. Then please call me Harold, or Harry. Victoria has taken to
calling me Harry. I do have sincere feelings for your daughter. Sir, I love
her. I do realize that it’s only been a few days that we’ve known each other.
When I pulled her out of the water, she was barely conscious. Rose’s friend,
Jack, was holding her, trying with all his might to keep her warm. When I
lifted her out of his arms and into mine, I thought she was gone. The icy
waters of the North Atlantic had almost claimed another life. I felt a fear
that I had never felt before. If I could have traded places with her, I would
have. I would have given my life in order for hers to be saved. As I held her,
trying to breathe some sort of life and warmth back into her, I prayed a prayer
that God would save her. He did. God saved her. She slowly began to regain
consciousness with me in the boat. It wasn’t until we brought her on board the
Carpathia that she began to speak and move around. I thought I had lost her. In
that one moment, nothing else mattered. Not my job, not my health, not anything
else. The only thing that mattered was getting Victoria on board and getting
her medical help. When the doctor came in to check her out, he asked Rose,
Jack, and me to step outside. Those five minutes seemed like a lifetime. When
he came out to tell me that she was going to be okay, a huge burden was lifted
off of me. I knew she was going to be all right."
James was speechless. I could
tell by the expression in his eyes that I had impressed him, not only by
rescuing Tory, but by the heartfelt emotion that I had just laid out on the
table. I was nervous as I waited for his response.
"I must say, Harold, I have
been alive for a number of years now. I loved my wife, Victoria and Shannon’s
mother, with all I had. When she passed on after Shannon was born, my whole
world came crashing down. It was the most depressing time for me. Just one look
into Victoria’s eyes and then seeing Shannon helped me out of it. What I am
trying to say is that I see the same look in your eyes that I had for my wife.
It was a love that was so pure, so true, that it only happens once in a
lifetime. I see that same love between you and Victoria. While it may not be
that deep now, given time I believe it will develop into that."
I slowly nodded my head, trying
to take in what was being said to me. Did I tell him I had asked Victoria to
marry me when I rescued her? If I did, how would he react? I decided to go all
out. "James, you asked me about my intentions. I would like to ask for
your daughter’s hand in marriage." I stopped to watch his expression.
After seeing it, I figured he knew that was coming. "I love your daughter.
I love her very much. Just the thought of losing her scared me. I am asking for
your permission to marry your daughter."
James took a bite of his
breakfast. He chewed slowly and washed it down with another sip of coffee.
"I had a feeling this was coming. This is the moment that I have been
dreading ever since my girls were born. It is a moment that one parent can
never fully prepare for." He stopped again to take a bite of his eggs.
"You have my permission. Victoria is happy when she is with you. And given
the fact that you saved her life, I can think of no better way to repay you. My
daughter’s happiness seems to be a small way I can repay you. With it being so
soon, though, that you are wanting to marry Victoria, I must ask you to promise
me to take care of her."
I nodded my head. "Yes, sir.
You have my word on that. I realize that it has only been a few days, but I
will take care of her in a way which she has never experienced before."
James smiled. "I also hear
that Rose and her gentleman friend are planning a wedding, as well?"
"Yes, sir, they are. Jack
has made Rose happier. I have only known her as long as I have known Victoria,
but I remember her boarding. She was unhappy, sad, and one could say depressed.
I was present the night of her accident, and I saw something change in her when
Jack rescued her from the stern. I saw it again the night that Jack joined your
group for dinner. Jack awakened something in Rose that I am betting she didn’t
even know existed. I, for one, am glad Jack was there that night. Otherwise,
Rose would have been a very unhappy woman for the rest of her life."
James nodded. "I understand.
I know that the only reason Rose was going to marry Cal was because of
society’s way of doing things. That girl has always had a passionate fire about
her, in much the same way Victoria does. That might be the reason why they hit
it off so well when they were on board the Titanic. Two spirits in much the
same predicament came together to help each other out. I must say, I do need to
thank Mr. Dawson for what he did for both Victoria’s sake and for Rose’s. Had
it not been for Mr. Dawson keeping my daughter warm until you got to her, she
might not have made it." James got still. I saw a tear form in the corner
of his eye. He was quick to look out the window of the Carpathia to keep me
from seeing him cry. "I do apologize for the emotions."
"No need to apologize. I am
sure that once everything catches up to me, I’ll be in the same predicament as
you are. You came awfully close to losing a daughter. I came awfully close to
losing the woman I love. While that cannot compare, I do understand. It’s been
an emotional time for everyone on board the Titanic." I stopped speaking
in order to take a drink of my water. "And for most of us, the effects of
the amount of real damage has yet to sink in."
James stood up when he was
finished eating. "If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to speak to my daughter
one more time before I go rest."
I nodded my head and watched him
walk off towards the ship’s hospital.
Victoria’s POV
"What do you think is
happening with your father and Harold?"
I looked at Rose as she spoke.
"I don’t know. I hope Father’s not mad at Harold. He did nothing wrong. In
fact, if it wasn’t for him coming back to get the three of us, we wouldn’t be
here. He not only saved me, but he saved you and Jack, as well."
Rose stared at the wall a moment
before she said anything. "I bet he’s going to ask your father to marry
you."
My eyes got wide as I looked at
my friend. "No! It’s too soon! Father would never allow me to marry him
this soon. We’ve only known each other for a couple of days."
"But I know what happened
between the two of you on board. The same thing happened to Jack and me. If
your father…"
I interrupted her. "I don’t
know what you’re talking about." I had a smile on my face.
Rose looked at me. "Liar.
You know just what I am talking about."
I shook my head. "I’m not
saying a word. It’s not proper for us to talk about things of this
nature."
Rose got up to walk over to the
door. "To hell with being proper. Who’s going to stop me now? I can do as
I want, when I want."
Jack stuck his head inside the
door as Rose got finished speaking. "Well, you can do what you want as
long as it’s okay with me."
Rose gave Jack a playful shove.
"We’re going to go find our cabins. The passengers on board have been
gracious enough to let some of us stay with them and have donated clothing for
us, as well." Rose looked down at what was once a beautiful,
pastel-colored gown. It was ripped on one side and the sash was missing.
"Anything is better than this, which is a constant reminder of my old
life."
I tried to get up. Rose told me
to lie back down and wait on my father to come get me.
"Will you at least let me
know what room you’re in?"
Rose nodded as she and Jack
walked out the door.
I heard them talking to someone
in the hall, and Father walked in.
"Father. I did not expect to
see you so soon."
He pulled a chair up next to me
and looked directly at me as he spoke. "Victoria, I have just become
informed of Officer Lowe’s intentions towards you." He stopped to look at
me. "I understand the two of you are in love."
I nodded my head slowly.
"Yes, Father. I do love him. I know it’s only been a few days, but I feel
as if I have known him forever. He saved my life in more ways than just pulling
me out of the water. I learned a lot about living from him while on
board."
"I thought you should know
that Officer Lowe has asked for my permission to marry you."
I thought to myself that Father
would never allow it.
"I also wanted to let you
know that I have said yes."
I jumped up to hug Father.
"Thank you!" I kissed him on the cheek.
"Just be careful. I know he
loves you. But promise me you won’t let him hurt you."
"Never. Harry could never do
that to me. He doesn’t have it in him."