AN ADVENTURE TO REMEMBER AND A MEMORY TO FORGET
Chapter Four
It pained me to have to leave
her, but duty did beckon. I watched her walk off. I almost walked into a door.
That would have been smart. But then again, I would have been injured. And an
injury always brings sympathy. And sympathy would be good in a time like this.
I was dying to get closer to her. I wanted to find out what it was about
Victoria that held my interest.
My thoughts were interrupted by
my name being called out.
"Lowe! Where have you been!
We’ve got to get ready to set sail. While you’re out mingling with the
passengers…"
I turned around to face Second
Officer Charles Lightoller. He was known to be in a bad mood especially on the
first days of the trip when he was away from his family.
"Relax Charlie. I’ve got
everything under control." I slapped him on the shoulder as I walked past
him into the control room of the ship. He walked behind me.
"I saw you with Metcalfe’s
daughters. Lovely girls aren’t they?"
I knew Lightoller was trying to
get information out of me. Even though he’d never admit it, he did look out for
me with him being the senior officer on board and all.
"Yes. Captain Smith sent me
to the docks to await their arrival after Moody needed help corralling steerage
passengers. They are both charming, especially Victoria. She’s a very refined
lady who is going to make some lucky chap a very nice wife."
"Forget it. You need to
concentrate more on your work and less on the girl. Besides, she’ll be around
the ship. It’s not like she’s going to jump off or something." He laughed
and walked off.
I figured Lights would give me
his standard "White Star Line was paying me to work for them" speech
he gives all the newbies, but I figured since I sailed with him so many times
before, I didn’t need to hear it. So grudgingly, I helped the other officers
begin securing the ship and getting ready to set sail. I knew we had a stop in
Cherbourg around dinner, so maybe I will get a chance to see her again.
As I walked to the control room,
I saw Captain Smith. I’ve been doing it now for over fourteen years. But just
hearing the engines roar to life and watching the ship turn and set sail to
open water does something for me every time. When Captain Smith is in charge,
many passengers feel safe. He’s had so many trans-Atlantic sailings under his
belt and with the safety record he has, just the mention of his name puts even
the most skittish passengers at ease.
But so does a certain first class
passenger. She put my mind at ease just by remembering seeing her with her head
back, smile on her face as the sun warmed her pale cheeks.
"Officer Lowe. Welcome
aboard Titanic. I wasn’t aware you were sailing with us." Captain Smith
had a voice that calmed even by speaking. He held out his hand.
"I got my orders last week.
It was short notice, but I am glad to be aboard. I look forward to going to
America for the first time." I shook his hand and he excused himself to
talk to Moody and Boxhall who were discussing course navigations. Their conversation
sounded boring, so I left the room to do a general check out of the rest of the
ship. I could get a lowdown on the navigations later on from Lights.
I had more important things on my
mind. I was hoping to run into Victoria again before dinner was served.
A man can dream, can’t he?