FLORA
Chapter One

Flora Cartwright hesitated momentarily before she stepped into the lifeboat. Her heart was beating a mile a minute and her mind was whirling from all the confusion that was around her. People frightened to death of what was happening and even worse what would happen, it all was a jumble to her now. It almost scared her more to step into this small, crowded boat than to stay on this big ship, but deep down she knew she had to do it.

Quickly she looked back at her Uncle Christopher, who had turned his back so he didn't have to watch her go. Flora knew that she was leaving behind the only known relative she had, and that made tears come to her eyes, but still she knew she had to survive this no matter how much she wanted to die also.

At sixteen she was expected in this high-class society to have no fears and act like an adult, but she still had the fears of a child. And now more than ever she felt this emotion to the core of her soul.

Even though she felt all alone in this world, she couldn't very well give up now. She had fought too hard to survive since her parents had died four years earlier, and she didn't want to share their fate. And now that the last of her Cartwright family members stood on a sinking ship she knew that if the name that had been preserved through this much tragedy could go on still, she would have to carry it.

"Ma'am, get into the boat please." The man helping the ladies into the lifeboat had stepped inside himself, and held his hand out for Flora to take. She turned her tear-streaked face to him. His kind eyes begged her to get in, and even though she couldn't remember seeing them before, they calmed her fears. His young face smiled at her, and cautiously at first, then willingly, she took his hand firmly, and with the other held up the hem of her expensive dress.

As she stepped into the boat, her heeled shoes tripped her and she fell directly into the arms of the kind young man helping her. She grabbed his arms, and when she lifted her face it was only inches apart from his concerned eyes.

"Are you all right, miss?" Flora nodded and then the man brought her to a seat next to his, and then nodded to the officer, who motioned for the boat to be lowered.

Flora watched as she went further and further away from the first class deck. She hardly noticed how cold she was in her short sleeves until a coat was placed over her shoulders. Surprised, Flora looked up to see the young man's face again.

"No, no, you need it as much as I do!" She brushed a lock of her chestnut hair from her eyes, making eye contact with the man next to her.

"I insist." He noticed that she was again about to refuse. "I feel better knowing it's on you." Flora saw it was useless to fight him, so sat still without another word for a few minutes.

"Thank you, sir." As the boat began to row farther and farther from Titanic, Flora took a last look at the magnificent ship, which was full of grandeur and elegance now retreating into the water. One end was sinking rapidly, the other rising higher in the air. She could hardly believe what she saw.

"Matthew Cambridge is my name, ma'am. You can call me Matthew. Formalities are not needed now." Flora pried her eyes from the sight before her and looked to Matthew.

"I'm Flora. Hello." She reached her hand out, which he took, squeezing it gently with a small smile.

It seemed then that all those in the lifeboats turned dreadfully quiet. It was almost as if they could sense the end of the great luxury liner coming. While those in the lifeboats were silent, those still aboard the Titanic began to scream and get hysterical when they realized all the lifeboats were gone.

It was the calm before the storm. Flora knew what would come next, and when darkness overcame her she welcomed it, falling back into Matthew's arms.

*****

When Flora awoke she was already aboard another ship, in a warm cot in the corner of a big room. People were bustling around, bringing soup to the other patients aboard. In the cot next to her was a young man, deathly pale and completely still. A bit worried that she had been put with the dead, she became frightened.

Flora strained to sit up, her body sore from the exertion. She began to get light headed from her efforts, and suddenly she heard a voice call to her.

"Flora, you're too weak still. Lay back down!" When she looked up the familiar face of Matthew was before her, approaching with a bowl of soup in hand.

"I'm fine now, really!" Matthew shook his head, then seeing the determination in her eyes, helped her until she was in a sitting position.

"You are stubborn, you know that Flora?" Despite how much it had hurt to sit up, she smiled widely.

"I know!" Matthew mumbled something inaudibly, beginning to thrust a spoonful of the soup toward her mouth.

"You've given me enough trouble, will you at least eat this without a fight?" Flora nodded, taking the hot liquid into her mouth, relishing how it warmed her body.

"It's feels wonderful! Tell me, Mr. Cambridge, why are you still with me? Didn't you have family aboard?" Flora's voice had always been naturally soft, but even more so now that sick people surrounded her.

"No, no family aboard. I am…well, was a White Star Line employee. I don't know if my job is still intact, but didn't really like it anyway." Flora for the first time noticed the British accent he spoke with, and it sounded familiar to her. She searched his face, trying to remember where she had seen him aboard the ship. When the realization came to her, she again smiled.

"Oh, you were one of the doormen! To the first class dining room!" Matthew nodded, offering her a drink of coffee, which she happily accepted.

"Yep, that was me. The doorman." Flora sensed he was a bit offended, and automatically felt bad.

"Oh, I hope I didn't offend you. I meant it only in a good way." Matthew nodded, taking the bowl away when she motioned him to do so.

"I know. And what about your family? I searched all of the surviving first class passengers and no one claimed to be with you." Flora lowered her eyes, the tears she had tried to keep from flowing now beginning to fight for freedom. With much strength, she held them back.

"My parents died four years ago. I was traveling with my uncle back home to New York. He was the last family member I had. He was my father's brother. Everyone else has either been lost over time or is dead."

Matthew's face showed incredible concern, and he gently took her hand. "I'm sorry. You mean that you're alone in the world? No one to take care of you? How about orphanages?" Flora looked back up to him, shaking her head.

"I'm sixteen. A bit old. Anyhow, I would never go to one of those places. I'll be fine." Matthew looked unconvinced as he handed her the coffee cup again.

"Your uncle must have left you money in his will, shouldn't he have?" Flora nodded, again lowering her eyes.

"He was keeping my parents fortune as well as his. It all is to go to me, he made that clear in his will."

"Still, where will you stay? Don't you have any of those rich people as friends that could take you in?" Flora shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.

"We never really associated with those people. Not since Mama and Daddy died. Uncle Christopher despised them! He kept to himself a lot. Never really was social like that. There is a house in London that he owned. The place in New York he just sold not long ago, he was coming to sign the papers over to the new owners. I guess I'll have to do that now." Matthew was touched by this young woman's courage, and by how she was willing to take over the responsibilities of her dead uncle.

"Forgive me for asking, Flora, but were you…engaged to any one?" Flora looked surprised at the question, but still shook her head in answer.

"No, I wasn't. Uncle Christopher didn't believe in making me marry anyone I didn't want to marry." Matthew nodded, a bit relieved but also upset that she really didn't have anyone in the world.

"So you're truly alone." Flora smiled cheerfully through her tears.

"Don't look so sad, Matthew. Some people might not be able to handle it, but I'm used to it. I can make it through anything now." There was silence a moment before a loud, booming voice was heard in the room. It was that of a woman, greeting everyone as she came into the room. Flora recognized it as that of the only person her uncle ever associated with in polite society, and a smile spread across her face.

"Molly? Is she really still alive?" Matthew looked surprised as he glanced to see Mrs. Brown at the other end of the room.

"You know her?"

"Yes. Uncle Christopher adored her! Oh, please, will you get her, Matthew?" Matthew quickly obliged, rushing to the side of Mrs. Brown, who sat talking with a sick young man, kindness in her voice.

"Mrs. Brown? May I speak to you?" Molly turned to see a handsome young man, with dark brown hair and beautiful green eyes, which seemed to plead with her.

"Yeah, sonny, sure. What is it?" Her normally loud voice lowered when she took him to the side and looked directly at him.

"My name is Matthew Cambridge, and I worked on Titanic, but what I want to talk to you about is a young lady. She says you knew her uncle, Christopher Cartwright?" Molly's face automatically lit up with the mention of his name, and then she grabbed Matthew's arm.

"Are you speaking of Flora? Did she live?" Matthew was relieved that he had found someone that knew her.

"Yes, she did! She's right over there. A bit weak still, but she's all right! Her uncle died though."

"Oh, and he was all she had! Christopher used to worry so about what would happen if he died! Her parents are both dead, you know! Marie, her mama, died giving birth to a boy four years ago. The babe died too. And Robert shot himself not a week after it happened. He never was right in the head, God rest his soul! Little Flora, well, she went to her grandma's, but she died not a month after, and then finally to Christopher's, where she has been all this time. She must be crazy with grief." Matthew felt even sadder for Flora after hearing her whole story. He knew what it was like to lose someone close to you. A year before his wife and daughter had died of tuberculosis, and the pain had been unbearable. Luckily, he had had more strength then Flora's father had.

"I know she is, but she won't show it. I'm worried that she's keeping it all bottled up inside. I was hoping that maybe if you stay with her a while she will tell you what she's feeling." Molly nodded her agreement, then with a sly smile looked up at Matthew.

"Will you tell me why an employee on a ship has taken so much interest in little Flora?"

"I just want to make sure she is all right, that's all." Matthew tried to convince himself that was all, but he knew the truth must show in his eyes.

"That could be. But maybe, could it be that little Flora ain't so little no more?" Matthew's guilty eyes met with Molly's, both knowing the truth but not saying it.

"She's over there." Matthew pointed the corner where Flora was, and Molly started her way, a sly smile the only good-bye Matthew got.

*****

Finally Flora lay asleep in her warm cot. Molly had ordered another blanket be brought for the girl, and even though they had to search high and low they had found one for her.

Flora had let out all the pent-up emotion that was held inside of her, and had had a good cry. Her eyes now were red and puffy from the exertion, but they were in a restful sleep. It had been all Molly could do to not join in with her crying. It seemed unfair to her that someone as gentle and kind as Flora Cartwright had to suffer this much in her few years of life. Now was the time she was supposed to be having fun, being a teenager, but instead she had to find a way to survive without anyone.

Molly took that back. Flora had her, and she had told her that while Flora had used her shoulder to cry on. She wasn't about to let this girl go through the world alone. Until she could find her way on her own, preferably with a husband to care for her, she would stay with Molly. Flora wasn't the type of person that could make it through life alone, completely unlike Molly who didn't mind living without a husband. Flora would have to have someone to love her unconditionally, a man to take care of her when she got weak.

Molly smiled at the thought that maybe that wasn't too far off. If the way that Matthew Cambridge had taken care of her was any indication of his feelings, then they were strong. Even Flora talked about him with that glitter in her eyes, saying how kind he had been to her and how he had taken care even though he didn't know her at all, except for her name.

With a sigh, Molly stood up, a bit curious as to what the story of Mr. Matthew Cambridge was. With determination, she set out to find him and get the story straight from him.

*****

Molly found him sitting out on the deck with a few of the officers from Titanic that had survived, and a few men that were workers on the Carpathia. All the men stood when they noticed the presence of a lady, and Matthew stepped forward a step.

"Is Miss Cartwright all right, ma'am?" Molly nodded, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Yep, fine. Can we speak a moment, Mr. Cambridge?" Matthew nodded, saying his good-byes to the other men and walking with Molly until they were as far away from the group of people as they could be, then stopped. Molly put her hands on the railing and looked out over the still water, finding its beauty remarkable, but now realizing how dangerous it could be.

"Flora is gonna come stay with me when we get to New York, and then come to live with me in Boulder. She needs someone to be with her, and I couldn't leave her alone, poor darling." Matthew felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders and a smile came to his lips.

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Brown! I was worried a bit about that." Molly smiled at him, turning to face him directly before she continued with what she had come to say.

"I don't intend on ever letting her leave my house unless she has someone to be with her always, by that I mean a husband. And, I was wondering if a husband is what you would like to be to Flora someday?" Matthew was shocked at the directness of the question, and he turned his eyes away from hers momentarily, then let them come back.

"Ma'am, I'm only a poor Englishman with no money and now no job. I could never marry someone like Flora."

"Why not? It isn't like her family will disapprove of it. She ain't got no one to say nothing about it, and I know that Christopher has left her quite a fortune that could last her for a long, long time. You would have enough money, and Flora has a house in England her uncle left her, so you could go back to your homeland and be with any family you have. I'm not trying to rush nothing now, but it seems perfect to me." Matthew turned so he was facing the water, Molly now staring at his cameo against the sky.

"I was married once. Her name was Lillian, and she was a stage actress. I was seventeen then, and she was sixteen. We fell in love madly, and we married that month. Nine months later she had a baby, a little girl. I was acting then at a local theater, and was making a good, solid amount of money. Everything seemed perfect then, we were all so happy. My mum and dad came down with tuberculosis, and died. Lillian went to take care of them because I was touring at the time in London. She came down with it, and before I could get home to help she had given it to the baby. They died the day before I arrived. I found them both in our bedroom, all cold and pale. The day they were buried I swore to myself I would never let anything affect me like that again, never allow myself to care."

"But you cared enough for Flora to take care of her when you didn't have to." Matthew nodded, still looking out over the ocean.

"Yes, that's what scares me."

"It seems to me that you and Flora have a lot in common. You both are alone, and you both need someone. Son, if you're figuring on hiding out from the rest of the world 'cause you don't want to get hurt, you'll miss out on a lot of really good things in life. I can't imagine what you've been through, losing all those you love like that, but Flora can." Matthew finally turned to meet her eyes, Molly smiling a bit before patting his hand and walking away to leave him in thought.

Maybe she was right. He had hidden from the world after Lillian's death, had even quit acting, which he loved more than anything, to take odd jobs wherever he could find them. He had never thought of finding someone else to marry, he had always thought of it as replacing Lillian. He had had his share of short-lived romances and one-night affairs, but none had meant anything to him. At the tender age of twenty he had lived more than most fifty-year-olds had in their lifetime. He figured that Flora felt the same way.

He saw in her eyes so much pain and suffering, and those feelings were all so familiar to him. It brought back to him all his heartaches, but still he felt like he wanted to take her in his arms and protect her as best he could from any more tragedy in her life. His heart told him to do it, but common sense reminded him of all the factors against their being together.

With a sigh he walked back to where the fellows were, taking his place among them again and trying to forget the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

*****

When Flora awoke and realized that neither Molly nor Matthew was near her, she began to get hysterical. A kindly woman came to try and calm her, then another woman she had remembered from the first class dinners. She began to calm her, smoothing her hair reassuringly and speaking in a calm voice.

"Now, now, don't cry honey, it's all right." These comments were repeated until Flora had gotten her emotions under control, and the young woman finally relaxed enough to move from sitting on the side of the bed to the chair next to the cot.

Flora looked at the woman a moment, trying to place her. The fiery curly red hair and blue eyes seemed awfully familiar, and especially that shy smile she gave her. Finally, Flora's questioning look prompted her to introduce herself.

"I'm Rose DeWitt Bukater." Flora didn't remember the name, but from whispered conversations on Titanic, and she only knew the girl from a few passing greetings in the dining room and when walking on the deck, but still her kind eyes made Flora calm, and she lay back against the pillows.

"Flora Cartwright." Rose smiled, holding out a glass of water for her to take, which she did.

"I know. Molly asked me to sit with you while she was gone. She's helping some of the others, you know how she likes to be of use." Flora nodded, the next question popping into her head just moments before she blurted it out.

"Where's Matthew? Is he gone too?" Rose nodded, her eyes undauntingly on Flora.

"Yes. I don't know exactly where, but he is off somewhere also." The more Flora looked at the beautiful woman in front of her the more she remembered her from Titanic.

"Weren't you with Mr. Hockley? I think that's where I remember you from." Rose nodded, a bit flustered at the mention of his name.

"Yes. But no more. Here, have another drink." Flora declined the offer, and sat still a moment, listening to her own heart as it beat.

"It's incredible. They're all dead, my uncle, Mr. Andrews, even that kind captain man. You know, he let me stand at the wheel for a few minutes and pretend to be captain of the ship! Childish, I know, but still it was fun." Rose chuckled, the smile becoming more and more of a comfort to Flora.

"Not childish. A person has to have fun sometimes. We can't always be ladylike, now can we?" Flora laughed and nodded, pulling herself up a bit more with less effort than the last time.

"I guess not. Did Mr. Hockley get off alive, Rose?" Rose nodded, her eyes lowered from Flora's.

"Yes, so did Mother." Still, Rose looked forlorn. Flora reached for her hand and took it, squeezing it gently.

"Then everyone you love is all right!" At these words Rose broke out into tears, uncontrollably sobbing. Flora sat a moment wondering what she had said to get Rose so upset, at first drawing a blank.

After a moment's thought she recalled what all the gossip she had heard about Rose had been. She remembered the good looking blond man that had been to that one first class dinner, the one that had escorted Rose and Molly to dinner. He had reminded her of an old photo that had been taken of her father at about that same age. She had been so stunned at the resemblance that she had dropped her fork on the floor, and he had picked it up and handed it to her with a smile. The old lady she sat next to had scorned her for being clumsy, and the man had heard, giving her a reassuring wink as he walked away.

Everyone after that had talked about how he was from steerage, and that Mr. Hockley's fiancée was running around with him unsupervised. It must be that man that Rose now cried over.

"Oh, Rose! I'm sorry! I didn't remember him! Can you forgive me, please?" Rose calmed herself, and raised her teary eyes to Flora's.

"You couldn't have known, it's not your fault. I feel so selfish crying over my loss when you lost your uncle also. I am the one that should be sorry." Flora shook her head, and before she realized it, they embraced each other lovingly, each having found someone that understood the others feelings perfectly. They both knew they had found a friend.

*****

The day they docked in New York Molly was one of the last off, having helped everyone she could with whatever they needed. Flora realized by observation more than anything that Rose was trying to hide from her mother and fiancé. When they asked for names she had said she was Rose Dawson. Flora understood why she did it, Rose having told her the whole story of Jack in the many hours they had been together. Molly had been busy helping others and she hadn't seen Matthew since he had gotten Molly for her. She had sent Rose searching for him on the ship, but she always came back unsuccessful.

When they began to file out of the boat finally, Molly and Rose on either side of her, Flora surveyed her surroundings, hoping to see Matthew but she didn't. Rose noticed this, and sympathized with her. Flora wasn't much for talking about her feelings but Rose sensed that she was in love with this young man she had spoken of. She couldn't understand, really, how Flora could keep everything inside, but she did, except for asking for him at least twenty times.

"Come on girls, let's get going. I talked to Cal on his way out, honey, and he told me where he was staying. That's why we're staying in the total opposite hotel. Come now, Flora is still really weak." The three women went away from the ship that had brought them the rest of the way after Titanic had gone down, not one of them looking back.

*****

When they were all checked into the hotel, Molly brought the girls to their room, the one they would share since Flora was still too weak to be alone. Molly had her own room, and many times was gone off to do something to help the others with whatever they needed. Mrs. Astor, the Countess of Rothes, and even Rose's mother Ruth were among those she helped. It didn't bother the girls though; they had become wonderful friends since the time they met. Rose dedicated herself to the task of getting Flora back healthy. She did actually more than needed to be done, but Flora made no arguments. She knew that Rose was busying herself to keep her mind off Jack, and it didn't bother Flora that Rose needed to be needed by her. Truth was, she did need Rose. She felt an attachment, a sisterly bond, between the two of them, and it was obvious Rose felt the same.

Day after day Flora prayed that Matthew would come looking for her but he never did. She had almost given up hope of ever seeing his kind face again, but Rose's reassurances that they would be reunited kept her hope alive. The day before their departure from New York to Boulder Rose started to pack everything. Molly had bought them both new clothes and all other accessories, and even some new suitcases to put everything in. Flora was by then well enough to be up and around, and even found enough strength to help fold the clothes so Rose could pack them. As they did this chore, a knock came to the door.

As whenever this happened, Rose went to the next room in case it was her mother or Cal, and let Flora answer it. When she opened the door she was surprised to see Matthew standing in front of her, his hair swept back from his face and new clothes on his back. He looked as handsome as anyone she had ever seen in her entire life.

"Flora, may I come in?" Flora was still in shock, but at his words she was brought from her reverie and invited him in with a sweep of her hand. Rose emerged from the other room, curious to see what this man Flora spoke of so highly looked like. When he noticed someone else was present he smiled at Rose, more of a forced smile than a real one. Flora came up next to him and smiled contentedly at Rose, obviously elated he was here. Rose smiled, happy to see her this happy.

"Rose, this is Matthew Cambridge. Matthew, this is Rose Dew…Dawson. Rose Dawson." Flora looked a bit flustered from her mistake, and looked to Rose for a sign that it was all right. Matthew shot Rose a puzzled look, clearly remembering her as Miss DeWitt Bukater, but didn't say this. He knew there had to be a reason for the change of her name.

"Hello Miss Dawson." Rose extended her hand and shook his, a small smile on her lips.

"Mr. Cambridge. Flora darling, I'm going to go in the other room and let you talk. Call if you need anything." Flora agreed, still walking on air with Matthew by her side. Rose turned and left for the parlor, a bit saddened by the memories that Flora's love brought back. A picture of Jack's face flashed in her head, but she pushed it away, still clinging to the fact that she needed to be strong for Flora.

Flora offered Matthew a seat, which he took, and then sat next to him, her heart beating so loud she thought that for sure he could hear it. A moment went by when there was nothing but silence, then he began to speak.

"Flora, I am sorry that I disappeared, but the truth is that…"

"I love you Matthew!" The words burst from her lips, surprising not only Matthew, who sat in astonishment, but also Flora herself. She never thought she would have the courage to tell him, but she just had.

"That is what I came to talk to you about. I'm sorry if I led you to believe I cared for you as anything other than a sick girl, but the truth is I really don't care anything for you." It was Flora's turn to sit in astonishment, tears filling her eyes and finally spilling out onto her cheeks. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"If you don't care as much as you say, then why did you even bother to come to me and tell me this? Why didn't you just leave without seeing me again?"

Matthew was silent a moment, realizing that it was harder than he thought to let this girl go like he was doing. The truth was, he had come to have one last look at her lovely face, and one more time stare into her beautiful eyes. He really did love her more than he was even willing to admit to himself. He didn't know why he felt this way. He had always been attracted to women that had the same qualities of Lillian, a brash, courageous, loud person that wasn't afraid of anything. And here he was in love with a quiet, gentle, and mysterious girl.

"I just thought that you deserved that much. I better go now. Good-bye, Flora." Quickly, before his actions betrayed him, he bolted to the door, started slowly down the hall. He was nearly to the stairs when he heard a woman's voice behind him. When he turned to face in her direction he saw it was Flora's friend Rose.

"Yes?" Rose approached him, pain reflected in her eyes as she looked at him. "I heard what happened in there, and I wanted to tell you that you are making a big mistake." Matthew lowered his eyes, not wanting to meet hers.

"I don't care for her…"

"Oh, please! You may be able to fool Flora but you can't fool me. I know that you are lying when you say that. I've been there, Matthew. I've denied that I felt for someone something other than what I declared. But I was lying. I realized that I loved him just in time. I changed my mind, and it was the best decision I've ever made. If I had waited one day, he would be gone and I never would have known him as well as I do now. Those few days we spent together were the best of my life, they changed me, and I'm grateful for every hour, every minute we were together."

"What does this have to do with me?" Rose wasn't surprised by his outburst, and continued.

"I'm just saying that one day you may change your mind, like I did. But you best hope that it isn't too late when you finally do." With this Rose turned back and went into the room, leaving Matthew alone in the hall. Finally, after a moment's thought, he turned and went down the stairs, disappearing from sight.

Chapter Two
Stories