FORMALITY
Chapter Four

April 12, 1912

I woke up feeling rested and refreshed. I opened the curtain and let the sunlight fill the room. Sitting down at my little vanity, I looked at the drawing propped up against the mirror. It was signed JD. What was that fellow’s name? James…no...Jack Dawson. He was nice, and he had an extraordinary talent. I wondered why he hadn’t made a fortune already on his artwork.

My attention was focused on Becky as she helped me dress.

"Did you enjoy your bath last night?" she asked me.

"Yes, I did. Thank you," I said, taking one last look in the mirror. My hair hung loosely at my shoulders, except for the sides, which were pulled back with a small comb. "Tell Mother I’m out exploring, out meeting new people," I said cheerfully, turning to the door.

"Yes, miss."

I walked down the hallway and turned right at the ladies lavatories to another corridor. I took another right, and cabin B63 was in front of me. I gently knocked on the door. Rob opened it, his face lighting up at the sight of me. He looked tired, like he didn’t get enough sleep last night.

"Come in. I just have to finish up this telegram to my friend Dave back in Pittsburgh," he said, motioning for me to come in and have a seat.

"I got your message," I said, smiling and sitting down on the small couch. He looked down at me from the table, his eyes twinkling.

"So am I right? You’re a daddy’s girl," he said, smiling.

"Yeah. He always treated me like a real person. He taught me to reach for the stars," I said, still smiling.

"Well," Rob said, sitting down next to me, "you don’t have to reach. I’ll give them to you."

We looked into each other’s eyes for a moment, and through his emerald eyes, I could see fatigue and worry.

"Something’s on your mind," I said. He turned his head away from me. "Do you want to tell me about it?"

He sighed.

"I don’t want to bother you with my problems," he said.

"You never bother me," I said softly, rubbing his back gently. He chuckled a little and bent his head down.

"My dad, he--he likes his brandy," he began, "and my mother doesn’t enjoy him when he’s drunk. I know that they love each other, but…but..."

"It’s like they’ve been far apart, and if they are brought together, they will find each other again," I finished for him. It seemed that my parents were the same way, only my mother was focused too much on appearances and not on family values and love.

"Yeah," Rob said, raising his head and looking into my eyes. "I just have to find a way to get them to see each other again..."

"I know. Let’s go up top and get some air, and then we’ll come up with a plan," I suggested, standing up and taking his hand. He smiled.

"That sounds good to me," he said, following me out the door and to the Aft Grand Staircase, up one flight to the A Deck covered promenade. Rob put his hand in his pocket, pulling out a piece of paper.

"I have to get this telegram to the wireless office," he said. I nodded, and we went up to the boat deck hand-in-hand. An officer stopped us as we reached the door.

"Can I help you? No passengers allowed in the wireless room," he said cheerfully.

"I need this telegram sent, please," Rob said, handing it to the officer.

"Right, then. I’ll take it in right away," the officer said, nodding to us, then disappearing behind the door. Rob and I continued walking along the boat deck, taking in the warmth of the bright sun.

"Rob, what would happen if you limited your father’s drinks?" I asked.

"Well, he wouldn’t be so drunk, and...hey, that might work!" he said excitedly. I smiled back at him with the same excitement. We turned around and went back to the Aft Grand Staircase and to the smoking room. Rob went inside to speak to a steward while I waited in a chair on the landing of the staircase. While I was waiting, Molly Brown came up the stairs.

"Hey, Belle! What leaves you sitting here looking pretty all by yourself?" she asked cheerfully.

"Good morning, Molly. Rob’s taking care of some business in the smoking room," I said.

"Robert Wellington? Well, I dined with him last night, and I just knew you two would hit it off!" She laughed as Rob came out of the smoking room.

"Hello, Molly!" he said, kissing her on the cheek. "How’s the voyage for you?"

"Since you asked me last night at dinner, it’s going just fine," she said. "I’ll leave you two alone." She winked at me and walked out the door to the promenade. Rob looked at me with that twinkle in his eye.

"Shall we explore?" he asked, smiling.

I nodded, returning his smile and taking his arm. He led me through a door that led to a corridor, taking us to the lounge, which was beautiful, decorated in Paris style. But we didn’t stop to say hello to anyone in there. We kept going, and ended up at the Grand Staircase. We took the lift down to E Deck and went down a flight of stairs to F Deck.

"The Turkish Bath," he said proudly, reading off a sign. "Massages: Five Dollars. Sounds good. Would you like one?"

"You can’t be serious," I said, laughing.

"Then yes it is." He grabbed my hand and led me through the door.

Chapter Five
Stories