GRATITUDE
Chapter One
Arabella Mary O'Malley sat in her
fiancé’s employer’s office alone on a Tuesday morning.
It was the ninth of April. Tomorrow,
the ship that her fiancé had assisted in building would leave Southampton and
head for America.
Arabella really had no idea as to
why she decided to come to his office. Of all the people she could have turned
to for advice, she went to Thomas Andrews. Long before her fiancé had begun to
help with the construction of the ship, Arabella had known Thomas. The master
ship builder was older than her by five years. They had last met the one time
that Arabella needed to see him. Her fiancé needed a job. Thomas had told her
that if she ever needed anything, she could go to him. The last time she had
met him was to request a job for her fiancé. That was four years ago. For
reasons that she mulled over in her mind, she had not returned to see him.
Just then, the office door
opened, and in he came. Thomas Andrews was a tall Irish gentleman with graying
hair. He had soft eyes as he looked at the woman.
Arabella stood to greet him.
"Good afternoon, Thomas," she said.
"Good afternoon, Arabella.
This is quite a surprise. Please, sit," Thomas said.
Arabella took a seat and waited
for Thomas to do the same. He took his seat and waited for Arabella to begin to
speak.
"Thomas, I know this is
unexpected. But I need to see you...about Matthew," Arabella said.
"What is it? He's a very
hard worker. Have you two married yet?" asked Thomas.
"Well, no, actually. We have
not had a chance to marry. I'm glad to hear he is a hard worker. But...that’s
not why I came here. I could not think of anyone else to go to but you. We’re
having...problems, if you would like to put it that way," Arabella said.
"He hasn't hurt you, has he?"
Thomas inquired, starting to get worried now.
Arabella was silent. She feared
that if she were to tell him the truth, something might happen. But as if
Thomas had read her mind before she could think of a good enough lie, he spoke
again.
"What has he done to you? I
have seen him get angry over little things before. I was very close to firing
him last week," explained Thomas.
"Each night he has been
coming home drunk. Last night was the last of it that I could handle. I had
made supper for us, waited for hours for him to return. He did not come in
until late. By then, my mother had gone to bed. I waited up for him and when he
finally came in, I was disgusted with him. He refused to eat the supper I had
made. I said I was going to bed, and then he…well…he tried to take advantage of
me. I made it away from him. I locked myself in my bedroom and he finally left
me alone. But in my attempts to get away from him, he did abuse me,"
Arabella replied.
"I can't allow this to
continue. Tonight you and your mother need to pack your things, come to my
home. Then stay there and you may go on the voyage with me," Thomas said.
"Thomas, you know my mother.
She is not going to wish to travel. That is just how she is. She won't even
want to leave the house we are staying in," Arabella said.
"Then you must try to
convince her. You can't stay with Matthew," Thomas replied.
"Do you think I have not
tried that yet? But she refuses. She wants to die here in Southampton,"
Arabella said.
"Will she listen to no
one?" asked Thomas.
"Maybe if my father were
still alive. But no, she wants to die here. Be buried beside my father,"
Arabella answered.
"Will you, at least, leave
on the ship?" Thomas asked.
"I would be more than glad
than to get out of here. But my mother…" Arabella said slowly.
"She may stay at my home.
She will not be bothered there," Thomas replied.
Arabella stood to leave.
"Thank you, Thomas," she said. She left to get home.
Thomas watched as the girl he
once loved and still did love left the shipyard.
When Arabella got home, she began
to pack her trunk. Once she had packed all of her clothes and possessions, she
went to her mother’s bedroom to tell her what they were going to do. Mrs.
O'Malley was hesitant but finally gave in. She packed her trunk. They got them
loaded into a car and drove to Thomas's home. By the time they had reached the
house, Thomas had returned from the shipyard. He assisted them into the house
and then showed them to some spare bedrooms.
"Thank you, Thomas. I can't
even begin to thank you enough," Arabella said.
"It's the least I can do. I
mean, from the last time I saw you ‘til now I have loved you. I hope you know
that," Thomas said.
"Yes, Thomas, and I you. But
this cannot work," Arabella answered.
Then she left for her bedroom and
sat down on her bed. Three days later, Arabella was saying good-bye to her
mother and then boarding the ship to leave and to get away from her past.