A VOYAGE TO REMEMBER
Chapter Two
Isolde was leaning against the
white door with closed eyes when she felt a shadow fall over her. She looked up
to see a young couple. The woman had deep auburn hair with bright blue eyes.
The young man had black hair and sea green eyes. Isolde pushed herself off the
wall.
"'Ello, me name's Aine
O'Neil," the woman said with a strong Irish accent, holding out her hand.
"This is me husband, Flynn."
Isolde held out her hand and was
given a rough shake. "My name is Isolde Conway," she managed as the
young man kissed her hand.
"Was that your
husband?" Aine asked while walking into the room. "The dark-haired
officer?"
"Oh, no. I've just met
him," Isolde said with a blush. Had they really been that inappropriate?
Aine nodded as she and her
husband took bunks and placed their luggage under the bed. Isolde gently set
her bag down on the top bunk of the bed across from them. She pulled herself up
and let her legs hang over the edge. The door suddenly opened and a fiery,
red-headed man walked in. He looked to be around Isolde's age.
"Shamus O'Shea," he
said loudly while throwing a case on the bottom bunk below where Isolde sat. He
suddenly took the time to notice who was there and grinned while noticing
Isolde. "And who may you be?"
"Isolde Conway," she
said with a gentle smile. She held out a hand to be shook.
Shamus gallantly went to take her
hand. "I think I should be honored to be in your presence, milady."
He kissed her knuckles in a dramatic fashion. He suddenly turned to the couple.
"And who else do I have the pleasure to board with?"
"Me name's Flynn," the
man said while roughly shaking his hand. "This be me wife, Aine."
"A pleasure indeed,"
Shamus said with raised eyes while kissing her creamy knuckles. "Are all
of you from the same area?"
"No," Isolde cut in.
"I'm from Wales."
"Oh, a foreigner to the Isle
of Erin?" he said with his heavy brogue.
"Yes, I am."
"Such a shame," he said
while shaking his head, "but we all seem to be heading to a land of
dreams."
"Aye," Flynn said with
a nod. "A better place."
"Well, enough with the sad
talk," Shamus said in his booming voice. "Who will come face good-bye
to port with me?"
"We'll go up once we’re
settled," Aine said with a small smile.
"And you, my fair
maiden?" Shamus said to Isolde, who still perched on the top bunk.
"I will go with you,"
she said with a grin. She was about to jump off when Shamus grabbed her by the
waist and set her on the floor as if she were a feather.
Isolde finally studied him. He
towered above her, but that was an easy task, for she was only about five feet
tall. He seemed to be about six foot three. His flaming red hair stuck out, but
in an attractive way. He had bright blue eyes that shone with pure joy and
excitement. He gently bent and grasped her hand while pulling her out of the
room.
"So, did your family come to
see you off?" he asked in an offhand manner as the made their way through
the maze of white halls.
"No. My parents needed to
stay home," she said. "The children and farm need tending."
"Ah…so why do you
leave?" he inquired curiously while entering the lift.
"My parents want me to have
a better opportunity," she said while looking at the ground. "They
think I will be able to make a living while staying with my aunt in New York
City."
"What of your husband?"
he asked as they stepped off into the area with the Grand Staircase.
"I've never been
married," Isolde mumbled embarrassedly.
"No!" Shamus said in
shock. "You must be kidding. A woman like you?"
"I assure you, I'm
not," Isolde said while looking into his bright eyes. "Come. We will
miss saying good-bye."
The two headed out on deck and
squeezed in between the crowds of people to reach the railing. Isolde was
squished into the metal railing, Shamus behind her protectively, arms on either
side of her gripping the metal. She looked out into the sea of people. Everyone
waved and yelled their farewells. She saw the ropes being lifted. The engines
came on full blast. Tugboats pulled them away from the dock. She waved, not to
anyone in particular, but to the old life she would leave behind. Shamus waved
from behind her, smiles and all. What Isolde didn't know was that Harold had
seen her with the handsome Irishman.