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Ship of Dreams
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2021-02-25 04:17:55She had not expected to find herself standing here aboard the largest cruise liner in the world, a Third Class passenger, staring back at the ever shrinking dock of her native Southampton, wondering where she was headed, how she would get there, and whom she would become upon the other side.
Yet, here she was at midday on a cold, windy April 10, staring out at a myriad of faces she, thankfully, did not recognize, wearing someone else’s dress, her hair down and billowing in the breeze, leaving everything behind, starting anew.
Well, perhaps not everything. The fresh wounds mingled with old scars, both figuratively and literally, and she couldn’t help but think about the baggage she carried with her, despite the one small carpetbag she had stowed below deck earlier before coming aboard to fake a smile and wave at strangers. It would take some time to let the lingering memories fade, let the wounds heal, let the scars dissipate. At least now, on this new journ
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The First Class stateroom Charlie Ashton occupied had come at a considerable price, but when he booked his passage aboard the RMS Titanic on the morning of its maiden voyage, he had been pleasantly surprised that the famous ocean liner even had availability in its most luxurious accommodations. Jonathan had returned from booking the fair stating that J.P. Morgan, the owner of the vessel, had recently cancelled his own reservation (a possible omen that had caused Charlie to raise his eyebrows) which had left one of the finest staterooms available. Despite the fact that the very owner had determined not to make the maiden voyage, Charlie’s desperation to leave England had led him to board the ship, the idea that perhaps the Titanic was not as unsinkable as previously mentioned only a drifting thought in an over-crowded mind.Staring at the frothing waters below as the disturbance of the vast hull made her way through otherwise placid seas, he couldn&rsqu
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Taking a deep breath, Meg proceeded, knowing she had no choice but to retrieve Ruth, though she was ashamed to admit thoughts of slowly backing away crossed her mind. The crew would determine who her parents were eventually, wouldn’t they? Charlie would keep her safe until Kelly and Daniel could come and get her, no doubt. Pushing those thoughts aside, and praying that he did not recognize her or ask any questions, she marched onward, trying to focus on the child and avoid those green eyes at all cost.“Ruth!” she admonished, “there you are! Aunt Meg has been looking everywhere for you, sweetheart.”Ruth hung her head only slightly before meeting Meg’s eyes and saying, in her angelic baby voice, “The scarf blew away!”“Oh, my,” Meg said, shaking her head. “Next time, wait for Aunty Meg, darling.” She opened her arms and Ruth came to her, still clutching the scarf in her balled up fist.
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She’d been in Charlie’s bedroom a few times before, but this time was certainly different. Butterflies fluttered around her stomach, some of the nervous variety, but most of them fueled by excitement.They were sitting on the edge of his bed, the door closed and locked, the drapes pulled tightly. She knew that there were a few servants elsewhere in the house, but they would leave the couple undisturbed at least until mid-morning. Glancing up at him, she could see that he felt much the same way that she did.“It turned out quite well, don’t you think?” Charlie asked, clearly meaning the wedding.“Yes,” Meg nodded.“Even though a few guests certainly had too much to drink.”She giggled, thinking of one older gentleman who had made quite a spectacle of himself trying to climb atop one of the tables to dance. He had been escorted out, but Meg was thankful for the diversion. For once, everyone wasn&r
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Ghosts of Southampton Over
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