This story is co - authored with PaulWalkerlover 73.
Disclaimer: I don't own Titanic.
Note to Readers: This is a story I've been thinking about for some time. The idea came to me after reading a story called 'Elizabeth's Diary' by ELBA. That was a love story, and this is not. This is a story following the sinking of the RMS Titanic; and is about the life for an officer's daughter now left orphaned.
I decided to have Henry Wilde survive the sinking in this story. Alongside him will be some appearances of Charles Lightoller throughout the chapters in this story.
I hope you all will enjoy this story as you read the up's and down's life is bound to bring a Titanic Orphan and how it will forever shape her life.
Character - Bailee Madison as Carrie
Dear Diary,
Titanic. They called her the ship of dreams and even unsinkable. Titanic might have been the ship of dreams to some and even a master piece to Mr. J. Bruce Ismay.
Two months have passed since the horrid sinking. My father told me "Titanic will make my career, Carrie girl. Don't you go and start being worried about your Dad." These words are forever etched in my mind.
It's been the hardest two months of my life, since my entire life changed. Not only has my family forever been drawn to the sea, we tend to lose our men to the sea; and now my father is gone forever.
My name is Carrie Hannah Murdoch, and I'm the orphaned twelve-year-old daughter of First Officer William McMaster Murdoch, and the maternal granddaughter of the late Captain Edward John Smith.
Since the Titanic sank, I've lived with my father's best friend, a man I look to as a second father or, now, the only father I have left. Second Officer Charles Herbert Lightoller is my godfather, or at least I still hope he'll be after today.
We left Southampton to travel to my father's homeland of Scotland a few days ago. Now today will be the first time since Titanic sank that I'll see my grandparents; as well as, find out my own fate, and where my future lies and with whom.
As of now, I'm sitting in the parlor of my grandparents' home. I can hear the arguing going on in Grandfather's office. Daddy's will is being read without me, and I know it affects my life. Choices my father made now affect me, especially when Uncle Charles told me that he might be unable to care for me at the current time. What's going to happen now?
As I sign off I feel very worried about this uncertainty that lies in my path.
Carrie
"Carrie, they're ready for you," Margaret Murdoch said as if she knew this was not going to end well.
"Yes, ma'am," Carrie replied as she stood up and followed her aunt to her grandfather's office.
As Carrie Murdoch walked through the home of Captain Samuel Murdoch, she wondered what it was like for her father to grow up here. If this was the place she was going to land. With so many questions and so little answers Carrie and Margaret Murdoch came to the door where men had been yelling for what it seemingly to be non stop. As they reached the door, one voice was of Charles Lightoller, who seemed rather angry about something.
"CARRIE IS MY RESPONSIBILITY!" Charles yelled as he laid eyes on his worst enemy in the merchant marines. Everyone knew these two men hated each other, especially when it came to the man named Henry T. Wilde.
"Mr. Lightoller, if you please," Mr. O'Brian asked in the calmest tone possible as Carrie walked in the room with her loving aunt.
"Yes, of course," Charles Lightoller replied as he began to sulk in the armchair by the window as if he were a small child who was scolded earlier for being caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"Come in, Carrie," Mr. O' Brian said as Carrie drew away in fear.
"Carrie, come here," Charles ordered as the child swiftly walked to her godfather and stood by his side as she looked around the room to find her father's attorney Mr. O'Brian, Mr. Wilde, and her grandfather Captain Samuel Murdoch.
"What's wrong, Uncle Charles?" Carrie asked as she turned to face her godfather with a sense of worry that grew on her face in the semi- silent room.
"We'll all leave for you to tell her. Take your time, sir," Mr. O' Brian announced. Once again, as the entire group of people left the room in an eerie silence.
Once the door was closed and footsteps were ceased to be heard. Charles stood and took Carrie's hand before gazing out to the sea. The seagulls were flying overhead on that sunny day, while in the Samuel Murdoch house this was a day of despair for all. Charles Lightoller then turned to his ward and bent down to her level as he sighed deeply, knowing this would destroy her trust in him.
"Carrie, you know when your father died I promised to take care of you. Do you remember that day, child?" Charles questioned as he moved some of the light brown hair from Carrie's face.
"Yes, sir," Carrie replied in a low tone as she grew worried about what Charles was going to tell her.
"Good. Now, I want you to know that I love you, Carrie. Nothing is ever going to change that in my lifetime. I will forever love you as my own little girl," Charles informed Carrie as he brought out a handkerchief to dry his own eyes.
"You act as if you're never going to see me again!" Carrie said as she memorized Charles' face.
"That's because, Carrie, you're not going to see me for a long time. I'm giving up my right to care for you," Charles remarked as he turned away, not willing for Carrie to see his own defeat.
"But, who's going to look after me? You promised my Daddy. You promised," Carrie said as she began to sob Charles then turned back around to face this heartbroken girl.
"Another officer. Your father knew him quite well. Your auntie is going to take you back to Southampton, and then you'll be moving in with Mr. Wilde. He was a great fellow your father got along with well. You'll forget all about me and have a swell time with him," Charles informed Carrie as he tried to seem upbeat about this new living arrangement for her, but it was far from the truth.
"Please don't leave me," Carrie begged Charles as he took his cap in hand before placing it back on his head. As the door opened, Carrie Murdoch laid eyes on Chief Officer Henry Wilde.
"Please don't leave me... Please..." Carrie begged once again as Charles Lightoller walked out of her life without looking back.
"Uncle Charles!" Carrie yelled through her tears as she ran after the officer from her grandfather's office.
"Carrie, it's going to be okay," Henry Wilde said as he stopped Carrie in her tracks.
"No, please," Carrie begged as her vision began to blur with tears.
"Carrie, it's going to be alright child," Margaret Murdoch said as she stepped up and let Carrie hold onto the last connection she had with her father.
"Auntie, he's gone. My other Daddy's gone," Carrie informed her aunt before Henry picked Carrie up into his strong arms in the bridal style.
"Put me down! Please," Carrie said as Henry Wilde took the child to a spare room in her grandparents house accompanied by her Grandmother.
"You'd best take your leave, sir. Carrie doesn't need anymore change," Jeanine Murdoch said as she sat down next to Carrie, who laid crying her eyes out into the pillows.
"Of course. I understand this must be very hard for all of you."
"Please, Mr. Wilde just go. My granddaughter is upset enough for one day," Jeanine stated as Henry Wilde left the Murdoch home.
As Mr. Wilde made his descent down the stairs, he saw Captain Murdoch met his gaze at the bottom. The captain held a compassion for this officer now who lost his entire family. Knowing that Will's daughter had no one in the world, he took a chance.
"Mr. Wilde," Captain Murdoch said.
"Yes, Captain Murdoch?" Henry Wilde questioned as he saw this man standing stiff as a brick, much like in the meeting earlier that day.
"Why?" Captain Murdoch asked Henry Wilde, who stood in front of the man with a questioning look on his face.
"What do you mean sir?" Henry Wilde replied, puzzled by Captain Murdoch's question.
"Yes. Why did you volunteer to take in my granddaughter when you just lost your family?" Captain Murdoch questioned as he wanted to be sure this man would do the best he could for young Carrie and Will's only child.
"Captain Murdoch."
"Samuel, please," Captain Murdoch said.
"Yes. Well, Samuel, I saw death that night. I lost the ones that I loved so dearly. I saw your son swept from the decks. Carrie needs someone who's not going to leave her for the sea. I've been transferred to be a office manager with White Star Line. I will never allow Carrie to suffer a loss like she did ever again. Since Mr. Lightoller is unable to care for the child, I am willing to give her the love and financial support she deserves," Henry informed the elderly captain of his full intentions towards Carrie.
"What about love? Can you love my granddaughter as your own?"
"Yes, in time, I do believe that we can share a father- daughter bond, I hope," Henry responded.
"That's all I ask. Good day, sir," Samuel Murdoch replied as he opened the door, and Henry Wilde left the Murdoch home with a new future and understanding of the Murdoch family.
Several Days Later - Southampton, England - Murdoch Home
As Margaret and Carrie walked up the steps to her home, it was a time of bitter sorrow. This time Carrie was going to leave this home and never return again. The sorrow of living with a different person was a hard pill for this twelve- year- old girl to swallow.
"Aunt Margaret," Carrie said as she and her aunt walked up to the door for the last time.
"Yes, child," Margaret replied as she rummaged through her purse looking for the key to her brother's home.
"Why does everything have to change?" Carrie asked as everyone knew she had enough change to last a lifetime plus some.
"Carrie, this is your final time here. Mr. Wilde is inside the house, and you must take what you want. Your things are already at Mr. Wilde's flat and a new room is made up for you. Not everything is changing, pet. I'll always be your dear Auntie Peg. Your father was my favorite and don't you forget it," Margaret Murdoch said as she looked up to see the door opening.
"Hello, ladies," Henry Wilde announced as he opened the door to a great mopey faced Carrie.
"Hello, Mr. Wilde. Carrie what do you say?" Margaret asked as the child refused to make any eye contact with her new guardian.
"Hello, Mr. Wilde," Carrie replied as she all of a sudden became rather shy.
"Hello, Carrie. Why don't you go on inside? I need to speak with your aunt. Please say goodbye now, Carrie," Mr. Wilde said as Carrie looked at him with wide- eyed shock.
"Goodbye, Aunt Peg. I'll write you often. Never forget me," Carrie told her aunt as she gave her the hug of lasting love.
"I'll see you over the Christmas holiday, Carrie. I'd never forget you, and we'll see each other soon. Plus, I will always write to you, my darling. Be a good girl and do as your told," Margaret told Carrie, who let of her aunt and went inside the house.
Carrie Murdoch sent her aunt one last glance. It was a silent look that said to go to your room Carrie. As Carrie went inside the house, the door closed behind her.
"Mr. Wilde, I trust you'll take care of that child. Carrie was everything to my brother and his wife," Margaret warned him to take care of that child or he'd deal with her.
"Yes, I'll take care of her as if she were my own daughter," Henry Wilde said as he tried to offer some reassurance.
"She's not your daughter, sir. Carrie Hannah Murdoch was my brother's, and he loved her. Carrie is William Murdoch's daughter and will forever be that. Do you understand?" Margaret asked hastily because in her mind no one could take the place of her older brother and best friend especially the one who loved Carrie no matter what life thew in their direction.
"I understand that. Did Mr. O'Brian draw up the new guardianship papers?" Henry asked as he wanted the papers.
"Yes, and Mr. Lightoller signed them. This is only temporary sir. Once he gets the financial part of his life back in working order, Carrie will be where my brother intended for her to stay." Margaret shot back in anger.
"I understand, Miss Murdoch."
"Good. Take care of that child. I'll be taking my leave now. Here's her luggage," Margaret stated as she handed the small suitcase over to Mr. Wilde.
"Thank you," Henry replied, and with that he walked into the house and closed the door.
With that Margaret Murdoch walked away from the stairs of her brother's front porch and down the walkway to the street. Looking back, she saw Carrie watch her leave as she put her hand on the window in the master bedroom that overlooked the street below. Little did Carrie know that her dear Aunt was crying as she left Carrie to be taken care of by someone else. This was one of the hardest days of her own life.
Inside the Murdoch home
"Carrie?" Henry Wilde called out for his ward.
"I'm in the bedroom, Mr. Wilde," Carrie called out as she tried to hide the muffled sound of tears.
"I'll be there shortly," Henry called back towards the child.
"Yes, sir," Carrie replied as she went to the door to answer with her own reply.
Carrie's Point Of View
It's not fair. My father is dead, and everything has changed. Grandfather promised he'd be with me after Titanic came back.
I hate this change. I want my Daddy. Daddy promised to never leave, me but he lied. Now I have to go and live in a strange place with Mr. Wilde. My daddy got along with him, but this isn't fair.
I want to stay here and not leave the only home I've ever known.
I also want Uncle Charles. This is not what my parents told me would happen if something ever happened to both of them.
Why now? Why must things always change in my life?
As Henry Wilde spent a few hours going through the papers in Will's office, he heard tears. It was Carrie crying, something that had become a regular occurrence lately. Carrie was looking at her father's sweater and holding it her hands. The scent of pipe tobacco still lingered as if Will had just smoked his pipe while Carrie sat next to her father.
Henry Wilde now climbed the stairs and found Carrie with the sweater in her hands. A new set of hot tears streaming down her face that was red from all the crying she had been doing.
"Carrie?" Henry said as he found Carrie sitting on Will's bed with that one sweater clutched tightly in her hands.
"Can I keep it?" Carrie asked as she felt the need to seek approval for her father's sweater.
"Yes. May I put it in the suitcase?" Henry asked as the suitcase lay open on the other side of the bed.
"No. Please, I want to hold onto it," Carrie begged, feeling as if it were the last link to her father.
"Fine. Call me Uncle Henry if you like," Henry said as he looked at the suitcase to find a few choices that Carrie had from her parents' belongings.
"No. It wouldn't be proper. Please, may I still call you Mr. Wilde?" Carrie asked with pleading eyes.
"I'd rather you not. Call me Henry if that suits you."
"Yes, sir," Carrie said as she knew respect was demanded, especially in her own family.
"Thank you, Carrie. Now, is there anything else you'd like to take with you?" Henry asked as Carrie looked around the room one last time.
"Grandfather's photograph. Then I must see if I want anything else," Carrie said before walking out of the room to search the others one last time.
"Alright," Henry replied in a low tone of voice as he eyed Will's officer's cap, a handmade pillow by Carrie's Mother, other family photographs, and small things that Carrie couldn't live without in the suitcase. These were the last links of Carrie's family to her parents and to Captain Smith. Henry Wilde knew this was going to be some of the hardest days of Carrie's life and of his own to try and raise a child that had no one else to care for her.