April 10th, 1912 - 11:45 am
As the chaos of the Southampton harbor came into view, Ned felt his heart sink into his stomach. The reality of his future was finally setting in.
His mother beamed with excitement at him. The reality of his future was finally setting in with his mother as well.
They were going to the United States of America.
Ned wiped his sweaty palms on the sides of his pants as he gazed out the window. The car they rode in maneuvered slowly through the dense crowd of people – most of whom were there to see the great ship off.
The RMS Titanic
As the massive beast appeared before them, he expected to feel some kind of thrill or even amazement at such a glorious achievement of mankind. Instead, he felt like he had persuaded – no, forced – to move to the States with his mother.
After Ned's father died, he was overcome with grief. His kind face, wise words, and gentle manners would only be his memory now.
His mother, on the other hand, was relieved. Relieved.
Ned always knew that his mother always hated the bakery business despite the fact that the family thrived on it. She felt that the Banks' were destined for something greater. So as soon as his father died, his mother managed to sell the bakery for a ridiculous amount of money and bought their way to the States. His two brothers were old enough to escape their mother's clutches and stay in England before their father died.
While Ned, only seventeen, was forced to go with her. His mother left no money for his brothers and instead bought a large home in New York. She was then going to send him to college. He would be the first of the Banks' to ever attend college. His mother had meticulously planned his future, binding him to her in a way that made it nearly impossible to break away.
According to her plan, he would become a wealthy businessman in New York, thus making enough money to support her and make the Banks name well-known among the upper-class society of New York City. The rebellious side of Ned often entertained the thought of running away once they docked in New York, but the true him, the compassionate and selfless part of him, knew he could never leave his mother like that despite the painful childhood he had endured because of her.
While to his mother Ned's future was bright and exciting, to him it was full of darkness and void of freedom. He wouldn't be surprised if she planned to marry him off to some rich girl either. That was probably the most difficult aspect of his future to bear.
Most boys his age would be thrilled with the idea of getting educated, making good money, and marrying some dumb and pretty, rich girl. But not him.
He enjoyed the quiet life back home.
The warm glow of the bakery. The early mornings he always spent with his father and brothers as long as he could remember. His father's bright smiles and wise words, his brothers wrestling in the living room.
It was all gone.
He doubted he would even see his brothers again. The car finally came to a stop by the ship. Ned forced my dark thoughts away and opened the door to let himself out.
The crowd of people had swelled. His eyes danced around, taking people's faces. Every single person was beaming, eyes sparkling as they gazed at the enormous ship at the dock. Passengers stood on the top deck waving to those below.
After the driver had opened the door for his mother and helped her out of the car, she gave the driver quick instructions for their luggage and began to make her way toward the first-class entrance of the ship. As they crossed the walkway that led from the dock into the ship, Ned peered over the edge to look at the water down below.
He shook his head in disbelief. It was amazing that such a boat like this could float. Yet, they called it the unsinkable ship.
He and his mother were escorted to their own suite and left to settle in. His maids began to unpack his things as he gawked at the luxury surrounding him. A bathroom with a tub, shower, and a double sitting room with a fireplace. A single bedroom with a gloriously large bed, a private promenade, and windows that looked out onto the sea.
Ned opened the small doors that lead out onto the deck. He felt the corners of his mouth tug upward at the thought of watching an ocean sunset out here. Maybe this voyage wouldn't be so bad.
Her sister's husband had spent every last bit of their money to buy the family tickets for a voyage on the Titanic. Katherine wrapped her arm around her sister and turned to find Melinda looking at her with a smile on her face that matched her own.
"I haven't seen you smile like that in a long time, Katie," Melinda said, pulling her along as a few men pushed their way by. "You better keep up with us." Her sister wrapped her arm around her husband and smiled up at the taller man.
Ever since their mother died three years prior, Katherine had been lost in a sea of darkness, hopelessly trying to find her way out. James was a good man, he'd really loved her sister. Enough to care for her kid sister after their mother died.
Now that it was just the three of them, James decided it would be best to try and make new lives for themselves in a completely different country. At first, Melinda was furious with him. How could he spend all of their money like that without telling her? How could he just assume that she would want to uproot their life and her sister to leave home? But after she calmed down, Melinda began to see sense in his plan.
They could all make a new name for themselves. They would be able to start fresh in the States and be a part of history by boarding Titanic on her maiden voyage.
For the first time in a long time, Katherine began to feel happiness swell in her chest, especially when she finally saw the ship. The smile on her face couldn't even begin to explain the excitement she felt. It was as if a heavy weight had been lifted off of her shoulders.
She knew in that her heart that her mother would be thrilled for her. She would never want her to wallow in despair the rest of her life. She would want her to move on and be happy again. It took seeing so so glorious and majestic for her to finally accept that.
After James, Melinda and Katherine boarded the ship. They wandered around, trying to find their cabin in steerage. None of them were in a hurry, marveling at the luxury of the ship, even in the lower-class deck.
Once they had finally found their cabin, James put the small key in the door to unlock it and they settled in. Katherine took off the small satchel she'd kept tied around her waist since leaving home. There wasn't much in there, just her three favorite books and few personal effects that she had collected in her seventeen years on this earth.
There were a few select images of her parents and even one of her and her sister when they were just children, and an old silver locket that was once her mother's. Her mother said she wanted to give it to her when she got the fever and it was around her neck when she died. Katherine didn't have the heart to let it go, so she'd kept it with her always.
She decided against unpacking more and set her bag on the bed and satchel underneath her bunk but not before removing the locket and putting it safely around her neck.
She finally took a chance to look around. The cabin wasn't large, it was hardly meant to house three people, but with two single beds and trunks in front of them, it would suit them just fine. There was even a small cleaning room with a metal sink and tub, a luxury for most steerage passengers.
After settling in, her sister asked if she would like to go on the top deck. Katie nodded eagerly and they made their way back through the maze of hallways and stairwells until they finally found themselves in the open air.
In the time it had taken for them to find their room and settle in the ship had already left the harbor. Neither of them hadn't even felt it move. The sun shone brightly above them and warmed their skin as they raced their way to the railing at the back of the ship.
They ran past an older woman with a handsome man, one that must be her son. She caught his eye, and for a moment she thought he might actually have been looking at her until his mother did. The disgust found in the older woman's eyes forced the scowl on her face before she turned to Melinda.
"It's quite the view, isn't it?" Melinda asked, leaning against the railing with her arms outstretched. "The air is just so refreshing."
Katherine placed her hand over her sister, which rested on the railing. "It's wonderful," she reminded her with a bright smile.
They looked out onto the sea, and Melinda's mouth turned up into a smile. The clear blue sky reflected on the glassy surface of the ocean, the way sunlight glistened off of the waves was absolutely breathtaking. Katie closed her eyes and basked in the glory of the open sea. The sun-kissed her cheeks and the wind caressed her hair. She even could smell the salt in the air and to the propellers churn the water below them.
It was the most beautiful sight and smell she'd ever had the grace to see. She glanced back over at the man again, to watch him look away and she laughed, nudging her sister. "I bet that older woman is secretly in love her son," she snickered.
Melinda laughed, for the first time since their mother died at that moment. That sound was easily the most beautiful sound she had ever heard.
Eventually, Ned and his mother had made their way to the top deck. The wind was chilly, but the sun was warm. He took in a deep breath of the fresh ocean air. The open sea seemed to take his problems for the moment. Then all of his problems came crashing back as he felt his mother slip her arm through his.
They strolled along the deck, never getting too close to the railing. Ned desperately wanted to lean over it and feel the sea breeze tug at his coat and ruffle his hair. But his mother was always too nervous.
When he mentioned approaching the railing, she said, "One could too easily fall over, Ned. What if the ship jolted or you lost your balance?"
Even though he found her fear irrational, Ned didn't mention it again. Perhaps he would come back tonight and then he could finally have a minute to himself. Suddenly loud, quick footsteps pounded by him accompanied by a rush of laughter. His mother gasped but he stared at the pair who had run by them curiously.
It was two women, one of the girls was older, but not by much. The other girl had to be around his age, maybe her younger sister. Both had dark hair and appeared to be of the lower class. The older woman was dressed in a blue dress with a sparkling wedding ring on her finger. The other girl was giggling and wearing a faded green dress that hugged her waist in a way that immediately made him blush.
He continued to watch them as they leaned over the railing at the back of the ship, holding out their arms and letting the wind blow through their hair and clothes. He had a strong urge to join them, but his mother's voice chirped beside him, "What ill manners the lower class possesses. No regard for their superiors or for elegance."
He discreetly rolled her eyes. They had only recently become a part of the upper class. It astonished him how quickly his mother had seemed to forget that. Even though they'd always been in a good place, they were never rich by any means.
Ned looked over at the pair again just as the younger girl turned around. She was smiling the most brilliant smile he had ever seen. It made her eyes shine. A brown as beautiful as a honeycomb in her eyes that nearly knocked him off his feet. Her dark hair, which was pulled back out of her face and complemented her olive-toned skin.
He felt his pulse quicken. Suddenly those eyes met his and that brilliant smile that had so beautifully graced her face melted away into a scowl. Her brows knitted together, her eyes narrowed and her nose that was lightly spotted with freckles slightly wrinkled.
She didn't like that he was looking at her.
He quickly turned away, feeling as though he had destroyed any possibility of talking to her.
Why had she looked at him that way? Then it donned on him. The way he was dressed, the way his mother was dressed, and the way his mother was probably looking at this beautiful girl right now. She probably thought that he was looking down on her.
He chanced a look again, hoping that the look on his face was apologetic enough, but she had already directed her attention back to her companion who seemed to be making some sort of joke until realized as she gestured at him and that he must be the brunt of the joke,
His mother cleared her throat, directing her attention back to her. Her eyes flitted quickly between him and the girl. "There are prettier girls in New York, dear," his mother patted her hand on his arm. Suddenly a bugle began playing further down the deck, signaling that supper began in an hour. "Let us get ready for supper, darling. I heard the kitchen staff are roasting a few ducks," his mother said smoothing her dress and sticking her nose up ever so slightly.
Ned nodded and escorted his mother back to their suite, with the image of the girl smiling burned in his mind.