Author's notes: This is just meant to be a nice romance story. I did some research while writing it, but if you are a stickler for following officer schedules and that sort of thing, you'll be sorely disappointed. For those who aren't, enjoy! I suppose the main character is a bit Mary Sue-ish, and perhaps I'm pushing the "prostitute-with-a-heart-of-gold" envelope a bit, but hopefully you'll like her and her sister anyway. Read and review, if you so desire.

Wednesday, April, 10, 1912 - Cherbourg

"I can't believe how huge this ship is! The one we took from New York wasn't nearly this big!" cried Melody.

Richard, Melody's stepfather, put his hand on her lower back. "I take it Melody likes it?" he asked in his thick Texas accent.

Melody looked up at him from under the wide brim of her black hat and smiled. "It's beautiful, Richard!" she said.

Richard turned his head and looked behind him. "If only your Momma and sister were half as excited as you, maybe they'd be ready to get aboard!" he called, so the others in their party could hear.

Their mother, Constanza, was stepping out of the car, a blue hat box in her hands. "Oh, what are you bellyachin' about Richard Pembry? These fancy dresses you bought us don't exactly allow free movement!" She smiled and winked at Melody, who smiled back. Momma handed her hatbox to a steward and let him take her elbow to help her from the car.

Richard blew Constanza a kiss and looked back at Melody. "Oh, darlin', this has been a lovely trip. I'm so glad I could talk you two into comin' along with your Momma and I. You and Violet are the dearest things in the world to me, next to your Momma."

Melody smiled and threw her arms around Richard. "I still think you and Momma should have been alone, but thank you for bringing us with you Richard!"

"Of course, sweetheart. And I'm so excited to get you back to Texas so you can go to university. My own Pa always wanted to send me but could never afford it. I know you two are gonna make me proud."

Melody smiled. "I'll try, Richard."

Richard squeezed Melody's hand. "I know you'll miss your sister while she's in New York, but I wanted to get her the best voice teacher money could buy. There's no reason to waste a gift like she's got."

Melody gave Richard a weak smile. "I will miss her. We've been together every day since I was a baby. But we've promised to write each other every day."

Richard squeezed Melody's hand. "Good. Now, where is that Violet?" He turned to Momma, who had come over to stand with them while the porters gathered their bags. "Constanza, where the devil is that girl?"

Constanza rolled her eyes. "You know Violet. VIOLET!!!" she bellowed, causing several other first class passengers to stare at them. "Where'd you go girl?"

"I'm right here Momma!" cried Violet, coming around the side of the car. "I was just talkin' to the cutest boy you ever did see. His Daddy's a railroad tycoon! They are comin' back from his cousin's wedding in England!" Violet's blue eyes flashed.

Constanza reached over to smooth the ribbons on Violet's lavender-colored hat. "Girl, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree does it? Always on the make, just like your old Momma."

Violet laughed. "You're hardly old, Momma."

Constanza smiled. "What do you think of my dress girls, do you think it's all right for the first night on board?"

Constanza was wearing a stylish green traveling dress. She had topped it with a wide brimmed hat trimmed with green silk roses that went well with her auburn hair.

"You look beautiful, Momma!" said Melody.

"It's not too much is it?"

"Never, Momma, you're the prettiest woman here!" cried Violet.

Richard slipped an arm about Constanza's waist and kissed her cheek. "And I'm the luckiest man." He turned to the girls. "Come on, ladies, let's go aboard!"

Melody looked at her older sister. Violet was a ravishingly beautiful young woman, elegant in a deep purple gown and her lavender hat. Her hair was auburn, like Momma's, and with her blue eyes she stood in contrast to Melody with her dark hair and deep brown eyes. Men just naturally flocked to Violet and Melody, though Violet drank up the attention like so much wine. Although she had learned to hide it, Melody never felt fully comfortable the attentions of men. Back in Texas, before Constanza met Richard, Melody had been afraid of the day that Momma would tell her she was old enough to take male clients like Violet had been for some time. Violet never seemed bothered by the idea, and actually seemed to look forward to the first day she would take a johnny to bed. Melody didn't mind dancing with the men that came to Momma's house with its noisy dance hall, but she was scared to do the things Momma's other girls had told her she should do to pleasure them. Luckily, Richard's entrance into their lives saved her from having to do those things.

Melody smiled and looked again at her family. Richard had been an early investor in the Spindletop oil strike in Texas, and had made a fortune by the time he met Constanza a year before. Momma shut down the brothel to marry Richard, and he had insisted her two daughters come with them on their honeymoon in Europe. Melody and Violet had liked Richard immediately. He'd been kind to them, and despite his wealth and knowing how they'd been brought up, he never felt ashamed of them. He called them "his girls" and paraded them around at every party to which he was invited. Before the wedding, he'd taken them to New Orleans at Mardi Gras time and bought them beautiful new wardrobes, along with everything else their hearts desired. Soon, Melody was to return to Houston to live in Richard's fine house with him and Constanza, and she would attend school. Violet would be staying in New York to take lessons from a well-known voice teacher who could get her auditions in the city.

Violet waved a hand in front of Melody's eyes, bringing her out of her reverie. "Melly? Melly? Are you in there?"

Melody laughed. "Sorry, just thinking."

Violet rolled her eyes. "What else is new? Come on, baby sister. We're going aboard."

Violet linked arms with Melody and the two girls followed Richard and Constanza. Melody smiled, seeing how proud Momma looked to be walking on Richard's arm. Melody hoped that someday she would know what it was like to be as in love with a man as Momma was with Richard. And for that that man to be just as in love with her, as Richard was with Momma. Melody hoped that someday, a man would love her for more than just her beauty.