Later that day, Melody lay asleep on the large bed in her stateroom. She'd come back to change for dinner, but Grace was nowhere to be found. She changed into a dark blue dress herself and lay on the bed, only meaning to do so for a few minutes. The next thing she knew, Constanza was gently shaking her shoulder.

"Melly, honey, wake up."

Melody opened her eyes. "Momma? What time is it?"

"Almost 9 o' clock. You missed supper. I told Richard I'd come see if you were all right."

"Oh no! I'm sorry Momma. I . . ."

Constanza smiled, placing a finger over Melody's lips. "It's all right, sweetie. I ordered you a bowl of soup. It's on your dressing table. Why don't you eat it and go meet your sister outside? She wants to go for a walk with you. Make sure you wear your coat, sweetie, it's cold out there."

"Yes Momma." Melody got off the bed at sat at the dresser to eat the soup.

Constanza came up behind her, pulled the combs from Melody's hair, and began to brush it. "Don't you worry about missing supper. You can join us tomorrow. I met this nice lady named Molly Brown. Her husband struck gold out West. She said her grandson is ill and Titanic was the only ship she could book passage on. She wants us to come join her and a bunch of other folks tomorrow night. So you dress real nice and be on time, all right, sweetie?" She twisted Melody's hair up and pinned it in place with a large tortoise shell comb.

"Yes Momma." She swallowed. "I'm supposed to meet Harold after supper tomorrow. Is that all right, Momma?"

"Of course, honey." Constanza turned and leaned against the dressing table, looking at Melody. "If you're meetin' that young man, I want you to wear my best dress. You should look real pretty for him. I was walking earlier and saw you kissing him. You looked so sweet together I thought I'd faint."

"Momma," gasped Melody. "You mean the dress Richard had made for you in Paris?"

"That's the one," said Constanza with a wink. "It might be a bit big for you in a few places, but you'll look as pretty as a picture."

"I can't wear that Momma! That dress cost a fortune."

"Nonsense, child! That dress belongs to me and if I want to let my pretty daughter wear it, I will!" She reached out to stroke Melody's face fondly.

Melody beamed. "Yes Momma." She finished the last of the soup.

"Go on now sweetie. Go meet your sister. She said she'd be on the second class promenade."

Melody put on her coat and kissed Constanza goodbye. She left the suite, following the hallways until she reached the second class promenade deck. Violet was leaning against the railing, smoking and looking out at the dark ocean. She smiled and nodded when she saw Melody walk up.

"Hey, baby sister. You missed one hell of a dinner. That Molly Brown lady really is somethin'. Way more fun than any of these other stiffs."

Melody stood next to her sister. "I fell asleep."

Violet laughed. "That Harold must have worn you out."

"Vi! All we did was talk!"

"And . . ." said Violet, blowing smoke out of her nose.

Melody grinned shyly. "And he kissed me."

Violet squealed, grabbing Melody's hands and dancing with her. "My baby sister is growing up! What was he like?"

Melody blushed a little. "He was gentle and sweet. Not like those men at Momma's. He asked me if he could kiss me first." She bit her lip. "Vi, I think I'm falling in love with him."

Violet squeezed her hand. "Oh, Melly, I'm so happy for you. You're so lucky. I don't know if I'll ever know what it's like to be in love."

Melody frowned. "Don't you like James, Vi?"

Violet smiled weakly. "Sure I do. But we're just having fun together. Momma always told me to 'love love, don't love the man', you know? I never let myself love anyone, so now I don't know how."

"Don't you wanna get married someday, Vi?"

"Hell, no. That's the last thing I ever want! I'm gonna be a singer, so I ain't got time for bein' married. I'd rather hear a mule brayin' for oats than hear a man say he loves me." She took a drag from her cigarette holder and blew out the smoke. "When do you see Harold again?"

"Tomorrow night, after supper. Momma said she wants me to wear her best dress."

Violet's eyes got larger. "Her best one? That beautiful red one? Oh, Melly, I'm lending you my onyx earrings. You'll be so pretty!"

Melody smiled. "Thanks Vi."

Violet touched Melody's face tenderly. "Anything for you, baby sister."

Just then, someone came running up the deck toward the two sisters. They saw a pretty woman in a red and black dress with red hair. She was crying. Melody realized then that it was Rose, the girl they'd met earlier.

Violet's eyes grew wide with recognition. "Thunderation . . . Rose?"

Melody turned. "Rose, honey, what's the matter?"

Rose ignored them and ran by, sobbing, her heels thudding against the deck as she ran toward the stern of the ship.

Violet leaned back against the railing. "Now what the hell was that all about?"

"Do you think we should follow her?"

Violet shook her head. "Nah, leave her alone. Her harpy of a mother must have just said some hair-brained thing to her. T'ain't none of our business. She'll be fine."

Melody frowned, but turned around to look out at the ocean, pulling out her own cigarette, placing it in the holder, lighting it. The sky was black and dotted with thousands of stars, and the ocean was like glass. "Look at that," she said. "It's gorgeous. Almost as pretty as Texas in spring."

Violet puffed at her cigarette. "Mmm hmm. The Lord God Himself must look out at this ocean and say 'my, ain't that pretty.'"

Melody sighed. "That's somethin' that makes me sad. We won't be home to see the bluebonnets come out this year."

Violet patted Melody's hand. "There's always next year, baby sister."

"Will you come visit a lot, Vi?"

Violet smiled. "As much as I can, baby sister. And I want you to come visit me in New York all the time. When you aren't studying, anyway." Violet chucked her sister under the chin. "I love you, kid."

Melody hugged her sister. "I love you too, Vi."

The girls stood quietly, watching the ocean, smoking. Melody pulled her coat tighter. "Damn. It's cold out here."

"It is," said Violet. "Let's walk. It'll keep us warm. We can look off the back of the ship."

"You mean the stern."

"Whatever."

The two girls strolled in the direction Rose had gone, holding hands like they always did when they walked together. They were chattering and laughing together when suddenly they heard screaming coming from the stern.

Violet looked at Melody. "Jesus!" was all she said before dashing off down the deck. Melody followed. The two girls jogged as fast as their corsets and heeled shoes would allow them. Soon they reached the stern of the ship, where a small crowd was gathered. Melody saw Rose among the crowd, a blanket thrown over her shoulders. The Master at Arms was there talking to her, and two sailors were restraining a boy whose features she couldn't make out. Caledon Hockley stood there, looking angry, his valet behind him. Melody grabbed Violet's hand and pulled her behind the stern bridge.

"Damn it, Melly! I wanna see."

"Don't you dare. Aren't you the one who said we should mind our own business?"

"But . . ."

"But nothin'. That's Rose over there. Something must have happened to her."

"Shit!"

The girls hid, trying to hear what was being said. "What's goin' on out there?" Violet hissed.

"Shhh! I can't hear nothin'."

After a short time, they saw Cal Hockley pass by, his arm around a shaken-looking Rose. He was lecturing her about never climbing the railings on a ship. His valet followed shortly after.

Violet noticed him. "Eww, no wonder she was trying to get away from that valet earlier," she said, her face twisted in disgust. "He reminds me of that weird old Simmons feller that used to come to Momma's. He wanted me to do the weirdest stuff. He wanted to put on my bloomers and have me call him my little . . ."

"Shhh!" Melody hissed. "Come on, let's go. They'll see us eavesdroppin'."

Surprisingly, Violet didn't protest when Melody pulled her away and they ran off down the second class promenade in the direction from which they came.

More soon . . .