Meet me at the docks on June 31st, noon, our boat leaves then.

-Much love to my future wife, DH


XII. The Last Farewell

"Claire! Claire!"

"Wait," Claire instructed one of the maids that was carrying her luggage. It was Cam, well at least she could say goodbye to him. Massie was gone and she thought it would be better if she left for Florida. Back to a familiar place. "I'm leaving Mr. Fisher."

"Don't call me that." he scowled. "Where are you going?"

"Back home." she said quietly.

"But you can have a great future in New York," he said quickly. "There are so many opportunities here. You can succeed and be the person you want to become."

"I don't have any money, Cam," she said cruelly. "I don't have anywhere to stay. I'm a farm girl and I will always be."

"You don't have to be." he said quietly.

"What are you saying?" she said.

"My father was very enchanted with you, he's offering to provide a good education for you." he said quietly. "And a place to stay."

"That's very kind of Mr. Fisher." she said quietly as she stared at his two different colored eyes. "But-

"I also want you to stay in New York," he said. "You can have so many opportunities, Claire. You can be the person you truly want to become. It's a great opportunity. No more lies."

It was a great opportunity. It was hard to resist.

"Please, Claire." he begged. "Don't give this up. You can accomplish whatever you want. I know you can. You're different from the other girls."

"All right." she said. "I'll stay in New York. Thank you, Cam."

Cam kissed her softly. "You will have everything you deserve, Claire. You will succeed and be very happy here in New York."


"I'm coming, I'm coming." Bobby opened the door of the Actor's House the boardinghouse where all the actors slept and ate and lived in. He smiled when he saw Dylan standing there in her plainest dress with two trunks. She had only packed up her most valuable things.

She hadn't even said goodbye to her family. She didn't matter to them, she never had it seemed.

"Is there any room here for one more?" she asked shyly.

"Sure, there is, Red," he opened the door wider and all the actors peeked in curiously. "Ladies and gents, our little Irish girl has returned. She wondering if there's any room."

They nodded and roared their approval.

"Sit here, Dylan." he said as he led her to a chair. He handed her a glass of whisky. "So what changed your mind?"

"You did. Or what you said." she blushed. "I decided that I didn't want to live my life in a bubble. That I was tired of the rules, I wanted to live my life the way I wanted it to be lived. Acting has always been my dream."

Bobby smirked at her knowingly as he clicked his whisky glass on hers. "To dreams."

"To dreams." she clicked her glass and took a small sip.

She was finally where she was suppose to be.


"Goodbye, mother."

Marsha looked up to see Kristen wearing one of her oldest dresses and coats. She was carrying a small suitcase.

She looked stunned. "Where are you going?"

She took a deep breath. "To Africa, with Dempsey. I decided to volunteer in Africa as well."

Marsha narrowed her eyes. "You will not. No daughter of mine will help those orphans! Kristen, you're a Gregory! A lady, you need to marry and help your family!"

"Mother, I'm really tired of your games." she said calmly as she picked up her bag. "It was father's fault that he lost our money. Not mine. I'm not asking for your permission. I'm telling you."

"Kristen. Kristen Michelle-"

Kristen closed the door behind her. She got into the carriage and rode to the docks hoping to catch Dempsey in time. Dempsey was just waiting for the boat when Kristen appeared behind him. "Room for one more?"

"What are you doing here?" he asked coldly.

"I wanted to say I'm sorry. I shouldn't have planned things like that. That was the only thing I lied to you about. I care about you Dempsey, everything I said was real. I think you're a good person and I love helping the orphans and the starving kids." she shut her eyes. "And I really want to go to Africa with you, please let me. I want to help the orphans as well."

Dempsey turned around slowly, he wasn't smiling , but his eyes didn't look angry anymore. "Do you really want to help?"

She nodded.

"I guess there is room for one more," he said slowly. "But I warn you it's a very long trip."

She nodded. "I can manage it. so. . ."

Dempsey offered her a hand, finally smiling. "Welcome aboard, Miss Gregory."

"Kristen." she corrected as she got on the boat. "I prefer Kristen, now."


"I can't say I'm entirely surprise."

James's voice cause her to flinch. She was wearing a traveling dress along with a small suitcase that would easily be hidden in the carriage ride to the dock where she was meeting Derrick.

"James, I'm so sorry." she said quietly. James had been such a good friend to her. So loving and gentle and accepting, but he was just a friend. Yet Massie didn't want to break his heart. "But we both know that I wont be happy married."

"We wont be." he corrected her. "I'll come with you, to avoid suspicion." he said thinking of Massie's parents.

She smiled in relief. "Thank you."

"I hope you will be very happy Massie." he said as he led her outside. "He's a very lucky man."

"I wish for happiness." she said weirdly in acknowledgment as she placed her engagement ring inside his palm. "For both of us. You and me deserve to be happy in our own way."

James grinned at her with a familiar, boyish smile. "To our happiness."


He didn't come.

Everything had been prepared but he didn't come to his own wedding. To our wedding. Alicia was too upset to be angry. The maid had taken off her wedding dress a little past noon when it was clear that Derrick wasn't going to show up.

A lot of people had left disappointed, but not as much as Alicia. She removed the veil and put it in her chest of drawers. Yes, it was true that she had forced Derrick to marry her, yes it was true that she only wanted to marry him for a higher title, but did she really deserve all of this humiliation?

Many of New York's best families had seen her being left at the alter.

"I guess I deserved it," she mumbled as she stepped into the parlor. To her surprise James was waiting there with a small gift in his hands. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to give you, your wedding present." he awkwardly handed it to her. "And to offer my condolences."

"Thanks." she said as she motioned for him to sit down. "But it wasn't entirely unexpected. I'm guessing Massie is upset."

He whistled. "I wouldn't know for sure. As far as I know she hadn't been in New York since noon." he smirked at her shock expression. "Surprise?"

"Yes." she said honestly. "I'm happy for them."

"Are you really? But you spended so much time plotting against them."

"People change." she said defensively. "And I was very selfish."

"It's ok to be selfish." he pointed out. "Humans are naturally selfish creatures."

Alicia privately agreed.

"You should go to London sometime," he pointed out. "It's very pretty in the fall and the people aren't half as judgmental here as they are over here."

An unexpected smile spread on her lips as she played with the fallen ribbon. "I'd like that."

James looked pleased. "Well then, I will make the arrangements soon."

Alicia looked at his brown eyes. They were the same brown as hers, why had she never noticed that? She rested her head against the chair. Maybe she had a lousy summer, but she would have an even better fall. She would make sure of it.

-End of Chapter Twelve-