Chapter 26

No Regrets

We're up to the docking in New York. I'm not sure if I'll get to that in this chapter or the next one. I'm writing half this story tonight due to an ongoing battle I'm losing with insomnia and half tomorrow, so we'll see how far this goes.

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year!

Victoria's POV and she's dreaming right now, hence the italics.

"How was your trip? What was the Titanic like? Did it live up to the name?"

I stepped off the exit ramp of the Titanic wearing one of my best outfits and was bombarded by reporters wanting to get the scoop on what happened. Everywhere I turned, there they were. I tried to maneuver past some of the reporters but found it extremely difficult. Every where I looked, flash bulbs were going off, reporters had paper and pencils and they were writing down every word anyone said. This was a huge event. It was the first trans-Atlantic crossing of Titanic. I looked over and saw Cal with Rose's mother speaking to reporters. Cal's arm and hand gestures were wild so I know he was giving that reporter the story of his life. Rose was behind Cal, and seemed blasé about the whole situation. She refused to give anyone any answers.

I sighed and agreed to answer a question from a reporter. "The Titanic was marvelous. The spaciousness of the rooms, the luxury of the ship and the newness of the ship can never be met. This ship lives up to its name: The Grandest Ship in the World. Now if you'll excuse me, I must go find my fiancé."

I curtsied slightly and excused myself. The same reporter was following me.

"What was the sinking like? Were you scared? What did the screams sound like? What about the lifeboats? How did you feel when the ship sank? I heard there was an error on behalf of the crew and thousands of people died as a result. What happened?"

"But the ship didn't sink." I turned around to motion behind me. "What are you talking about? See, it is right there." I gasped as I focused on the lettering on the side of the ship. It was no longer the Titanic, rather the Carpathia stood in its place. "How can that be? I just got off the Titanic. It was just here."

The reporter looked confused. "Are you alright? We got news over the wire that the Titanic sank 3 days ago and over one thousand people were lost. You just got off the Carpathia with about 700 of the survivors, didn't you?" He scratched his head. "Did you hit your head or did you suffer amnesia when you went into the water? Were you even on board Titanic?"

I slowly shook my head, "No I didn't go in the water and yes, I was on board. The ship didn't sink. What's going on here?" I looked at the reporter, obviously confused by what was going on. I turned to ran. I called out for Harry. I started to run back towards the ship, trying to find him. "Harry!" I yelled out, trying to find him. I ran by officers from the Carpathia, passengers from both Titanic and the Carpathia. I pushed reporters out of my way, hoping to find him. I finally spotted an officer from Titanic.

"Sir, where is Officer Lowe? I need to speak to him. I'm his fiancé."

The officer looked at me funny. "Ma'am, My name is Officer William Murdoch. He told me about you. I was on board with Officer Lowe." He stopped to look at me. "I hate to have to tell you this, but he didn't make it. He died trying to rescue people out of the water. His lifeboat was swamped with people, someone hit him on the head with an oar and he was knocked unconscious. The undertow from the ocean current and the frozen water killed him. I'm so sorry. White Star Lines will be in contact with you about his severance pay."

I started to back up and bumped up against something. I turned around to see a luggage cart behind me. My breathing got heavy. I could barely see. Tears began to form in my eyes. I was gasping for air. "No! What are you talking about? What is going on here? What are you doing? He lived! He saved me out of the water. I'm all right so Harry has to be all right."

Murdoch just stared at me, "I'm sorry, dear. I'm so sorry. We tried to go back and get his body so his parents could bury him properly, but we couldn't find it." He sighed a deep sigh. "Lowe was a great officer. He will be missed." Murdoch put his hand on my shoulder as he walked off.

"NO! No! Harry! Where are you?!" I left the luggage cart and ran back in the opposite direction. "Harry!" I felt a pair of strong hands on my shoulder as I spun around, "Harry!" My face fell as I came to face my father. "Father, where's Harry?"

My father was confused, "Who is Harry? Victoria, are you alright? Do we need to let a doctor take a look at you? I saw your confrontation over there with Officer Murdoch. What is going on young lady?"

I slowly gasped as I realized what was going on. "Is this a joke? Do you honestly not like Harry and you're trying to keep us apart? Was that other officer in on it? If I find out you're hiding him from me because you don't like me, I'll never speak to you again.

"Victoria Anne Metcalfe! You will respect me. I am your father and you'll never speak to me again in that manner."

I backed up from Father. I turned around and ran off with my father's voice in the background begging for me to come back. I had to find Harry. I knew he was all right. I took off running with the determination that he was okay and I would find him. I ran by Cal, who was still speaking to the reporter. I ran up the ramp to the entrance of the Carpathia. I turned around as I heard something coming towards me. A porter was bringing a gurney over to be offloaded. A thin, white sheet covered the dead body on the gurney. I started to turn around to face the opposite direction when a gust of wind caught the sheet covering the gurney. I started to scream when I recognized Harry, lying motionless on the gurney. The porter quickly covered Harry's lifeless body and apologized, asking if I knew him.

I couldn't speak. I started to point to the engagement ring on my left hand, but it was no longer there.

I sat straight up in bed, breathing heavily. Beads of sweat were forming on my forehead. I flung the covers off the bed, straightened my dress up and put back on my shoes to head outside to get a breath of fresh air.

By the commotion on deck and the lack of commotion in the hallways, I knew we were getting close to New York. I picked up my pace as I walked towards the front of the ship. My eyes focused on an officer. I ran towards him. My heels on the wooden planks of the deck caused him to turn around. I flung myself into his arms.

"Oh Harry!" I wrapped my arms around his neck tightly. "You're okay! You're not dead."

He had a confused look on his face as he hugged me. "Dead? What?" He pulled back to look at me. "Torie, what's wrong? What are you talking about?"

I slowed down and told him about the dream I just had. "My father was trying to keep us apart by telling me you were dead, but I couldn't believe him. I knew you'd never leave me. I know you. So I ran back on the ship and a porter was wheeling a gurney to be offloaded. You were dead. They covered you up with a sheet and were getting ready to bury you." I started to shake and Harry held me tight to comfort me.

Harry looked at me, "Of course I'm not dead and I'd never leave you." He pulled me back in close to him as my grip tightened around his waist. "Look, we're almost in New York. The captain said we've only got another hour or so before we're in New York. Do you want anything to eat before we dock?"

I shook my head, still too shaken up to eat. "No, I'm not hungry. My dream really freaked me out. It had me worried about you. I'm just glad you're okay and that you didn't die."

Harry still was worried about me. "I'm fine. You're fine. We're all fine and we'll be off this ship in a few hours. Then we can begin living the way we need to be with all of this behind us." Harry kissed me gently on the lips as my father walked up.

"I do hope I'm not interrupting anything." Father extended his hand and shook Harry's.

"Oh no, sir. Your daughter just had a nightmare and was worried about me. I was trying to assure her that I was okay."

Father nodded, "Officer, where are you staying when the ship docks?"

I saw Harry shake his head, "I'm not sure. I'll probably find a hotel somewhere in New York for a few days until I find out what White Star is going to do with me. I know there will be inquests in America for a few days, but after that, I'm not sure."

Father nodded, "I insist that you allow me to get you a room at the Astoria Hotel in New York. Victoria, Shannon and I will be staying there when we get to New York as it will be too late to drive anywhere. You are welcome to stay at the Astoria. I'll book another room for you."

Harry looked at me and then looked at my Father. "Sir, I could not accept such generosity."

"Nonsense. You are almost family. Please, allow me to do this. I have already spoken to Jack and Rose about staying there as well. I've already booked two rooms. One for Jack and Rose as well as my family, and I'd be happy to book you a third room."

I looked at Harry again and nodded. He took the hint. "Thank you, sir. I appreciate what you've done for us." He shook Father's hand.

"I heard from one of the porters that we're about an hour away if you two would like to stay up here and watch our entrance into New York, you're more than welcome to. Just meet Shannon and me at the hotel."

I told father I would and he left us to watch our entrance into New York.

"I can't believe your father is so generous."

"Harry, he's like that no matter who you are. He's generous without a reason. He's always been like that. To tell him no would have only insulted him."

He leaned in closer to me and put his arm around my shoulder. "I love you. Thank you."

It began to rain as we got closer to New York. Rose and Jack had joined us up on deck. Rose had a shawl wrapped around her head to keep hidden in case Cal or someone who knew Cal saw her. Jack found a coat that had a hood and Harry suggested he pull the hood up to keep anyone from seeing him as well. Jack pulled the hood up and he and Rose stood behind Harry and me out of the way.

The closer we got, the more it rained. Harry got a couple of umbrellas from a porter and Jack and Rose took one and Harry took the other one and held me close as we approached New York and all the city's lights.

"Fabrizio wanted so badly to see that."

I turned around to see what Jack was talking about. The Statue of Liberty moved past us as the ship steamed by. "Wow. I've never seen her this close. She's beautiful. And what a welcome."

Another porter asking us a question interrupted us. "Excuse me, please. May I take your name for the final passenger list before we dock?"

Jack spoke up first. "Jack and Rose Dawson." He motioned to Harry and me.

Harry spoke up, "Officer Harold Lowe, Titanic's crew." The porter nodded as he wrote down the names.

"And your name, love?" I was staring at the statue still as I spoke. "Victoria Metcalfe."

We had made it. After all that we had been through, we finally made it to New York.