(Author's note is at the end of the chapter.)
Jamie Anderson's POV
Chapter 49
I felt so relieved to see a familiar face.
"H-H-Hello, Mr. Andrews!"
Despite the violent chattering of my teeth, I offered him a cheerful smile.
A pool of water was already forming around me. My hair clumped together in thick icy strands. I could barely feel any circulation in my feet. Looking down, I saw that I had lost my shoes again.
How lovely, it's almost as if I was slowly returning to the state of being I was in when I first boarded Titanic.
I was like Cinderella, and the precious time my fairy godmother granted me was beginning to come to an end.
Mr. Andrews rushed forward, immediately taking off his overcoat and wrapping it tightly around my shoulders.
"Jamie, what in sweet heaven's name happened to you?"
Cutting to the chase, I coolly replied, "The s-stewards barred all the exits d-d-down in steerage. Everyone was trapped. So, b-b-basically, as a last resort, I crawled through the ship's ventilation system to find a way out a-and get help."
He turned even paler, and mumbled something unintelligible with an angry shake of his head.
Taking another glance at me, he suddenly fell onto his knees and quickly retrieved a golden pocket watch from his vest.
"Jamie, you have to get yerself to a lifeboat. Now."
"Yes sir," I breathed, "After I bring down some help-"
"No," he spat back, "Don't you worry about that. I'll go down meself and take care o' it. All I want you to do is to get yer bloody self to a lifeboat! For crying out loud, there aren't even enough o' the contraptions! Perhaps not a single one is left already..."
I noticed that his hands were slightly trembling; he clutched his chest as if some invisible force had shot a spear right through his heart. His eyes glowed with a fiery passion. Beads of perspiration were beginning to form on his forehead. It appeared as if this man had just been to hell and back.
"It's a quarter past one," he whispered. "It'll be a miracle if this ship can last another hour."
He looked down at what used to be my ankle. Already, the ruddy ligament was swollen.
"Come on," he whispered with an unconvincing smile, "I'll help bring you down to Harry."
As he was preparing to take me in his arms, I slid away from his grasp.
No, none of this felt right.
"Mr. Andrews? And what about you? Will you be getting 'yer bloody self to a lifeboat' also?"
"O' course," he answered hesitantly, avoiding my glare.
I knew it. His reply only confirmed my assumption. Just like my papa, he was going to go down with his ship.
"You're staying," I whispered hoarsely. It wasn't a question.
Mr. Andrews stared at me, slightly surprised that I saw so easily past his guise. He retreated a few paces, and turned to grip the railing of the balcony firmly.
It was then, for the first time, that I started to hear a chorus of desperate pleas and shouts in the nearby distance.
"You see, my Jamie, I've caused all of this. She is my creation, and I cannot leave her. Unless every soul aboard gets off safely, I'm staying till the very end."
The ship that gave me a family was now reclaiming everything back, and here I was, unable to rescue those I loved.
"Mr. Andrews," I cried, "Please, you cannot condemn yourself for something that was out of your control. You, out of all people, deserve a spot in one of those lifeboats."
I broke into a ragged sob, unable to say anything more.
"Oh, dear Jamie."
He came forward and kneeled before me again, placing his hand beneath my chin.
"D'you remember what you asked me the other night? If I would be able to sacrifice my life? Walk up to the guillotine?"
I nodded in dismay, already knowing where this conversation was heading to.
"Well, like Mr. Carton, this is my time. My time to show God the integrity that he instilled within me. You, my dear, out o' all people should understand. Just as yer father decided to go down with his ship, so I do the same with mine."
"Exactly," I whispered through my tears, "I lost a father before, and I'm not ready to lose another one. Mr. Andrews...I need you."
It felt as if all the happiness was being sucked right out of me.
I buried my head in his shoulder, refusing to leave his side.
In that one precious moment, I felt him wrap me tightly in an embrace.
"I'm so sorry, Jamie. I can only begin to imagine all the pain that this must be putting you through. I think of you as if you were my own daughter. The last thing I'd want to do is hurt you."
Placing a kiss upon my cheek, he whispered with a little smile, "But just think of it this way - when I'm gone, you'll have an entire army o' angels watching over you."
I managed to smile the tiniest of smiles, but I was far from feeling reassured.
"I really can't change your mind, can I?"
He shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid not even God Himself can."
Mr. Andrews reached over to a spot above my head and plucked a lovely white rose, pinning its stem like a corsage to my dress.
"Hmmm," he sighed, looking up to the evening sky, "Have you ever seen so many stars? It's such a peaceful night, as if nothing were wrong with the world."
I finally found my voice again, and managed to croak out, "And all these roses, sir...it's as if we were all in Eden."
"Yes," he chuckled, "I came here only moments before you did. I just wanted to say goodbye I suppose. It's such a lovely little garden. A real shame to see it all go."
The ship emitted another mighty roar, hauling us back to reality.
"Come on now, young Jamie, it's time we get you to safety."
He lifted me into his arms, and taking a final glance at the room that held so many memories for us both, he closed the door behind him softly, and began to swiftly amble down the crystal staircase.
I felt my arms tighten around his neck as I saw water gently lapping against the bottom step. My God, this was on F deck, so that must've meant all the other floors below it were already flooded. My Irish chum, Joe...little Cora...all those hundreds of souls. Were they already gone? Was I too late?
No. No. No.
I simply refused to believe that.
Dismissing the morbid thoughts fluttering throughout my mind, I turned my attention back to the paternal guardian ushering me down the winding staircase.
"Mr. Andrews?"
"Yes, my little lotte?"
"Could you sing something for me?"
His face was no longer contorted by fear. It was absolutely peaceful, perhaps the most at ease I've ever seen him. He appeared at least ten years younger with twinkling eyes of blue, cheeks flushed, and a lock of his hair boyishly curling off to one side. Not a single worry seemed to burden his mind.
The Irishman looked down into my face with a grin and winked.
"O'course, me dear."
Similar to a performer preparing for his closing act, Mr. Andrews took a moment's pause to gather his recollections together.
I would relish every note. Every syllable. Every little melodic hum.
For as I well knew at the time, this would be his final song.
"There's a tear in your eye, and I'm wondering why,
For it never should be there at all.
With such pow'r in your smile, sure a stone you'd beguile,
So there's never a teardrop should fall.
When your sweet lilting laughter's like some fairy song,
And your eyes twinkle bright as can be;
You should laugh all the while and all other times smile,
And now, smile a smile for me.
When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.
For your smile is a part of the love in your heart,
And it makes even sunshine more bright.
Like the linnet's sweet song, crooning all the day long,
Comes your laughter and light.
For the springtime of life is the sweetest of all
There is ne'er a real care or regret;
And while springtime is ours throughout all of youth's hours,
Let us smile each chance we get."
A/N: Blimey, I have to admit, this was the first chapter I got a little teary through as I was writing it. I hope it was every bit as emotional too for you lot out there.
The song at the end, "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling," is by Chauncey Olcott & George Graff, Jr. I thought the lyrics fit the mood of this chapter very accurately.
The next update won't come for a wee bit - perhaps not for a week or two. My family and I are headed up to Canada by Niagara Falls as a little celebration for my sweet sixteen. (It's on August 10th by the way! ;) Haha ) Hopefully the scenery will give me some inspiration!
Till then my lovely readers! Adieu!
