*Twelve*
Lowe's Realization
Lowe slowly made his way to the bow. Thinking about Zipper, and all she had said. He was so angry, he could barely control it. Of course he knew he was at sea, and he had a job. Being fifth officer should come first, he knew that. But his mind still wasn't on his job.
What he really wanted was to march on up to Caledon Hockley's room and give him what he deserved. But, he knew he couldn't.
"Hello, Lowe." He heard his friend, Officer Lightoller speak from behind him.
"Charles, hey, what are you doing up, Sir?" He asked.
Lightoller looked up to the sky, then back to Lowe. "Just taken the air. Couldn't sleep."
Lowe nodded, saying he understood.
"I heard about everything that happened. Have you gotten to talk to her?" Lightoller asked suddenly.
Lowe nodded sadly. "Yes, sir. I did."
"Well, what's the word then? You know the captain will need to know in like…" He looked at his pocket watch. "Nine hours. After church."
Lowe nodded. "It's still off."
"She wouldn't listen?" Lightoller asked, leaning on the rail now.
"Oh, yes. She listened. She knows it was a misunderstanding." He said plainly. Not exactly wanting to have this conversation. "I'm the one calling it off now."
Lightoller looked at him a long moment. Lowe wasn't looking at him though. He was staring out at the horizon.
"Why, Harold?" He asked. "Explain."
"Okay, well she came to me saying she understood now. It was just a big misunderstanding. She apologized. Saying that we were set up by some first-class gentleman, named Caledon Hockley." He explained.
"So? What's the problem?" Lightoller asked.
Lowe turned his attention back to his friend. "She slept with him." He said sternly. "Now you see?"
Lightoller looked away. He hadn't thought, Miss. Rosenberg would do such a thing. But, he of course, didn't know much about the passengers. The ship was his only concern.
"Well, do you love her?" He asked finally.
Lowe thought about it a long moment. Then finally he sighed. "Yeah, I do. That's what makes it so hard."
Lightoller nodded. "Tell me something, Lowe." There was a long dramatic pause between them.
"Yes?" Lowe asked.
"I'm just wondering, but. If you could erase this one incident. This one mistake. Is this still the woman you love, and want to spend your life with?" Lightoller looked from his friend, then to the stars. "Of course, it's just a thought."
Lowe stood silently, as Officer Lightoller headed back to the bridge. He thought about his words for a long while. 'I do love her' He said silently to himself. 'And it was only one mistake. It was that Mr. Hockley's fault anyway.'
He knew Lightoller words were wise. If this thing could be erased, he would still love and marry her. But it couldn't. What had been done, couldn't be erased. Or reversed. He was torn on where to go from there.
He started his rounds again. There was literally no one on the decks. It appeared a ghost ship of beauty. The only sounds were the crashing waters against the hull. And the tapping of his shoes on the smooth deck wood.
It wasn't until two hours later, two hours of heavy thinking. That he decided what he had to do. He took out his pocket watch, it was still only 6am. He could see the early sunbeams painting the horizon. Though the sun itself was not out yet.
The passengers would surely be sleeping still. He thought to himself as he entered the ship. Taking the stairs to B-Deck. He walked straight her room. Standing before the door to B-58/60.
He took in a deep breath, and raised his fist to the door. He knocked politely so as not to alarm anyone who may be sleeping. He of course knew only Frank and Michaela stayed in this suite. But he needed to be respectful anyway.
Before long, he heard stumbling footsteps. Frank opened the door. His hair was messed up. Officer Lowe could tell he had slept in his suit. He looked very unkempt.
"Sorry to disturb you, sir. But may I speak with Michaela?" Lowe asked.
"Well, I don't know. I didn't hear her come back in last night. Of course I fell asleep." He laughed.
So did Lowe. Wasn't he supposed to be a guard? Why would he just fall asleep. Of course Zipper was one that could take care of herself, if need be.
"If she's here she'll be in her room. Come in. I'll go knock." Frank said.
Officer Lowe stepped into the suite. Looking around at the fine detail. He had never really gotten to see the staterooms. Only once or twice, but he didn't have the chance to take in their true beauty before.
"Please. Can I?" He asked.
Frank thought about it a moment. Thinking everything was back to normal, he agreed to let Lowe into her room.
Frank straightened up his tie, then sat down in his favorite chair. "Missy." He called to the maid. She stood in the corner dusting the mantle.
"Yes, sir?"
"I was wondering if you could be a dear, and hunt me down a cup of coffee?" Frank asked.
The maid nodded, bowing a bit. Then departed the room. From across the way Frank watched Officer Lowe closely. Of course he liked the officer, but he was just doing his job.
Lowe gently knocked on the door. But Zipper didn't answer. He slowly reached for the golden doorknob, then pushed open the door. He looked at her lovingly. She was still asleep, with the warm covers wrapped tightly around her.
He closed the door behind him, but not fully. He didn't want Frank to get the wrong impression. He walked over to Zipper's bed. He leaned down quietly.
"Michaela." He whispered. He touched her cheek with his knuckles. "Wake up."
Only after he sat down on the edge of the bed, did she stir. Her eyelids fluttered open. She thought she was still dreaming when she saw him.
"Officer Lowe?" She asked, her voice still a sleepy tone.
"Now, is that any name to call your soon-to-be husband?" He smiled. Letting her see his forgiveness.
She sat up immediately. Forgetting her tiredness. "Really?" She asked,
"Really." He smiled. He wrapped his arms around her tightly. "I couldn't let you go. I only have one heart to lose. And if I lost you, I'd lose that heart."
She smiled, and leaned up to kiss him. "What made you change your mind?"
"Something a friend told me. But it doesn't matter. Let's just forget all of this happened. Come on this is the best day of our lives remember?" He spoke softly.
She smiled, though she knew differently. At least she'd get to marry him. She loved him more and more each time she saw him. "Oh my gosh, we don't have the rings." She exclaimed. Wanting everything to be perfect for her wedding.
"Not to worry." He reached into his pocket. He pulled out a set of two wedding bands. He always carried them with him. His mother had died in childbirth, so his father wanted his love to wear it. Then when his father died, he decided he would use the set for his own wedding.
The lady's with a large stone set in gold and surrounded in diamonds. The man's gold with the same cut of small diamonds around it.
"I'm a bit ahead of you, my dear." He smiled. "They were my parents'."
She looked at him a bit teary-eyed. Only now it was of joy.
He kissed her. "I have to get back to work. See you at church."
She nodded. A bit saddened that he had to go so quickly. But she knew he had his job, and that was important to him.
She laid back again. When Frank came in. "So I guess, it's good to go right?" He asked.
She stared at the ceiling. Cal hadn't ruined anything for her. Wouldn't he be so angry when he hears this. She thought to herself. Then she turned to her guard.
"Right. Tonight, it'll be a night I'll not soon forget." She said.
"Me either." He said. "I was there for your birth, now to see you wed. It'll be a joyous day."
Of course she alone knew that she was not the one he had witnessed her birth. Because she was living in someone else's life. But what did it matter, this day would be remembered for the rest of her life. Everyone's lives in fact.
