[A/N. Another smaller chapter, but I didn't want to continue it now because
if I continued it to when they arrived back in Philly it would probably
have become way too long- and besides, I've got to put this up now and go
out!! ( ]
New York, February, 1941.
"Look Mama- it's New York!" Ben cried excitedly, leaning so far over the railing that Edward took hold of the back of his top. "Look Margaret- it's America!"
Margaret was surveying the approaching city thoughtfully. Eliza felt a tug on her skirt and she knelt down to her daughter's level. "What is it sweetie?"
"Mama, it looks like London." Margaret said.
Eliza laughed. She supposed to someone Margaret's age the fact that they were both cities would make them look the same. "You'll soon find it's nothing like London, but you're going to love it anyway." Eliza promised her daughter before standing back up.
Nearby Rose was standing with her husband and children, although the look on her face was slightly dreamy. She'd admitted to Eliza the day before that coming into New York on a ship didn't always have the fondest memories. For Eliza's part she didn't really remember the docking on the Carpethia after the sinking of the Titanic. She remembered being taken off the ship by a government official who had been looking at her with distaste though. "Great," He'd mumbled as though Eliza couldn't hear. "Another blasted orphan, and a dirty one at that." Eliza had put her head down and wondered what a comment like that heralded for her future in America. Now she turned to her husband with a smile.
"Are you glad to be home?" She asked him.
"It's funny," He replied with a small smile. "I thought this would be a great moment, but to tell you the truth I was used to England, and it feels kind of strange to be coming back here. And according to a gentleman I was talking to in the smoking room last night America's experience of the war is nothing like England's. They're too far away for Germany to bomb like they did in England, and nobodies on rations and such in America."
Eliza took his hand. "I suppose America is home though, isn't it?"
Edward nodded. "I'll always be an American, no matter where I live!" He said. "It's not exactly something that ever leaves you."
Rose smiled over at them. "Heading back to Philly tonight?" She asked.
"First train." Edward replied. "If Father wasn't so sick we'd stay a few days and let the kids experience New York, but as it is..well we'll have to bring them back another time."
"Don't forget to write me Eliza- no excuses! I'm going back to the cabin for a bit- I feel slightly seasick. The waters in here always do that to me, nothing like calmer ocean waters." Rose told her and Eliza promised she'd remember. After Eliza had told Rose what she knew about Cal, and who Rose really was the two had become even closer, and Eliza knew they'd always remain in touch. Eliza also was pretty sure Rose was not seasick, but simply didn't want to relive the trauma of the entrance to New York twenty-nine years ago.
"Look! The Statue of Liberty!" Ben cried pointing, and Margaret leant over to have a look.
"What's she carrying?" She asked her father.
"A torch." Edward replied, completely expecting that he'd know be bombarded with questions until Margaret knew everything about the Statue of Liberty and all she represented.
"Oh okay, in case there's a blackout." Margaret replied nodding. "Good idea."
Eliza and Edward's eyes met over the top of their children and they exchanged a silent smile. Out of the mouths of babes!
It seemed to Eliza, to take forever before the ship finally came to a halt and they were allowed to leave. Edward had organized for most of the luggage to be sent on after them, and they were only taking the bare essentials on the train. Despite Ben's halfhearted protests that he wanted to see the city they went from the marina to the station. It would be a long trip to Philadelphia for the children, but Edward was anxious to get back to his father. The fact that he didn't know all the details and exactly how sick the Colonel was made it all that worse. At first the children were full of beams on the train, but eventually they fell asleep and it was then that Edward confessed his fears to his wife: "I just hope he's alive when I get there. And that he's coherent and can understand me."
Eliza leant her head against his shoulder, and he put his arm around her. "I'm sure he's waiting for you to get there. Your fathers a tough, strong man Edward. He's not going to give in without a fight."
Edward laughed. "You're right about that. I remember one time when I was younger Father decided he wanted to buy a racehorse, and Mother was against it. They were arguing about it at the dinner table and Mother eventually said "Oh shut up about it and eat your food!" So Father decided then and there he wasn't going to eat another morsel until Mother agreed about the horse. She laughed, thinking he was joking. Father didn't eat for nearly a week before Mother gave in! Only much later did we find out he'd been sneaking food, but that wasn't the point: he's a stubborn man!"
Eliza laughed, picturing the scene in her mind. "See, he's not going to go anywhere until you get there sweetie."
Edward sighed. "Let's hope you're right Eliza."
New York, February, 1941.
"Look Mama- it's New York!" Ben cried excitedly, leaning so far over the railing that Edward took hold of the back of his top. "Look Margaret- it's America!"
Margaret was surveying the approaching city thoughtfully. Eliza felt a tug on her skirt and she knelt down to her daughter's level. "What is it sweetie?"
"Mama, it looks like London." Margaret said.
Eliza laughed. She supposed to someone Margaret's age the fact that they were both cities would make them look the same. "You'll soon find it's nothing like London, but you're going to love it anyway." Eliza promised her daughter before standing back up.
Nearby Rose was standing with her husband and children, although the look on her face was slightly dreamy. She'd admitted to Eliza the day before that coming into New York on a ship didn't always have the fondest memories. For Eliza's part she didn't really remember the docking on the Carpethia after the sinking of the Titanic. She remembered being taken off the ship by a government official who had been looking at her with distaste though. "Great," He'd mumbled as though Eliza couldn't hear. "Another blasted orphan, and a dirty one at that." Eliza had put her head down and wondered what a comment like that heralded for her future in America. Now she turned to her husband with a smile.
"Are you glad to be home?" She asked him.
"It's funny," He replied with a small smile. "I thought this would be a great moment, but to tell you the truth I was used to England, and it feels kind of strange to be coming back here. And according to a gentleman I was talking to in the smoking room last night America's experience of the war is nothing like England's. They're too far away for Germany to bomb like they did in England, and nobodies on rations and such in America."
Eliza took his hand. "I suppose America is home though, isn't it?"
Edward nodded. "I'll always be an American, no matter where I live!" He said. "It's not exactly something that ever leaves you."
Rose smiled over at them. "Heading back to Philly tonight?" She asked.
"First train." Edward replied. "If Father wasn't so sick we'd stay a few days and let the kids experience New York, but as it is..well we'll have to bring them back another time."
"Don't forget to write me Eliza- no excuses! I'm going back to the cabin for a bit- I feel slightly seasick. The waters in here always do that to me, nothing like calmer ocean waters." Rose told her and Eliza promised she'd remember. After Eliza had told Rose what she knew about Cal, and who Rose really was the two had become even closer, and Eliza knew they'd always remain in touch. Eliza also was pretty sure Rose was not seasick, but simply didn't want to relive the trauma of the entrance to New York twenty-nine years ago.
"Look! The Statue of Liberty!" Ben cried pointing, and Margaret leant over to have a look.
"What's she carrying?" She asked her father.
"A torch." Edward replied, completely expecting that he'd know be bombarded with questions until Margaret knew everything about the Statue of Liberty and all she represented.
"Oh okay, in case there's a blackout." Margaret replied nodding. "Good idea."
Eliza and Edward's eyes met over the top of their children and they exchanged a silent smile. Out of the mouths of babes!
It seemed to Eliza, to take forever before the ship finally came to a halt and they were allowed to leave. Edward had organized for most of the luggage to be sent on after them, and they were only taking the bare essentials on the train. Despite Ben's halfhearted protests that he wanted to see the city they went from the marina to the station. It would be a long trip to Philadelphia for the children, but Edward was anxious to get back to his father. The fact that he didn't know all the details and exactly how sick the Colonel was made it all that worse. At first the children were full of beams on the train, but eventually they fell asleep and it was then that Edward confessed his fears to his wife: "I just hope he's alive when I get there. And that he's coherent and can understand me."
Eliza leant her head against his shoulder, and he put his arm around her. "I'm sure he's waiting for you to get there. Your fathers a tough, strong man Edward. He's not going to give in without a fight."
Edward laughed. "You're right about that. I remember one time when I was younger Father decided he wanted to buy a racehorse, and Mother was against it. They were arguing about it at the dinner table and Mother eventually said "Oh shut up about it and eat your food!" So Father decided then and there he wasn't going to eat another morsel until Mother agreed about the horse. She laughed, thinking he was joking. Father didn't eat for nearly a week before Mother gave in! Only much later did we find out he'd been sneaking food, but that wasn't the point: he's a stubborn man!"
Eliza laughed, picturing the scene in her mind. "See, he's not going to go anywhere until you get there sweetie."
Edward sighed. "Let's hope you're right Eliza."