Chapter Four

The excitement began to die down as we got further out into the water and slowly people began to drift back inside. Most of them going to their cabins, I assumed. I hung back though and began to walk around the boat deck.

"Sarah?"

I looked up towards the voice that had called my name and saw Polly Hanson.

She was a friend of my from childhood. She had been raised by her Grandmother the same as I had and both my Grandmother and her were very good friends.

"Polly!"

She was walking the deck the same as I was and rushed over to me and embraced me tightly. She pulled away and looked me over. Polly was 20 and all ready married to Charles Hanson, a lawyer in Boston.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

She pushed back her pretty dark curls and smiled at me. "On my way back to Boston, Charles and I have been in London for the past few weeks. What about you? I thought you were still in school?"

I shook my head. "I started my summer holiday early this year, Rose is getting married."

"Oh yes that's right, I heard, to Cal Hockley, right?"

"Yes. They're actually on the ship."

"Really? I'll have to go and say hello, I haven't seen Rose in years, but in the meantime..." she looped our arms together and we began to walk down the deck, "…tell me what you have been up to? It seems like its been a lifetime since I've talked to you."

"There's not that much to tell. Just school, this year coming up is my last."

She smiled warmly at me. "Won't be long after that when you finally marry."

"Yes, well let's not put the carriage in front of the horse. What about you? How is Charles?"

"Oh wonderful, we're both wonderful. You heard about the newest additions to our family?"

"Yes" I replied smiling. "Grandmother wrote me, how exciting, twins!"

"I know! They're getting so big, its hard to believe they're a year old."

"What are their names?"

"Eleanor and Robert, you will come by and see them I hope, we're on A-Deck."

"Oh of course I will"

We kept walking and chatting. Catching up mostly since it had been so long since we had seen one another. We actually circled the boat deck and were coming around on our second time when an officer past me, slightly brushing up against my shoulder. On instinct I turned around and came face to face with the young man from the hat store.

I nearly choked on my own breath.

We just stood there for a moment, both of us silent as could be, before I felt Polly pinch the back of my hand.

"I'm terribly sorry." I apologized, finally finding my words and rubbing the throbbing pain away that was creeping through my hand.

"Don't be, it was my fault." he replied. He continued to stare at me in such a way that made me feel as if I was the only person on board, or in the world for that matter.

Then, again we were both silent. I couldn't stop staring into his eyes.

"Well then, we should be going." Polly said taking my arm. "Good day to you, Mr…"

"Lowe" he replied. "Harold Lowe."

Harold Lowe, what a lovely name.

"Yes, Mr. Lowe…"

"I didn't catch your name" he said finally speaking to me and cutting Polly off.

I cleared my throat and told him. "Sarah…Wilkes."

His eyes sparkled as he repeated my name and then said goodbye. Polly practically had to pull me away from him, but I kept my gaze back to him until she led me down the stairs and onto A-Deck and he disappeared from my sight.

"Sarah!" she chastised. "What was that all about"

"I have no idea." I replied, not realizing my lie.

I felt like I was in a dream, his face seemed to be sewn into my mind. Those eyes were so kind and such a handsome face. I felt lightheaded and smiled to myself.

"Look at you, looks like cupid struck you with all of his arrows." she laughed and snapped me out my thoughts.

"What?"

"Oh my what I wouldn't give to be a young girl again." she said, still laughing. "He was handsome though, I'll give you that."

He was handsome. He was more than that. I felt happiness come over me like a warm shower. I wondered if I would see him again. It was a ship after all and there's really only a number of places one can be. He was an officer though and I knew that the crew and passengers weren't really supposed to interact, but for some reason that didn't matter to me. I just wanted to see him again.