Chapter 24

Wednesday Jan. 21, 1920

Sunrise

Ada POV

Ada had set her alarm clock to wake her before the sunrise this morning. She'd been looking forward to her first view of Grand Cayman. It had been worth it. The sky above was still dark enough to see the twinkling stars and the horizon was brightening with vibrant colors. There were so many different shades of purple and pink and orange as the sun rose and the island slowly revealed itself.

She knew she had a huge smile on her face and when a steaming cup of tea came into view and was handed to her she thought the moment was perfect. She looked over at Eirnin and he shared her smile before turning his eyes to the view in front of them.

"We travel so often and see so many beautiful sights that we sometimes take it for granted. It's nice to see someone experiencing it for the first time."

"I've never seen anything like it. The closest I've ever come is a film at the pictures. It doesn't even come close to the real thing. Is it me or is the island shaped...it looks like antlers."

Eirnin started laughing but nodded his head as he leaned his arms against the railing and relaxed while taking in the view.

"Do you know how to swim Ada?"

"Um, not well. Only about enough not to drown. The cut in Small Heath isn't really a body of water you want to swim in."

"Well that eliminates going near the reef but there's some amazing snorkeling near the beach. How would you feel about going in the ocean, just deep enough to stick your head under and look a through a mask. You'd be able to stand and be above water at any time?"

Ada could feel herself blushing slightly and looked away. Eirnin had been nice and sweet since she'd boarded. He was easy to talk to and she'd found that she liked his company. They'd had a few chats, hell she'd even told him about Freddie. He'd listened and refrained from being judgmental. She'd found it funny that he'd basically said the exact same thing Aoife had. He didn't know Freddie so he wasn't going to stick his foot in it but he'd be happy to listen.

"Thank you Eirnin. I think I'd really like to try that. I need to look after the kids though."

"Ada, don't worry about the kids. Merle isn't allowed dockside and he'd actually appreciate being in charge of the kids for the day. It'll help keep him occupied."

"Why isn't Merle allowed dockside?"

"Uh, there was an...an incident I guess you could say about a year ago. His brother kind of set a small fishing vessel on fire, it was an accident. Merle had been trying to put the fire out but the authorities were not happy about the inebriated comments that the two were hurling at one another. Especially given that the Governor's daughter's wedding was taking place up the bank and they could hear everything."

Ada couldn't help but shake her head and chuckle. "If you're certain Merle would be okay with keeping an eye on them?"

"Trust me, you'll be doing him a favor. If he's occupied with the kids he won't be thinking about being banned, and he and his brother won't get into it over whose fault it is."

"All right then. Um, but I'll need to stop and pickup a cozzy."

"The girls will take you, they like picking up a new one before the family gathering, and don't worry you'll be using it more than once before you're back in England. Aoife will bring you to the spot when you're ready, she knows the area I'm thinking of."

Ada smiled and nodded her agreement before Eirnin tipped his head and then left her to enjoy the rest of the sunrise along with her cup of tea.

Finn POV

Finn was aware that he was practically bouncing off the walls as he waited for the others to be ready to go dockside as they put it. His nieces and nephews would be staying onboard with Merle but he got to go down to the island with the grownups.

Aoife had said they'd need to do a quick shop for appro...appropriate clothing and to pick them all up some cozzy's. He'd never been swimming before, but Aoife said as long as he stays close to the beach, he could still go out in the water a little ways before he'd need to know how to swim. She'd also made mention that she could work with him on learning how if he'd like.

He hadn't decided yet, he supposed it all depended on how much he liked being in the ocean. Though Aoife did say that even though they don't have a lot of places to swim in Birmingham that it would be good to learn how.

He heard Aoife's door open and he hopped off his bunk and over to the doorway. She was crossing the hall to poke her head in on him when he saw her. She was wearing a lightweight dress that stopped just below her knees. It looked like it kind of wrapped around her and tied in a bow at her waist. It was pretty but he'd gotten used to seeing her in trousers and heavier clothing.

"You look pretty Aoife."

"Why thank you Finn. Are you ready to head down?"

"Yeah!"

"Good, let's go see if Ada and Michael are ready, eh."

They made their way down the corridor and Ada was just opening her door as they neared it. She came out wearing a mid-weight dress that had long sleeves and went to her ankles. Her voice was breathy and irritated when she spoke.

"I'm already bloody sweating in this thing."

Aoife chuckled before responding to her, "That's why our first stop is some new clothing, you'll need to grab a few things in order to enjoy the warmer weather. We'll be enjoying it for about six to seven weeks before we'll start heading back into colder weather.

They made their way to Michaels door, it was already open and his room was empty so he must already be on deck waiting for them. When they hit the next deck Aine joined them from the navigations room.

When they made it on deck the sun was bright and nearly blinding, he watched through squinted eyes as Aoife perched a pair of tinted glasses over her own. A moment later and he felt a weight on his shoulder, before a hand was passing him a set of similar looking glasses. After he put them on and he could stop squinting he looked back and found Reilly smiling at him before he ruffled his hair.

"Used to be my old pair when I was younger, you can have 'em, my head's gotten too big for them."

"Thanks Reilly!"

"You're very welcome. You ready to head dockside little Shelby?"

"Yeah!"

"All right. Watch your step on the gangway to the station, make sure you hold onto the guidelines, eh. The Caribbean authorities don't have as strict a safety policy as other places. Wouldn't want you taking the fast route down, now do we."

"No. I'll be careful."

"Good. See you down there in a little bit. I'll catch up with you at the beach. I'm not really one for shopping."

Finn nodded and stuck close to Aoife and Ada as they made their way to the station to take the lift down to the ground.

Aoife POV

Aoife was leaning up against the counter at the little boutique she always enjoyed stopping in at. Ada was in the dressing room trying on a couple of different cozzy's and a few dresses as well as some linen trousers and sleeveless shirts. Aine had opted to stop in at the little bakery a few doors down to pick up some snacks for later.

She'd taken a look around the shop to see if there was anything spectacular that she just had to have. She never knew what she'd come across when she popped in here. Sometimes they had a single item in multiple sizes and sometimes they'd have a single show piece that might be altered to fit you.

She spotted a sweet little nightdress that caught her eye and she was debating on whether or not she should see if it could be altered as it appeared to be the only one.

It was made of an extremely lightweight mint on mint polka dot cotton, practically see through. By the looks of it, it would hang about mid to high thigh. It had a fine delicate mint crocheted trim around the neck, arm openings and hemline. Wonderfully vibrant multi-colored daisies and what looked to be snapdragons embroidered in a v- from the breasts to the sternum. Then it appeared again in a triangular setting of a vase with bouquet on the skirting. There was a see through white lace band around the waist with a mint silk ribbon running down the center of it.

She was debating because it was beautifully made and hand stitched. It was very 'innocent' and yet at the same time just beginning to verge on enticing. The embroidered areas covered the naughty bits just so while the rest of the body would be faintly seen through the sheerness of the fabric.

Aoife glanced over to the dressing area where Ada still appeared to be busy with trying on her options. She could feel the slight smile curving her lips as she thought of what Tommy's face might look like if he saw her in it. Her smile grew and she turned to the owner Lessia, who she'd become fast friends with many years ago.

Lessia was about five years older than herself and ran the shop with her mother. Aoife had always found her to be quite striking with her medium toned skin color and deep chocolate brown eyes that were set off spectacularly by her bronze colored hair with its natural golden highlights.

"Lessia... Would I be able to get that mint nightdress sized for me?"

Lessia turned to look at the nightdress in question before a smile lit her face, "And will this be another beautiful thing for you to where for your own enjoyment or do you finally have a man to see you in it?"

Aoife sighed softly and the smile on her face seemed to grow even more before she softly replied, "I actually do have a man in mind this time."

She watched as Lessia's smile grew before she clapped her hands in a show of happiness. She walked over to the mint creation and brought it over to the counter. Grabbing a tape measure she laid it across the fabric in specific areas and made notes on her pad.

"Now Aoife, do I even need to bother asking if your measurements have changed?"

"They're the same."

"Well then, enjoy your day at the beach and come back before closing. I'll have it ready for you."

"Thank you Lessia."

"Eh. So tell me about this special man who has finally managed to catch the attention of my favorite free spirited girl."

Aoife glanced over towards Ada's location when she heard her voice pipe up from the dressing room.

"It's actually one of my older brothers. His name is Tommy."

Aoife smiled and shook her head as Lessia laughed and Ada opened the door to her dressing room. She could tell that Ada had on a simple but well made cozzy that was both in fashion and yet respectable beneath a lovely cream colored lightweight armless cotton button front shirt and a pair of matching loose palazzo like trousers with lace detail trimming running down the outside line of her legs.

"Wonderful Ada, you look stunning."

Ada looked down and blushed slightly before raising her head to show the smile she sported.

"Thank you! Now, what is this nightdress you're getting for my brother?"

"Uh, it's for me as well Ada. Just ask Lessia, I constantly buy clothing for my own enjoyment."

"It's true. She's purchased night clothes, lingerie, and every day wear all because she likes the way they fit and feel. She once told me, why should a woman have to wait till she has a man in order to enjoy things that feel wonderful against her skin."

Ada seemed to contemplate for a moment before nodding her head in agreement, "I like that philosophy. So show me already!"

Aoife laughed and nodded her head to the mint fabric that was still spread out on the counter. Ada looked at it placing her other purchases on the counter and began to reach forward. She looked to Lessia and asked politely if she could pick it up. Lessia's laughing nod filled the shop. Aoife watched as Ada lifted the hanger and studied the nightdress.

Ada pursed her lips and then turned to her before smiling hugely, "Tommy's going to fucking love it Aoife!"

Aoife nodded her head, "I think so too."

Lessia continued to smile and took hold of the material as Ada passed it back to her. "So his name is Tommy and he's this one's older brother. What else is there to know of this man?"

Ada piped up donning a sly smile, "Yes, Aoife. What else is there to know of him?"

Aoife scoffed happily at Ada's lighthearted teasing.

"He's tall...to me at least." Ada and Lessia laughed before Lessia lightly teased that it wasn't hard for a man to be tall to her.

"I guess he's what five foot ten or so Ada?"

"Five nine, I think."

"He's got these arctic pale blue eyes and dark hair. He wears a three piece suit extremely well. His bone structure is, mmm. Well, I'll just say he's very lovely to look at."

Ada was smiling proudly, "Well he's a Shelby, of course he's lovely to look at, we all are."

Aoife shared a laugh and a smile with Ada as she continued to think how to describe him as a man to Lessia.

"He's confidant and smart, clever. He loves his family. He's a bit arrogant, though I suppose he has reason to be. He himself told me that he's selfish but he can be very sweet when he wants to be."

Ada was smiling softly and she chuckled at the last part before adding her own two cents. "Well, at least with you he's sweet. I don't think there's ever been anyone except maybe our own mother that's ever even thought of thinking him sweet."

"Well Ada he does need something to offset his tendency of intimidating people."

"Something he's also not capable of doing in regards to you. I think that's one of the first things that caught his eye about you. You weren't intimidated or afraid of him in the least. I do believe I remember John saying you actually chastised him and Tommy let you get away with it."

"He was trying to be intimidating and I didn't appreciate the tone he was speaking to me in."

"Ah, a first for everything. Seems like it's working out all right, especially if you're going to wear that bit of night wear for him."

Lessia had been listening the entire time and there was a happy sparkle in her eyes that went along with her smile. Her voice added to their conversation.

"Finally. A man that sees your worth. Where does he hail from?"

"England."

"Hm. Perhaps one day you'll bring him here and we will meet. Looks like your male friends are ready for you." Lessia nodded her head towards the front display window where Michael and Finn were messing around with one another.

"I'll see you this evening before you close Lessia."

"Mm, I'll see you this evening. Ada dear, why don't you grab one of those straw bags on the hook there to put your new clothing in."

"Oh thank you, what do I owe you?"

"Don't worry about it."

"Um, no really, you're running a business."

"Ada...Aoife instructed me to pull it from her account."

"Her account?"

"Mm. Aoife's been an investor in our store for many years. She has an open account here. It is already taken care of."

Aoife pulled her lips between her teeth before she smiled as Ada turned to her with one eyebrow arched. She watched as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Aoife. Why are you buying my clothes?"

"Ada...think of it...as...a late Christmas gift."

"...All right, but only this once, yeah?"

"We'll discuss all of this later, I promise, all right?"

"I'm holding you to that."

Aoife and Ada both nodded at Lessia in farewell before joining the boys outside.

Finn POV

The buildings were all manner of different bright colors with strange big leafy green plants hanging from balconies and in potted plants on front porches.

The sky was a bright blue and had a few puffy white clouds. He could hear a repeating odd sounding roar.

As they turned the corner he saw an expanse of pristine white followed by a turquoise blue ocean. The waves were crashing on the shore in a gentle random rhythm.

Michael turned to him and smiled, "I'll race you!"

Finn felt his smile grow as he nodded and they took off. Finn could hear Ada's and Aoife's laughter, as they cheered them on.