Thursday, April 12, 1912

Constanza and Richard had reserved two suites on the RMS Titanic, one for themselves and another for Melody and Violet. The night the ship left Cherbourg, the girls were so tired from their trip that they ordered dinner in their rooms and went to bed immediately. Now that they'd slept and had breakfast on the promenade deck that connected their suite with that of their parents, they were eager to get out and explore Titanic.

The girls' maid, Grace, had just finished pinning up Melody's hair when Violet let out a girlish squeal of excitement as she entered Melody's room.

"Just look at this place!" cried Violet. "It looks like Momma's old house! But it doesn't smell like sex an' booze!" She kicked her shoes off and climbed up on the bed, jumping on it, her long auburn hair swirling around her head.

Melody laughed. "I know! I could stay in here the whole trip!" She stood and walked over to the bed, picking up her own shoes and putting them on.

Violet chuckled. "Oh no, you won't. You're going to quit reading those silly books and come out on deck with me. Too much fun to be had!" She grabbed Melody's arm and bounced down onto the bed, dragging Melody with her.

"All right, all right!" Melody laughed.

Violet giggled, getting up to her feet again and jumping. "We're on the greatest ship in the world, you're not gonna spend it reading. We're gonna meet some pretty boys on this ship and have a wonderful time!"

"Now what are you two wastin' time in here for? Get out there and meet some of those pretty men," said Constanza, smiling as she stepped into the room.

"We're going soon, Momma," said Violet. "We're gonna go explore the ship. Can we go Momma?"

Constanza smiled. "Of course you can go. You don't have to ask me. You can go anywhere you want."

Melody's face fell. "Won't those people think it's strange that we can run around by ourselves?"

Constanza laughed. "Who cares what they think? You're my girls. I didn't raise you to follow no man around," she drawled.

"She certainly didn't," said Richard, coming up behind Constanza in the doorway and putting his hands on her waist. "Look at this. I'm the luckiest sonofbitch alive. I've got the two prettiest daughters and the prettiest wife. And we're on the greatest ship in the world and once we get done celebratin' on the sea, we'll get Vi settled in New York and go back home to Texas."

Melody and Violet hugged each other. "I'm so excited to get home!" cried Melody.

"Of course you are," said Richard. "You're going to university." He smiled proudly.

"Thanks to you," said Melody, smiling back.

"Nothing but the best for my new girls," said Richard. "Now you two go on. I want you two to have as much fun as you can."

"Just try not to make TOO much trouble," said Constanza with a smile.

"Yes Momma," the girls said together.

"Now Violet, honey, let Miss Grace pin up your hair," said Constanza.

Violet's face fell. "I want you to do it Momma."

"You've got other people to do that for you now, sweetheart. You don't need your old Momma to do it."

"No one does it like you, Momma," said Violet. "Please?"

"All right, all right," said Constanza, walking to the dressing table and picking up a hair brush with a smile. Melody could tell it made Momma happy to still be asked to do these things.

Violet sat down at the dressing table while Constanza gently brushed her hair. "Use my dragonfly comb Momma!" said Melody, going to the dressing table and sitting down next to Violet. She pawed through her jewelry box until she found the comb.

Constanza took the comb, expertly twisted Violet's hair into an attractive twist and pinned it in place. "Now turn around honey." She carefully applied some of Melody's cosmetics to Violet's face. "There."

Richard, who was leaning in the doorway, smiled sweetly at Violet. "You look just like your Ma."

Violet beamed. Melody giggled, touching up her own rouge. Constanza patted Violet's shoulder. "Now, does that look all right?"

Violet looked at her reflection next to Melody's in the mirror. They giggled and smiled at each other. "It's perfect, like always, Momma."

Constanza smiled brightly, smoothing down her blue silk skirt. "Good. Now go, you two."

Violet and Melody squealed and got off the vanity bench, heading for the door. Richard grabbed Melody and kissed her cheek before doing the same to Violet. "You girls have fun. But watch those boys. The prettiest girls in Texas are now the prettiest girls on Titanic."

Melody and Violet hugged Richard and Momma, laughing, before scampering out the door to the fine suite.

Constanza laughed, watching the girls disappear down the hallway before shutting the door to the suite. She turned to Richard. "There go two of the happiest girls I've ever seen. Richard, I am as proud as a Momma could be. They are so lucky to have you come along and send them to school."

Richard smiled, taking Constanza's hands. "Stanzie, no one is as lucky as I am to have you and those sweet girls of yours. Violet is just the spittin' image of you, and her voice is a gift from God. And that Melody, so pretty and so smart. She said she wants to be a midwife like her Meemaw, but I'll be damned if she ain't headstrong enough to talk someone into lettin' a woman into medical school!"

Constanza laughed, throwing her arms around Richard's neck. Her happy laughter grew, but suddenly, she drew in a sharp ragged breath and began coughing hard.

"Oh God, Stanzie . . ." Richard took a handkerchief from his pocket and held it to Constanza's mouth. She took it and doubled over, continuing to cough. Soon, her coughing began to cease. She pulled back the handkerchief and looked at it. Droplets of blood stained the fine white fabric.

Richard looked at her gravely. "Stanzie, when are you going to tell the girls? They have a right to know."

Constanza shook her head. "Not until we get to New York. I want them to enjoy this voyage. They've never been on a ship like this one and I'm not gonna ruin it for 'em."

"Stanzie . . ."

"No!" said Constanza forcefully. This set off another coughing fit. When she recovered, she looked back at Richard. "I think I need to lie down for a bit."

Richard patted her back. "All right, darlin', let me help you to our suite." Richard took Constanza's arm, letting her lean on him for support while he led her to the private promenade deck that led to their connecting suite.

The two girls giggled as they ran hand-in-hand through the first class hallways and out onto the deck. They ran along past rows of deck chairs and up to the rail at the edge of the deck, looking out over the sea.

Violet threw her arms around her sister, "Melly, this is so exciting! We are gonna have so much fun on this ship. Let's walk around."

Melody patted Violet's back. "Let's."

The girls strolled the deck for a long while, exploring the ship. They looked around at all the first class passengers milling about as they wandered into the central hall and past the grand staircase. "Look at their clothes," whispered Melody when seeing some of the other young women, "ours don't look like that."

"No," said Violet, "but ours are better. All these girls look pretty, but they all look the same."

It was true, the clothes Violet and Melody wore were in far brighter fabrics than the other young women, the necklines were lower cut and they were covered with more flourishes of beads and lace. Melody felt herself flush a bit when she noticed other people staring. She couldn't help but overhear a few whispers as they passed out onto the open deck again.

"What are they doing in first class?"

"Those have to be the Jackson girls. I heard their mother was a madam who landed herself an oil tycoon."

"I heard the one girl was already in the business before the mother married Richard Pembry, the other was a dancer."

"Shhhh!"

Violet didn't seem to hear them. She giggled. "And the men are just too proper to ever want to talk to us." Suddenly, she turned to face Melody. "I have a better idea." She turned again and headed for a railway that was just above a deck where a few crew and officers scurried about.

"Vi, what the hell are you doing?" called Melody.

"Gettin' the trip started," said Violet with a wink, as she climbed over the railing and dropped down to the deck below using a crew ladder.

"Can't you just use the damn stairs like a normal person? Last I checked you weren't raised by wolves!"

"It's more fun this way!"

Melody sighed and rolled her eyes, but followed. Violet was always the one to get them into trouble.

"I know exactly what you're thinkin', baby sister," said Violet as she stood, her arms akimbo, watching her sister climb down. "You know we always get out of trouble just as easy, and we always have our fun."

Melody smiled, smoothing her skirt. "All right, all right," she said. "Now what are you plottin' Vi?"

"We're gonna get us some men in uniform," said Violet, linking arms with Melody.

"Oh, God."

"Come on Melly, it'll be fun. Just like back in Texas."

"We don't have to work anymore Vi. It's not like in Texas."

"I know that! Now we don't gotta pretend we like a bunch o' drunk ruffians to get money outta 'em. We can go for only the ones we like and we don't need their money. Just their love."

"Vi!"

"What? Since when are you suddenly a little wallflower?"

"I'm not . . . it's just . . . I feel like those people are watching," she said, gesturing at the first class people nearby. They were staring at the two girls.

"Oh, to hell with them," said Violet, pulling a cigarette holder from her handbag, fitting a cigarette into it. "Now watch this." Violet strode over to the railing near a young officer. She leaned against it and smiled, holding up her cigarette. She had his attention immediately. "Got a light, sailor?" she drawled in her heavy Texas accent.

Melody sighed. When Violet got ideas in her head there was no standing her. She pulled out a cigarette of her own and placed it in its holder. She began to fumble for matches when she dropped it. She stooped down to pick it up when a man's hands scooped it up from the deck.

"Let me help you, miss," said a man with a soft accent.

Melody looked up. A young man in an officer's uniform stood before her. He smiled warmly. They both straightened up and he handed her the cigarette.

She smiled. "Thank you."

"No trouble, miss. Let me offer you a light." He pulled a pack of matches from his jacket and lit one, holding it out to light Melody's cigarette. She leaned forward, puffing at it until it ignited.

"Thank you again." The officer was handsome. Melody couldn't help herself, she automatically slipped into the coy demeanor her mother had taught her to take on when she spoke with a handsome man. "What's your name, darlin'?" she drawled.

"Ah . . . Fifth Officer Harold Lowe, miss. Harold if you like. And yours?" He suddenly seemed a bit shy, but Melody expected that.

"Melody Jackson," she purred.

"Oh yes, your stepfather is Richard Pembry."

Melody sighed. "How does everyone know that?"

Harold laughed. "We've been informed of who the more prominent first class passengers are, should we run into them."

"Ah," Melody said flatly. "Then you've heard the rumors I'm sure. Well, they are all true."

"Rumors?"

Melody decided to change the subject. "You have an accent."

He smiled, a bit of confidence creeping back in. "So do you. Where are you from?"

"Houston, Texas. You?"

"Wales."

"Ahhh . . ." breathed Melody, blowing out cigarette smoke. She gestured to Violet with her head. "That's my sister, Violet. We're headed back to the States so we can go to school. We want to have a little fun first." She winked.

The shyness came back. "Miss?"

Melody laughed, blushing, and decided to tone down her flirting. "I'm sorry!" she cried. "Don't mind me. I get a little carried away."

He smiled. "It's all right miss. Welcome aboard." He looked behind him, up to the bridge, where the captain could be seen looking out over the deck. "I'm afraid I must get back to work. We are docking in Queenstown soon. Perhaps I could escort you to lunch tomorrow? If it would be all right with your parents, of course."

Melody smirked. "Momma lets us do whatever we want. Come by Richard's suite before noon. You can meet Momma and Richard."

He smiled brightly. "I look forward to it," he said, tipping his hat before he walked off.

"Well, just who was that?" asked Violet as she walked up, her cigarette in hand.

Melody smiled, taking a drag from her cigarette. "That was Fifth Officer Harold Lowe. He'll be taking me to lunch tomorrow."

Violet's eyes got big. "You got him to do that in less than two minutes? Baby sister, I'm proud of you. If we didn't have all this money you could make us rich."

"Oh, stop it."

"Oh, don't be so modest. You're a pretty little thing who could have any man on this ship." She gestured to the man she'd been talking to, who was writing something on a clipboard. "That's Sixth Officer James Moody. I'm meeting him when he's off tonight, after dinner."

Melody smirked. "Not wasting any time, are we Vi?"

"Hell no. I plan to have a good time any way I see fit."

Melody sighed and rolled her eyes, but she threw an arm around Violet's shoulders. "Come on Vi, let's go scare up some lunch before we hit Queenstown. I wanna watch the ship dock later."

Violet started in on Melody the moment they sat down and ordered their food in the dining room at dinner that night. "Melly's got a gentleman friend."

"Vi!"

Constanza raised an eyebrow, an impish smile touching her lips. "Well then, is that so?"

Melody sighed. "He's just a nice man I met on deck. He lit my cigarette."

"Um-hmmm. . ." said Constanza and Violet together.

"Oh, come on!"

Violet batted her lashes. "Oh, Officah, ah just can't seem to find mah matches," she drawled in a breathy voice.

"Shut up, Vi!"

Constanza started. "Officer? You met an officer?"

"She did!" Violet crowed. She pointed. "That one over there!"

Harold could be seen across the dining room, walking with the Captain.

"Ooooo!" said Momma. "That tall drink of water? He's about one of the prettier things on this ship!"

"Prettier than me?" asked Richard, as he pulled out a chair and sat down next to Constanza, kissing her cheek.

"Even prettier than you, you old scalawag," said Constanza, grinning at Richard. "Now where you been Richard Pembry? Up chasing them rich ladies skirts? You're so late I had to order for you."

Richard laughed. "No, I was talking with that Ismay feller about the ship. What a boring stiff. Wouldn't stop going on about how smart he was for one second, even though that Andrews feller was the one that designed her."

Constanza laughed. "Melody has a gentleman friend."

"Momma!"

"And he's taking her to lunch tomorrow," said Violet.

"Vi!"

Richard's eyes twinkled. "Who is it?"

"That officer that's walkin' with the captain."

Richard chuckled. "Handsome young man. Melody you really know how to interest 'em."

"Richard!"

The three laughed while Melody turned red. Constanza patted Melody's arm. "Oh, Melly honey, don't get so hot. We just are happy you aren't holin' yourself up in that suite. You should go to lunch with the young man."

Melody smiled weakly. "He's coming to escort me just before noon, Momma. We can all go together."

"Oh, nonsense," said Constanza, waving her hand as if to dismiss the thought. "You're gonna have lunch alone with that boy. All you've done for the last month is stay right at our heels. You need to have some fun of your own."

"But Momma . . ."

"Don't Momma me."

Richard leaned forward in his chair. "You mind your Momma, Melly honey." He smiled. "Besides, I want to send along a nice bottle of champagne for you two, to thank the young feller for lookin' after you. Not that my girls need lookin' after."

Melody scowled. "All right."

Two waiters came then and brought them their food. Melody busied herself with eating, hoping that Constanza and Violet would forget about Harold and stop teasing her.

Violet giggled through a mouthful of roast duckling. "I met a man too, Momma!"

"Did you now?"

"Sixth Officer James Moody. I'm meeting him tonight after dinner."

"Well then, both my girls with men in uniform! You two are gonna have the time of your lives before this tub gets us to New York."

Constanza and Violet continued to chatter away, with Richard occasionally getting a word in edgewise. Melody was nervous, barely touching her food. She looked up to see Harold walking by again a few other officers. He looked over at her and smiled brightly. Melody bit her lip but smiled back, raising her hand in a wave.

"Ooooo, I do believe she's sweet on him!" Constanza whispered to Violet, still loud enough that Melody could hear.

"Momma! I am not!" Melody protested. "I just met him!"

"Oh, Melly," said Constanza, "you are so pretty even when you're blushin' like a virgin on her wedding night!" She laughed, throwing her head back. Suddenly, her breath hitched and she burst into a fit of coughing.

Violet put her hand on Constanza's back. "Momma! Are you all right?"

Constanza wiped her mouth with her handkerchief, stuffing it quickly back into her handbag so the girls wouldn't see the droplets of blood on the white lace. "I'm just fine honey. I think the night air's been gettin' to me is all. I may be gettin' a cold." Constanza smiled. "Now Violet, why don't you be runnin' along. That boy is probably waiting for you by now."

Violet wiped her mouth and got up, grabbing her handbag. "Bye Momma, Richard, Melly. Don't wait up for me."

Constanza smiled. "We won't, honey."

Melody smiled, watching her sister go. "She's just always up to somethin', isn't she?"

"She wouldn't be Vi if she wasn't," said Constanza. She turned to Melody. "So what are you doing tonight, Melly honey?"

"Nothing, Momma. I thought I'd go down to the library and find a book to read."

"Are you sure you don't wanna go with your sister? You should go have some fun."

"No, Momma. Vi should get to go off by herself. I'm still kind of tired from the trip. I'd really rather read."

Constanza patted Melody's hand. "All right, honey. You just go read then."

Melody got up and kissed Momma on the cheek, then Richard. She walked a few feet, then turned her head and smiled again at Richard and Constanza. "I love you," she said to both of them.

Richard and Constanza both beamed. "We love you too, little sweetheart," said Richard.

Melody turned with a smile and left the dining room, heading off to find the library. She chose a book and took it back her room, where she fell asleep reading.