Author's notes: I included the lyrics to 'Come Josephine' in this chapter. This song was popular around the time the Titanic incident took place and is in the public domain.

Saturday, April 13, 1912

The next morning they slept in and ate breakfast on their private promenade deck with Constanza and Richard. They spent the morning at the pool and Turkish bath before going back to their rooms to change into day dresses. On their way to the palm court dining room, Melody spotted Harold walking purposefully down the deck toward them. She brought her hand up in a small wave, smiling. He nodded at the girls, his grin growing large upon seeing Melody. "Ladies," he said. As he passed them, he continued to look behind him at Melody, grinning. Just then he walked into one of the lifeboats lashed to the deck.

Violet burst out laughing. "Oh, Harry! I had no idea my sister had this kind of effect on you!"

"VI!" cried Melody. "Don't embarrass him."

Harry blushed, but he was laughing at himself. "I suppose she does, Miss Violet."

Melody couldn't help but grin. Violet grabbed her wrist. "We're gonna be late for lunch, Melly. Let's go," she said.

Melody blew Harold a kiss as Violet dragged her away. Harold smiled and pretended to catch it with his hand. Melody laughed at his silliness as he smiled and turned to go wherever he had been headed.

After lunch, the girls had wandered the ship until they found their way back to the room with the stage and piano. Melody sat on the piano bench, picking out more tunes on the keys, while Violet sat on the back of the piano, humming along.

"So," said Melody suddenly, "You seeing James again?"

"Sometime after dinner. He's workin' 'til then."

"What went on after I left with Harold yesterday?"

"Oh, nothin' much," said Violet, pulling down the fabric that covered her right shoulder to reveal the marks James had left.

"Where, Vi?"

Violet smirked and patted the top of the piano with her hand.

"Vi! Don't you dare do anything to get that nice man fired!"

"Oh, don't be concernin' yourself with that, baby sister. Discretion is my middle name."

"More like desecration," said Melody, rolling her eyes.

"Excuse me," said a male voice from the doorway. "I'm supposed to be meeting a girl on the promenade deck in a while, but people keep looking at me like I shouldn't be up here."

The girls turned to see a young man with blond hair and shabby clothes. He was carrying a worn leather portfolio.

Violet sneered. "Them snobs out there? I'm not surprised. Come on in, darlin'. You won't get nasty looks from us."

"You're Americans," he said, coming over to the piano.

"We're from Texas," said Violet, proudly. "Where you from, darlin'?"

"Wisconsin." He held out his hand. "I'm Jack Dawson."

Violet shook his hand. "Violet Jackson. And this is my baby sister, Melody."

"Hello," said Melody with a smile. She continued to tap her fingers on the piano keys.

"Do you play?" asked Jack.

"She sure does," said Violet. "Play the man a song, Melly!"

Melody smiled. "All right." She began to play a lively tune.

Violet laughed. "We need to sing this one together, Melly, just like at Momma's!" Violet began to sing, with Melody responding with her own verses:

Violet: Oh, say! Let us fly, dear!

Melody: Where, kid?

V: To the sky dear

M: Oh, you flying machine!

V: Jump in Miss Josephine
Ship Ahoy! Oh, joy! What a feeling!

M: Feels cold, thru the ceiling.

V: Ho, high! Hoopla, we fly! To the sky so high!

Together: Come Josephine, in my flying machine
Going up, she goes! Up she goes!

V: Balance yourself like a bird on a beam
In the air she goes

M: Where?

V: There she goes!

M: Up, up, a little bit higher.
Oh, my! The moon is on fire.

V: Come, Josephine in my flying machine

Together: Going up, all on, "Goodbye"!

Jack laughed and began to sing with them.

One, two, now we're off, dear.
Oh, you, pretty soft, dear.
Whoa! Dear! Don't hit the moon.
Oh, no, not yet but soon. You for me,
Oh, gee! You're a fly kid.
Not me, I'm a sky kid.
Gee! I'm up in the air about you for fair

Come Josephine, in my flying machine
Going up, she goes! Up she goes!
Balance yourself like a bird on a beam
In the air she goes; there she goes!
Up, up, a little bit higher.
Oh, my! The moon is on fire.
Come, Josephine in my flying machine
Going up, all on, "Goodbye"!

Melody finished playing the song, clapped her hands sharply and pointed at Violet. Violet threw her arms into the air and cocked her head back, showing off as if she were onstage. Jack clapped Melody on the back and the three laughed together.

Clapping came from the doorway. It was Rose. "That was wonderful!" she said. She saw Jack and her expression changed to one of nervousness. "Mr. Dawson."

"Ooo, so that's who you're meetin'?" asked Violet, twirling a lock of auburn hair around her fingers. She waved at Rose. "Hi Rose, honey."

"Ah, hello," Rose said. She blushed a little. "I'm just, uh, visiting with Mr. Dawson a bit today. I almost had a bit of an accident last night and he, uh, assisted me."

Violet smiled. "Well, Jack," she said. "I guess you're a good feller to have around then, aren't you?"

Jack smiled at Violet before turning to Rose. "Hello Rose," said Jack. He looked back at Violet and Melody. "If you'll excuse me ladies, I'd like to take Rose for a walk."

"Don't let us stop you, honey," said Violet. "Go on now." She looked at Rose with a grin. "Have fun darlin'."

Rose blushed even redder and left the room with Jack.

"Now what did you have to go and tease her for?" asked Melody.

"Oh, Melly, ain't no harm done. It's so obvious they're sweet on each other. Didn't you see his face when she walked in? And she looked about to burst when she saw him."

"Well, I don't see why you gotta always be so forward, Vi."

Violet laughed. "Oh, baby sister, you worry far too much." Violet slid off the piano. "Play somethin' else, Melly. I wanna dance!"

Melody shook head and rolled her eyes, but she began to play The Entertainer at a fast tempo. Violet rocked her hips and began to dance, laughing to herself. She smiled joyfully at Melody. Melody couldn't help but smile back.

Melody was clinging to one of the posts on the huge bed in her stateroom while Grace tightened the laces on her corset. Violet sat on the bed, already dressed for dinner in a emerald green dress embellished with black lace. "Come on, Melly, suck it in! You can do better than that."

"Oh, shut up Vi. I'd like to be able breathe too!"

Grace chuckled, giving the laces one final tug before tying them at the top. "There you are Miss Melody. Now let me help you with the dress." She picked Constanza's red dress up from the bed and held it so Melody could step into it. "That's a girl." Melody slipped her arms through the cap sleeves and turned so Grace could button it up.

Violet's eyes got bigger. "Oh, Melly, it fits perfectly!"

Melody smiled down at herself. The dress fit like a glove and the shiny red satin went perfectly with her dark hair. The red beadwork on the bodice and sleeves sparkled in the lamplight.

Grace smoothed the fabric of the skirt and slipped the loop on the train over Melody's wrist. "Now, sit down and I'll take care of your hair."

Melody did as Grace asked. Grace carefully brushed her hair. Violet came over and stood by the dressing table until Melody looked up.

"What's on your mind Vi?"

Violet smiled. "I want you to wear this stuff tonight." She lay her onyx drop earrings on the table and next to those, a black lacquered comb inlaid with a mother of pearl floral design.

Melody's mouth fell open. "Vi, that was Meemaw's! I can't wear that!"

"Yes you can, and you will. Momma and I talked about it and agreed you should."

"But . . ."

"No arguments! Meemaw would want you to wear it. This is a real special night. I can tell." She smiled. "Come on, baby sister." Violet handed the comb to Grace, who twisted all of Melody's hair up and held it in place with the lacquered comb. She carefully pulled a few tendrils of hair down so they framed Melody's face.

Melody carefully put in Violet's onyx drop earrings and allowed Grace to apply rouge to her cheeks and stain her lips a soft red. She even dusted Melody's cleavage lightly with some fine powder. Grace stepped back to admire her handiwork, but then frowned. "She still needs something," said Grace.

"I can get my onyx necklace," Violet offered.

"No, I have just the thing," said Grace. She went to her sewing kit, pulling out a long length of black ribbon. She stood behind Melody and tied it gently around Melody's throat like a choker. She tied a small bow at the nape of Melody's neck, allowing the long ends to trail down her back.

Melody turned around to look at both of them. Grace and Violet gasped. "My God," said Violet. "You look amazing." Melody saw a tear well up in Violet's right eye. Violet flushed and wiped it away. "My baby sister really is all grown up."

"Oh, stop it Vi!"

Violet stepped closer. "You are so beautiful, Melly. You just tell Harold that if he ever hurts you, ol' Vi will just have to kill him." She hugged Melody.

Melody hugged her back and laughed. "I'll tell him, Vi."

"You girls about ready?" asked Constanza as she blew into the room. She was all decked out in black satin and lace. She stopped short when she saw her two daughters. "Oh my God, just look at you two! A couple of Texas princesses, you are. Richard! Get in here and look at these girls!"

Richard stepped in behind Constanza. "Good Lord!" he cried. "Look at them. Stanzie, we're the luckiest people on the face of the earth to have such beautiful, talented girls."

Violet laughed, throwing an arm around Melody's shoulders. "Ladies, lock up your sons!" she joked.

Richard and Momma laughed. "Come on, you two," said Constanza. "We'd better hurry or we're gonna be late for supper. I told Molly Brown to save us our seats."