Author notes: Okay, I lied. This isn't the epilogue. I discovered I had another chapter in my head that makes things flow a little better (at least in my mind). Again, I took a few liberties (Lake Austin didn't actually exist in 1912). Enjoy and hopefully I'll have the actual epilogue up soon, for real-real.

June, 1912 – New York City

It took months for them all to get settled back in America. Harold had to testify at the United States Senate hearings as well as those conducted by the British Board of Trade. Melody and Violet decided to stay behind in New York so Violet could get settled in her new home and begin her voice lessons. At night while Harold was gone, Melody often woke up screaming and soaked in sweat. She was terrified of something happening to one of the ocean liners Harold took to get back and forth from the hearings. Once he returned to the United States, Harold promised her he would never go to sea again, because he couldn't bear to subject to her to the terror it obviously caused her. He quit the White Star Line that day. They decided that they would buy a cattle ranch near Houston and that Melody would get in touch with a friend of Constanza's who could train her to be a midwife. Her heart was no longer in going to university.

On the afternoon that Harold returned to New York, he took a cab to Violet's Upper East Side apartment. It was a hot day and Harold was exhausted from his trip. He knew that the women were probably all out for the day, so he looked forward to climbing into bed and sleeping until they all returned.

He closed the front door behind him and sat his suitcase down before leaning against the wall and rubbing his eyes. The hearings had been difficult for him. He was glad that it was all over and looked forward to seeing his wife. He ate a sandwich in the kitchen and was about to head to the bedroom he and Melody shared when he heard a strange sound coming from the bathroom.

Harold went to the bathroom door, which was closed. Rather odd, he thought, as they usually left it open. He reached up and rapped on it softly.

"Come in," said a weak voice inside.

Harold pushed the door open to see Violet sitting up from leaning over the toilet. She was still in her nightgown even though it was around 2 o' clock in the afternoon. She wiped at the corners of her mouth and sat back against the wall, tucking her legs up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. "Hey, Harold," she said weakly. "How was your trip?"

Harold shrugged. "It was all right. I'm just glad to be home." He came further into the bathroom and crouched in front of Violet. "Violet, are you all right?"

She smiled weakly. "Not really. I threw up." She brushed a stray lock of auburn hair out of her face. "I think I'm pregnant."

Harold felt his face fall. "Is it James'?"

Violet nodded. He saw a tear threatening to spill from her right eye. She wiped it away.

Harold sat in front of her, taking one of her hands and squeezing it. "What are you going to do?"

Violet shrugged. "Have the baby. I don't want to get married, so this may be my only chance to have a child. I'm not worried about money or nothin'. I can't give up my flesh an' blood."

Harold nodded. "I understand." He reached out to stroke his sister-in-law's cheek. "Does Melody know?"

She shook her head. "No, but I'll tell her soon. I'm goin' to a doctor this week."

Harold smiled encouragingly. "Are you okay, Violet?"

Violet nodded. "I'll be okay. I always am."

Harold stood and offered his hand. "Come on. Why don't we go find some tea or something in the kitchen?"

Violet took his hand and allowed him to help her up. When she got to her feet, she hugged him. "Harold, you're the best thing to happen to us in a long time. I'm so glad my sister found you."

Harold hugged her back. "Me too, Violet. Me too."

October 4, 1912 – Austin, Texas

Because the marriage papers Harold and Melody signed aboard Titanic were lost with the ship, their marriage was not legally recognized. Once they held memorial services in Houston for Constanza and Richard and got their estate settled, Harold and Melody decided to be married in Austin and have a reception at Richard's old summer home on the lake. Their Texas wedding was mainly a formality, and they still considered their wedding date to be April 14, 1912. Still, it was a beautiful wedding, and many of Melody and Violet's old friends from their days before Richard and Constanza's marriage came all the way from Houston to be there. Harold hadn't been sure what to expect from a crowd of prostitutes, dancers, cattle ranchers, and oil field workers, but he found them all to be friendly and welcoming. They were not the undesirable, crude people that much of society thought them to be. The lively party they threw for them the night of the wedding reminded Harold of the wonderful parties in steerage back on Titanic.

The morning after the wedding, Harold woke up early and was unable to fall back to sleep. He left Melody sleeping peacefully and went down the lake house stairs and out the back door to find Violet sitting in one of the porch rockers, looking at the water. One of her hands lay on her swollen belly, the other held a cigarette in its holder. The morning sun warmed her body through the calico nightgown she wore, and a shawl was draped around her shoulders. Her bare feet were propped on the porch railing. Violet had come down from New York City on the train for the wedding despite being six months pregnant with James Moody's child.

When Violet saw him she looked up and smiled. "Hey, darlin'. Can't you sleep?"

He shook his head. "No, I woke up about an hour ago."

"Well, have a seat. You and I haven't had a chance to talk in ages." She gestured to the other porch rocker.

Harold sat down. "How are things going for you in New York, Violet?"

She puffed at her cigarette. "They are going all right. My voice lessons have been going well. I had an audition right before I left to come down here. Once I have the baby I've got a job singing in a cabaret near Broadway. Singin's harder these days, but it'll be easier once I can put down this load." She smiled. "I can't wait to have this baby."

Harold smiled. "I'm sure you're excited."

Violet rubbed her belly. "People in New York tell me to put the baby up for adoption, but I couldn't do that. I went through too much to let strangers take James' child away from me." She bit her lip. "He was a good man. If it wasn't for him, I may not be here. I owe him this much."

Harold reached out and squeezed Violet's hand. "You should give yourself some credit. You're a good woman."

Violet laughed. "A lot of people would say I'm not, so that means a lot to me."

"No one has the right to say anything against you."

Violet shrugged. "But people do anyway. I was glad to get to stay in New York after all the hullabaloo from Titanic settled down. I had a lot of friends in Houston, but even after Momma and I quit the business there were a lot of johnnys' wives who wanted to make my life hell. A woman actually spit on me in the street once. No one knows me in New York, so no one knows I used to sell myself." She sighed. "I didn't mind doing what I did, but I'm glad it's over. I've wanted to be a singer since I was no bigger than an ant."

Harold smiled. "Here's to dreams coming true."

Violet grinned. "There's always a bright side to everything. That's what keeps me goin'. Sometimes people look at me funny bein' pregnant like I am with no husband, but I don't feel one bit of shame over it."

"I'm glad to hear that," said Harold.

Violet blew a cloud of smoke into the air. "Harold, I've got somethin' I need to get out of my system."

Harold raised an eyebrow. "What's on your mind, Vi?"

Violet sighed. "Look, when Momma and Richard died on Titanic, it wasn't because they couldn't find a lifeboat. They chose to go down with the ship."

Harold's eyes got large. "But why?"

"It was Momma. You know how she kept coughing all the time? Well, she didn't just have a cold. She was coughing up blood."

"Oh?"

"She had consumption, Harold. She found out from some doctor she went to when we were in Rome. She was dyin' and she didn't want to die from the cold on a lifeboat while Richard drowned on the ship." Violet bit her lip, tears threatening to come to the surface.

Harold took Violet's hand. "Oh, Violet, I am so sorry."

"I just didn't have the heart to tell Melly," sobbed Violet. "She'd be heartbroken if she knew. I tried and tried to convince Momma to come with me, but she wouldn't. She and Richard stayed in the smoking room and . . ." She squeezed her eyes shut, tears streaking over her cheeks.

"Shhh . . ." said Harold, taking her other hand in his. "I know nothing I can say makes it any easier, but you did what you could."

"Promise me you won't tell Melly, please Harold?" said Violet, sniffling.

"But Vi. . ."

"Please? I just can't stand the idea of her thinkin' I didn't try hard enough to save Momma and Richard."

Harold smiled weakly. He knew it was probably for the best. "All right, Violet. It'll stay between us."

Violet squeezed his hands. "Thank you, Harold."

Harold nodded. He let go of Violet's hands and they both settled back into their chairs. Violet wiped her eyes and lit another cigarette. They sat quietly for a long while until they heard the sound of a car coming up the driveway to the house. Violet cocked her head, listening. "Now who in the Sam Hill is that?"

An old Model T pickup truck was rumbling around to the back of the house. It stopped and the driver got out. He wandered up to the porch. It was a man who looked to be in his late twenties, with a ruggedly handsome face and sun-kissed blond hair. He took off his hat as he got to the porch railing.

Violet gasped. "Gavin McNeil, as I live and breathe."

Gavin smiled, his blue eyes twinkling. "Hey, pretty."

Violet let out a hoot. She got up and went down the porch steps to throw her arms around him. "My God, Gavin. I ain't seen you in two years! How did you find me?"

He hugged her back and smiled at her. "Your sister found out I was in Austin and sent me a letter. Said I should come out for her weddin'. I was in Laredo until yesterday. I only got the letter once I got home last night, so I drove out here this morning. Didn't even eat breakfast yet. I take it I missed the weddin'?"

Violet laughed. "You always were a day late and a dollar short."

Gavin looked down at her belly with a grin. "You got a bun in the oven just like your sister said." His eyes grew sympathetic. "I am so sorry to hear about your parents. Your Momma was always so kind to me."

"Thank you," said Violet, her eyes sad. Then she smiled, turning to Harold. "Harold, this is Gavin McNeil, an old friend of mine. Gavin, this is Harold Lowe, my baby sister's husband."

The two men shook hands. "Pleased to meet you," said Harold.

Gavin nodded. "Likewise. You're a lucky man, finding the likes of Miss Melody."

"Thank you," Harold said, smiling.

Violet put a hand on Gavin's shoulder. "You must be starvin' if you left the house first thing. Go on in and make yourself at home. There's a bunch of food in the ice box. I'll make you somethin'." Gavin nodded to Harold and headed into the house.

Before she followed Gavin inside, she turned to Harold. "I never told anybody this, but when Gavin came to see me at Momma's, he wasn't a johnny. I never took his money. He came to see me because we loved each other."

With that, Violet turned and waddled into the house, her hand on her belly. Harold smiled. He'd seen the love in Violet's eyes.

A while later, Harold sat on the porch eating the bacon and eggs that Violet had made for him. He watched Violet and Gavin where they sat in the sun on the small dock over the water, feeding each other bites of scrambled eggs and stealing kisses. He sipped his coffee and chuckled to himself when he saw Gavin lay his head on Violet's belly to feel the baby move. Violet was smiling lovingly at Gavin.

Melody came out the back door with a shawl thrown over her nightgown and a sleepy smile on her face. She saw Violet and Gavin at the end of the dock. "Well, I'll be goddamned. Gavin got my letter." She laughed and kissed Harold. "Good thing her bedroom's not over ours, because they'd keep us up makin' the bedsprings creak tonight."

Harold laughed, pulling his wife onto his lap and kissing her. "I think we could easily compete with those two."

Melody laughed, turning to look at Violet and Gavin. "Just look at them. He always loved her so much." She grinned at Harold. "Violet thinks I don't know this, but she never took money from Gavin when he visited her. She adored him from the first time he came to Momma's. She'd never admit it before, but it's true. He's always treated Violet like the lady she really is."

Harold looked out at the pair on the dock again. Gavin was kissing Violet passionately, one hand on her swollen belly, the other in her long auburn hair. Harold smiled. He knew then that everything would work out for Violet, and he was relieved.