An Ocean Between Us
Sunday, April 14
Diamonds in the Sea
Madge woke with a smile, the feel of Gale still lingering against her lips. She was young, the sun was bright and possibilities stretched out before her in every direction.
Today, she decided, today will be a good day.
As always, Delly led them on a morning walk after breakfast and Madge once again found herself leaning against the railing overlooking the Poop Deck. Her gaze found Gale as if by instinct and he was chatting with that friend of his, looking effortlessly gorgeous with his arms folded across his chest and that perfect smile on his lips. The breeze picked up and Madge tightened her sweater around herself, her chill momentarily forgotten when Gale turned his head and their eyes met. He winked and Madge's stomach flipped over itself, a smile starting to stretch out over her face. She peeked over at Delly, who looked red faced and contemplative.
"Are you okay?" she asked and Delly bit her lip.
"I think…I think I'll go lie down. I didn't sleep very well last night."
Madge frowned but Delly cut her off before she could say anything.
"I'm okay, just sleepy. You don't need to worry."
"Are you sure? I could-"
"It's fine. Really, I just want to nap. Sorry for abandoning you."
Madge waved that away.
"As long as you're okay."
"I'm fine, honest. My brother's snoring was atrocious last night, that's all," Delly assured her with a smile.
"Okay, if you're sure" Madge agreed, "sleep well."
"I will," Delly promised and Madge watched her go until she was swallowed up by the other passengers on deck. Madge turned back around, her eyes settling on Gale yet again. The friend he'd been talking to (Thom?) was gone and Madge squeezed the railing.
Why not? It's not like I have anything else to do until lunch.
She nodded to herself and pushed off the railing. She headed to the staircase and refused to listen to her doubts and every cautionary voice warning her of boys and what time with them might to do her. Being with Gale couldn't be wrong, not when it felt so right. She exited the stairs on the Poop Deck and wondered if she was imagining the feel of everyone's eyes on her. She moved through the crowd and tried to remember where Gale had been standing when she'd last seen him.
"Can I help you with something?"
Madge turned and there was Gale, grinning down at her with bright eyes. She smiled up at him.
"I think you could actually. I was looking for this boy, very handsome."
"Oh? Don't think I know any of those."
"Pity," she said and they just grinned at each other, Madge feeling warm straight down to her toes. Someone bumped into her from behind and she stumbled forward, Gale reaching out to steady her. He looked up over her head at the crowd all around them and frowned.
"Certainly packed up here," he said and then suddenly smiled, holding out his arm. "Care to go for a jaunt somewhere a little less crowded?"
Madge took the offered arm.
"I would be delighted, good sir."
Gale beamed.
"Well then, this way, my lady."
Madge pressed her cheek against his shoulder as they started off and yes, today was definitely shaping up to be a very good day indeed.
"Have you done much traveling?" Gale asked as they rounded a bend in the ship and Madge shook her head.
"No, I've barely ever left Ballycotton."
"Did you never want to?"
"No, it's just that I never had the opportunity. Actually, I always wanted to go to Scotland."
"Why?" Gale asked, his eyebrows scrunched in confusion. Madge smiled a little.
"My cousin Aoife lives there."
"Really?"
Madge nodded.
"Mmhm, it's really romantic actually."
Gale bumped her hip with his.
"Oh, yeah?"
"About two years ago, she met this man, Ian. He was visiting from Glasgow and they just…they only knew each other for three weeks, but that's all it took. My aunt and uncle were furious when she told them she wanted to marry him. I mean, she barely knew him and she was planning to go back to Scotland with him, not to mention he was a Presbyterian."
"And she was Catholic?" Gale guessed.
"Of course. They told her if she married him, they'd never speak to her again, but she did it anyway. They eloped. Everyone said it was just lust, I remember Father Brown giving a sermon about it. I was fourteen, but I knew it wasn't true. Aoife wouldn't have left for just lust. I saw them together and they did love each other, I know it."
Gale nodded and Madge smiled a little wistfully.
" I've always missed her, and even though I can't imagine leaving my parents, even for a man I loved, I don't blame her for doing it. Our town was…it was always the same and everyone was always so involved in everything you did. They were beyond nosy. There was no opportunity, no change and her parents were always miserable, very cranky, somewhat opposed to fun. I get why she ran off with Ian, but still, I always wanted to go visit her. She did say I was always welcome."
Madge sighed and Gale's arm slid around her shoulders and squeezed her tight.
"Well, maybe you will. You'll hit it big in America and sail back over to visit."
Madge smiled and leaned into him.
"Maybe I will," she agreed and there was a small, tiny part of her that thought maybe we both will.
"And you, have you done much traveling?" she asked and Gale snorted.
"Hah, I've never been outside London. Honestly, I understand how your cousin must've felt. If I didn't have my family to worry about, I definitely would've run off with an attractive Scot too."
Madge's arm went around his waist and she grinned.
"Well, I'm you didn't."
"Hmm?"
"Run off with an attractive Scot."
"That so?"
Her other arm went around him too and she hugged him, the two of them stopping their walk.
"Definitely."
Gale smirked and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'm glad too," he murmured and then he kissed her, Madge smiling against his mouth. They started walking again, the tang of salt on the wind tickling her nose.
"I wanted you to meet Thom today," Gale started and Madge felt her chest flutter. He wanted me to meet his best friend? "But then he off and disappeared somewhere. Tomorrow though, I'll get him."
"Maybe I'll bring Delly," she said and Gale nodded.
"It'll be like a double date," he teased and Madge giggled. She sighed into him happily and couldn't help but think is this how you felt, Aoife?
Maybe, one day, I'll be telling you about my own love story.
When it came time for lunch, Madge pulled away from Gale with reluctance.
"I'll see you tonight?" he asked and Madge could have nodded, could have met him at the same time she always did, but something bold bloomed in her chest.
"You should come to my room, at dinner. My parents won't be there and I'll just tell them I have a headache."
Gale blinked at her, eyes wide and Madge felt suddenly shy, her gaze dropping.
"Okay," he said and Madge looked back up at him, his smile making her knees feel a little weak. "I'll see you then."
She nodded.
"Yeah," she replied, slightly breathless, "see you then."
He kissed her goodbye and as she walked away, she was already counting down the hours until they'd be back together again.
Delly was smiling and rosy cheeked at lunch, her nap having worked wonders. Madge squeezed her hand over the table and Delly beamed at her, threading her fingers through Madge's.
"Any plans this afternoon?" she asked and Madge shook her head.
"I was hoping to spend it with you, if you're feeling better that is."
"I," Delly proclaimed, "am feeling radiant."
Madge grinned.
"Then I'm all yours."
"Excellent."
They smiled at each other and Madge thought the sun through the windows might be shining brighter than ever before.
They'd decided to visit the racquetball courts and arrived just in time to see the most pompous of all men prepare to play, his nose raised high in the air.
"I must say, I have been playing for a great many years. I do hope you don't find that intimidating," he said to his opponent and Madge had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. Delly squeezed her arm and the game was over quickly, Mr Snob losing easily. His neck had turned very red and Madge pressed a hand to her mouth.
"Yes well, I was trying to be nice, it wouldn't be very fair if I'd actually tried."
Delly snorted loudly and the man turned to glare at them, his eyes flashing. Madge grabbed Delly's hand and pulled, the two of them clambering up the nearest stairs and up onto deck.
"Did you see his face?" Delly laughed and Madge nodded, her own laughter bursting out as Delly tried to imitate him.
"Not that he was trying though," Madge said and Delly nodded, forcing her face to be solemn.
"No, otherwise he would have handily trounced his opponent."
"Oh, definitely," Madge agreed, her own tone serious. They stared at each other a few moments and then started giggling again, sudden warmth pooling in Madge's belly. She flung her arms around Delly, hugging her tightly.
"I'm glad you're here. And that we're doing this together."
Delly hugged her back.
"Me too."
Neither of them said anything else, they didn't need to. They both knew as they started off down the deck again, joined hands swinging between them, that they were best friends, that they loved each other, that this journey wasn't nearly as frightening because they were together.
As long as they had each other, everything would be alright.
Madge could feel her heart beating against her ribcage thump thump thump as she waited for Gale. What was I thinking? Inviting a boy back to my room? If anyone finds out… She breathed in deeply and folded her hands in her lap. Its fine, it'll be fine. She surveyed the room for the fifth time, making absolutely sure that everything was perfect. Stewards had already cleaned and straightened everything, but Madge had felt the need to go over it all again and again in her nervous flurry. She narrowed her eyes. Those pillows could probably be straightened a little-
Madge jumped at the sound of a knock coming from her door. She stood and smoothed down her skirt, her heart doing somersaults in her chest. She walked over and hoped she looked calmer than she felt, breathing in deeply before she opened the door. Relax. It'll be fine. Gale was standing in the doorway and he smiled at her, butterflies erupting in her limbs at the sight.
"Hey," he greeted, leaning towards her and all her nerves seemed to melt away like ice in the sun.
"Hi."
They stared at each other for a few moments and then a door shut somewhere down the hall, startling Madge back into reality. If anyone saw her and Gale… She grabbed his arm and tugged him inside, shutting the door quickly behind him. He laughed a bit in surprise.
"Goodness, Miss Undersee, who knew you were so aggressive?"
She rolled her eyes and he grinned, his hands reaching out and settling on her waist.
"I missed you. Isn't that crazy? I just saw you this morning," he said and she nodded, even as she let him pull her in close, her arms finding their way around his neck.
"I missed you too," she admitted and he smiled, the sweet, soft one that made her whole body into a bowl of pudding. He kissed her, hot and hard, and she could feel herself burning, every part of her kindling into flame beneath his hands. They found their way to the sofa somehow and sat down, still intertwined and wrapped around each other. His fingers danced across her back, her waist and then found their way to her thighs and she should have been appalled, should have pushed him away but everything felt so good, every touch sending sparks fizzling through her blood. She tangled her fingers in his hair, he kissed her jaw and she felt almost like she had a fever, except she never wanted this one to break. Lust is a sin she could hear Father Brown pronouncing gravely in her mind but then Gale kissed her neck and she decided that perhaps, just this once, she could be forgiven for going astray.
Gale's hands slid over her thighs and then returned to her back, dipping lower and lower. She knew where they were heading, knew she was meant to stop him but she didn't want to, wanted him to touch her absolutely everywhere.
"Madge," he panted, pulling away just enough to speak, "is this okay?"
She nodded and tightened her grip on him, the word tumbling from her lips straight to his. "Yes."
Gale kissed her again, drowned her in the taste of him and then his hands slid underneath her and lifted her up, settling her back down on his lap. This was so wrong, so anti everything she had ever been taught but still, she wasn't sure she wanted it to end. They were pressed together, chest to chest and she pressed her lips across his jaw, that jaw that had made her swoon the very first time she'd seen it. Gale's hands squeezed her waist and then he pulled away, a rush of cold air filling the space between them. She blinked at him in confusion and he wouldn't meet her eyes, sudden fear seizing her. Had she done something wrong?
"I don't want to say goodbye in a few days," he said hurriedly, the words pouring out of him and she felt her eyes stretch wide. "I like…talking to you and being with you and…this. I don't want it all to be over when we get to New York."
Madge couldn't answer, her heart doing gymnastics.
"I know you probably think it's stupid and we've only known each other a few days, but-"
"I don't think it's stupid," she interrupted and Gale stared at her.
"You don't?"
She shook her head.
"No. I don't want to say goodbye either."
Gale grinned and kissed her, her body singing where it touched his.
"Then let's not say goodbye," he whispered against her mouth and she nodded.
"Okay."
"When we get to America, we'll stay in touch. We'll figure something out."
"This is crazy," she laughed and Gale nodded, his forehead pressed to her.
"The best things usually are."
She laughed again and this was crazy, completely crazy but she didn't care. When they started this journey, America had seemed so dark and frightening. Now, at least, she thought she could see some sunlight peeking through the clouds.
"You know, some people call Titanic the ship of dreams," she murmured and Gale nodded, tightening his hold on her. "If this is a dream, I never want to wake up."
"You're my dream," he whispered and Madge reached up to pull his lips down to hers.
and you're mine, Gale Hawthorne, the very best dream I've ever had
Madge fell asleep that night with a smile on her face.
Today was a good day, the best day.
(but here is something Madge should have remembered)
(even the best dreams have to end)