Chapter 8
"Miss Harlean? You need to wake up for the morning services!" Holly called through the bedroom door the next morning.
Harlean opened an eye and then the other, her red locks covering part of her face. She sat up and pushed them out of the way, "I'm up Holly," she called softly.
The door opened and Holly walked in, "It is about time Miss, you are going to be late, please get up," she said.
Harlean nodded and walked over to her basin, it had fresh cold water in it which she splashed in her face. She then took a towel and wiped the water off of her face.
"How about the red one today? Nice color and it's your best church dress," Holly suggested as she held up a red gown.
Harlean nodded, "That should do nice," she said in a somewhat dreamy voice.
She could hear what Holly was saying, but her mind was elsewhere. Thinking about the night before…
XX
"O Holy spirit, who did brood Upon the waters dark and rude, and bid their angry tumult cease, and give for wild confusion peace; O hear us when we cry to Thee for those in peril on the sea," Harlean sang from the front pew. She was standing with a few people that she was somewhat acquainted with but she liked it right here, and her Uncle was giving the Service.
She glanced around and saw Bruce and she resisted the urge to cringe. Just then the Organ started up again with the next and last verse, "O Trinity of love and pow'r, Your children shield in danger's hour; From rock and tempest, fire, and foe, Protect them where so e'er they go; Thus ever more shall rise to Thee Glad hymns of praise from land and sea," she sang.
The tune died down and everyone sat down, the service continued and it ended with reciting some prayers, after that Harlean met her Uncle at the door who was greeting some of the Passengers.
She nodded and smiled politely at the people her Uncle introduced them too and finally a few minutes later they headed up to the deck.
"So how was your evening last night dear?" the Captain asked.
Harlean looked at him and shrugged slightly, "It was lovely, I came up to see Sparks- I mean Mr Bride, for a moment and then I went back to my Suite and went to sleep," she answered with a slight look of aggravation that she had let the name Sparks slip up.
"Sparks? Mr Bride has a new name?" her Uncle asked, a look of amusement painted on his face.
She sighed, "Well the machine's are being overworked and the other night I think he was being a bit of a….Show off and he nearly set the machine on fire. It sparks, hence the nickname," Harlean explained.
The older man chuckled, "That is very cute Harlean," he said.
She smiled slightly, "Yes, Mr Phillips thought so too."
"How often do you go up to see them?" he suddenly asked.
Harlean shrugged, "Oh I do not know, just whenever I suppose. I like it in that room, Mr Bride taught me how to use the machines. They are quite simple once you know the different taps to do," she answered.
There was silence again as they then walked into the bridge, Thomas Andrews was in there with two women and a man.
"This is the bridge where you tend to find the Captain at most times," Thomas said with a kind smile at Harlean.
"And why do you have two steering wheels?" the older woman asked.
"We really only use this one near shore," Thomas answered just as, to Harlean's delight, Harold Bride walked in.
"Excuse me sir, another ice warning, this one's from the Baltic," he said as he handed the Marconigram to the Captain, and then took a quick glance at Harlean who grinned.
"Thank you, Sparks," the Captain said with a smile.
Harold's face turned a slight shade of red but he nodded and then left the room.
Smith glanced at the message then nonchalantly put it in his pocket. He
Nodded reassuringly to Harlean and the group, "Oh not to worry, quite normal for this time of year. In fact were speeding up, I just ordered the last boilers lit," he said.
Harlean nodded slightly and watched as the group moved on and left the room, she then looked at the spot where Harold had been and then heard the Captain chuckle.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Go on dear, you may go and see the Messengers," he said.
"Really?" she asked.
He nodded with a smile, "Just be careful and make sure you are not late to tea today," he replied.
Harlean grinned; she hugged him and kissed her Uncle on the cheek. She then turned and walked out of the room.
The Captain watched as she left and merely smiled as he walked to his room.
XX
"Hello Sparks, Mr Phillips," Harlean said, smiling as she walked into the messaging room.
"You told your Uncle?" Jack asked, laughing.
"Well…it sort of slipped up. I did not expect him to actually call Harold that," she replied.
Jack laughed again, "I would have killed to of seen that," he said.
Harlean was about to laugh again but she saw Harold's still red cheeks, "Oh Spark's it's alright, were you terribly embarrassed?"
He shrugged, "I dunno," he muttered.
"Get over it Sparky," Jack said with a laugh.
Harlean sighed and then bent down slightly, she wrapped her arms around Harold's neck and gave him a peck on the cheek, "There, that should get you over it," she said.
"So he wasn't just making it up and being a git?"
Harlean stood back up and looked at Jack, "Making what up?" she asked.
"You two kissing last night," he answered.
"Oh…right…that…was truth," she said a bit awkwardly.
"Alright Harold well I will leave you two alone," Jack said as he then went behind the curtain and he lay down.
"But Jack…it's your shift," Harold protested.
"Yeah well you can work for a bit longer," Jack called, already half way asleep.
Harlean merely smiled at Harold, "How was the night shift?" she asked.
He shrugged, "A bit more pleasant than usual, I had thoughts of a beautiful girl on my mind, so it went along quite quickly."
Harlean blushed, she then pulled up a chair that was in the corner and sat down next to Harold, he smiled at her and went in for a kiss, but before their lips could meet the machine began to receive a message. Harold sighed and put the headphones on one ear as he began to tap a response.
She watched him for a minute as he tapped away and then leaned over and began to kiss him gently on the cheek. He turned towards her slightly and their lips met, as they kissed Harold continued to send messages, but they were barely coherent.
XX
"What in the world is this man talking about?! I send him Ice Warnings and he starts saying gibberish!" the man on a ship fifty yards away cried to his partner.
"Well like what?"
"Oh wait…here comes something else…" the man paused as he began to listen to the tapping and write it down, "I Love You STOP More Than I did Yesterday STOP," he read out loud.
The men looked at each other with strange looks on their faces.
"Those men must be letting the Cabin Fever get to them. Perhaps he thinks he's writing to his girl back home," the man at the desk said with a slight laugh.
XX
Harold then stopped sending the message and took his headphones off as he and Harlean kissed once more.
She pulled away and smiled, "Can I send out a message to my family?" she asked.
Harold nodded, Harlean stood up and Harold put the headphone on one ear, "Put your hand on the machine and I'll gently guide your hand," he said.
She nodded and did as she was told.
Together they began to enter an address but something distracted Harlean and instead of typing something out to her mother and father she began to kiss Harold again, and once more they were sending gibberish to land.
"What are you doing?" a strange male voice asked.
Harlean pulled away and saw William Murdoch standing in the door way, a piece of paper in his hand.
"Why aren't you working?" he asked.
Harold paused then began to tap more gibberish, "I'm working! See!" he cried.
Will nodded slowly then looked at Harlean, "Hey aren't you the Captain's niece?"
Harlean looked at Harold then back to Will, "No… I just look like her," she said slowly.
"Harlean!" Jack's voice groaned from behind the curtain, "Be quiet! Please!" he said.
"Ha! I knew it!" Will cried triumphantly.
Harold just sighed, "Are you actually here for something?" he asked.
Will paused then handed Harold the paper, "Here," he said.
Harold took it and nodded, "Bye," he said as he waved at Will.
Will gave Harlean one last glance and left the room.
As Harold began to send his message Harlean noticed the time and sighed, "I have to leave for lunch," she said.
He nodded as he continued to tap away, she leaned in and kissed him again, "Bye," she said softly.
Harlean then turned around and left the room and headed to her stateroom to change to her afternoon dress…
XX