Since reaching New York on the Carpathia her main goal had been to find a safe place, for her children at least to stay. There had been so much controversy around the sinking that a huge crowd had come to witness the survivors, many offering help in whatever way they could. Being a group of four, with three young children, it was difficult to find someone to take them in. Though many where sympathetic and offered food and money no one seemed to be able to care for such a heavy burden.
That was until Sean had somehow slipped from her protective grasp, once again, and wandered off. With the tightest of holds on Allen's and Melissa's hands as she retraced the street they had just gone down. There at the other side of the street she saw Sean carrying a box of roses and an elderly lady carrying two similar packages. She hurried across the road to meet them as they had stopped by a door to a florist which the lady was attempting to open with boxes still in hand. Her mind was flooded with memories. Of when she spent hours pouring over books of flowers and their meanings, she had been obsessed with gardening from a young age when her mother would ask her and her sister to help keep the small bit of land behind their family pub 'full of life'. Of how she fell in love with the language of flowers. And of how she fell in love with the man who bought them for her. This sudden sombre thought revived her from her reverie and she continued to pursue her eldest son.
When she reached them, they where already inside the shop and the lady was bent down talking to Sean. Standing in the doorway she felt compelled to say something but was conscious of what the woman may think of her, allowing her child to wonder off like that. The lady then turned round and handed him one of the roses. He then turned and almost skipped out of the shop, colliding into Allen as he did so. When he looked up to see his family he beamed and held his hand up to his mother, offering her the rose. She let out a small smile at his thoughtfulness and forced an even bigger one as not to upset him. She appreciated the thought but looking down on him now, all she saw was his farther.
Seemingly sensing her unease the old lady interrupted the silence, "What a wonderful young gentleman you've got there." she smiled sweetly. She seemed genuine enough but without her rock from which she drew strength Mary was lost for words. So the old lady continued "You know how many people passed a struggling old women carrying a heavy load and never stopped to help?" she said in a thick Brookline accent. Mary was still dumbstruck. "And what would such a young man want in return, money, candy (she gestured to a small stand on the counter, bearing all kinds of lollypops)? No. He wants a flower for his mommy." She smiled again. This time it was Sean that spoke out "It always used to make you happy when Da got you them." he chided. Her façade broke at hearing her child talk about Jim in the past tense. "My dear are you quite alright? You seem to have gone a bit peaky." the women said, oblivious to the affect of the young child's comment. "Tell you what dear, why don't you come up to flat and I'll make you a coffee and you can sit down?" this was given as a question but was obviously an instruction and as all three children looked up eagerly at the chance of a sit down Mary complied and followed the women up the narrow staircase concealed by a door at the far right hand corner of the shop. "Or would you prefer tea, you sound British, I think I have some tea, how about tea… now where is it?" she trailed off towards the end seemingly talking to herself as Mary imagined Jim's face after being told 'they sound British' which in fact they where, to his displeasure. "Oh and (she stopped in the middle of the stairwell, causing all five of them to walk into each other) I'm Constance by the way, but that sounds to pretentious, so call me Connie."
"Mary," Mary whispered barley audible to the old women "Mary Maloney and this is Sean, Allen and Melissa. (she gestured to each of the children in turn) and…" she trailed off as she realised there where no other names to add to their introduction. Connie seemed to see the look of loss in her eyes, gave her a knowing look of sympathy and continued walking.