Ch 12 April 11, 1912 1:18 pm
Lunch was another extravagant, elegant affair that Helen made as quick and painless as possible. She opted for the cafe instead of the dining hall in hopes of avoiding the brash Cameron and insipid chatter.
She only escaped one of the two.
"Well now! Ain't this somethin!" Maggie Brown caught Helen on her way back out of the cafe and smiled her infectious grin. "On a ship this big, you don't expect to run into the same person twice and yet here we are!"
Helen found herself smiling back at the boisterous woman. "No indeed. It is wonderful to see you."
"Same here Doc. The very same. Tell me. What have you been up to?" Maggie asked, looping her arm with Helens.
"Well this and that. Meeting new people, remembering old friends." Helen replied, not wanting to discuss the pictures. Or John. "I helped the Ship's Doctor this morning. Doctor Oloughlin. Very nice man. The highlight of my trip thus far. "Helen replied truthfully. It had taken her mind off her painful past at any rate.
"Working vacation eh?" Brown asked "Well now sounds like something worth hearing about. We'll have to have Dinner together sometime. Not tonight I got me a full table. Perhaps tomorrow?"
"I'd love that." Helen nodded. Anything to avoid Cameron at Mealtimes.
"Great. And you'll have to meet my friends the Astors." Maggie said as she finally released Helens arm. "JJ is the life of the party."
"Sounds delightful I'll see you there."
Maggie nodded. "No doubt. But you'll have to excuse me; I owe the boys a rematch at poker. give em a chance to win back some of their money." she winked. Helen laughed a genuine laugh.
"Good luck. I'm going to get some air, I think." Helen waved as Maggie disappeared into the smoking lounge then took a deep breath and turned back to the deck.
A pair of young women walked by, chatting and carefree and unhindered by the rules of society. Helen wondered what her daughter would have been like. She was certain she would have been a girl. A princess spoiled by John of course. Nancy or maybe Annie. Annie Magnus. Helen liked the sound of that.
Helen smiled as a small girl ran after the women. Her hair was dirty blonde with long thick curls and bright blue eyes. She smiled as she passed Helen, showing a gap in her teeth.
Helen wondered what her daughter would look like? Johns eyes her nose? Freckles on her cheeks perhaps? When she was small she would try to count them when she was put to bed. Her father hadn't had freckles. He was tall with sloping shoulders and a puffed out chest. He had a sparkle to his eyes when he was happy. The same light to his eyes when he talked about the sanctuary. Her daughter would help Helen in her work, she decided. Her child would know about abnormals. She would appreciate all creatures for what they were. Helen watched the light play across water, scattering diamonds on the caps of each rolling wave.
Someday, she decided, maybe not soon. She wasn't sure how or when, but someday. Helen would have her little girl.