Hello everyone! Not tooooo long this one.
I do not own Thomas Andrews or anyone related to him.
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Chapter Nineteen
Much Later
"So tell me, what was the problem with you earlier?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know, in the boat, before I told you I was… expecting?"
"Oh, yes…"
"Tommie, tell me."
I reached across and took his hand, taking away the pencil in it and replacing it with my fingers. Tommie was pouring over some blueprints, while I was curled up on an armchair next to his desk. I was in my nightdress and gown, with my long hair trailing down over my shoulder in a loose plait. Tommie was still in his clothes from earlier, even though it was 11 o' clock at night.
"Nellie, I don't think you need to know. It's so small, and pathetic, to be honest, anyway…"
"If it's so small and pathetic, why won't you tell me?" I yawned. I had been at it for hours, after the baby excitement had waned a bit when we had got used to the idea.
"Because…" Tommie was clearly running out of excuses. I fiddled with the lace neckline on my dress while he thought for a while. "I'm out of reasons for not telling you now, Nellie," He swiveled round to face me. "It's this man, the man who's buying the big ships we're building. 400 and 401. He's called J. Bruce Ismay. Have you heard of him?"
I nodded.
"Well, remember back in 1908, in July, when we had our first meeting at work? He made some… changes, to say the least, to the blueprints. This included cutting down the size of the rudder of the ship, and reducing the number of lifeboats. From 64, to 32, to 16. With four collapsible lifeboats, which totals 20. They're going by the Board of Trade regulations, but these ships… They are longer now, over 800ft. They need more lifeboats than that to accommodate all those aboard."
"But, Tommie, I thought those ships had those fancy-looking mechanism-thingy's….. Watertight compartments, are they? Yes. I thought those made the ship unsinkable?" I frowned.
"They also cut the watertight compartments from B Deck down to E Deck, with open tops. Water could still travel through the ship. And any ship can and will surrender to the force of nature, Helen. No ship's unsinkable." Tommie shook his head sadly. "I tried to convince Mr. Ismay to allow more lifeboats, 32, at least, but he won't have any of it. My uncle William tells me to put on a 'good face'. But I swear, Nellie, it's getting harder and harder every day." Tommie continued. I rubbed his forehead, where I could see faint frown lines.
"Tommie, you work to hard for others and not enough for yourself. Remember to treat yourself sometimes, Tommie. You deserve it. Now, as far as this Ismay person concerns you, he is just another man who wants to buy ships off of Harland and Wolff. Surely he's not the first. In twenty years, Tommie, when these ships are heading for the scrapheap, you'll be wondering why you let yourself get so worked up about it. Now come on, bed. You're tired."