Chapter 2

Don't Cry Over Spilled Tea

"Benjamin, you behave for Esther and your mummy will see you in a bit, okay?"

"Yes mummy."

"We will return after tea, but please send for me if you need me." Clara stood to her full height smiled at the governess and then disappeared out of the stateroom.

In the hallway she met up with the wives of her husband's coworkers, "I keep telling Robert that I just can not believe how incredible this ship is. The genius of it all, oh I just get shivers thinking about it," one of the women said as they all began to walk.

Clara smiled, "Naomi, your adoration of the Titanic is quite charming."

"Oh I can not help it I suppose, I love seeing what man invents with the talents given to him by God," Naomi gave a slight shrug and smiled back at Clara.

"Oh just look at this."

Clara and Naomi were drawn from their discussion to view what their companion, Hope, was looking at. The three women had finally approached the Cafe Parisien where their husbands were waiting for them.

"Hello David." Clara pulled away from her friends and took her husband's offered arm.

"Did you and Benjamin enjoy the departure?" David asked as they all walked into the Cafe.

"Oh yes, he loved seeing the people become so small that they looked like ants," Clara gave a gentle laugh.

"That is children for you," Naomi's husband, Robert, said.

Naomi looked at her husband and shook her head, "You say that as if you know but you are an only child and we do not have any yet!" she had a laugh to her voice however.

"Oh having children is just the greatest. I hope you two get to share our joy soon." Clara was practically grinning but when she looked back to David and saw that he had completely no interest in the conversation, her smile dropped from her face.

The three couples were seated at a table in the restaurant where they dined on a light meal and the men discussed the trip and what they had to achieve while in America. Clara knew as a wife her opinion was only required when asked so she usually allowed this meal time to either talk quietly to her friends or to look around and take in her surroundings. Growing up she had learned quickly that you only spoke when you were called upon and so as a child she would let her mind run rampant. She knew she could learn things from the people and things around her and it usually benefited her in the end.

Clara currently had half of her attention on what Naomi and Hope were quietly discussing and the other half was on a table that an elderly man was seated at. He was talking to a few other people at his table and then she saw his attention go to some men who entered the room.

"Captain Smith, I am finalizing the details on the route and currently we are on track to be in France on time but I would like it if you would come and look over what Officer Boxhall and I have mapped out."

"Of course Officer Pittman." The captain rose, "It has been a pleasure to enjoy this meal with you but I must return to the bridge now, where I am needed."

"Of course EJ of course," the men at the table all said.

"Grab my tea so it does not go to waste, Pittman," they heard the captain say.

It was at that moment that a young stewardess came up to the table, "Mrs. Moore?"

Clara dabbed at her mouth with the napkin and looked up, "Yes?"

"Your governess Esther sent for me. She said to tell you that Benjamin is being quite difficult to go down for his nap," the stewardess said.

"Oh, I will be right there. Thank you." Clara turned to face the table, "I have to go, Benjamin needs me."

"Is this not what we pay a governess for?" David asked, giving his wife an annoyed look.

"I know David, but if our son needs me he needs me," Clara stood up, "You ladies must forgive me and I will see you at supper."

She turned quickly to leave and right at that exact moment she collided with a man who was holding a pot of tea; a very hot pot of tea.

"Oh God, excuse me!" the man, who Clara realized was the officer who was with the captain.

"Clara!" Her friends jumped up and rushed to he side, "Are you alright?" the women asked, "You have tea all down your front."

Everyone looked at the tea stain on her dress, "Yes, I am fine," Clara grimaced, "I have had worse. I best go and change."

"Please miss," the captain gently interrupted, "You should go and check in with the ships doctor to ensure you do not have any serious burns."

Now David was at her side, "The captain is right, Clara. Come along."

"Oh please, no one needs to make such a fuss about me!" Clara protested, "I will be okay."

"Ma'am I am just so sorry," the officer was repeating.

"Please, it is fine! I am a mother, I get things spilled on me all the time!" she replied.

"All the same Clara, come along." David's hand was on Clara's arm and she knew at this point there was nothing more she could do.

"Hope, can you please go to our suite and tell Esther what has happened?" Clara asked as they began to walk away from the scene.

"Oh yes of course," Hope replied.

"Come along Pittman," the captain said, he tipped his hat the women, "Good day ladies."

The minute the two men walked away, Hope was making her excuses and she was on her way to check on Benjamin and Esther.

"Really David, I am fine!" Clara laughed, "There is no reason to make such a fuss!"

"That tea was incredibly hot, Clara. Just indulge me and allow a man to look you over."

"Very well," Clara shrugged as they continued to walk.

Once she was in the infirmary, Clara began to explain to the doctor what had happened and he looked her over. After close to an hour, Clara emerged.

"Well?" David asked.

"It was very minor. He put some cold compresses on my skin and then bandaged it up. I have to check back in the morning, but I will be fine," Clara answered.

"Okay," David took his wife by the arm and the couple headed back for the infirmary.

Clara gave a laugh as they walked, "You know what my grandfather would have said about something like that?"

"What is that?" David asked.

"He would say something bad happening like that on the first day of a trip like this was a bad omen." Clara was smiling, "But grandfather was always the superstitious type."

"This little thing was just a fluke," David gave his wife the first genuine smile in a long time, "Everything is going to be fine, okay?"

"I know darling," Clara returned the smile.

Within a few minutes they were back at the suite, Hope and Esther were both sitting on the sofa in the living area.

"Clara!" Hope whispered, "How was it?"

Clara shrugged, "Mild burn which he put cold compresses on to prevent swelling and he bandaged me up. Good as new," she responded, "Did Benji finally sleep?"

"Yes ma'am," Esther said, "He was very upset that you were not here but he eventually cried himself to the point of utter exhaustion."

"Oh my poor little love," Clara said, "I think I will join him in a brief nap. Make sure I am up with enough time to prepare for supper," she said.

"Yes ma'am," Esther replied.

Clara nodded, "Thank you Hope for staying. I will see you in a bit."

"Of course darling," Hope kissed her friend on the cheek and then left the room.

"I am going to meet up with the other men to discuss our plans some more. I will see you at supper," David told his wife.

"Okay."

David nodded at Esther and then walked out of the room without saying another word to his wife.

Clara sighed heavily and then moved to her sons bedroom. She checked in on him, saw he was sound asleep, and then moved to her own room. Esther helped her to change and then Clara settled into the bed, her hand gently resting over her bandaged abdomen. Once more that day she heard her grandfather's voice in her head, "Clara, if something ever happens when you are traveling. Whether by train, ship, or carriage, if something happens where someone is injured on the first day of the trip...it is a bad sign. Only bad things will follow from there. You get out of there and you stay away from that bad omen otherwise you will only regret it." But instead of allowing herself to read into these things too deeply, Clara instead fell asleep, knowing that anything that happened would always be in God's hands

xx

A/N- Okay okay...I know that this was FAR too short and it took me forever to write...for the last three days I have been working on final projects because next week is the last week of school...I was up till 2 am the other night writing a paper that wound up being 21 pages long...yeah...Then I've been closing and I had to go into a store two days in a row that was a disaster site...so I was at work super late cleaning, both nights. BLAH

Anyways, big props to everyone who has reviewed. Please be patient with me as I work on updates as I have since gained a management position since the last time I wrote Titanic fanfic so shifts are longer and harder...and usually far too late into the evening. I will try to have an update for you by Wednesday.

Thank you for reading and reviewing and please continue to leave me reviews as they serve as my encouragement. Thank you again, one hundred thousand times over, your devoted author; Beccs.