Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created by Martha Williamson for Signed Sealed and Delivered. But is set in another time and place and borrows some similarities with characters created by James Cameron for the movie Titanic of 1998.

However, I have done some research and tried to be as accurate as possible to the real events rather than the movie.

No copyrights infringement intended. It's rather a nod of appreciation to the great masters such as Martha and James and the beautiful work of art they both created.

As usual, thanks to my friend and editor Rhonda Leighton Wronski for her constant love and support.

I do not give permission to AI to use my work for any purpose whatsoever.

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A Titanic Tale - Chapter 1

Dublin, Ireland, April 6th 1912

Mrs. McInerney hurried her two daughters along the docks of Dublin. The freezing wind didn't help, as it grabbed hold of their skirts and slowed them down. The good news was their luggage was already on board the ship. The RMS White Star was a medium sized ship with capacity for about 800 passengers and 250 crew members. It was scheduled to depart Dublin at 11:30am sharp, allowing them only 3.5 hours to board and get settled in before setting sail.

The White Star would take them from Dublin to Southampton, England, where they would board the RMS Titanic. The Titanic would then carry them and their dreams to America, where they would start over. The Titanic was scheduled to leave at 12noon on April 10th.

Sharon, Alex and Shane McInerney had dreamed about this day ever since Sean McInerney, Sharon's husband and Alex and Shane's father, died two years ago in a mining accident in their little town of Ballingarry. They received a meagre settlement from the mining company for the loss of Sean's life, which was a paltry £400. This amount wouldn't pay for even half of a first class ticket on the famous Titanic. The family sold their 3 bedroom house for another £600 and received another £120 for the sale of their household contents; anything and everything that wasn't bolted to the ground was sold on that sad day. The combined monies they were taking with them to start a new life in America was no more than US$4k.

Regardless of their hardships, they still considered themselves blessed. They were going to New York where there would be endless opportunities for decent employment for all 3 of them. Alex would probably become a teacher like her mother, or a private tutor with a rich family. Shane would follow her heart and become a stenographer or a telephone switchboard operator, as she loved anything technologically related.

Once on board the White Star, Mrs. McInerney's first priority was to switch cabins. Their cabin was located in the centre of the ship. It didn't have an outside window, so ventilation was nonexistent. She was vehement when talking to the clerk at one of the customer's service station. She told him she would certainly die of a migraine if they didn't arrange for them to have another cabin immediately. Although the crossing to Southampton was not expected to last more than 3 days, getting a different cabin was of utmost importance to her.

She was whining to the clerk when a man and his son standing behind them tapped on her shoulder.

"Excuse me, Mrs…?"

"Mrs. McInerney!" Sharon said firmly.

"We have a cabin with a window we could swap with you and your family. We don't particularly care whether we have a window or not since you can't see anything through the porthole anyway."

"Oh, that's very kind of you. Mr…?"

"O'Toole! Joseph O'Toole, and this is my son, Oliver."

Mrs. McInerney nodded regally towards the young man not showing much interest. But both Alex and Shane paid attention immediately when the young man looked up. He had the most glorious blue eyes they had ever seen. He couldn't be more than 26 or 27 years old, one or two years younger than Alex. He was of medium height and had darkish hair with a faint tinge of red. He smiled slightly at both of them, but it was Shane's face that got beet red.

Alex had dark hair and Shane was a most glorious brilliant blonde. They were both beautiful young women, but Shane had a radiance that shone from within.

Shane sighed the minute she spotted a ring on Oliver's ring finger on his left hand. "Oh, so much for that!" She whispered disappointedly in Alex's ear.

"Ok, girls." Mrs. McInerney said, bringing the girls into attention. "Mr. O'Toole and his son have kindly offered to swap cabins with us. They have a window, you see." The girls both smiled and said a shy thank you.

Both cabins were exactly the same. Mr. O'Toole had been completely truthful when he mentioned that one couldn't see a thing through the dirty porthole. They all sighed.

Once the swap was complete, the McInerneys went out onto the deck to wave goodbye to the onlookers as the ship set sail. They were also desperate to breathe fresh air and recover from the fetid, musty smell of the cabin.

As the ship distanced herself from shore, Alex got bored and left in search of some fun. Shane was enjoying the sun on her skin with her eyes closed when she heard a voice right behind her.

"How do you like your new cabin, Miss McInerney?"

She jumped a little with surprise. She turned sharply to stare straight into the gorgeous blue eyes of young Mr. O'Toole.

"Oh, Mr. O'Toole! We just love it. It's a real luxury to have such a cabin... you and your father are very kind." She said, sarcastically.

Oliver laughed. "Well, in our defence, you never asked for details regarding its status. Frankly, between the two cabins it's a tossup for the worst one."

They both laughed. "Oh well, I'm sure my mother would have died from migraines if she had stayed in the first cabin. Now she will just have to die from something else."

Oliver chuckled. It was a lovely sound, Shane thought. Oliver looked directly into her eyes. She held her breath. She was sure she could get lost in those blue eyes. He cleared his throat. "So tell me about yourself, Miss McInerney." He said, joining her and leaning with his elbows on the railing, while watching the waves hit the bow below.

"Well, there's not much to tell. My name is Shane; I'm 25 years old, a confirmed spinster and literally running away to New York in search of a better life with my mother and sister."

"Why New York?"

"Because that's where an Irishman or woman goes when all fails in Ireland!"

"How has it failed you and your family?"

Shane took a deep breath and looked sad. "My father died in a mining accident a couple of years ago. My fiancé turned out to be unreliable and my sister was starting to get mixed up with the wrong crowd. A change of scenery was not only recommended, it was essential."

He nodded and asked, "Are you guys travelling on the Titanic?"

"Yes!"

He smiled. "So are we."

"Oh, that's good." She looked out to sea and asked, "What's your story, Mr. O'Toole?"

He also looked out to sea. He seemed troubled. "I suppose my father and I fit into your criteria of failure in Ireland. We need to seek new shores."

"How has Ireland failed you?"

"Not Ireland, but life in general."

She turned, looked at him and waited. He didn't say any more, so she asked directly. "Where's your wife?"

He looked at her, surprised. "How do you know I'm married Miss McInerney?"

"I can read minds…" She said, laughing as she tried to sound mysterious.

He looked at her and chuckled. "Can you just? What am I thinking right now?" And he pinned her with a smouldering look that took her breath away.

"Aha! You're thinking how on earth can I get this annoying woman to leave me alone?"

He smirked. "I think you need a new crystal ball." He said raising his eyebrow.

She laughed. "You caught me, Mr. O'Toole. Don't tell my handler I've lost my touch."

He laughed. He was amazed how easily this woman made him laugh. He couldn't remember the last time he had spontaneously burst into laughter like this.

"What's your fiancé's name?" He asked.

"Ex-fiancé, if you don't mind. Steve Marek."

"Steve Marek is an idiot!" He said, looking at her.

She tried to ignore her fluttering heart and changed the subject. "You know everything about me already and I know nothing about you, with the exception that you and you father trick helpless women into swapping a horrible cabin for a despicable one."

He laughed louder and tried to speak, controlling his laughter. "Miss McInerney, all the requirements of your mother's demand were met. She wanted a cabin with a window and that's exactly what we were able to offer her. What's your complaint?"

She was also trying to control her laughter. "I bet you were trying to get something less stinky."

"We made no demands." He retorted.

"Of course you didn't. Who would? You're not stupid."

They were both enjoying their banter so much, they didn't even notice the time rushing by. "Miss McInerney, would you join me and my father for lunch in the restaurant? I believe it's almost past lunch time.

"Oh my goodness. Yes indeed. Thank you, Mr. O'Toole. However, don't think for a minute you're off the hook yet. You haven't answered any of my questions."

"I promise I will, Miss McInerney." He said and he offered her his arm. She took it and they walked together to the dining room.

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Joe was sitting at the table reading the newspaper of the day.

As Oliver arrived with Shane holding on to his arm, Joe raised his eyebrows, but recovered quickly. "Miss McInerney? How nice to see you again. How are you settling in?"

Shane and Oliver exchanged a look like they were sharing a private joke.

Joe noticed. He was immediately aware of the chemistry between the two of them.

"We're doing the best we can, Mr. O'Toole."

He smiled. "Yes! They are pretty awful, aren't they?"

"You can say that again!" And she flashed a beautiful smiled at Joe and the man immediately fell in love with her. No wonder he noticed his son looking at her with an odd expression on his face. He wished Oliver had been wiser in his choice of wife. Now the poor guy was trapped waiting to hear from a wife who obviously did not love him. His heart broke for his son every time he remembered Holly's desertion of him.

"Dad, Miss McInerney and her family are also going to New York on the Titanic."

"Really? Well, Miss McInerney, we might see more of each other then." Joe said pleasantly. "Where do you guys plan to settle in America?" Joe asked showing interest.

"New York!"

"So do we." Oliver said smiling.

"What do you guys do? I mean, what's your profession?" Shane asked.

"We both worked for the Irish Post Office. We will try to get a job with the USPS. It's all we have ever done." Joe said looking a bit uncertain.

"Well, I'm sure you will be fine then." Shane smiled at both of them, encouragingly.

"What about you, Miss McInerney? What is it that you wish to do?" Oliver asked.

Shane looked dreamy. "Well, I'd like to be a Miss Remington or work for the telephone company."

"Miss Remington?" He looked puzzled.

"Yes! That's what they call the ladies who work with a Remington typewriter. You see I live for new technology. I just love it."

Oliver smiled at her. "I should have known you'd be a modern woman."

"What do you mean by that, Mr. O'Toole? I'm also very traditional."

Oliver looked at his dad and they both smirked. "Yes, of course you are!" He said.

She looked at both men and decided not to be insulted, as they knew nothing about her. However, she was dying to find out more about them, especially the younger O'Toole. She also knew she had time. She'd prod him alright. She knew he'd be no match for her curiosity… and she was already fascinated by Oliver.

They finished lunch and Joe decided to take a stroll around the deck while Oliver and Shane stayed behind talking.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing the famous Titanic. Apparently she's a wonder and a true beauty to behold." He said.

Shane agreed. "Yes, so I've heard. Although the third class may not be as glorious as the first."

He chuckled. "At least she won't stink like this old lady."

Shane then asked. "Why are ships referred to as female?"

Oliver looked at her and smiled. "Well, maybe it's because they are like women; unpredictable, moody, capricious!"

Shane laughed. "I think you have that all wrong Mr. O'Toole. I'm sure it's because they are like a mother; hospitable and protective, like a mother hen, don't you think?"

"Well, have it your way Miss McInerney. I'm certainly going to be praying this old lady delivers us safely to Southampton in one piece."

They looked at each other and the air seemed charged. Sparks were flying all over the place between them. Oliver cleared his throat. "Well, I should join my father."

"Yes! Me too... I mean... my own family." She chuckled embarrassed. "I should find my sister before she joins the stevedores in a game of poker. And make sure my mother's still alive."

He smiled, took her hand and planted a gentleman's kiss on her knuckles. "Good day, Miss McInerney."

She just nodded. "Mr. O'Toole!"

They both walked away. Shane's hand was tingling just as much as Oliver's lips were.