A Titanic Tale - Chapter 5
When all the cries and screams stopped, there was an eerie, disturbing silence. It was the silence of death! Only two lifeboats went back for survivors, but they waited too long. They managed to pull only six survivors out of the water. Among them was a Chinese immigrant who'd had the same idea as Oliver. He had managed to stay reasonably dry although he only used one deck chair. Out of the six survivors, three of them subsequently died of hypothermia and other injuries. Thirty other men survived since they had the presence of mind to climb over one of the capsized lifeboats that was never launched. Another fifteen people survived by climbing onto another capsized lifeboat that got smashed before it got launched. Of the forty five people who waited atop of the capsized boats, seven died while they waited and were tossed into the freezing water for their final resting place.
It was a disturbing sight to be adrift among a sea of frozen corpses. The fortunate few who had made it into a lifeboat didn't feel relieved, but they felt rather guilty. The mood was one of unwavering depressing despair!
Shane held on to Oliver, blowing her hot breath on his head, rubbing his face and hands tirelessly for hours. Her sheer determination to keep him alive kept her hopes up and gave her something to do other than focus on their misery. It was a miracle the three of them had survived. By now she knew in her heart her mother and sister had perished with the other fifteen hundred souls.
The lady with the puppy, who had assumed Oliver was Shane's husband, had been very kind and was holding Oliver's other hand. When Oliver stirred and groggily opened his eyes, she smiled at him and said, "You have a good wife. She never gave up on you." She smiled bitterly. "Unlike some of us!" She said under her breath as her tears started to run down her face. Neither Shane nor Joe corrected her mistake. Joe winked at Shane conspiratorially. Oliver simply closed his eyes again and fell back into oblivion.
The RMS Carpathia took another three hours to arrive where the hapless survivors waited. It took another four hours to load all the passengers on board.
Oliver was taken directly to the infirmary, along with many others, to have their wounds treated. He received seven stitches at the hairline on his head, where apparently he had been hit by one of the oars from the boat that rescued him.
The great majority were in shock or suffering from hypothermia.
The captain ordered all 706 survivors, regardless of class or social status, to be assembled in the large dining room where blankets and pillows were provided as well as coffee, tea, hot soup and bread.
Shane lay down beside Oliver. She did not share his blanket, but held both his hands close to her, facing him. As exhaustion took over, they both slept until mid-afternoon. They were completely surrounded by sleeping, exhausted people. They were all finally equal in every way possible.
When they woke up, he kissed her hands lovingly. He whispered. "Thank you for saving my life. It's an honour owing you such a great debt."
She shook her head. "You saved my life first. I wouldn't be here right now if it hadn't been for you."
"Have you looked around for your mother and sister?" He asked.
She nodded, with tears running down her face. Her fragile emotional state quickly took over in the form of deep sobs.
Oliver moved his body closer to hers in an attempt to comfort her with a tight hug. She grabbed hold of him as if her life depended on him. She sobbed freely on his chest while he smoothed her hair and kissed the top of her head.
Oliver had never imagined he could fall completely in love with another woman like he had for Shane in just a few days. He breathed in her scent, realising he couldn't live without her now. In a way Holly had made this possible by abandoning him and leaving him vulnerable. All he needed now was to find her to put an official end to a marriage that started to die the minute it began.
As Shane hugged him as they lay side by side, she was keenly aware of how inappropriate this situation was. For some odd reason, her mother's words came back into her mind... Unbidden! Although everybody around them thought they were a married couple, they knew better than to go along with the pretence.
She pulled herself out of his embrace, trying to put some distance between them. She smiled shyly at him. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't put you in such a delicate situation." She apologised. "We'll be in New York in a couple of days and you will be able to go and find your wife." She said, with fresh tears falling from her eyes again, despite her attempt to appear and sound mature and reasonable.
He looked at her dumbfounded. He grabbed her face and touched her forehead pulling her to him again. He breathed in her scent deeply again and whispered in her ear. "If you think I'm ever going to let you go, you are sorely mistaken, Miss McInerney. This trip has completely and drastically changed my life. It started out as an attempt to find Holly and start over with her. It's shifted now to an urgent need to find her so I can end it, whatever this sham of a marriage has become, and start again with you. I'm not losing you Shane."
"Oh, Oliver…" She whispered brokenly, shifting closer into his arms.
He held her tightly. "You don't go through what we've just endured to waste more time in your life. We have been given another chance at life, Shane. How many people perished last night by simply doing nothing and waiting for others to save them? I'm done waiting. I don't know why we were both spared, but I'm not going to sit around waiting to find out. I'm going to grab this gift of life I've been offered and make the most of it." He whispered passionately, looking into her eyes and holding her attention. "Will you join me?"
"How?" She asked breathlessly.
"I love you, Shane McInerney. I know I shouldn't say this but my heart will not be denied and I know we've literally only just met, but will you wait for me to be free to when I can offer myself wholly to you?"
Shane covered her mouth as another sob escaped her. Finally she said, "Yes, Oliver. I will wait for you forever if I have to. You see I love you too, although I know I certainly shouldn't. But how can you tell your heart not to love someone?"
They hugged even more tightly, savouring each other's warmth. He wanted to kiss her more than anything, but he knew this was neither the time nor place for such a bold move.
Then they fell asleep again wrapped in each other's arms.
The next three days passed by in a blur with all of them confined to the dining room. The ship was full beyond its capacity. Every time they attempted to have a stroll on the upper deck, they bumped into people and children running around with too much energy to sit quietly for too long.
As they approached New York, they all breathed a sigh of relief. They had made it! The news of the Titanic's demise had already spread quickly like wild fire. As the survivors disembarked, they were mobbed by every journalist in the city, all wanting a new and different angle to sell their stories.
The first class passengers were more than ready to tell their stories and have their complaints heard. The great majority of them were already well known in society and their voices carried more weight than steerage passengers, of which there were very few who had survived anyway.
After the immigration inspection, Joe, Oliver and Shane were allowed to leave. They had nothing to take with them except what they were wearing. Thankfully, the generosity of the American people who came to welcome the survivors included providing clothes, food, bedding and some simple kitchen equipment such as pots and pans and other utensils. The survivors were very grateful.
Oliver, Joe and Shane took some things with them, but they had nowhere to go and no money. A boarding house not far from the docks was taking in survivors. They quickly made their way there with the few things they picked up thrown into a sack.
When they got there, there were already over a hundred crewmen making themselves comfortable. Joe and Oliver could have roughed it out with the crowd of crewmen, but Shane couldn't stay there.
Shane asked them to stay at the boarding house and she would seek shelter at a church they had passed on their way to the boarding house. Joe and Oliver wouldn't hear of it. They were desperate, but they would stick together.
"You're family now, Shane. We won't leave you, so don't even think about it." Joe said firmly, putting an end to the discussion.
When they arrived at the church, the priest came quickly to welcome them. "Father Patric, at your service."
When they heard the familiar accent, all three of them smiled, as if they had just met a long lost relative. Joe introduced everyone and Father Patric was equally pleased to hear his beloved accent from his compatriots.
He was aware of the tragedy that had befallen the Titanic. He was surprised there hadn't been more people seeking shelter in his church. He welcomed the three of them to stay until they could find more suitable accommodations.
The priest's house was behind the church. It was neat and clean, but very small since it was intended for a single occupant. It had one bedroom, which he vacated for Shane, while the three men would sleep in the vestry.
Shane was not happy to have him leave his own bedroom and home for her, but she understood there was no other option.
Father Patric was a jovial man who obviously didn't have many visitors. They talked until very late into the night, sipping tea until they said good night to Shane and the men retired to the vestry to sleep.
The following day, Joe and Oliver were determined to find a job. Their first and only option was the Post Office.
Liam Murphy, the manager of the local branch, who also happened to be an Irish immigrant, decided to hire them on the spot. "I can offer you a position, but it's for only a month. Then after that you will have to find something else. Would you be interested in relocating to Denver, Colorado? The main branch there has been advertising desperately for a department head to manage the Dead letter Office. What do you think?"
Joe and Oliver looked at each other and answered at the same time. "We'll go."
Two days later, they attended the mass at church.
The small church was packed to the rafters. Shane, Oliver and Joe recognised many faces from their ordeal together. Obviously people were grateful for their second chance at life.
Just before the service started, Joe grabbed Oliver's hand and pointed with his chin to the other side of the aisle. Joe's face was as pale as death.
Oliver looked to where Joe was pointing, at first not understanding or recognising anyone. Then his own face paled as he saw a small family. A man was lovingly guiding his pregnant wife, holding her by the small of her back.
She was carrying a baby. The baby was around one year old and was fussing, wriggling in her arms
"Holly!"