Chapter 21
Tommy
Somewhere in the Atlantic
April 14, 1912
Callen had snored louder that night than Tommy could have imagined from someone his age. He only got sick once and Tommy had thoughtfully had the waste bin nearby to catch it all. He just felt sorry for whatever steward would be cleaning it up later.
Tommy was clear headed when the morning sun peeked through the curtains of his small room. He hadn't been as drunk last night as the night before, but he remembered that he had let his temper get the best of him when Nellie had asked about Dublin. But considering all that she'd been through with the death of her husband, he knew she was a tough lass and wouldn't hold it against him.
"Callen," Tommy said, shaking the boy's shoulder. His roommate had never shown up last night, but Tommy had given Callen the bed and he had spent the night on the floor. "C'mon, boy-o, up ye get. Yer stepma wants you at service this morning."
Callen merely groaned, pulling the covers over his head.
"Ah, no you don't!" Tommy said, pulling the covers back and forcing him to sit up. "I'll not let your stepma blame me for being late to service when you're the one who had too much fun last night."
Callen groaned again, but at last Tommy was able to coax him out of bed. They even managed to meet Nellie in Scotland Yard a full fifteen minutes before the service began. She was wearing a dark day dress with a matching hat clumsily pinned to her head. He was pleased to see her blush when she saw him, almost as if her dark eyes were trying to imagine what was underneath his clothes. Callen remained oblivious to this interaction, continuing to look miserable and wincing at the loude banter of the stewardesses down the hallway.
"Good morning," Tommy said, tipping his hat to her. Isla was perched on her hip, cooing happily and reaching out to him. He happily obliged by letting the wee lass play with his finger.
"How's Callen this morning?" she asked, trying to tame her stepson's unruly hair as he came closer.
"It'll be a few more hours until he's in better spirits again," Tommy said, lightly nudging the boy. "Some strong coffee might help."
"Well, we'll have to wait until after the service," Nellie said. "Here, I brought your jacket and cap." She turned to Tommy who still had his finger clutched in Isla's grasp. "Will you join us?"
Tommy looked down at his modest button down shirt and trousers. "I'm not sure. I'm afraid everyone will know I'm from steerage."
Nellie smirked. "I think they're more likely to throw you out for being Catholic rather than being from third class."
Tommy let these words sink in before roaring with laughter. "You're right. Very well, I'll join you."
Callen sat in between them during the service, much to Tommy's annoyance. As he watched Nellie bounce Isla on her lap from the corner of his eye, sneaking more glances when they bowed their heads to pray, he was reminded of Jack and that girl from first class. It was only a few more days until they would dock in New York and it was dawning on him what little time left they would have together. As soon as the service concluded, he pulled her to the side.
"Why don't you send Callen back to lie down?" he said, nodding to the boy's miserable state. "We can take a walk before luncheon."
Nellie looked doubtful. "I'm not sure… is he supposed to look that green? I should probably look after him."
"He'll be better if he lies down and gets some sleep," Tommy said. "And bring Isla along. It's a nice day and I'm sure she could use the fresh air."
Nellie smiled at this. Tommy truly didn't mind; he enjoyed children. They were a reminder that there were still good things in this world.
It wasn't long before they were wandering the poop deck with what seemed like the rest of the steerage passengers, everyone wanting to enjoy the fine day. Nellie had brought the pram with her, but Tommy had insisted on holding Isla, laughing as she cooed and kept reaching for his hat.
"Thank you again for caring for Callen last night," Nellie said as they sat on one of the benches on the open deck. "He should have been able to stay with my brother last night." She shook her head upon saying this. "I'm afraid he may get into trouble with my future sister-in-law when we return to Dumfries."
"Why not stay in New York?" Tommy asked, unable to help himself. "With your husband's death and Callen not having any close relatives, it would be a chance for you all to start over."
Nellie pondered this for a moment. "But my husband's hotel is in Dumfries, as well as my siblings. Is it right for me to just abandon it all?"
Tommy shrugged, bouncing Isla on his knee. "You don't strike me as someone who's interested in the hotel business. You seem happiest when you're playing music."
Nellie smiled, but somehow it was full of sorrow, as if she was remembering something from long ago. "I am happiest when playing, but Jock's the real musician in the family."
"I don't agree with that," Tommy said. "You're just as talented as any of those band members I saw last night."
"You should tell my father that," Nellie said. "I started violin lessons years before Jock, but my father expected me to care for my siblings when my mother fell ill. He said it was my responsibility as the oldest child."
"How long was your mother ill?" he asked. He remembered Nellie saying something about a stepmother back at home.
"Many years," she replied. "I think that was the most difficult time of my life. I can't explain what it was like watching my mother whither away while my father acted as if she was already dead."
She stopped talking and took Isla from him, holding her close and kissing her cheek. "My father seems to be the cause of everyone's problems in my family. The only thing that truly matters to him is his pride."
"Will you really go back to them?" Tommy asked, studying her intently.
Nellie bit her lip. "I don't want to. I have my husband's hotel, thank God. I know my father would love nothing more than for me to move back in with the family so I can care for my siblings again."
Tommy scowled. "You need to stay away from him."
"I just wish I had more experience running Callen's hotel," she said, referring to her late husband. "The only reason I'm here on the Titanic is because my husband hired a decent manager who can hold things down while I'm away. But he doesn't like me. In fact, the entire staff has shown me nothing but contempt since my husband's death."
Tommy raised an eyebrow. "Now I'm really beginning to wonder why you'd choose to stay there."
"It's complicated," Nellie said "I used to work at the glove mill but the conditions kept getting worse and the pay stayed the same. There was an opening at the hotel for a receptionist which I took. Less than a year later I was married to the owner." She shrugged. "The staff thought it below my husband to marry the receptionist straight from the glove mill. They're all convinced we lived in sin and he was forced to marry me, which is not true."
She laughed to herself, startling him. "In fact, it was more about escaping and gaining independence from my family than wealth!" She paused at this, before turning to him and saying, "And what about you? Listen to me, going on and on about myself. Where's your family? Do they live in Dublin or Belfast?"
"Neither," he replied. My only family is my cousin in Boston. My parents both died when I was young and my brother was killed–"
He stopped abruptly, fidgeting with his pocket watch. How was this girl making him open up? It was like she had found the key he had hidden away and forgotten about. Nellie was observing him, but merely pursed her lips together and nodded, not pushing the subject. She stood and placed Isla in her pram. "Let's go up to the second class decks," she said, motioning around them. "It's getting a bit crowded up here."
Tommy agreed, not wanting Jack or Fabrizio to see him with Nellie and be forced to hear their teasing. He helped her carry the pram down to B-Deck where they relished in the shade of the promenade decks. They continued to chat about Nellie's decision to marry her husband and her return to Dumfries after Titanic. Although Nellie never admitted it, Tommy could understand why Callen had taken time to warm up to her. He didn't doubt that Nellie cared for her late husband and missed him greatly, but it was evident that their marriage had been a way for her to escape her family.
The more that Tommy heard about Nellie's life, the more invested he became. They had far more in common than he could have ever guessed as a Scot and an Irishman. He made her laugh several times and she did the same. He was entranced by the way the wind blew her dark hair about and tried to push away seductive thoughts when the wind blew up her skirts around her legs.
When they reached the steps leading up to A-Deck, Nellie suddenly paled.
"Quickly!" she hissed, nearly hitting him with the pram as she turned around. "Inside!"
They ducked into one of the hallways connected to The Grand Staircase. Nellie quickly shut the door behind them before peeking out a nearby window.
"We won't get in trouble if you vouch for me," Tommy said, peeking out the glass with her.
"Shh," Nellie said, waving a hand to quiet him. "It's not that. It's Cal Hockley and Rose."
Sure enough, the man Tommy had encountered yesterday and Jack's girl walked by the window, on a tour of the ship with several others from first class. He wondered about Jack and if there was a real chance of him getting to know this red headed girl any better. As soon as the group passed by, Tommy and Nellie burst into giggles which startled Isla, making her cry, which only made them laugh harder. Nellie picked up the baby to comfort her, smiling at Tommy through her dark eyelashes.
"Well, I better go check on Callen and make sure he's looking less green," she said. "Isla's probably been outside too long anyway. I should go inside to warm her up."
Tommy nodded but felt his heart sink. It was this moment he had been dreading, as he had no more excuses to see her for the rest of the voyage. He did his best to think of one, but Nellie was already placing the baby back into the pram and heading towards the elevator to her rooms.
"Thank you again for all you've done for Callen and me," she said over her shoulder. "I hope you have a good rest of your journey. And good luck when you get to Boston!"
All she gave was another gentle smile before hurrying away. It was a strange goodbye, almost as if she had wanted to avoid it altogether. In fact, she was so hurried to walk away that she didn't even glance back at him before she was gone. She had left him inside the second class section of the ship without an escort, making him nervous.
He ducked back outside, nearly running back to steerage. He didn't dare breathe a sigh of relief until he was back at the poop deck. He shielded his eyes from the midmorning sun as he looked back at B-Deck.
What he would give to see those brown eyes again.
