Ice & Iron (Titanic)

Chapter 9

After the lunch with Joe, I was mentally exhausted from all the questions he asked, it felt like an interrogation. I went back to the room and had a nap for an hour. Once I woke up, feeling refreshed, I went for a swim in the First Class pool. The pool was located opposite the Turkish baths. There were only a few other people in the pool, so it wasn't too crowded. I quickly slipped in, the warm water was welcoming and just what I needed. As I was leaning against the wall of the pool, a couple other passengers and I had an easy conversation about the voyage so far.

Once I had spent a bit of time relaxing in the pool, I reluctantly climbed out of the warm water and walked back to our suite to shower and meet with the three second class girls again.

"Stacey, where are you off to?" Mother asked when she saw I was in a slight hurry. I had spent a bit too much time relaxing.

"To the stern," I replied. "I'm meeting three other girls I met yesterday."

"You met other people?" she asked. "I'm really glad you are getting to know others."

"Thanks Mother," I said. "I need to run. They are probably wondering where I am."

Hurrying out of the suite, I quickly made it onto the deck where I walked as fast as I could to the stern of the ship. Luckily Annie, Hazel and Ellen were there.

"You made it!" Ellen said when I arrived.

"Sorry I'm late," I puffed. "I lost track of time."

"All good," said Hazel. "We were just sitting out here. How has your day been so far?"
"Good," I replied. "My stepfather has the night off tonight so we are having a family dinner for the first time in a couple weeks."

"Why's that?" asked Annie.
"At the end of March, he left to go to Belfast to board Titanic for her sea trials and the trip from Ireland to England," I explained. "Then he stayed on the ship until we left the port."
"That's good that you're finally having another family dinner together," said Annie. "I couldn't imagine what it was be like to be separated from my father for so long."

"This is the first time the three of us have seen each other today as well," Ellen said. "I was with my family for family things."

"Your cabin is right next to mine," said Hazel. "We should have seen each other already today, but we didn't."

"What's your cabin like?" Annie asked me.

"In First Class?" I replied. "Mother and I are in a parlour suite, which there are only four of, my stepfather managed to get us that suite. But it is huge! Usually Mother and I would have travelled Second Class, but this is a once in a lifetime voyage so we went all out. When we return home from New York back to Southampton, we will be travelling Second Class."

"I was a bit confused yesterday," Hazel said. "You look like a second class passenger, but you're staying in first. But now we understand."

"What are your plans after we arrive in New York?" I asked.

"My family is going back on the return voyage on the twentieth," Ellen said. "I have to get back to school."

"Same with me," Annie added.

"I'm staying in New York for a while," said Hazel. "My family might be moving to New York, so we are going to look around and see what life is like."

"What about you Stacey?" asked Annie.

"We are staying in the city as well," I explained. "It's going to be our family holiday. Then we'll either go back on Titanic or Olympic. I'm hoping for Olympic, I want to see what to two ships are like."