Over Now

The next few days passed by quickly despite the fact that no one in their party wanted to venture up to the deck for more than a few moments at a time and they took all of their meals in either Carrie or Jonathan’s room. Robert was a steerage passenger, since he was there thanks to the kindness of a stranger. Carrie meant it when she said she never wanted to let him out of her sight again, so evenings were difficult.
One blessing for Carrie was that her stateroom did not have a balcony. While she constantly heard the sound of the water outside and felt the rocking of the ship, when she was in her room chatting with Robert, she could forget where she was for a time.
The further away from Europe they traveled, the safer she felt. War hadn’t reached the United States yet, though she imagined the Lusitania disaster would probably have an impact on that, so when they were within one day of reaching New York harbor, she began to breathe a little easier.
The evening before they disembarked, she was sitting alone in her room with Robert, holding his hand and thanking God that he was all right. Despite his ordeal in the water, he didn’t have any injuries that wouldn’t heal with time. He’d gone over how he’d been about to slip back beneath the surface after hours of hanging onto an upturned lifeboat for dear life when a fishing vessel approached and pulled him and three other men from the water. After that, everything was a blur for several days until he awoke in a hospital and had to be reminded of what he’d endured.
“What will happen when we get to New York?” Carrie asked him. “Victor is dead, not that you would be going back to work for him anyway. Will you be able to gather your belongings?”
“I’m well acquainted with the staff of Mr. Anderson’s home,” he said with a nod. “It shouldn’t be a problem.”
“I’m sure that Mr. Ashton will be waiting at the dock for us. Jonathan can introduce you to him there. Perhaps you can arrange a meeting to discuss your blueprints.”
Robert let out a sigh. “Thankfully, I have other drawings in my room back home. Otherwise, I’d have to start from scratch. I’ll need to update them. Mr. Ashton will be so overjoyed to see the pair of you, I doubt he’ll want to spend much time speaking to me.”
“You’d be surprised. He’s a kindhearted soul who also won’t want to miss out on a possible business venture.” Carrie gave him a reassuring smile.
“More importantly,” Robert said, taking a deep breath, “I think we should discuss our situation.”
Carrie swallowed hard, afraid he might say that things had changed between them. He had nearly died, after all, and while he’d been nothing but affectionate toward her, her pessimistic thoughts voiced their opinion that she shouldn’t count her chickens prematurely. “Wh-what do we need to discuss?”
“Well, while I was lying in that hospital bed hoping you were alive but not knowing for certain, I thought a lot about what I want out of this second chance at life I’ve been given. It could have very easily been me lying on the dock amidst those corpses and not Victor.”
Carrie nodded in understanding. “I’m so thankful all of us survived.”
“Me, too. And Carrie, the only thing I could think about while I was recovering was seeing your smile again. One day in the hospital, I broke off the handle of my spoon.”
Her eyebrows knit together. “Why would you do that?”
Without responding, he reached into the pocket of his second-hand jacket and pulled out a crudely shaped ring. “Well, because I don’t have access to any of the money I’ve saved at the moment, but I told myself, as soon as I found you, I wanted to make this official–if you’ll have me. But then, when I saw you, I was so overwhelmed. And then… the opportunity seemed to slip away. I’ve been thinking about it for the entire voyage but haven’t had the courage to ask you. Until now.”
With that, Robert stood and dropped to one knee. Tears sprang to Carrie’s eyes as he reached for her left hand. “Carrie Boxhall, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Sobbing, Carrie couldn’t do much more than nod. Eventually, she managed to choke out, “Yes! Yes, I will marry you, Robert Crawford.”
He smiled as he brushed away his tears and pressed his lips to hers. “No matter where this life takes you, I want to be right by your side.”
She laughed and pulled him into a tight hug. “I think my wanderlust has been sated, and I may never leave New York again, but I’ll be perfectly content to spend the rest of my days right there in the city I love with the man I love.
They kissed again to seal the promise, and Carrie finally thought she could leave the terror of the disaster at sea behind her.

The next day, Robert carried her bag as they disembarked. Stepping onto the dock in New York harbor felt like coming home after years of wandering around lost in a foreign land. Mr. Ashton and Edward were there to greet them. When Jonathan embraced his partner unabashedly, Carrie smiled with pride. No one seemed to notice, but even if they did, she’d dare them to say something.
“Carrie! Thank the Lord above. I’m so happy to see you!” Mr. Ashton squeezed her so tightly she thought she might burst. “We’re so grateful you’re home safe and sound.”
“I'm very happy to see you as well, Mr. Ashton. How is Mrs. Ashton?” she asked as soon as she could breathe again.
“She’s doing quite well, thank you. Meg is at home with Henry and our baby girl, Johanna, named after my father and our friend Jonathan here.” Pride was evident in every word Charlie spoke, his chest puffed out as he tugged at his lapels.
“A baby girl!” Carrie gushed. “How wonderful.”
“Yes, we are pleased as punch. And who might this be? Don’t tell me–Robert?” Charlie extended a hand to the man who’d been standing quietly behind Carrie.
“Yes, pardon my manners,” Jonathan said, blushing a bit from his interaction with Edward and knowing that his friends had named their daughter after him. “This is Robert. We found him aboard the St. Louis.”
“Remarkable!” Charlie pounded Robert on the back. “Jonathan had sent me a telegram to let me know they were choosing to delay their return in looking for you. We’ve been praying you’d turn up. I’m so sorry about Mr. Anderson.”
Carrie bit back a negative comment. No reason to speak ill of the dead. “Finding Robert was certainly an answered prayer,” she said instead. Extending her hand, she said, “And we’ll be getting married soon.”
Charlie’s eyes bulged. “Wonderful news! Meg will be thrilled for you, Carrie, though she’ll hate losing your service. Never mind now. Let’s get you back to the house to rest and see the baby.”
“I believe I should head to Mr. Anderson’s house to gather my belongings. Perhaps I could come by later?” Robert said.
“Anytime, anytime!” Charlie clapped him on the back again. “Let me get you a car.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary,” Robert said, but Carrie interrupted.
“Actually, it is, dear. You lost all of your money on Lusitania, remember?” She smiled prettily at him.
“It’s no trouble,” Charlie insisted before Robert could try another way to get out of accepting Charlie’s offer. Mr. Ashton signaled to one of the dock workers who jumped to have the chance to assist the millionaire who was known to tip so well.
Robert walked with them to the car, and even though Carrie knew she’d see him again soon, tears filled her eyes. “I’ll be by directly,” he told her.
“I know. Be careful, though. Don’t get run over or find yourself at the mercy of a distracted driver.”
He chuckled. “I’ll be just fine.” He kissed her cheek, and Carrie wanted more, but polite society dictated she accept the small token of affection.
With Robert on his way to take the car Charlie arranged for, she slipped in the backseat with Edward and Jonathan, leaving the front for Mr. Ashton, and his driver, Bix, headed home.
The streets of New York went by in a blur. Carrie watched the tall buildings and thanked God that she was home. She marveled at architectural features she’d never noticed before and wondered if she and Robert might make their home in one of the mansions they passed someday.
When they reached the Ashton home, they piled out. She took her bag from Jonathan and fished out the package she needed to give to Mrs. Ashton. While it had been tempting to open it on the boat, she hadn’t done so since its contents were none of her business. Still, she was curious to see what Mildred Westmoreland had found so important. What was it she’d risked her life to retrieve?
In the house, she found Mrs. Ashton holding her bundle of joy in her arms in the parlor by a large window. Henry, Ruth, and Lizzie played nearby under the watchful eye of Mrs. Pendleton while their parents chatted on the sofa.
As soon as Mrs. Ashton saw Carrie and Jonathan, she rushed over, despite the baby and the fact that she’d only given birth a few days earlier. “Thank goodness!” she exclaimed as she wrapped an arm around Carrie. “We were so worried.”
“I’m fine, just fine,” Carrie assured her, even though she still wasn’t sure that was true. “Let me see this beautiful girl.”
Johanna’s eyes were a beautiful blue, like her fathers, and the soft downy hair on the top of her head was the same golden blonde as her mother’s. She looked like a little angel, and seeing her almost made Carrie cry.
“Would you like to hold her?” Mrs. Ashton offered.
Carrie nodded and took the bundle in her arms. Johanna cooed and stuffed her little fist in her mouth. A silent prayer went up in that moment that someday Carrie would have a little girl who was the perfect blend of her and Robert.
“They found Robert,” Mr. Ashton exclaimed. “He’ll be over to visit soon.”
“Wonderful!” Mrs. Ashton patted her arm. “I’m so glad to hear it.”
“And what is that on your hand?” Kelly asked.
Remembering her ring, Carrie felt her cheeks flush. “Oh, we’re getting married!”
Both of the other women let out a gasp of shock and joy. “Congratulations!” Mrs. Ashton hugged her again.
They took a few moments to get situated, and then, while Jonathan held his namesake, Carrie handed Mrs. Ashton the package.
She didn’t open it right away. Instead, she placed it on her lap and pressed a palm to it, her eyes closed, as if she were saying a prayer. Carrie assumed she was simply composing herself.
When she finally opened it, she did so slowly, meticulously. The anticipation was killing Carrie as she wondered if it was all about to be worth it.
The first item she removed was a pocket watch. Instantly, tears filled Mrs. Ashton’s eyes. Her husband sat next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as she examined it. “I remember this,” she said through her tears. “He’d check the time and say, ‘Oh, yes! It’s time for my hug!’ and I’d run over and throw my arms around him.” She took a quiet moment before she added, “I’d forgotten.”
No one said anything, only gave her time to process.
Next, Meg pulled out a framed picture. It was her and her father. Carrie would recognize that smile anywhere, and even though it was in black and white, she could tell the ringlets framing the girl’s face were the same golden silk piled atop her head now. Mr. Westmoreland beamed at the camera, his arm wrapped around his little girl who had to have been about four. Meg sat on a chair in a fancy frock, smiling with glee and a hint of mischief.
“I see where Henry gets his smile now,” Charlie joked. That got a chuckle out of everyone, even Meg whose tears continued to fall.
The last item she pulled from the envelope was a letter. She took a deep breath and scooted back on the couch slightly before opening it. The envelope was addressed to her.
Meg didn’t read it aloud, but by the time she finished, she was openly weeping. Charlie handed her a handkerchief, and she dabbed her eyes, careful not to wet the paper.
“He… he said he loved me more than anything, that he was so proud of me, and he hoped I grew up to be the same sort of woman I was as a little girl–full of wonder and spirit. It’s clear from the letter that he knew he was dying. I’m so thankful he managed to write his thoughts to me before… before….” She couldn't finish the sentence before she burst into tears and Mr. Ashton wrapped her up in a tight hug, but it wasn’t necessary. Everyone knew how tragic the passing of Henry Westmoreland had been.
After taking a few moments to compose herself, Meg reached over to take Carrie’s hand. “Thank you so much for all the trouble you went to.” She looked at Jonathan. “Both of you. If I had known the danger you would’ve been in, I never would’ve asked you to go.”
“I know that,” Carrie assured her. “But if this helps you to gain some closure about your father’s untimely departure, then believe me, it was all worth it. Besides, if we hadn’t gone, I might never have become reacquainted with Robert.”
Meg pulled Carrie into a tight embrace. “Thank you for being such a wonderful friend to me all these years. To repay your kindness, Charlie and I would love to give you and Robert a splendid wedding. Whatever you’ve dreamed of, it shall be.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Carrie exclaimed, hugging Meg even tighter. “It’s been such a blessing to work for you. I knew the moment I met you, as frightened and out of place as you were that night after your voyage on Carpathia that you were a special lady, Mrs. Ashton. Over the years, you’ve proved it time and again.” She looked into Mrs. Ashton’s eyes. “Thank you–for everything.”
With a kind smile, she replied, “Call me Meg.”