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“How are you?” Kelly asked, ushering them in.
Before Meg had a chance to answer, Ruth, who had been playing on the floor nearby, crashed into her knees, nearly knocking her backward. “Aunt Meg!” the little girl shouted, her red curls bobbing about. “You’ve come to visit at last!”
“Hello, Ruthie,” Meg said, scooping the child into her arms. “It’s so nice to see you.” She squeezed her as tightly as she dared. “How have you been?”
“Good,” Ruth answered, but soon she was wiggling away, her arms outstretched, shouting, “Uncle Charlie!” and Charlie took her out of Meg’s arms, laughing at her excitement.
“If it isn’t my little friend, Ruth. Have you seen any dolphins out your apartment window?” he asked, teasing her.
“No, silly,” Ruth said, wrapping her chubby arms around his neck. “There’s no water out there.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Meg noticed Charlie’s face brightened almost immediately upon seeing his favorite little girl, and she absently wondered what had taken them so long to stop by. He set the little girl down, but she stayed right there, eyeing the stack of presents in Bix’s arms.
“Lizzie’s sleeping,” Kelly said, gesturing for them to come into the living room, “but she should be up soon.”
“This bear is for her,” Meg said, handing over the stuffed animal which looked a bit less fluffy now that Ruth had been in Meg’s arms as she tried to hold onto him.
“Isn’t that cute,” Kelly said as she took the bear from her. “She’ll love it. Thank you. Please do have a seat.”
“What’s for me? What’s for me?” Ruth bounced up and down, and Meg couldn’t help but chuckle at her antics.
“What makes you think we brought you anything?” Charlie asked.
“Because I’m your favorite girl,” Ruth reminded him, making them all laugh.
Charlie had no argument for that, so he took the gifts from Bix, who promptly excused himself back to the waiting motor coach, and as Meg sat down on what appeared to be a brand new sofa, Charlie set the stack of presents down on the floor in front of Ruth. “All right, Ruthie. Here you are.”
She opened the large one first and marveled at the doll. “Now Dolly New Eyes shall have a sister!” she proclaimed. Each of the outfits also made her giddy with excitement until Meg thought the little girl might burst. She ran over to Charlie and flung herself at him, hugging him tightly and thanking him over and over again, proclaiming him the, “Best uncle in the whole world.”
“All right, Ruthie. Take your toys and go to your room so that grownups can talk,” Kelly instructed. “And be careful not to wake your sister.”
“Does she have her own room?” Meg asked as Charlie sat down next to her on the sofa.
Kelly collected the last scraps of wrapping paper and walked toward the kitchen. “She does for now. Lizzie’s crib is in our room, but we’ll move them together when she’s a little older.”
“Your home is so lovely,” Meg said, glancing around.
“Thank you,” Kelly replied, sitting in a chair near the sofa. “Thanks to Charlie.”
He waved her away. “Nonsense. Daniel is doing remarkably well. All of the workers at the factory say he’s just splendid, the best foreman they’ve ever had.”
“He’s working very hard,” Kelly nodded. “He wants to do good work for you. After all you’ve done for us….” Her voice trailed off as if she might get emotional if she wasn’t careful.
“My father is a firm believer that, if you treat workers well, they’re more loyal and will do their best work. I agree.” He said it as if it was obvious to everyone, and yet Meg knew her uncle didn’t have the same philosophy, nor did many other factory owners. Perhaps that’s why Westmoreland Textiles continued to lose business every year.
“We absolutely love it here,” Kelly continued. “I thought we’d be living with my cousin in a little flat across town for a year or so. This is not at all what I had in mind, but it is so much better.”
“Perhaps your cousin needs to find a new place of employment,” Charlie pointed out, hinting that he might be willing to offer her cousin a job.
“I’m sure he’d appreciate an opportunity. He’s a hard worker, too.”
“He’d have to be if he’s your cousin, I suppose,” Charlie said, making Kelly blush.
“The Irish don’t get enough credit for the work we do.”
Meg agreed. She knew there was still a lot of racial tension and hatred against Kelly’s people here, something she didn’t quite understand. She cleared her voice, hoping to change the subject but not wanting to ruin the chipper mood, either. “Have you heard from your mother?”
“Yes,” Kelly nodded, folding her arms across her lap. “I let her know we were all safe, my family that is, and that she shouldn’t worry about you.”
“But she knows we are together, doesn’t she?” Meg asked.
“I never told her for certain before we left what our plan was, but I’m sure she does.”
“And she sent a telegraph back?” Charlie clarified.
“She did. It was short. She only said she was so thankful to hear we were safe. I don’t think she knew for certain what ship we were on, but I’m sure she assumed the worst when she heard about Titanic.”
Meg nodded. It would be just like Patsy to think the worst, though in this case she was right to worry.
Kelly continued. “I’ve sent her some money, but I don’t know that it’s gotten there yet. I’d like for her to be able to stay home now that she’s getting up in years.”
“Of course,” Charlie said quickly. “I’m happy to send her whatever she needs.”
“Oh, no!” Kelly objected. “I didn’t mean… Daniel’s salary is more than enough for us to afford to send some money back home.”
“Nevertheless, if your mother needs anything…”
“You’re too kind, Mr. Ashton,” Kelly said, her face reddening.
“Mr. Ashton?” he repeated, looking at her like she’d lost her marbles. “Kelly, you’re practically family now. Please. If your mother needs anything, I’m happy to help. If she wants to come here, I’m glad to do that as well. Of course, I can’t recommend White Star Line.”
They all chuckled at the joke, but it still stung a bit as well, and Meg remembered her father used to say, “Sometimes you have to laugh so you don’t cry.”
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