Escape

Most of the crowd was so absorbed in staring at the bright, colorful lights overhead, they likely didn’t even notice their host and his bride-to-be had been transported to another time. It wasn’t until Meg and Jonathan began to guide Charlie back toward the house that some of them seemed to see something was the matter as the trio had to pass through many of the guests in order to get inside. As she approached the door, her arm around Charlie’s midsection as Jonathan held him from behind, Meg realized she’d collected Kelly and Daniel who looked just as frightened as Meg felt.
Once inside, Meg kept right on walking, headed toward the parlor where she thought guests might leave them be and the firecrackers might not be so loud, though the popping sound followed them through the house, and each time another burst, all of them jumped to some degree or another.
Meg led Charlie over to the sofa and forced him to sit as he began to stammer out some sort of an apology that made little sense. “I’ll get him some water,” Jonathan said as he let go and headed for the door. Another explosion caused him to noticeably jump before he reached the exit.
“I don’t understand,” Kelly was saying as she paced back and forth behind the sofa where Meg was trying to reassure Charlie he was safe. “We know that they are only firecrackers, yet every time one explodes, I feel like my insides are about to come out my ears.”
“I don’t understand it either,” Meg admitted. “But I knew it would happen. It isn’t even because of the flare, I don’t believe. Any loud noise at all has this effect on me.”
“Me, too,” Daniel admitted. Meg glanced over at the foreman and saw his face even paler than usual, his strawberry blond hair looking as if he’d pulled half of it out on his way to the parlor.
Jonathan returned and handed Meg a glass of water, which she lifted to Charlie’s mouth. “Here, take a drink. It will help.”
He complied, taking the glass out of her hand, though his own hand was shaking so violently little droplets spilled on the front of his suit. A few moments later, there was a barrage of popping noises and then a loud applause, and they collectively let out a sigh of relief that the display seemed to be over.
“I specifically asked them not to do this,” Meg said through clenched teeth.
“As did I,” Charlie finally managed. “I apologize,” he said, looking at Meg. “I’m not sure… as you said, any loud noise….”
“You have no reason to apologize,” Meg replied, not even allowing him to elaborate. “We all knew you’d react that way. We all wanted to run. Perhaps it’s just the sudden, unexpected blare.”
He was nodding his head slowly. “The ship… made all sorts of cracking and popping noises before….”
“We could hear it,” Jonathan assured him. “Luckily for us, we didn’t happen to be standing on it while it was happening.”
Charlie had been. Meg felt rage welling up inside of her. She wanted to go scream at Grace for her insensitivity. She wondered if Mrs. Ashton had had any idea that the fireworks show was about to happen.
When Charlie’s mother burst into the parlor only a moment after Meg thought to go chase her down, it was clear she hadn’t known. “Charlie? Are you all right?” Pamela asked as she hurried to his side. “I’m so sorry… I had no idea.”
“Mother,” Charlie said, looking at her through glassy eyes, “I’m fine. Whose idea was that precisely?”
“I’m not certain,” she said with a shift in her eyes that made Meg think she at least suspected Grace. “I will find out though. Your sister feels just terrible. She didn’t realize….”
“She should have.” Kelly spoke as if she’d told her herself, which Meg knew she hadn’t.
“I don’t know that anyone ever mentioned it to her. I thought I knew everything that was to happen this evening, and I would’ve told her not to do it if I had known she planned to, but she wanted it to be a surprise for me as well.”
“It was certainly a surprise,” Jonathan muttered from his position across the room.
“I know she feels just awful. She’s fled to the library in a fit of tears. Once she calms herself, I’m sure she’d like to see you.”
“Yes, of course,” Charlie replied. “I’ll be fine in a moment. I just need to catch my breath and rest a bit.”
Mr. Ashton entered the room then. “Is everything all right?” He had a lost look about him, as if he had no idea what was going on, and Meg couldn’t help but find it a bit amusing, though she fought back a giggle. Poor Mr. Ashton. Everyone spending his money and he didn’t even know what he was purchasing.
“We shall be in a moment,” Charlie assured his father.
“Shall I go back out and let the guests know… something?” Mr. Ashton stammered.
“I’ll go,” Pamela replied, patting her son on the knee. “You’re sure you’re all right, Charlie?”
He nodded and took another sip of the water he was still clutching so tightly Meg worried for the glass.
“I’ll go with you,” Jonathan said, giving Meg a knowing glance as if to say he’d handle everything with the guests and she needn’t worry about Charlie’s reputation. At the moment, it was the last thing on Meg’s mind. Yet, she knew it wouldn’t do for everyone to assume something was permanently wrong with Charlie. She didn’t know what sort of story Jonathan might make up, but she was certain it would get the job done.
Kelly finally stopped pacing and dropped into a chair near the sofa, a sigh of exhaustion escaping her lips. “I’ll leave the pair of you in peace in a moment,” she began, glancing at Daniel, “but I need a moment myself.”
“Take your time,” Meg assured her. She had her hand against Charlie’s chest, and she could feel his heartbeat starting to slow back to normal.
“I believe I shall return to our guests then,” Mr. Ashton said. “Charlie, if you need anything, let me know.”
“Yes, Father,” Charlie said, giving his father a look of gratefulness before returning his stare to the glass of water.
Daniel must have realized his wife wasn’t leaving anytime soon, so he found a seat, as well, in a chair across from hers. He absently rubbed at the cast on his left arm. Meg thought it must be a constant reminder of Titanic, and she was thankful she didn’t have that sort of badge to wear around every moment of the day.
“It’s been a lot more difficult than I’ve been willing to admit,” Kelly said, and Meg glanced over at her friend to see she, too, was staring off into the distance, like she couldn’t see the room around her. She was quiet then, and Meg looked from her face to her husband’s. Daniel’s expression showed that he agreed, though he would never voice his own struggles. Eventually, Kelly took a deep breath and looked at Meg. “It will get easier, won’t it?”
Before Meg could formulate a response, Charlie said, “It must. It simply has to.” His voice sounded more haunted than Meg could remember ever having heard it, and she scooted even closer to him, wrapping her arms around him. He didn’t move, didn’t even shift the glass of water in his hand, as if she wasn’t even there.
“We should give you a moment.” Daniel rose from his chair, approaching his wife, who looked a bit more collected. Kelly glanced in Meg’s direction but she didn’t say anything, only took her husband’s good arm and went out of the room.
Meg wasn’t sure what to do or say, she simply held Charlie, hoping she could find a way to bring him back to her. She knew he must be hearing the voices now louder than ever, and his countenance reminded her of all the times he’d forgotten who she was, though she was certain he recognized her, even if he wasn’t sure where he was.
“I’m sorry, Meg,” he finally said, with a loud sigh. As if a spell had been broken, he set the glass down on the end table and relaxed in her arms.
“Don’t be,” she insisted as his arm came around her waist and he pulled her into his chest. “I wish I’d known what she was planning. I should’ve said something.”
“It isn’t your fault. Hell, it isn’t even Grace’s fault. It just… is.”
“Well, we will have to make certain it doesn’t happen again.”
“How can we do that, exactly?” he asked, his face in her hair. “How can we ensure there are no loud, sudden noises for the rest of our lives? The factory is full of them. Daniel and Jonathan have been back to work for days now, and they aren’t complaining.”
“Both of them were just as frightened as you were.”
He laughed. “No one was as frightened as I was. Thank goodness the ring was already on your finger or it might have ended up in the pond.”
She couldn’t help but laugh with him. “I thought for a moment you might accidentally throw me in,” she admitted.
“Accidentally?” he teased, nestling her ear with his nose.
She tipped her face to look at him. “On purpose then?”
His face went a bit more serious. “No, I wouldn’t toss you in the cold water. It’s not at all inviting.”
She kissed his temple. “I know you wouldn’t.”
“Sometimes… I feel like I’m still sinking in cold water, Meg.”
She brushed his hair back off of his forehead. “I know. But you’re not. You’re safe.”
“And if I am?”
“Then I’ll jump right over with you, Charlie. We are in this together now, through thick or thin, for better or worse.” She glanced at the ring on her finger and wiggled her fingers in his face so that he could be reminded as well.
“I’m afraid you’ll give up on me, Meg. That I’ll become too much work.”
“That won’t happen, Charlie. I’m not exactly the easiest person to live with either, you know. I may have a few issues of my own.”
“You’re an angel.”
“Are you on some sort of medication again?”
He laughed. “No. I might need to be, though, especially once I get back on another ship.”
“So long as you don’t forget me this time,” Meg replied. The sounds of partygoers echoed down the hallway, and Meg thought the proper thing to do would be to go back out and check on their guests. She leaned her head against Charlie’s shoulder instead.
“I’ll have to go back out there,” he reminded her. “Just like we have to go back across the sea. I have to face my fears and walk into that crowd and pretend like I didn’t just react like a small child and run away from a loud noise.”
“No one was watching us by then,” Meg assured him. “I’m sure they realize we are missing now, but they likely think we are up to no good.”
“Well, if that’s the case, then let’s not disappoint them.” He raised her face so that she was looking at him and slowly kissed her. “I love you, Meg. I’m so glad you’ve agreed to be my wife.”
“I love you, too. I’m so glad you asked. Again.”
He kissed her once more, and the party, the family, the fireworks, even Titanic faded to the background; they could stay there forever as far as Meg was concerned.