The band played cheery ragtime as booming rockets continued to be fired overhead. They sizzled into the darkness and exploding, lighting the night and the water around them. As the word of Titanic’s tragedy began to circulate, more people meandered out onto the deck and into the cold night. No one hurried to fill the boats. The ships officers called for women and children to come forward. But Katie refused to budge.

“I’m cold, Danny. Can’t we go inside?” Katie pressed her body against his muscular frame and he pulled her close.

“We can’t, Darlin. We have to stay out here, so we can get a boat.” As he spoke, another call for more women and children echoed into the icy night. “Come on,” he urged her forward.

“No.” Katie pushed against him, her hands clenching at his worn grey overcoat. “It was just for women and children. We’ll wait until they call husbands and wives.” Stubborn, she shook her head against the helpless look upon his face. “Don’t look at me like that, Daniel. I’ll not leave you.”

A cold wind blew and Danny pulled her fallen shawl, the one her mother gave her as a going away present, close to her face. “Keep this on around your head, ya hear me? “’Tis cold out here.”

A tear escaped her as she peered up into his face. “Dear God in heaven knows I love you, Daniel Fitzpatrick.

A mournful creak sounded behind them as the deck tilted and green icy water filled the outside stairwell to D deck, crawling up one freshly painted stair after another. Despite the pleas of crew members, people hung about in the warmth of the luxurious French lounge decorated with potted ferns and marbled floors.

Against the norms of polite society, Danny kissed her on the lips, a feeling she never wanted to end. No one could love her like Daniel Fitzpatrick. She’d loved him all her life. It wasn’t fair. A year ago June they were married. Once settled in New York, a bit more money in their pocket, they planned to raise a family.

The cry of “any more ladies” haunted them as Danny pressed his teary eyes closed, then broke their embrace. Katie fought his silent decision with fierce panic. “Don’t do this. Please don’t ask me to leave you. I can’t do it Danny!”

He shook his dark head, causing a strand of black hair to fall across his furrowed brow. “This isn’t the easiest thing to do, my love, but ‘tis the right one. You have to get in a life boat, now.” His determination softened and he took her face in his hands. “They’ll take the men later and I’ll meet you in New York. ‘Tis a promise.”

She shook her head and he held her face in his hands. “Please Katie, for once do as you’re told.” He sighed in frustration then kissed her cold lips hard. “Hear me Katie Fitzpatrick,” he said as he raised her trembling chin with his frozen finger. “I will find you in New York and we’ll be together again.” His voice was even and strong as he stared intently down into her imploring tearful eyes.

“But what if….” She couldn’t finish the thought as she broke down and tears splashed her cheeks.

He embraced her in a fierce hug. “’Tis not going to happen!” he shouted over the boom another exploding rocket. “We will be together again, Katie and together we’ll kiss the feet of the bloody statue of Liberty. Are you listening to me?”

Danny steered Katie through the behaved crowd until they stood before the gleaming white life boats. One older heavy set woman in front of them screamed in panic as one of the officers reached over and attempted to pull her into the boat.

“You have to get in. You have no choice..”

“Don’t put me in that thing.” she screamed, trying to rip herself free of the officer’s grip. “ … for he love of God, don’t put me in.”

“I can’t do this, Danny.” Katie buried her face into his chest.

He lifted her chin and handed her a small black box.

“I bought this for you when we were in Queenstown before we embarked. I intended to give it to you on our first anniversary.” He opened the lid and the glimmer of a gold ring caught her eye.

“Give it to me then not now,” she argued glancing at the plain worn band on her wedding finger. “Beside, I don’t need a new ring. You placed this on my finger in front of God.”

Danny smiled and slid the ring onto her finger. “I know, but this is better, more money. I can’t have you going around a posh city as New York, looking like a pauper’s wife.”

She stared at new ring, a single small diamond sparkling in the night. Tears welled in her eyes. “Thank you, Danny. Have I ever told you that you’re a grand husband for the likes of poor farm girl.”

“Any more ladies, please!” The shout implored.

With a tight grip on her shoulders, he kissed her deeply. “God bless you, Katie. I love you.” He pulled his coat from his body and quickly fashioned it around her shoulders. “Yes sir!” he shouted to the officer. “My wife, here, please.” He turned to her and smiled, his blue eyes misty as he called,“Keep yourself warm.”

Her sobbing protests to let her husband come with her falling on deaf ears as they lifted her into the lifeboat.

The smell of the freshly painted life boat turned her stomach and she clenched her hand over her mouth.

The escaping steam from the ships great boilers gushed in loud bellows as it emptied. Then a call came to “lower away” and she watched her husband call to her, his voice silenced by the loud hissing of another distress rocket.


Word count 997