Page 130 of The Girl Out of Time
“Fireworks,” Tristan said, the sparks gleaming in his eyes.
Not fireworks. A rescue signal. Will’s stomach squeezed, and he glanced around, trying to surmise the mood of the crew. Was there still a chance Emily had been wrong? Was a rescue ship truly only miles away? Perhaps the operator on theCalifornianhad come back to the wireless and heard their signals. Or were the officers downplaying the emergency in order not to scare the passengers?
“Ma’am, if you would.” An officer came to Sylvia, gesturing her towards the boat.
“But I haven’t yet found—”
“Please, ma’am.”
She looked at Will. “The boys,” he said, and she nodded, and they took Brendon and Tristan to the boat. An officer helped them board, with Brendon going first and dusting off the wooden bench before he sat on it, back straight, his knees touching. Tristan went next but turned to the deck as soon as he was in the boat. “Mama—”
“I’m coming, darling.” Sylvia took the officer’s offered hand and sat between Brendon and Tristan, wrapping her arms around them.
“Any more women? Children?” The officer shouted, looking around the deck. “Any more ladies to board?”
After no answer, he turned to Will with a nod. “You may go with them.”
Will turned to the boat but stopped. Another rocket whizzed overhead, lighting Sylvia’s eyes as she locked her gaze on him. They didn’t need words. She knew what he meant, and he knew she understood. His heart told him Emmeline was still here somewhere, that she hadn’t made it off on a boat. And Sylvia knew he couldn’t leave their daughter behind, because she wouldn’t, either.
“Will,” she mouthed.
“I’ll find her.” He made a step back. “I promise. We’ll be right after you.”
“Papa!” Tristan lunged off the bench, but Sylvia caught him.
“It’s all right, darling,” she said. “Papa will be in the next boat.”
“Lower away!” The command was shouted from the side, and the boat lurched. Will made another step back to let the crewmen do their work; the boat swung, and the wires creaked as it began to lower down.
“Wait.” Sylvia rose and leaned on the side; Will rushed to her and cupped her face.
“I’ll be right back. I promise,” he said, staring into her eyes.
She didn’t say anything; she only sniffled and touched her forehead to his. In the dark, frigid night, she was bright and warm, a safe haven. The strings connecting their hearts pulled him to her, begged him to never let her go, a sneaking dread inside of him whispering—if you let her go now, you’ll never see her again.
“I love you,” he whispered against her mouth and kissed her.
“I love you, too,” she breathed. “Come back to me.” And she was torn away from him as the officer lowered her into the boat. Will stayed on the edge of the deck, watching the boat descend toward the calm, dark surface of the water, reflecting the golden lights of the portholes. Sylvia and the boys looked up, tears glistening in their eyes.
Please, don’t let it be the last time I see them.
Chapter 33
Will stood frozen on the deck, crewmen rushing past him as they moved to swing out the last boat on the side. His breath swirled in the cold air, and his legs shook.
He’d let Sylvia and the boys go. They were out there—alone, in the dark, scared, praying for rescue to arrive. That the boats themselves were part of a rescue didn’t help. It seemed like madness to send them out into the night on those tiny planks of wood, and he couldn’t stop imagining them shivering, disappearing into the darkness, drifting forever away.
He’d promised her he’d never leave her.Till death do us part.
Closing his eyes, he tried to steady his heart.Find Emmeline.He couldn’t stop, not while there was still solid ground underneath his feet, and boats to board. But he had to hurry.
He ran along the deck again, and then to the other side. A commotion below caught his attention, and he leaned past the railing. One of the boats had stopped on A Deck, where the promenade was enclosed, and people huddled by the windows, waiting to board it.
We didn’t check that deck.
With a new bout of optimism, he hurried inside and skipped the stairs two at a time, swinging around the newel as he ran to the promenade exit.
The gathering around the boat resembled more a socialite meeting in a fine hotel rather than an evacuation procedure; at least if it weren’t for the boxy life belts marring people’s attires. There were the Carters—Brendon and Tristan had played with their boy the other day—and Colonel Astor was reassuring his young wife. Will carefully pushed his way through the group, scanning for Emmeline, his heart dropping further and further as every face turned out not to be hers.
