Page 140 of The Girl Out of Time
“They won’t take Isidor,” the lady said, linking hands with a distinguished older gentleman next to her. They smiled at each other. “And I won’t leave him. He’d be lost without me.”
“Next time, I’ll marry someone less stubborn,” the man said, lovingly brushing the lady’s cheek.
Emmeline turned to Theo, her face crumpling.
“Go,” he said. “Your family is already out there.”
“Any more ladies?” an officer shouted from the boat. “Ladies, please! A few seats left!”
“Maybe we can both go,” she said. “I’ll talk to them. I’ll ask—” Suddenly, she was torn out of his grasp, and swallowed by the crowd.
***
For Emily, studying theTitanic’s sinking had been one thing: heart-wrenching, but still safely removed from her time, her life. Being here was a different beast. She’d never thought the air would truly be this cold, the deck truly this eerily calm, the sea truly this close.
She’d never thought she’d be afraid for her life.
“There should still be boats aft,” Will said. “The collapsibles, didn’t you mention them?”
She gulped, trying to cool her head enough to sort out all the information she’d hammered in there over the past month. Her legs trembled as if she was about to walk on a wire. “There might, yeah, but …” It was going to be pandemonium. People crawling over each other; officers shooting to keep men away, some of the collapsible boats overturning—and at the end of it all, she wasn’t sure if Will would be allowed to get into one. And she hadn’t come all the way here to lose him.
Her mind turned to the flooded hallways a few decks below. There was another way out, but possibly no less risky. Emmeline’s portal. On one hand—stay on the dry deck, hope to get into a boat. On the other …
“I have an idea.” She turned to Will. “But you’re not gonna like it.”
***
Stunned, Theo stood there for a second or two before he realized what had happened. An officer had wrapped his arm around Emmeline’s waist, dragged her a few steps back, and quite literally threw her into the boat.
“Lower away!”
Theo rushed to the edge, standing a foot back when the officer extended a warning hand. With a creak and a lurch, the boat started lowering. Another woman helped Emmeline to her feet, and she shook the hair off her face and scanned for him. “Theo!”
He gulped down a lump in his throat, relief and desperation fighting inside him. She was safe, she got away—but he’d never see her again, and he never kissed her goodbye.
The boat had reached the deck below by now, drawing further and further away from the ship thanks to its list. Theo leaned over the railing, not taking his eyes off Emmeline.
“I love you,” he mouthed. Oh, all the things he wanted to tell her. About how she’d saved his life so many times, not only by saving him on the beach but by making him realize the unfairness of Wescott’s rule, too. About the light and freedom she’d brought to his existence. About the dreams she ignited in him.
Shewashis dream.
Emmeline pushed to the edge of the boat, gripping the side as she continued to gaze up, her pale face shining in the darkness. Even scared, with her eyes watering, she was so beautiful. If only they had longer.
But at least she would.
Suddenly, her eyebrows drew together. Breaking off her gaze, she looked to the ship’s hull, rose onto her feet, and jumped to the open promenade deck as the few sailors manning the boat yelled after her.
“Emmeline!” Theo leaned further across the railing. “Emmeline!”
Her face popped out from the deck below. “Wait for me! I’ll get back up!” She ran down the deck and kept checking for him as he followed her along the railing. “I’m coming!” And then she disappeared.
Theo ran along the deck, looking both for an exit downstairs or a door she’d pop through. There—stairs! He ran to them, meeting Emmeline at the top as she sunk into his embrace, her voluminous, curly locks smothering his face.
“No,” he said, despite being so happy to hold her in his arms again. “You can’t.”
“I sent you here. I’m not going to leave you behind.”
“That’s not fair. Your family is waiting for you.”
