FORMALITY
Chapter Thirteen
Rob and I frantically searched
the lounge for our families, the fear and panic gradually building up inside
me. I saw figures by a window, and one held the shape of my father. Stopping in
my tracks to get a good look, I saw that my sister and mother were with him as
well.
"Father!" I shouted
across the room, most people stopping their conversations to stare at me. Rob
followed me over to where they were.
"There you are, Belle."
My father smiled, reaching out his arm to me. I moved in close to his side,
still holding Rob's hand. My mother just looked at me. I just remembered that
the last time I spoke to her was that argument. And I knew that she had a pretty
good idea where I was the past twenty-four hours. My sister was seated by the
window, looking around nervously. She was a smart girl, and in her eyes, I knew
that she thought that something was not how it was supposed to be. I smiled in
her direction to comfort her. She gave me a little smile back.
"Where were you? Rob and I
were looking all over for you," I said to my father.
"Oh, we decided to come in
here, since it was too cold out for your mother," my father explained.
"I don't see why they're
doing this stupid drill in the middle of the night, and when the temperature is
near freezing. White Star Line is definitely going to hear a complaint from
me," she retorted, looking out the window. An officer was punching out the
windows to the covered promenade.
"Mother, what is he
doing?" Marie asked, a little shaken.
"I have no idea, dear."
My mother sighed.
"Listen, we have to get out
of here and get on a boat," I said, leaving my father's side.
"Why, dear?" My mother
looked at me.
"Don't you see? The engines
have stopped. Stand up. Don't you feel the tilt?" I tried to explain to my
family.
"I'm sure it's nothing,
Isabelle. This ship can't sink," she said, standing up. "I'm going
back to the room. This is ridiculous."
My father grabbed her arm.
"No, you're not. Belle is right. There is a noticeable tilt, and that
can't be routine. Marie, come along. We're going up top."
I sighed with relief. My father
always saw things how they were, not how they were said to be. I began to
follow my family out of the lounge, but I was still holding Rob's hand, and he
wasn't moving.
"Rob, what's wrong?" I
turned around to look at him.
"Where's my mother?" he
asked, looking around. I had forgotten.
"I...I don't know," I
said, turning just in time to see my father pass through the door.
Rob took my chin in his hands and
turned my face to his.
"I have an idea," he
said. "Let's get you and your family on a boat. Then I'll go look for mine
and we'll get on a separate one."
I stood and thought for a moment.
It would work if he hurried. I nodded in agreement, and he quickly kissed me on
the lips before taking my hand and running out of the lounge to catch up with
my family.