I walk to the table and grab my phone. “Could I take a photo of you?” I don’t want to rely only on memories once I’m alone again. Not when I can have something tangible too. Something to remind me this was real and not just a dream.
“With that?” He looks at me, puzzled. “I thought you said it’s a telephone.”
“And a computer. And also… a camera.”
He shrugs his shoulders and shakes his head, impressed at the technology. I open the camera feature and point it toward him. He immediately straightens his posture and folds his hands together, standing still, waiting. He doesn’t realize cameras in my time are instantaneous. He doesn't need to hold a stoic pose.
I peer around the side of the phone. “Hey, you can smile, you know. It only takes a second. It’s not like your photography.”
He laughs, and I immediately tap the button to capture that laugh. I take multiple photos, capturing every candid movement. “Here, look.” I turn the phone toward him so he can see for himself and I swipe through each photo.
“That’s incredible. How does it work? Let me take one of you.”
I show him how to hold it and what to press. I step back and smile at him.
“I think I did it?” He laughs at himself as he holds the phone up awkwardly.
I take the phone from him and open the photo. It’s actually a good picture of me. I’m usually over critical of photos of myself, but I look genuinely happy. I will cherish these photos over any that I’ve taken of the ship all week. I put the phone back into my lockbox and rejoin Charlie out on the promenade. He’s standing at the open window, watching the waves pass by. I feel a dagger of guilt in my chest, wondering what he’s thinking about. He hears me approach and slips his arm around my waist, pulling me in close to him. We stand there silently for a moment before a thought comes to me.
“Can I ask you a question?”
Charlie turns his body toward me. “Of course.”
I exhale deeply, part of me not wanting to know the answer to this. “I realize I put you through a lot this week—”
“Alice, you—”
“Yes, I did.” I appreciate he wants to spare me any more guilt. I know what we’ve shared this week is special, but I also know that I’ve caused a lot of damage. “Ihaveput you through a lot. I’ve lied to you. I’ve hurt you. I’ve burdened you with the truth of what will happen tonight. Knowing what you know now, do you wish you’d stayed on the Olympic?”
“Not at all.” He says it effortlessly, as if it took him no thought at all.
“Really? Why?”
“Because it got me you.”
“But I’m just…”
“Wonderful.” Charlie gently brushes my hair behind my ear. “You’re wonderful.”
“But you know what’s going to happen.”
He takes me into his arms, his eyes locked on mine. “And? I’d rather die tomorrow than go a lifetime without finding you.”
He kisses me deeply, with one hand around my back and the other on my neck, tracing my jawline with his fingers. I hear the entrance door to our sitting room open, interrupting the passionate moment, and I realize Ben has returned with Sarah and Eric.
There’s a soft knock at the adjoining door to my cabin. “Ali? You decent?”
“On the promenade,” I call out, giving him the all clear to enter the room.
Ben enters, with Sarah and Eric behind him. He looks around at my room and seems surprised at how tidy it is. It’s almost as if he expected to walk into another unmade bed and the two of us half dressed. It was tempting, but I wanted to spend every moment with Charlie, listening to his voice and studying his face.
Ben motions toward the open windows. “How’s it look out there?”
I now realize why Charlie keeps looking out the window. He’s looking for the iceberg. Charlie glances back toward Ben, before stepping out of the way so he can see. “Hard to see anything out there,” Charlie responds.
“How was dinner?”
“You didn’t miss much. Just Edward’s usual bullshit,” Ben replies as he stares out the window before looking back over at me. “He missed you, though.”
