Summer revels in the solitude for she knows she won’t get much of it during this journey. She has four hours until dinner, just enough time to write. Lulled by the rhythm of the steam engines and rock of the ship, she writes until she nods off.
Chapter 3
Hadley is the first to wake and she quickly shakes her twin sister awake. “Hayden, wake up.”
Hayden opens her hazel eyes and grumbles at her sister. “Why must you always wake me? I’m tired.” Hadley jumps up and down on her bed giggling.
“Wake up, Hayden. I'm hungry.” Her long dark hair bounces with her. She tosses a pillow at her sister, and the game is on. The giggles and noise wake Summer. She rubs her neck and glances at the time.
“Oh no, we overslept. Girls!” Summer runs and quickly grabs their dinner dresses and tosses them on the bed. “Get dressed. I will wake Mom and Dad.”
“I'm up.” Natalie hurries to the private bathing room, and Summer rushes to her room to get her dinner dress. The girls are helping each other while she grabs her dark blue dinner dress and shakes it out.
“I suppose it will have to do until I can press some more.” She strips and tosses a brush to Hayden.
“Help each other, blossoms.” Natalie rushes into the room.
“Summer, I need your help. Lace me up, please.” Her corset has grown increasingly tighter with the passing weeks. She seems to show sooner with each baby. “Girls go check on your father. Make sure he doesn’t go back to sleep.” They fly from the room giggling and racing each other to see who will get there faster.
“Mother, you know you will have to stop wearing this soon, right? It’s better for the baby if you can breathe.”
Natalie gasps and spins around. “How did you know?” Tears fill her hazel eyes and Summer smiles.
“Hazard of the job, I guess. Are you well?”
“I am. I don't want to tell them yet, Summer. They have so much to adjust to and a new baby will make it harder.”
Summer hugs her mother. “It will be our secret, Mother. I am so happy. A new baby in the new world. He or she will be so blessed to be part of our family!” Laugher and love fill the room, and they help each other finish dressing.
Charles leads the way holding the twins' hands to the Captain's table. The dining room is lit with beautiful light, tables are dressed with the best linens. Excitement flutters around the room. The Captain greets the guests. During dinner each night, the Captain invites a family from the lower decks to join him at his table. Dr. Denning is delighted to see such civility amongst the people on board.
Natalie guides the twins to the children’s table where they are introduced to a boy and girl around their age. They are shy and embarrassed to be seen with such pageantry. Hayden and Hadley immediately take a child each and soon have them laughing. Natalie rejoins her table and finds her husband waiting.
Dr. Rudolph is seated beside her parents and opposite Summer. There is a total of six couples at the table and three single males. The Captain directs the conversation, and she is peppered with questions regarding her job at her father's side. Her parents smile proudly as she holds her own in the discussions.
Summer watches Dr. Rudolph arrange his silverware precisely spaced from his plate. He straightens his water glass and moves the plate so that everything is just as he likes it. Apparently, the doctor requires perfection before he can eat.
“Dr. Denning tells us he will be working at Harvard in Boston.” The Captain announces to the table, and she sighs with relief when the conversation turns away from her.
“I will. I am excited to be piloting a program that will bring more vaccinations to the larger cities. It is in the highly populated areas that diseases spread rampantly, especially amongst the poor.” Dr. Denning explains.
“So, who pays for these vaccinations? Will it be only available to those that can afford such luxuries?” Mr. Sanders asks, and his wife pales. They were excited to be offered a chance to eat at the Captain's table, but he feels that perhaps some things are being overlooked by the good doctor.
“Excellent question, Mr. Sanders. My daughter and I started a program in England that offered free assistance to those who need it. Unfortunately, we were met with a great deal of reluctance.” Dr. Denning explains.
“Why? If it is freely given why would anyone object?” One of the young men asks.
“Ignorance and prejudices, no doubt. They simply have not been taught better.” Dr. Rudolph replies. Mrs. Sanders grabs her husband’s arm as he turns red and starts to object.
“What Dr. Rudolph means is that fear caused a rift. It is hard to explain the science behind the vaccinations, and unfortunately, it is still not an exact science.” Summer replies.
Her response calms the table and her father sighs. “Not yet, but I am hoping with the recent discoveries I have made that we will pilot a new program that will make great strides in closing the gap. Where now thousands die, perhaps only hundreds will in the near future.”
“Now, I simply must discuss this with you, Dr. Denning. Have you entered the testing phase of your protocol? How many test subjects are you using?” Jung Rudolph is desperate to get more information from the good doctor.
Everyone laughs and Summer sits quietly watching Dr. Rudolph.
“It is in its infancy stages, Dr. Rudolph but perhaps that will change on our journey. I still have a lot of work to do.” Dr. Denning replies.
“I will
