Forget Me Not by Sue Lawson Read Free Book Online

mother’s reaction if he smeared grease on his clothes.
    “Thomas, we should visit the barber shop. After all, you did tell your mother that’s where you’d been,” said Hugh. “Wouldn’t do if you were unable to answer her questions.”
    “Too true.” Thomas had forgotten his lie.
    “I’m coming too,” said Meggie, tagging along.
    The three of them met Eve on the stairs at the saloon deck.
    “Care to accompany us?” asked Hugh. “We’re on our way to explore the barber shop.”
    “The barber shop?” squeaked Eve. “You can’t be serious.”
    “The second-class passengers’ barber shop,” said Thomas, hoping to calm Eve.
    She folded her arms. “I don’t care what class it is, I refuse to go into a gentlemen’s shop. It’s no place for–”
    Hugh’s laugh made her stand straighter and her lips tighten.
    “Do stop carrying on, Eve,” said Thomas. “It’s not just a barber shop. There are souvenirs too.”
    She glanced up the stairs. “But Mother …”
    “Evie, Mother thinks I’ve already looked for a souvenir for Uncle Hubert.” He raised his eyebrows. “But if you’re too scared …”
    Eve made a strange noise. “Very well. I shall come. But only to find a gift for Uncle Hubert.”
    Hugh’s eyes sparkled. “Let’s take the elevator.”
    “I am not going in a first-class elevator,” said Eve.
    “I was thinking of the second-class elevators.” Hugh emphasised the word “second”.
    “Oh,” said Eve, her face flushing.
    On the way Thomas, Hugh and Meggie chatted about the steerage boys who’d climbed the baggage crane on the poop deck.
    Meggie wrinkled her nose. “They were covered in grease.”
    “Even so, swinging on those cranes did look like tremendous fun,” said Thomas.
    The elevator stopped and the steward opened the door. “I’m sure you would have liked the dogs, Eve,” said Hugh. He thanked the steward before striding along the companionway.
    Thomas held his breath. When Mother had told Eve that Dash wouldn’t be coming to America, Eve had locked herself in her room two days. From his bedroom, Thomas had heard her crying into the night.
    When Eve showed no emotion at the mention of dogs, Thomas sighed with relief.
    “The fluffy golden one was so sweet.” Meggie clasped her hands under her chin. “A poma … pomer …”
    “Pomeranian,” said Hugh, in a way that suggested he didn’t share his sister’s feelings for the dog. “Here we are.” He stopped outside the barber shop. “Ladies first.”
    The barber shop was small with a bench for waiting customers on one side and two barber’s chairs in front of mirrors. The barber, dressed in a white coat, lathered the face of a chap in the chair nearest them.
    “Can I help you?” asked the barber, pausing at his task.
    “Not at the moment, thank you,” said Hugh.
    His easy confidence impressed Thomas.
    The four of them looked around. Banners, dolls, teddies, tobacco and even ribbons embroidered with RMS
Titanic
just like the ones on the sailors’ hats, hung from the ceiling and on walls. Other souvenirs were displayed on the counter.
    “Wouldn’t Bea love the dolls,” said Thomas.
    “The blond or the dark-haired one?” asked Meggie, beside him.
    “Blond I should think,” said Eve.
    Thomas watched her examine a doll on the wall in front of her. He smiled. It was good to see Eve acting like herself, instead of being prickly and grumpy.
    Meggie moved to the bundle of postcards. “I’m going to ask Father if I may buy one of these as a reminder of our journey.”
    “Eve has an autograph book for that. How many signatures have you collected?” Thomas was taken aback when Eve glared at him.
    “Three, actually.” Her face turned pink and she sneaked glances at Hugh. “I haven’t wanted to intrude while people were becoming accustomed to the ship.”
    “Can I sign it, Eve?” asked Meggie.
    Eve nodded. “I would love you to.”
    “And I should like to sign it too, if I may,” said Hugh. “I