The deck was chaotic, people pushing and calling out for missing loved ones as they were swept along in the masses. Pricking her ears, Jane tried to pick out Maura in the melee.
“Jane!!” The cluster of people immediately surrounding Jane all turned to the sound of the voice. Pushing against the crowds, Jane fought to get to her lover. Maura had her arm wrapped tightly around a broken, sobbing woman, the other reaching for Jane.
“Mommy!!” Cassie squealed as Maura came into view. The woman at her side looked up quickly and Cassie wriggled from Jane’s grasp.
At the same time, Maura leapt into Jane’s arms, kissing her neck gently and allowing the relief to wash over them both.
“Thank you, thank you so much!” the woman threw herself into their hug, tears falling freely.
“It’s nothing.” Jane croaked. She had never felt comfortable with public acclaim and she was acutely aware of eyes settling on the emotional encounter.
“I only did what any decent person would do.” The venom soaked her tone as her eyes locked with Lana’s.
“Please come this way.” A crew member was suddenly ushering the group away from the mouth of the stairs and towards the lifeboats. Maura’s grip on Jane’s hand tightened as they moved slowly through the crowds. Chaos ran riot over the deck, no one appeared to be in charge and the crew members seemed as oblivious as the passengers.
Rain and waves hammered relentlessly against the masses and the wind and swells threw chairs and other debris over the deck, turning the journey into an obstacle course.
“Here!” Jane spotted a quieter area near an unnoticed lifeboat on the opposite side of the ship. “This way.” She gripped Maura’s hand tighter, both their knuckles turning white as she led them away from the surging group.
“This is insane, where is the organisation?” Maura shook in the cold. “Why isn’t anyone taking control?” Jane looked around, searching for anyone that appeared to know what was happening.
“Come on.” Jane ushered Maura towards the lifeboat as a larger group broke off and headed towards them. “Get in!” she barked, pushing Maura up and into the boat.
There was a loud splash from the opposite side of the ship, indicating a lifeboat had been launched.
Jane and Maura settled into the lifeboat, glad to be out of the howling wind and rain.
“Make way!”
Both women rolled their eyes. “Really?” Jane whispered, hoping they wouldn’t be discovered.
“Here!” A new male voice joined the babble. “Sir, please allow the ladies aboard first.” It was a stern voice, one used to giving instructions.
“Oh, hello.” A womans head appeared in the lifeboat, followed quickly by the rest of her. “I’m Elaine.”
“Jane.” She smiled warmly. “This is my partner, Maura.” Jane reached up to help Elaine into the boat. Smiling sadly, Elaine took the seat next to the two women.
“Are you ok?” Maura asked, “You’re not hurt, are you?”
Elaine shook her head. “No dear, I’m fine.” She smiled weakly. “It’s just… It’s about to get really uncomfortable in here.”
“Don’t push me!”
Three sets of eyes turned towards the boats small entrance, all wide in horror.
“You really don’t know me well enough to take such liberties!”
Lana’s head appeared in the boat, a scowl setting firmly across her face.
“You again!” She stabbed a finger towards Jane as the rest of her bulk settled into a seat. Before anyone could respond, a large man appeared.
“Oh hell no!” he growled.
“That’s what I said.” Lana agreed, pleased that her response had been echoed.
“John, just get in the damn boat.” Elaine snapped. “Now really isn’t the time for your bigotry.”
“Really?” John snapped back, “Then when is? It’s because of them it happened!” his face contorted with disdain and he refused to meet Jane’s fiery scowl. Maura felt Jane tense next to her and immediately her hand came to rest over Jane’s.
“You said it yourself.” John continued, ignoring everyone but his wife. “You said if God didn’t like it, he’d strike them down himself!” He gestured around the lifeboat. “Well I’d say this is definitely a sign, wouldn’t you?”
“He has a point.” Lana spoke up, “This is God’s wrath. In Leviticus…..”
“Woah now!” Maura stood up quickly, the action forcing Jane back into her seat. “You don’t have to like us, believe me, the feeling is more than mutual, but if you think God is trying to kill us for being homosexual, then may I suggest you get the hell out of MY lifeboat!”
She slammed herself back into her seat, folding her arms across her chest as four stunned faces stared at her.
“I…. I…..” Lana was the first to break the silence. “I’ve never been spoken to in such a way in all my life.” She huffed.
“Well someone needed to.” Elaine mumbled, squeezing Maura’s hand supportively.
Lana only glared at her as she tried to hoist her large frame up from the seat, causing the boat to sway dangerously on its supports.
“If you think you can just speak to people like that, then you have another thing coming missy!” Lana got to her feet. “You need to learn some manners!”
Without warning Jane was on her feet, quite literally toe to toe with Lana, their noses only inches apart. “If you lay so much as a drop of spit on my wife I swear to you, it will be the very last thing you ever do.” Jane’s voice was calm, steady and dangerously low. Its timbre rumbled through the small vessel.
As more people piled into the lifeboat, Lana stepped away, choosing to move to the opposite end of the boat. She looked back to John with hopeful eyes.
“Go!” Elaine told him. “I don’t want you near me until you can at least imitate a decent human!”
John hung his head but remained seated.
A sombre silence covered them as more people clambered aboard.
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