Chapter 1
Katherine sat crying on her window seat, looking out across Portsmouth Harbour. She was unable to stand another minute downstairs with people offering their condolences, she just wanted to be left alone, but really, alone is what she was, now that her mother was dead. Her father had left before he had even found out her mother was pregnant, her mother had been young and foolish and had fallen for the hansom merchant sailor that had sailed into port, and left just as quickly. It was the reason than she had only met her grandparents once, they had disowned their only child when they found out she was pregnant. In the last few days the tiny house that she and her mother had lived in had seen more visitors than it had in the entire time that she had lived there. Most of the visitors were neighbours, other people who had made mistakes and were considered outcast. The only exception was her mother's boss and his wife who had attended the funeral and stayed for the first five minutes of the reception before leaving. Katherine could hear the chatter from below, the house still filled with almost every family living in their road. Katherine turned back to her thoughts, thoughts of what her mother said to her on her death bed. She had finally answered the question Katherine had always asked her, who her father was.
"His name was Jack," her mother had told her, "and he came from a place known as Port Royal."
Katherine's problem now was what to do with the information, she wanted to try and find him, but that meant leaving for America, giving up her job, her friends and her home. She looked up to see her mother's best friend, and in many ways her second mother, enter the small bedroom. Charlotte was the only person Katherine had discussed going to look for her father with.
"I came to give you this," said Charlotte, handing a small cloth bag of money to Katherine.
"What's this for?" asked Katherine, not taking the bag.
"This is to help you find your father, it should cover your fare to America and…"
"I can't take it," Katherine interrupted.
"Of course you can, you need to pack, and tomorrow we'll go and buy your ticket, and you'll be off."
"But, I haven't even decided I'm going yet," Katherine tried to argue back.
"Yes you have, in your heart you have; you need to go for yourself. Now, you need to pack and get some sleep. I'll sort out downstairs and come and see you in the morning, be up early, the ship leaves at dawn."
At this Charlotte left, closing the door behind her. Katherine turned back round to look out of the window; she was going to America to find her father. Adrenaline surged through her as she got up and started packing what few possessions she owned into her drawstring bag, before climbing into her bed and falling asleep on dry land for what she knew would be the last time for a long while.
After what felt like no time at all Katherine was shaken awake by Charlotte who told her to get dressed quickly and meet her downstairs. After pulling on an old pinafore and splashing some cold water on her face Katherine went downstairs to find Charlotte carrying a second bag, larger than her own.
"Food for the journey," said Charlotte, noticing Katherine's confused look.
Nodding Katherine accepted the hunk of bread offered to her, before walking out of the front door and into the dark street, where she was met by the frigid February air. Now that she was actually leaving, Katherine was starting to feel sick with nerves.
The pair headed down towards the harbour, where they bought a single one way ticket to America from the boat's captain, who then told Katherine to go and join the other passengers on deck. Turning back to Charlotte, she saw that she was trying hard not to cry.
"I'm going to miss you, you know," Charlotte said, and before Katherine could reply Charlotte had swept her into her arms and given her a huge bear hug.
"Now get on that ship, and don't forget to write."
"Bye, and thank you," replied Katherine, unsure of what else to say. Then she turned round and carried both bags onto the ship, joining the other passengers at the stern, and just as the sun broke over the horizon she heard shouts telling the sailors to cast off. She waved back at Charlotte who was standing amongst the crowd who had come to see their loved ones off, and as she did so, she wondered for the millionth time whether she was doing the right thing. After seventeen and a half years would Jack remember her mother, and would he even care?