Kit stared at her seven wooden trunks. Six were empty. The last one contained a few pieces of clothing and some necessities. How long had it been since she had come all the way from Barbados to Wethersfield? Now she was leaving for Barbados, where she would earn her living as a governess.
"Kit!"
There were sounds of feet clattering up the stairs, then the wooden door burst open. Judith and Mercy stood at the doorway with shocked expressions on their pale faces.
"Are you really leaving, Kit?" Judith asked her cousin, forgetting her tactfulness in her shock.
"God bless you, Kit. John and I will never forget you. Will we meet again?" Mercy whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks.
For a moment, Kit was wordless. "If fate decrees, we will meet once more. For now…" She stared at Judith, beautiful Judith, who had always seemed so cold towards her. The green dress! Kit spun around abruptly and rummaged about in her trunk. How could she possibly forget?
Taking a peacock green dress out of her trunk, Kit held it up and handed it to Judith. "You've always loved this dress and I… I hope you'll accept it." Kit choked, tears filling her eyes. Judith took the dress in both hands, silently thanking Kit. No words were exchanged, as both knew what the other was thinking.
The three girls trooped down the stairs where Matthew and Rachel, Kit's aunt and uncle, joined them. They made their way silently to the harbor, where the brigantine Elizabeth waited in the crystal clear water. Kit carried her one trunk up the ship with the help of her Uncle Matthew. She felt a small sense of loss, thinking about the many dresses and beautiful possessions she had sold to pay for her passage to Barbados. The remaining six trunks were still in the Wood household, her uncle's house. They were empty, anyway.