Delia must have come into the kitchen without us noticing. She often seemed to float here and there like a ghost. We looked up at her and then back at the letter. Ma cleared her throat and went on. “And here’s the good part. He asks if I have any daughters who would be suitable.”

I felt my heart flip inside my chest. Could this be my chance to get away to America? I’d secretly hoped for such a chance for years. There was nothing for me in Kilcross and, truthfully, Ma was beginning to suffocate me. I wasn’t a good scholar and I didn’t have many choices. But surely I could teach a young girl something useful.

“Wait now ’til you hear this.” Ma pointed to the money. “He’s enclosed the money to buy a first-class ticket on the Titanic, which he says is being built in Belfast. It’s due to sail next April.”

Ma was breathless now as she picked up the strange-looking bills and threw them down on the table again in triumph. “He says ’twas Mary insisted ye travel first class because ye’d be doing her the biggest favor in the world, coming to look after her child.” Ma pursed her lips. “He must be swimming in money, so.” She turned to me. “What do you think of that now?”

For once I was as speechless as Da. Surely Ma would pick me to go. But for the first time in memory, my confidence deserted me. What if she didn’t? What if she picked Delia instead? After all, she’d made no secret of wanting to be rid of her. Maybe she wouldn’t want me going so far away because she was so dependent on me for company. I held my breath and waited for what seemed like an eternity.

Finally, Ma grinned. “Ah, you should see the look on your face, darlin’,” she said. “And who do you think I’d be sending? Not that sister of yours!”

As I was letting Ma’s words sink in, I noticed Da looking off toward the door. I turned just in time to see Delia’s back as she slipped out into the hallway.

Delia

Delia

I slid down on the floor in the corner of the attic, closed my eyes and rested my head on my knees. I wanted to cry, but no tears would come. It was no surprise, I thought, that Ma would pick Nora. Nora was bright-eyed and cheerful, dark-haired and buxom and sure of her place in the world. In contrast, I was of slight build, with fair hair and gray eyes. I always shrank away when I was beside Nora, believing no one would ever look at me twice while she was there. Of course, Nora was the better choice to take on the challenge of America.