“You should have more faith in yourself,” he replies. “Everything you’ve dreamed of will be yours if you want it badly enough.”
“You live in a fairyland,” I exclaim. “You got parents? You told me you were a numbers runner and did some bad stuff, but you haven’t told me much else.”
“I have parents. They live in Ohio. Yes, I’ve done some things, but mostly I’ve read books, picked snap beans and corn, and milked cows. I come from a family of farmers, you know. I grew up on a farm.”
“Why did you leave? Did they die?”
“No, they’re alive and kicking. But I got into some trouble helping a white woman and had to leave home. When I got to Chicago, I met Major Thomas, who helped me.”
“Major Thomas took you in just like the reverend did me after my mother died.” I don’t mention Jerry’s comment about the major being a bootlegger. Robbie might already know, but if he doesn’t, I don’t want to be the one to tell him.
“The reverend? You hardly mention him, or the orphanage. I don’t mean to pry, but it seems like I am, right?” He smiles shyly.
“No matter. I’ll tell you about the orphanage and the reverend one day.” I shrug. “Or maybe not. It’s just that I can never go back to Chicago. I have to stay here, in this country. Are you gonna stay with me? No, don’t answer that. I know you will. You’ll never leave.”
He laughs. “If you want me to stay with you, I will.”
“Sounds to me like you don’t have many other places to go, just like I don’t.”
“If you say so.”
A deafening noise erupts as rickety wheels screech over rickety tracks. I hold on to Robbie and gaze out the window. “How much longer before we reach Maggotty and the mules?” I ask.
“I told you five minutes ago. Another hour or two.”
I close my eyes and recite in my head:I hope I like Accompong. I hope I like Accompong.
PART THREE
THE COCKPIT: SEPTEMBER 1935
CHAPTER 25
VIVIAN JEAN
Appleton Station, Jamaica
The train arrives at Appleton Station, the last stop before Maggotty. Tully and I grab our handbags while the load bearers take everything else. We leave the others on the train, letting them know we’ll rejoin them in Maggotty. The Appleton stop is where my father promised to meet us. He wrote that he’d be waiting for us here, where the air is thinner and cooler than in Kingston Harbour.
“Where is he?” My heart races with near panic as I scan the station. “He said he’d be here.” I hold Tully’s hand, hoping my father will appear quickly and tell us what he has to tell us, then vanish like a cloud in the wind. “Do you see him?” I ask Tully, tugging on his hand.
“He’ll be here. Be patient. He’ll be here.”
Tully sounds like he can predict the future.
“Mr. and Mrs. Hartfield, is everything okay?” It’s not the voice I was hoping to hear. Zinzi Green, the guide who insists she isn’t related to Maxi, has approached us.
“Excuse me, the train will leave the station soon. If you’renot on board, I’ll be unable to come back for you until tomorrow. This group can’t travel through the jungle after dark. And you can’t travel to Accompong by yourselves,” Zinzi adds.
“We’re waiting for my wife’s father,” Tully replies.
“Is he staying in Appleton? It’s difficult to travel about in these small villages unless he’s lodging at one of the sugar plantations.” Zinzi’s tone carries an unusual hint of accusation. “He ought to have met you in Kingston.”
“You’re right,” I respond. “He should have.”
Zinzi glances from me to Tully. “What do you want to do?”
Everything has worked in our favor up until now. The boat docked on time, and the train arrived on time despite the worn wheels, the old tracks, and the shabby train cars. Why did he want to meet us here? Why couldn’t we have met on Harbour Street?
