No Ocean Too Wide Read online

  “George, you didn’t even know the man. How can you judge him so harshly?”

  “I know enough about him and his type. And I forbid you to attend any more of those meetings!”

  His mother opened her mouth to reply, but his father lifted his hand. “The topic is closed. I’ll hear no more of it!”

  Andrew clenched his jaw, his anger seething. He was done listening to his father on this topic or any other. The sooner he left Bolton and stepped out from under his father’s control, the better. His only regret was leaving his mother behind to deal with his father on her own.

  How had she coped with his selfishness and angry outbursts for so many years? She had her friends, her church, and the local charities she supported. Those gave her a focus for her energies, and her faith would give her strength. But would that be enough to sustain her? He’d have to return as often as he could to lift her spirits and make sure she knew how much he valued her.

  * * *

  Laura adjusted her umbrella against the wind and rain as she hurried down Rushley Lane. She looked up, scanning the buildings, searching for Number 326. Would there be a sign for the Grangeford Home for Poor and Destitute Children? Just thinking about that name made her chest ache. Her family might not be wealthy, but they were rich in love and devoted to one another.

  Raindrops splashed around her feet, dampening her skirt hem and coat. The gusty wind made the umbrella almost useless. She swiped water from her cheek, and a few cold drops made their way down the back of her neck. She shivered and pressed on. No matter how chilled and damp she felt, nothing would stop her from finding her brother and sisters and making sure they knew they were loved and not forgotten.

  After she visited them, she would travel across town and see her mother at the hospital. Bringing word from Garth, Katie, and Grace would surely brighten her mother’s outlook and encourage her healing.

  Up ahead she spotted a faded sign for the children’s home on the side of a three-story stone building. Her hopes rose but then fell just as quickly. An imposing iron fence with a sturdy gate enclosed the property. Shifting her umbrella to the other hand, she pulled the gate handle, but it wouldn’t open. A short rope attached to a bell hung to the right of the gate. She gave it a tug. No one came, so she pulled the rope again, all the while shivering beneath her dripping umbrella.

  Finally, an old man in a navy rain slicker came striding toward her, splashing through the puddles on the gravel drive. “Can I help you, miss?”

  “Yes, thank you. I’ve come to see my brother and sisters.”

  His eyebrows rose. Then he frowned slightly and glanced over his shoulder at the building behind him. “This is a girls’ home. Your sisters may be here, but your brother would be down the street in the boys’ building. It’s just past the fence, beyond those trees.” He nodded to the left, and as he did, rain drizzled off his cap and ran down his whiskered face.

  The ache in Laura’s chest cut deeper. They had separated Garth from the girls. That must have been painful, especially for Katie, though Grace also dearly loved her brother.

  She looked up and met the old man’s gaze. “I’d like to come in and see my sisters.”

  He gave a brief nod, reached in his pocket, and pulled out a large metal key ring. With rainwater dripping off his hand, he sorted through the keys. “Here we are.” He unlocked the gate, and the hinges squealed as he pulled it open. “Come with me.”

  She followed him up the drive, dodging the puddles, then mounted the stone steps leading to the tall wooden door.

  “Knock there, and someone will come and let you in.” He started down the steps but then stopped and looked back. “I hope you have a nice visit. Good day to you, miss.” He turned and set off down the drive.

  She faced the door and knocked three times. A few seconds later, the door opened and a serious young woman looked out. She appeared older than Katie but younger than Laura, perhaps sixteen or seventeen. Her light brown hair was braided and pinned around the crown of her head. She wore a plain brown dress covered by a long ivory apron. Her scuffed brown shoes were visible beneath her skirt.

  “Good morning. My name is Laura McAlister. I’ve come to see my sisters, Katie and Grace.”

  The girl’s brow creased. “You’ll have to speak to the matron. I’m not sure if that’s allowed.”

  Laura nodded. “All right. If you’ll show me the way, I’ll be glad to speak to her.”

  The girl pulled open the door. Laura collapsed her umbrella and shook it off before stepping inside. Still, she left a trail of rainwater on the gray tile floor as she followed the girl down the dim hallway. They stopped in front of the last door on the right, and the girl knocked.

  “Come in,” a woman called.

  The girl stepped aside, sent Laura a brief glance devoid of emotion, then walked away.

  Laura straightened her shoulders and entered the matron’s office.

  The older woman sat behind a large wooden desk. Bookshelves filled the wall behind her. The heavy navy blue curtains around the only window blocked most of the sunlight that would’ve brightened the office even on a rainy day like this one. Instead, an oil lamp on the corner of the desk shed a stark yellow light.

  The woman looked up. Her severe, unwelcoming expression seemed a perfect match with her dark gray dress and sallow complexion. She wore her salt-and-pepper hair parted in the middle and pulled back in a bun, and small wire-framed spectacles perched halfway down her nose. A sign on her desk read Mrs. Stafford, Matron. She didn’t rise but scanned Laura from head to toe.

  “Good morning, ma’am. My name is Laura McAlister. I understand my sisters Katie and Grace McAlister are staying here at Grangeford, and I’ve come to visit them.”

  “I don’t recall admitting them.” Her tone was cool, her words were clipped, and she didn’t waste a smile. “I’ll see if they’re in residence.” She pulled open her desk drawer and searched through several files. Her hand stilled and she looked up. “We have a Katherine McAlister, age fourteen, and a Grace McAlister, age seven.”

  Relief rushed through Laura. “Yes, those are my sisters.”

  “You may take a seat.” The woman nodded to a chair in front of her desk.

  Laura stepped forward and sat on the hard wooden chair.

  The matron laid the two files on her desk. She opened the top file and began reading. Her frown deepened as she continued to scan down the page.

  Laura clasped her hands in her lap and tried not to fidget. Why was the woman’s expression so disapproving? What had her sisters done? Katie did have a strong will and was not afraid to speak her mind, but Laura couldn’t imagine her causing any real trouble, especially not in a fearsome place like this.

  The matron looked up. “I’m afraid it won’t be possible for you to see your sisters.”

  Laura blinked. “What? Why not?”

  “Katherine and Grace have only been at Grangeford a short time. It’s too soon for a family visit. It would be upsetting for them.”

  “But I’ve come all the way from St. Albans on the train. Our mother is in the hospital, and I need to give them news about her condition.”

  The matron skimmed the file once more, then lifted her gaze. “Your sisters have had a difficult time adjusting to the daily routine. I’m afraid a visit with a family member would unsettle them and set back what little progress they’ve made.”

  Laura leaned forward. “I’m very close to my sisters. I’m sure my visit would be an encouragement, not upsetting.”

  Mrs. Stafford’s expression firmed. “I’m sorry. I cannot allow it.”

  Laura clenched her hands beneath the folds of her skirt. How could the woman refuse to let her see her sisters? It wasn’t fair, and it probably wasn’t even legal. She straightened in her chair. “If you won’t allow me to see them, then I want to remove my sisters from your care and take
them with me today.”

  The matron’s eyebrows arched. “That is not possible.”

  Laura lifted her chin. “Why not? I am of age and they are my siblings.”

  “They were brought here by the police and entrusted into our care. I can’t just hand them over to you.”

  “Surely if a family member comes and claims them, you have to release them.”

  “No, I do not! And they won’t be released to you or anyone else unless you can prove you are their legal guardian and the circumstances that brought them here have been corrected.” She looked at Laura over the top of her spectacles. “Then there is the matter of paying the fees associated with their care.”

  “What fees?”

  “There is a daily charge for the shelter, food, and clothing we provide the children. You will have to settle their accounts before they’re allowed to leave Grangeford.”

  “How much is owed?”

  The matron glanced at the open file and wrote the calculation on a piece of paper. She turned the paper and slid it across the desk toward Laura. “This is the amount.”

  Laura stifled a gasp. “That’s outrageous!”

  “That is the fee for one girl. You will need to double that figure if you intend to take both your sisters.”

  A dizzy, heartsick feeling washed over Laura. How could they expect her to pay such a large sum? She had no savings and no idea where she might borrow that much money. And what about Garth? She would have to triple the fee in order to release him as well.

  “And I will remind you the fee continues to increase each day the children remain in our care.”

  Laura’s chest squeezed tight. This was so unfair! Why would a charitable institution charge families for the care it gave the children? There had to be some way around that rule.

  Laura forced her voice to remain calm. “I’m sure when you hear our situation, you’ll want to make an exception. You see, our father passed away two years ago from injuries he received in a railway accident. Our mother has worked as a seamstress since then. My brother works after school as a delivery boy for a butcher, and I’ve gone into service as a lady’s maid. We all contribute toward the support of our family. And we’ve taken good care of each other until just the last few weeks when our mother had to go into the hospital and wasn’t able to continue working.”

  “Miss McAlister, every child in this institution has a story of hardship and loss. That is what brings them to Grangeford. Your situation is not unique. We have rules and regulations in place for the safety of the children, and those rules must be followed for every child and every family.”

  “Yes, I understand. But I’m willing to take responsibility for my siblings. There’s no need for them to take up valuable space at Grangeford. I’ll watch over them and provide for them.” She had no idea how she would actually accomplish that, but she had to try to convince the woman it was true.

  The matron pursed her lips. “As I’ve already said, I can’t release them to you unless you can show evidence of guardianship and the ability to support them, as well as settle their accounts. Are you prepared to do that today?”

  Laura shifted in her seat. “No, I’m not, but there has to be some other way—”

  “There is no other way, Miss McAlister!” The matron swiped the files closed and rose from her chair. “You may write to your siblings, but that is the only contact allowed. Now, you will have to excuse me. I have pressing duties I need to attend to.”

  Laura stood, her heart hammering. “Please, Mrs. Stafford, I just want to see them!”

  “Good day, Miss McAlister.” The matron strode past Laura and out the office door without looking back.

  Heat radiated in Laura’s face, and her hands shook. Why were rules and regulations more important than keeping a family from being torn apart?

  Laura snatched up her umbrella and marched out the door and into the hall. Mrs. Stafford might think she had the last word, but Laura was not giving up! She would find a way to see Katie and Grace in spite of the matron’s hardhearted decision and Grangeford’s unbendable rules. And she would make sure they did not have to stay in this cold, impersonal institution one day longer than necessary.

  She pushed open the front door and stepped outside. A misty fog hung over the grounds, and rain still drizzled from the gloomy sky. She opened her umbrella and started down the drive.

  How did someone prove guardianship? She would probably need some kind of official document. Could she draw that up on her own, or would she need the help of a solicitor?

  Andrew Frasier’s offer of assistance flashed in her mind. She reached in her coat pocket and wrapped her fingers around his card. Biting her lip, she considered contacting him.

  Would he take on their case? Was it even fair to ask for his help when she had no income and no home to offer her siblings? She shook her head. He was a solicitor, not a miracle worker. He couldn’t just snap his fingers and solve these problems. She’d have to find someone else who could help her without expecting a financial payment or anything else from her.

  There had to be some way to free her brother and sisters. And she would not stop trying until they were safely in her care.

  * * *

  Katie slipped quietly out Grangeford’s side door and hurried down the stone steps. Moonlight cast stark shadows across the grass. A cold wind whistled under the eaves, making a keening sound and sending shivers down her back. If anyone found her outside at this hour, she would be in serious trouble. Keeping to the shadows, she crept around the side of the building with careful, light steps.

  This hour before lights out was the only free time she had each day. Most of the girls were resting on their beds, reading, or talking with friends. After telling them she needed to visit the water closet, she’d tiptoed down the steps and out the side door.

  She took a quick glance over her shoulder, then ran across the grass toward the shed, hoping she would find a note from Garth. On the way she grabbed an empty crate at the side of the shed and dragged it around back. With a silent plea toward heaven, she climbed up and reached into the knothole. Her fingers wrapped around a folded piece of paper. She pulled it out and held it up to the bright moonlight.

  Dear Katie, I hope this message reaches you in time. They put me on the list to go to Canada. I’m taking the place of another boy who was chosen but then couldn’t pass the medical exam.

  Katie blinked and stared at the words. Garth was going to Canada? It couldn’t be true! How could he even think of leaving her and Grace behind? She had heard some of the girls talking about friends at the home who had been sent to Canada, but it hadn’t made sense to her. Why were they sent away? What had they done?

  I told them Mum was coming for me, and I didn’t think I should be put on the list. But Mr. Gumblich, the overseer of all the boys, shook his head and said she won’t be coming for me. I don’t want to believe Mum is truly gone, but what else could he mean?

  Katie’s heart plunged, and a dizzy wave nearly knocked her off the crate. She grabbed the fence and held on. Mum wasn’t coming? She was gone? How could that be? Wouldn’t they tell her if Mum had died? Wouldn’t she somehow sense it? She lowered her gaze and read the rest, trying to make sense of Garth’s words.

  Have you heard from Mum? It’s been almost two weeks since the Grahams took her to the hospital. Why won’t someone tell us what happened? I thought Laura would come by now or at least Mrs. Graham would send word about Mum, but I’ve heard nothing. Please tell me what you know.

  They say I’ll be leaving on Tuesday. First I’ll be sent to a children’s home in Liverpool to prepare for the trip. I’m not sure how long that will take. After that, I’ll board a ship with a group of boys going to Canada. I asked Mr. Gumblich if they take girls, and he said they do. So, I think you should try to get on the list with Grace, so we can all go.

  Katie
lifted her hand to cover her mouth and stifle a cry. He wanted her to ask to go to Canada? That was crazy! She didn’t want to sail across the sea! Even if Mum couldn’t come for them, then surely Laura would come. Her sister wouldn’t leave them here forever. Katie shook her head and continued reading.

  They say Canada is a grand place with miles and miles of open country. There are families there who take in boys and girls to help on their farms and in their homes. Mr. Gumblich says it’s a good opportunity, and I should be glad to take that boy’s place. He says some people call it crossing the golden bridge, and we can build a new life there.

  But I can’t stop thinking about Mum and our life here in London. Things have been hard since Dad died, but at least we were together and we always took care of each other. I’m sorry I tried to steal that bread. I didn’t know it would set off this terrible chain of events. If only I could go back and make a different choice, but I can’t.

  I wish I could talk to you and be sure you’ll be coming to Canada with me. Somehow we must find a way to stay together, no matter what happens.

  Please leave me a note. I only have four more days here at Grangeford. I need to hear from you before I go!

  With love from your brother,

  Garth

  Hot tears blurred her vision, making it nearly impossible to reread that last part of the letter. Garth was leaving and going to Canada to make a new life. Mum was gone and would never come for them. Her shoulders sank, and a sob rose in her throat.

  Oh, Father, what should I do? I can’t imagine leaving England and going so far away.

  A small light flashed off to her left, then bobbed toward her.