Page 220 of The Sun Sister

‘Yes, we really are, darling,’ Cecily replied as Lankenua packed the last of their bits and pieces inside the trunk. Cecily pressed the bell for the steward. ‘In a moment, we’ll go up on deck and you can see the Statue of Liberty. It’s very famous, and it’s there to welcome travellers from all over the world.’

The steward duly arrived to take their luggage and Cecily tipped him, then made sure that their papers were safely stowed in her purse.

It had been a rush to get everything organised; Lankenua and Stella had needed all sorts of paperwork for their entry into the port in New York. Birth certificates, passports and statements of sponsorships by British officials had had to be issued, and Cecily was only glad of Bill’s connections at Government House. After consultation with Nygasi, a suitable surname had been chosen for them both to pass through immigration without a problem.

‘We’ve entered the Hudson River, ma’am, and the Statue of Liberty will be visible in about ten minutes,’ said the steward.

‘Come on,’ Cecily said to Stella and Lankenua, ‘let’s go up on deck and see her!’

‘I stay here.’ Lankenua shook her head, physically shivering at the thought, even though she was wearing Cecily’s thick tweed coat.

‘Okay.’ Cecily held out a hand to Stella. ‘We’ll go.’

Up on the first-class deck, there were few who had dared to venture out in the freezing temperatures, though when Cecily looked down, she could see arms stretched out and hear cheers from the lower decks.

‘There she is!’ she said, pointing to her left as the heavy fog swirled round the bay.

‘Where? I can’t see her,’ said Stella.

‘There...’ Cecily pointed at the statue. The sight brought tears to her eyes, which she wiped away quickly before they could freeze to her skin in the frigid air. Lady Liberty’s benevolent face welcomed the weary travellers, holding her beacon aloft amidst the fog. Cecily had never felt so pleased to see her.

Stella looked up at her. ‘But she’s so small! You told me everything in America was much bigger.’

‘Well, she’s very special, more of a symbol than anything else,’ Cecily sighed. ‘Once the fog clears, you’ll see the skyscrapers.’

‘What is this?’ Stella put out her small hand as white flakes fell onto her palm.

‘Why, it’s snow! Remember the pictures I showed you? It’s what falls when Santa is due to arrive, and you’ll see a lot of it here.’

‘Santa Claus lives here in Manhattan?’ Stella’s eyes widened.

‘No, but he sends the snow from the North Pole at Christmas so that his sleigh can land on it and leave gifts for good little children.’

‘Ooh, it’s so cold.’ Stella rubbed her nose. ‘Can we go inside now?’

‘Of course we can, sweetie. But I promise, you are going to love Manhattan,’ she said as Stella took her hand and they walked back down to their cabin.

Cecily was only thankful for the privilege of travelling first class rather than in steerage. When they docked and she handed their papers to the immigration official, she smiled and fluttered her lashes.

‘Oh! I’m so glad to be home, sir. It’s been a long seven years,’ she said as the official studied their documents.

‘And how long are you staying, Miss Huntley-Morgan?’

‘We’re just here for a visit. I’m due to marry my fiancé in Kenya in February,’ she repeated as she’d been told to, given that her passport still showed her as a single woman.

‘So, both Mrs Ankunu and her daughter Stella will be travelling back to Africa along with you?’

‘Of course. As you can see, our return passage papers are right here. I mean, one wouldn’t forget and leave one’s maid and her daughter behind, would one?’ Cecily giggled girlishly.

‘No, of course not, ma’am,’ the official said, eyeing both Lankenua and Stella. ‘Do they speak English?’

‘Not well, no,’ said Cecily quickly. ‘But it’ll be fun for them to see Manhattan, won’t it?’

‘It will.’ The official stamped Lankenua’s and Stella’s passports. ‘Welcome to the United States, and a very merry Christmas to all of you.’

Cecily breathed a sigh of relief as she left the hut, briefly looking back and seeing a queue of goodness knew how many people stretching from the ship gangplank, standing out in the freezing cold.

‘Okay,’ she said as they emerged into the arrivals area. ‘We made it! Oh my! I’m so excited!’ She laughed as she saw Mama, Papa and their chauffeur, Archer, waving at them. ‘Let’s go meet my family!’