For Momma

Kaiden wished there had been a storm that night. Maybe then people would have taken it seriously. Maybe then his mother and sister would have made it. Though it might not have mattered. They were third class after all.

He could see the ship on the horizon, ready to take him and his younger brother to America. His father was waiting. Jesse should be on that ship.

Aunt Keeva was watching with him. "I'm gonna miss you boys."

"You're just going to miss the free labor, Aintín."

Keeva laughed. "Ai. Won't lie about that. But I'm gonna miss ya pipe as well. And Jonah's hugs."

"I wish there was another way to travel," Kaiden admitted.

"Well, until you learn to walk on water, this is how it has to be." She turned and walked through the door. "Supper will be ready soon."

One last meal, one last night. Then to the wretched waters he would go.

The ride to the docks the next day was too fast. Kaiden had prayed for a broken wheel or a lame hoof but no luck.

"Where is that boy?" His Uncle Killian looked around. "Always late, that one."

"He's here," Keeva assured her husband. "There's always too many people down here."

"Uncail! Aintín!" Kaiden spotted him. Jesse had the same red hair as the rest of them. He had gotten taller and now had an inch on Killian.

"There's the boy!" Killian smiled.

"Not anymore," Keeva laughed. "He's a man now." She pulled Jesse into a hug. "Almost didn't recognize you."

"The fields of Ohio do that to you," Jesse smiled. "Kai! You've grown as well."

"Not as much as you," Kaiden shrugged.

"And you," Jesse knelt down, "Must be my little Jonah." The 5-year-old peeked out from behind Keeva's skirt. "I'm your older brother, Jesse."

"Aintín told me about you."

Jesse smiled. "The last time I saw you you had just started toddling."

Jonah giggled. "I walk good now."

"Well, show me then," Jesse encouraged. Jonah came out with his dopey grin and walked over to his brother. "That's amazing, Jo."

"Best be walking you boys to the ship," Killian sighed. "Can't have it leave without you."

Kaiden would have been perfectly fine with that outcome. But he knew he didn't have a choice.

"There you are," Keeva adjusted Jonah's coat. "Be a good boy for Jesse. And mind your father when you see him."

"Aren't you coming Aintín?" Jonah stared up with his wide eyes.

"Not yet," Keeva's smile was misty. "We'll follow you as soon as we sell the farm."

Kaiden was sure that would never happen. Jonah cried as the boat left. First, he'd lost his Momma before he'd even known her. Now he lost the only woman who had a chance of replacing her. Kaiden couldn't blame the boy.

Jesse was good with Jonah during the journey to England. As soon as they docked Jesse lead them to the second boat. He never let either of his brothers stay for a second. Soon they were off.

"We'll take a train to Ohio," Jesse told them. "Papa will pick us up, then it’s off to the farm, just outside of Kirtland. It's a beautiful place."

"I doubt it's prettier than Ireland."

"It's a different beauty," Jesse clarified.

Two days in, Kaiden couldn't sleep. He walked up to the deck. It was a clear night, the Milky Way stretching for eons. Did his mother see these same stars? Did Poppy do a jig in their light?

"Quite the view."

Kaiden sighed. "I want to be alone, Jesse."

"I think you've been alone long enough," Jesse leaned against the rail next to him.

"Who's taking care of Jonah?"

"He's asleep. And if he wakes up Maud knows where I am." Jesse looked up. "I never noticed the stars the first time."

"Momma cried," Kaiden remembered.

"I did too," Jesse admitted. "I think Papa would have if he'd known."

"Why'd he buy tickets on that ship?" Kaiden asked. "He could have picked any other boat!"

"He didn't know. No one did. It was supposed to be unsinkable."

"Someone should have told the iceberg."

Jesse laughed. "Yes, they should have."

They were quiet, watching the abyss above them. Poppy. She would have been ten now. They'd almost taken Jonah except he had been ill. So he was spared.

"Papa's getting remarried," Jesse blurted.

"What?" Kaiden tore his eyes from the stars. "To who?"

"There's a spinster nearby, Miss Celia. She teaches school. She;s nice enough." Jesse rubbed the back of his neck."Sorry, I've been trying to figure out how to tell you."

"You're terrible at it." Kaiden looked to the water. How cold was it? "Didn't he love her?"

"Of course he loves Momma," Jesse sighed. "But he needs help. He can't raise Jonah alone."

"But.."

"Momma's gone. And he misses her every day. So do I. But she's not coming back." Jesse leaned over the side. "She can't come back."

Kaiden looked at this brother. "Is it really better in America?"

"We can survive in America."

"Is that enough?"

"To start with." Jesse looked to his brother. "Eventually though we can thrive."

"Without Momma?"

"No. For Momma."

Kaiden looked to the sea again. His Momma had loved him. She had wanted them to live in America. To thrive and be better than they could have been in Ireland.

"For Momma," Kaiden agreed.