When I Come Home by Michael Grant

When I Come Home by Michael Grant

Author:Michael Grant
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, world war ii, family, ireland, new york city, 1940s love and loss
Publisher: Michael Grant


It turned out Mrs. Krueger was right. Booking passage proved to be a lot more difficult than Nancy had thought. She made a list of all the passenger steam ship companies in the city. The next morning, as soon as the children went off to school, she headed downtown to the Cunard White Star office, one of the world’s largest shipping companies.

A middle-aged man with a pinched face, looked up from his desk with an air of mild annoyance. “Yes, may I help you?” he asked with a slight British accent.

“I’d like to inquire about booking passage to Ireland in October or November.”

The clerk’s eyebrows arched. “That’s not possible. The government has requisitioned all suitable ships to serve as either troop transport or hospital ships.”

“But the war is over.”

“Perhaps, but these ships are still being used to transport servicemen back to their respective countries,” he said, as though that should be evident to her.

Ignoring his patronizing tone, she persisted. “When do you think ships will become available for civilian passengers?”

“I’m sure I have no idea. That’s a decision for the government and I am not privy to its deliberations.”

Discouraged, but undeterred, she visited the rest of the shipping companies on her list, but, to her dismay, the responses were the same. The clerks at the other companies were more polite and understanding, but the answers were still the same. No ships would be carrying civilian passengers until further notice.

With each discouraging response, Nancy’s cautious optimism gave way to despair and panic. It was mid-September. If Kaplan was right about the storm conditions in the Atlantic, she had less than ten weeks to book passage, pack, and be ready to go. But the weather was the least of it. By now, based on the responses she’d gotten, she was prepared to go in December or January, if necessary, storms be damned. No matter what, she had to get back to Ireland by February 15th. Kaplan had written the solicitor in Ireland requesting an extension, but the magistrate would not, under any circumstances, extend his moratorium.

It was late afternoon by the time she got to Oceans Ltd., the last shipping company on her list. She got the same answer here as well. As a disheartened Nancy was leaving, the elderly woman clerk said, “Have you tried Emerald Star Lines?”

Nancy consulted her list. “I’ve never heard of it.”

“That’s because the line is primarily a freight carrier, but I think they have one of two small passenger ships. You might want to try there.”



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