Loaded Hearts First 60 Pages

After some moments, her mother gently unwrapped Mai’s arms and wiped away the tears. Tilting Mai’s chin she said, “You must have courage.”
Her mother picked up the bag, walked over to the waiting coracle and handed the luggage to the oarsman.
Still speechless, Tam swung his bag into the boat and climbed on board.
“But I’ll never see you again,” Mai cried.
“Of course you will.”
“When?”
Mai’s mother hoisted her into the flimsy craft. “The gods will look after you and your brother.” Mai’s cries rose above the waves. “Shush, my child, you mustn’t be discovered.”
The other passengers looked back to the river mouth. “Quiet, you two,” someone growled, “we don’t want the police.”
Mai’s cries quietened to small sobs. And then to hiccups. The last passenger climbed over the edge of the basket boat.
Their mother nodded and smiled, waved her hand, and whispered into the wind, “I promise I’ll see you one day.”
Through her wild tears and the starry darkness, Mai watched her mother standing alone on the beach, until the skiff reached the fishing boat and she and Tam had to clamber on board. When she looked back, she saw only a pale blur; the gloom had swallowed her mother’s features.
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