The Mother's Confession Paperback

November 1884
For sixteen years Nell carried a secret. Now she must confront the truth. Face to face.

After nine months on board the SS Arizona, Nell is ready to return to life on dry land, but the memories she sought to flee, are still fresh in her mind.

Keen to rebuild her life, she seeks out her old acquaintances. She is even happy to see an ex-colleague and offer him the hand of friendship.

As their relationship grows, thoughts of the future surface. But not everyone is happy about the arrangement.

When an old friend learns the identity of her new companion, he’s prepared to ruin everything.

Is her new relationship strong enough to survive the attack? Or will a final revelation convince her admirer he was right to doubt her all along?

Liverpool, November 1884



Thick grey clouds shrouded the sun as Nell Riley stepped onto the deck of the SS Arizona and rested her arms on the rail overlooking the Port of Liverpool. The last of the passengers were trudging down the gangplank into the throng of people on the landing stage, and she scanned the faces looking up at the ship. You knew there’d be nobody here. She turned to the stewardesses who’d been her companions for the previous nine months. 


“This is it, then.” 


“It is for you. I’ll be here again next year.” The older of her colleagues stood with her back to the wind, holding her hat. “Are you sure you won’t change your mind?” 


“I am. I’m ready to stay at home and see what that brings.” Nell stared down at the growing crowd. “Will either of you have anyone waiting?”


“My mam will be here.” A young blond-haired stewardess waved to the crowd. “Not that I can see her.”


The older woman sighed. “There’ll be no one here for me, only my sister, when I reach her house.”
“

That’s what you get for being so rude to the stewards.” The younger girl continued to search the crowd and missed the scowl on her colleague’s face. 


“Being overfriendly nearly got you into a lot of trouble, and you’d be as well to remember that.”


“I’d rather that, than still be a spinster when I’m your age…” She stopped when the head steward interrupted them. 


“Are you ready to leave, ladies?”


Nell nodded. “As ready as we’ll ever be.”


“If you’ll follow me, I’ll escort you from the ship.”


Nell was the last down the gangplank, and she stepped to one side as a second steward followed with their luggage. 


“Good day, ladies. Have a good Christmas.”
The young stewardess bounced on her toes and waved as an older version of herself headed towards her. “There’s me mam. I can’t wait to tell her about the trip.” She grabbed her bag and, with little more than a backward glance, disappeared into the crowd.


The older woman picked up her case. “She’ll be someone else’s problem now. Thank goodness. I couldn’t cope with her for another year.”


Nell smirked. “You don’t know who you’ll get to replace her yet.”


“Don’t say that. These young girls think they’re coming on the ship to look for a husband, not to work. If you ever change your mind, you know where we are…” She offered her hand to the steward. “Farewell until next year, sir. Goodbye, Mrs Riley.”