River Sing Me Home

Now in Port of Spain, the group finds rest at an inn. With their provisions and money drying up, Rachel goes to the market to find information about Cherry Jane and Mercy. After not finding any leads, Rachel walks to the wealthier part of the town. While gazing into one of the windows, she notices a woman who looks like Cherry Jane speaking to a man. Excited, she shouts her name. A servant warns her that if she does not leave, she will alert authorities. While Rachel is locking eyes with Cherry Jane, Cherry Jane turns away from her mother.

Rachel wonders briefly if she was mistaken but concludes that she had indeed seen her daughter. The following day, Rachel decides to learn the town’s geography. While at the quay, she meets Cherry Jane who is dressed lavishly.

Cherry Jane does not embrace Rachel as her other children do. She is cold toward her mother. Cherry Jane says that she cannot be seen at the quay because “the people here believe certain things about me. About where I’m from. Who I am” (249). Rachel understands that her light-skinned daughter is passing for a free, mixed-race woman.