“Well, join our club, man. We all end up saying or doing the wrong thing a lot of the time, if not most of the time. Who can understand the mind of a woman? You’re no different from the rest of us,” Luke said.
“Even so. Elizabeth is way out of my league.”
“What makes you think so?” Michael asked.
He shrugged. “A feeling I’ve had since the day I met her.”
“She works for a living like the rest of us,” Luke said. “And I’ve seen her looking at you the same way you look at her, too.”
“You have?” John shrugged. “She’d never—”
“John.” Michael laughed. “You have a lot to learn about love. It doesn’t have a thing to do with being ‘out of one’s league.’ It has nothing to do with where one comes from, what social standing one is in, how rich or how poor. It doesn’t even have to do with having like personalities. It only has to do with how two people feel about each other. Whether they hate the thought of being apart, and don’t want to live one more day without being together as man and wife. It’s missing her when she isn’t with you, even if she’s only in another room. It’s—” He broke off and shrugged and chuckled. “Hard to explain.”
“Very true,” Luke added. “It’s wanting to protect the person you love with everything in you, wanting their happiness before your own and—”
John raised his hand and nodded toward the foyer. His ears had been taking in everything his friends said, but also listening for the return of the women. The sounds on the stairs let him know the women were on their way back down.
“I’m sure looking forward to that ball game this Saturday,” Luke said, understanding what his motions were all about. “I think it’s going to be a good one.”
John’s hearing had been right on as the women entered the room.
“Did you miss us?” Violet asked, crossing the room to her husband.
“No doubt about it, we did,” Michael responded.
“We missed you, too,” his wife responded.
Luke stood and hurried to Kathleen’s side. “I think we’ll be taking off. Colleen telephoned earlier and asked Kathleen if we could stop by for a few minutes.”
That meant he and Elizabeth would be alone on the walk home. John’s gaze met and caught Elizabeth’s and he wished...for so much more than he dared. All this talk with Michael and Luke hadn’t helped him shore up his determination to keep his distance from this woman. Instead they’d made him want to take one more chance. His friends had stirred up a hope he feared reality would dash out.
Still, when Elizabeth smiled at him, he let that hope take over and smiled back. Dear Lord, help me please. My feelings for this woman are growing with each passing day. But I’m afraid if I act on them, I’ll suffer more than a broken heart. This time I could lose a very dear friend. Please help me to know what to do. And what not to do, especially on this walk home.
“I suppose we should be on our way back, too, if you’re ready, Elizabeth?” John said.
“Yes, I suppose we should.” She turned to Michael and Violet. “Thank you so much for having us over. We do miss you at Heaton House.”
“We’ll have to do this more often,” Michael said. “I’m glad we have the ball game to look forward to this weekend.”
“So am I,” John said.
They all said their goodbyes, and once on the street Luke and Kathleen headed in the opposite direction, waving goodbye. “We’ll see you back at Heaton House.”
* * *
John glanced at Elizabeth and crooked his arm. She smiled and slipped her hand through, resting it on his sleeve.
“It’s a nice night out, isn’t it?” he asked.
“It is. I’m glad it’s cooled a bit since we came over. Maybe Mrs. Oliver will get a breeze in her apartment this evening.”
“I hope so,” John said. “It was nice visiting with Michael and Violet, wasn’t it?”
“It was. I’ve missed her since they married. And now I’ll have to get used to a new boarder next door when Kathleen leaves.”
“Yes. But so far we’ve been lucky to keep in touch and still be friends with those who’ve moved on. And you know it will be the same with Luke and Kathleen.”
“That’s true.” Elizabeth’s chest lightened at his words.
“And at least it’s never boring at Heaton House.”
“You’re right about that. Thank you for making me feel better, John. I must admit I was feeling a little down.”
“You’re welcome. I do understand, you know. Though it’s not quite the same and we men don’t...”
“Don’t what?”
“Well, we don’t...” What had he gotten himself into? Again, he wasn’t sure what to say without it sounding as if he were putting women down.
“You men don’t share quite as much as we women do?” She chuckled and smiled up at him. “Don’t have quite the same kind of gabfests?”
He laughed. She’d made it easy for him. “Not quite.”
“What did you talk about while we were upstairs?”
“Oh, this and that.” He wondered what she’d say if she knew they’d talked about her? “We’re all looking forward to the baseball game with you ladies.”
“Oh, I am, too. But I wasn’t joking. I don’t know much about the game, you know.”
“I’ll be glad to explain it to you.”
“That’s what I’m counting on.”
“I wish you could be with us on the Fourth of July.” He didn’t like the thought of her not being there. But more, he hated that her father was bringing someone he’d like her to think of as husband material. And what if she liked the man?
“So do I. But it’s only for the weekend.”
“That’s true.” But much could happen in a short time. Would she have that other man on her mind when she came home? Best to quit thinking or talking about it. “I think I’ll go back to the building with the windows painted shut and show the other tenants how to open them tomorrow. I’ve been worrying about it. I don’t know how they’re able to sleep at night.”
Elizabeth stopped in her tracks and actually hugged his arm. “Oh, John. Thank you! I’ve been worrying about that very same thing. Why don’t you get Luke to go with you? I’m sure he’d be glad to. His hours are pretty much his own, you know.”
“That’s a great idea, Elizabeth. I’ll ask him when he gets back tonight. You don’t remember any mention of windows being hard to open at any of the other buildings we checked out, do you?”
“No. But ever since we found out Mrs. Oliver’s were, I’ve wondered how many others might be.”
“Well, we’ll do what we can and maybe ask Kathleen to check into that in the buildings she visits.”
Elizabeth released a huge sigh. “I feel ever so much better now. I know I’ll sleep well tonight. You’re a good man, John Talbot.”
Her words sent his heart to swelling so big he was afraid it might burst. He looked down into her eyes and his gaze traveled over her face. Her eyes shined in the lamplight at the corner they’d halted at. He had to fight the urge to take her in his arms and kiss her soundly. He let out a deep breath and said, “Elizabeth Anderson, that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“Well, it’s true.” She gave a little jerk to his arm and took off a step, forcing him to come along with her. She chuckled. “But don’t you dare let it go to your head.”
They both laughed as they walked the half block to Heaton House.
Chapter Fourteen
The next night at dinner, John and Luke reported that they’d opened the windows in five apartments and showed others how to do it in ten more.
“It’s a start,” John said.
“At least we know some tenants will be able to get some air in their apartments at nigh
t. And we can check with more now that we know it’s a problem.” Elizabeth smiled at him. She wondered how she could ever have thought him full of himself. He was one of the most caring people she’d met and he couldn’t have become that way overnight. No, she’d made a snap judgment about him and let it stick far longer than she should have.
She’d wanted to throw her arms around his neck and hug him the night before when he’d said he was going back to open some of those windows. And when he’d gazed down at her after she’d told him what a nice man he was, she’d hoped he might kiss her again. Then she’d become afraid he would and that was when she’d jerked on his arm. She couldn’t let him kiss her again. They had to remain only friends. She couldn’t afford to let her feelings for him grow any stronger.
“I’ll be sure to find out what I can about the buildings I go into,” Kathleen said. “It’s a shame so many of them aren’t taken care of—and when they have been painted, it’s such a shoddy job that the tenants can’t open their windows.”
“I know,” Elizabeth said. “It makes me sad and angry all at the same time. I hope we find out who owns these awful buildings soon.”
“We will. Having Michael looking into it will help, too. He’s got connections I don’t have,” John said.
“I’m sure you already have more connections than you think just from covering events for the society page. Many of those people will remember your name and how you wrote about them—you’ve always found something nice to say, much as it might have pained you to do so. They won’t forget,” Elizabeth assured him. As soon as the words left her mouth she wondered what she was thinking. Would he suspect that she knew those people better than she let on? But then she was rewarded with a smile that had her pulse racing to keep up with her heartbeat.
“Thank you. In fact, you may be right about that. At the last charity function I covered, the host came up to me and mentioned that he’d enjoyed my first article.”
“Well, then, see? Through your covering all those society events, you’ve met a lot of influential people and you’ll have all the connections you need when you need them most one day,” Elizabeth said.
“That is, if I don’t make some of them angry with my coverage on the tenements. The paper has already gotten threats of advertising being pulled. I hope it doesn’t happen and my editor says we’re going on with the stories, but I’d hate for him to change his mind.”
“We’ll be praying he doesn’t. And whoever they are, they are just trying to get their way. Wouldn’t it make them look suspicious to pull advertising? Why would they possibly want to call attention to themselves if they own one of those buildings?” Mrs. Heaton asked from the head of the table.
“That’s what we’re thinking, Mrs. Heaton.”
“Well, I’m very proud of you and Elizabeth for getting stories out there and of Kathleen for all the work she does in the tenements. I feel we are doing all we can to make things better for those living in such deplorable conditions.”
A thought suddenly came to Elizabeth and her heart twisted deep in her chest. “Are you in any danger from writing these articles, John?”
Mrs. Heaton gasped. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Neither had I until now,” Elizabeth said. But now that she had, she needed an answer.
“I suppose anything is possible. But I don’t believe I am. Please don’t worry about me. I think the worst anyone would do is put so much pressure on the paper that they would stop the articles. But my editor is more enthused than ever about them, so I’m not really worried about that right now and I don’t want you to worry, either.”
Her thoughts flitting all over the place about the possibility of John being in danger, Elizabeth managed to send up a prayer. She was determined to trust the Lord to keep John safe.
* * *
John could see the concern in Elizabeth’s eyes. She truly cared about what happened to him—even if only as a friend. But knowing she cared enough that she would turn pale at the thought of anything happening to him, made his heart swell with joy...and made him long for more.
He’d thought of the conversation at Michael’s the night before over and over again. Could he and Luke be right? Did Elizabeth have a special look for him? And had she noticed the way he looked at her, as Luke had? One thing was for certain—he was still as unsure of himself where Elizabeth was concerned as he’d ever been. He wanted to believe, wanted to hope—
“Are either of you covering the Vanderbilts’ charity event tomorrow night?”
“I am,” he and Elizabeth both said at the same time and then chuckled.
“I believe it might be my last time for these things from what my editor said.” John glanced at Elizabeth. “Want to go together?”
Elizabeth seemed a bit surprised by his invitation and he couldn’t tell what she was thinking. Everyone at the table quieted as if waiting for her answer, too, and John found himself holding his breath.
“I— Well, yes, why not?” She smiled at him.
“Good. We can split up when we get there and cover the room and then compare notes afterward.”
“That’s a good idea. And then we might be able to get out of there earlier than normal.”
John grinned. “That’s what I was thinking.”
* * *
As dinner came to an end and everyone began heading into the parlor, Elizabeth could only wonder what she’d been thinking to agree to going to the Vanderbilts’ with John on Friday. What if someone mentioned her in connection with her aunt? What if John found out she was one of “them” while there? Oh, please, Lord, help me here. Should I have said no? Should I back out?
Deep down she knew the answer to both those questions was no. It was time to let those she cared about know her secret, especially as she’d let so much out the other night about her father. But she didn’t want to just blurt it out. She felt she owed Kathleen and John the courtesy of telling them privately.
But John had excused himself and gone downstairs to work, so telling him would have to wait. However, she had no excuse where Kathleen was concerned. They spoke nearly every night when they went upstairs to bed, told each other things they didn’t tell anyone else. Except that Kathleen had been more honest about her past than Elizabeth had. Would she still be her friend once she knew?
Just the thought of what she and John and the others might think of her was enough to set her to trembling on the inside. Trying not to think about it, she forced herself to play charades with the others until it was time to go upstairs. But thankfully, Luke excused himself early to go work on his latest dime novel and Kathleen slipped into the foyer to tell him good-night. When she came back in, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkling.
“You look awfully happy,” Elizabeth said to her. And here I am going to spoil that mood in a bit.
“Well, you look awfully pale. You aren’t sick, are you?” Kathleen asked.
“No. I’m fine.” For now, at least. She wasn’t sure how she’d feel once she told her best friend what she’d been keeping from her for months. Or, in John’s case—for several years. Oh, why didn’t I come to You about all of this in the beginning, Lord? Well, not doing so had its consequences and she’d have to live with them, no matter what.
“No. That’s not exactly true. I need to speak with you.”
“Let’s go up, then. I can tell something is wrong and I want to know what.”
Millicent and Julia decided to head upstairs at the same time and they all told each other good-night at the top of the stairs. Kathleen followed Elizabeth into her room and shut the door. “Oh, I’m relieved that they didn’t want to chat. Now, tell me what is bothering you.”
“Let’s sit down.” Elizabeth led the way to the settee in front of the fireplace and they both took a seat. But Elizabeth found she couldn’t sit still. She jumped up and beg
an to pace. How was she going to go about this?
“Elizabeth, you have me concerned. Whatever is wrong?”
“It’s me. I’ve been wrong. I haven’t been totally truthful with you or John and some of the others. And now I know I must tell you about it. But I’m afraid to tell you in fear that you won’t want to be my friend any longer.”
“Oh, Elizabeth. Come sit down. You have nothing to fear. You’ve been there for me from the day I was brought to Heaton House. You’re my best friend and I can’t imagine you telling me anything that would change that. I know you—”
“No. You don’t. Not really, anyway. Oh, you know me, but you don’t know who I really am.”
“Well, come sit and tell me.” Kathleen patted the spot on the settee that Elizabeth had vacated.
Elizabeth released a long sigh and took her seat once more. “My real name is Elizabeth Anderson Reynolds and my father is Charles Edward Reynolds of Boston. I know that probably doesn’t mean much to you, but he is very wealthy and well...so am I.”
“Why, Elizabeth, there is certainly nothing wrong with being wealthy. Why would you think—”
“The money isn’t important to me except for what I can do to help others. But my father never saw it that way and I had to fight for my independence to be able to do what I felt was right. And then...well, I didn’t want the other boarders here to look at me as anything but one of them. But I worry about everyone finding out and feeling I’ve deceived them and—”
Kathleen reached over and gave Elizabeth a hug. “Oh, sweet friend, I think I do understand. At least as much as I can, coming from such a different background. And you have nothing to apologize to me for. I have things in my background that I’d rather not have everyone know about, either.”
Compassion for Kathleen flooded Elizabeth. It wouldn’t be easy to tell people that your brother-in-law beat you and then later tried to kill your sister. Would have, if the police hadn’t shown up and shot him in the nick of time. All that and living in the tenements, striving to get ahead.
She sighed in relief that she could still call this wonderful woman her best friend. “Thank you so much, Kathleen. I hope the others are as understanding as you. I’m afraid John might...”
A Home for Her Heart Page 15