A Place of Refuge

by Janet Lee Barton

  “How are Kathleen and her nephews?” Mrs. Heaton asked. “I remember those little boys from that day in the park.”

  Luke smiled. “I’m sure they’re better now that they have their aunt Kathleen. I believe they were almost asleep when I left.”

  “And Kathleen? How is she?” Violet asked.

  Luke swallowed hard, remembering her sobs. “It’s been hard on her, but Kathleen will do whatever she needs to.”

  “We told Mother that we tried to get her to bring her nephews here, but that she said no,” Michael said.

  “Well, they aren’t going to stay there for much longer, rest assured of that. Not if Violet, Elizabeth and I have anything to do with it,” Mrs. Heaton declared. “We’ve been working on a project for a while now—even before Kathleen came to stay. And even harder once she did.”

  “What is it?” Luke asked. “What do you have planned?”

  “It will take Kathleen and her sister both working, unless one of them marries and possibly even then, to afford a decent place to live,” Mrs. Heaton said. “But they have no child care apart from depending on a neighbor and that isn’t something they can depend on permanently. And it’s not getting them out of the tenements.

  “So, we are going to try to get some kind of child care started,” his mother added. “Surely there are those who love children and would be thrilled to be paid to keep them while their mothers work. Or maybe it will be a chance for some mothers to work and have their children with them while they watch over other children, since not all employers want to hire married women—especially mothers—although some of them are the most in need of work.”

  “Are you hoping that some businesses or benefactors will see the need and provide the space?” If so, the idea made good sense to Luke.

  “Yes. That’s it, exactly.” Violet seemed pleased that he was interested.

  “It’s a good idea,” Michael said. “I’ll run it by some people I know. If you can get a few started in different parts of the city, then it will be easier to get more people on board. What about our churches? If we could get them to sponsor or help to sponsor one or two children or the homes, that would help.”

  “That is a wonderful idea, son. Would you bring it up to the church elders?”

  “Certainly I will. I must say, I’m quite proud of you all for coming up with this idea,” Michael said.

  “You know, I’d like to write an article about the need,” John said. “I can’t guarantee that it will get in the paper or, even if it does, that it won’t be buried on the back pages, but it might generate some interest.”

  “Oh, John, that is a good idea,” Elizabeth said. “I’ll run it by my editors at The Delineator. Maybe they will ask to reprint your article or ask for another.”

  “Thank you, Elizabeth.”

  Luke hoped the plan worked. He wanted Kathleen and her family out of the tenements as soon as possible.

  Everyone seemed very enthusiastic about the project and Luke could see that Mrs. Heaton, Elizabeth and Violet were quite determined to carry it through.

  “For now,” Mrs. Heaton said, “Clara has excused Kathleen from work, but she won’t be able to do it indefinitely. And of course that doesn’t fill their immediate need for food and all—”

  “Why don’t we take up a collection? I’m sure everyone here will chip in and maybe Mrs. Driscoll could collect from work,” Elizabeth said.

  “That’s another great idea,” Luke said. He’d been planning on sending something to Kathleen anonymously but he’d add his contribution to the rest. “How long do you think this plan will take to firm up?” Luke asked.

  “We’re hoping to be able to tell Kathleen and her sister about it in a few weeks,” Mrs. Heaton said.

  Luke nodded. That wasn’t all that long. Not really. So why did it feel like forever?

  * * *

  Luke knew the tenements would look much worse in the daylight, but when he accompanied Mrs. Heaton and Elizabeth to take Kathleen’s things to her the next afternoon after Sunday dinner, he was still taken aback by the utter hopelessness in the faces of some of the tenants.

  He’d been in and out of areas like this one before, but never had someone he cared about lived in those conditions. Much as it bothered him before, having Kathleen move back there lit a fire inside him to complete his book.

  Many of these people had come to this country to have a better life than where they’d come from, just as Kathleen’s family had. But if this was better—and he didn’t possibly know how it could be with people so crowded together—he hated to think of what it must have been like in their homelands.

  From the look on Mrs. Heaton’s and Elizabeth’s faces, they were dealing with the same kinds of feelings. Luke lifted Kathleen’s satchel out of the hack and Mrs. Heaton and Elizabeth grabbed the bags of extras they’d brought.

  If possible, the stairwells and halls were dingier in the daylight where what sunlight did find its way in caught up all the dust moats and illuminated the filth. The odors clung to the air and the yelling seemed even louder, although not quite as menacing as in the dark of the night before.

  They didn’t know if Kathleen would be home or not, but were hoping that she was as they made their way down the hall to her sister’s apartment. Luke knocked on the door and waited. He thought he heard the murmur of voices, but couldn’t be sure where it was coming from.

  Just as he’d decided to check with the neighbor and see if Kathleen had left the boys with her and gone to the hospital, the door opened slightly. Kathleen peeked out and then opened the door a bit wider. She stood there with her two young nephews peeking out from behind her skirt.

  “You didn’t have to do this today,” Kathleen said. “I would have come to collect my things.”

  “We wanted to check on you and your family,” Mrs. Heaton said, smiling at the children. She brushed past Kathleen and into the apartment. “And your sister? How is she, do you know?”

  “I haven’t had a chance to go see her yet, but I’m praying that she is better.”

  “Well, let’s take care of that,” Mrs. Heaton said. “Luke can take you to the hospital and Elizabeth and I will stay with the children until you get back.”

  “Oh, no, Mrs. Heaton. I couldn’t ask you to do that. Thank you so much, but this is no place for you. I’ll leave them with the neighbor later on and go see about Colleen.”

  “No place for me? It’s no place for you and your family, either. It is no place for anyone, Kathleen, dear. But if you insist on staying here for now, then you must expect to see us from time to time. You’ve become dear to me and to all of us, and we’ll not let that connection be lost.”

  “I—”

  “Please, Kathleen, let us help you,” Elizabeth implored. “The children will be fine with us and we brought them a treat.”

  “Might as well say yes, Kathleen,” Luke said. “We aren’t leaving and you may as well let me take you to the hospital to find out how your sister is doing.”

  “I...” She looked around the room and then gave a shrug as if she didn’t want them to see it, but as they were already inside, there was nothing she could do about it. “All right. Thank you.”

  She turned to the boys. “This is Mr. Patterson from last night. Do you remember him?”

  Both boys nodded and Luke smiled at them.

  “And this is Mrs. Heaton, the lady whose home I lived in while I was gone, and this is Elizabeth. She’s a good friend, too. They are very nice people and they’re going to watch you while I go see how your mama is doing. You behave yourselves, you hear?”

  The boys nodded again, Brody with a thumb stuck in his mouth.

  “I’ll tell Mama that you miss her and want her home quickly.” She kissed the tops of their heads and nodded to Luke. “Let’s go.”

  The
boys continued to hold on to her skirt, looking first at Elizabeth and then Mrs. Heaton. Then the older boy—maybe five or six years old—whispered to his little brother. The little one nodded and smiled at the women. Still keeping one hand on Kathleen’s skirt, he gave a half wave as if a little afraid to fully acknowledge seeing them before.

  “It’ll be fun. We brought you a treat,” Mrs. Heaton said, looking at Kathleen and giving her a wink.

  “Gretchen sent some of her molasses cookies and some other things she thought you could use,” Elizabeth explained, digging into one of the bags and bringing out a smaller bag of cookies.

  The boys looked to their aunt and at her nod, they immediately let go of her skirt and hurried over to Mrs. Heaton, who handed each of them a cookie.

  “Thank you,” Kathleen said as she and Luke walked out the door.

  She walked ahead of him and Luke could tell by now that when she held herself so rigid, she was trying to hide her emotions.

  But last night, just for a few minutes, she’d let her guard down and let him see a side of her he was sure not many did. And somehow that made him feel that she might be coming to trust him. Maybe, just a little. Only time would tell.

  * * *

  Kathleen let Luke help her into the hack he’d kept waiting outside. As they had last night, children and others had surrounded it—they didn’t see many hired vehicles in this part of town.

  But many of them asked about her sister and told her they’d say a prayer for her. Kathleen kept assuring herself that the hospital would have gotten word to her if Colleen had taken a turn for the worse, but she wouldn’t rest until she saw her.

  “Thank you for coming,” she said, turning to Luke. “I was about to take the boys to Rose, but they were afraid to leave in case their mama came home today. I tried to tell them that she’d have to stay in the hospital a few days, but they don’t really understand and I couldn’t bring myself to tell them about the baby.”

  “That’s understandable, Kathleen. It’d be difficult for any of us.” He reached out for her hand and she slipped it into his, somehow needing his touch. Luke covered her hand with his larger one and gave it a light squeeze. “Maybe you’ll have good news to share with them when we get back.”

  “I hope so. Right now my prayer is just for Colleen to get better.”

  “I’m praying the same, as I’m sure all the others at Heaton House are.”

  “Thank you, Luke. It does comfort me to know that.”

  They arrived at the hospital just then and Luke helped her out of the hack and then kept a hand on her elbow as they went inside and up to Colleen’s room.

  Kathleen turned to him at the door. “I’m not sure if you— She doesn’t know you, other than what I’ve written in my letters and...”

  “It’s all right, Kathleen. You go on in. I’ll wait over on that bench for you.” He pointed to a bench right across from the doorway where he could see into the room. “If you need me, just wave.”

  Kathleen nodded. She really wished he could come with her. Colleen had looked so terrible last night, that even though the doctor said she’d recover, Kathleen wasn’t so sure. She’d like some support when she saw her for the first time today. But she didn’t know how Colleen would react to seeing Luke or anyone besides her and she didn’t want to stress her any more than she already must be.

  She made her way down the aisle to the last bed. Colleen’s eyes were closed and Kathleen pulled a chair up to her side as quietly as she could. Her sister’s color looked a little better than last night—at least where it wasn’t bruised.

  Kathleen bowed her head to pray and placed a hand over Colleen’s. Her touch made her sister jerk awake.

  “Ahh...Kathleen, ’tis you. How are my boys? Where are they?”

  “Shh, don’t get yourself all wound up. Collin and Brody are fine. I wouldn’t have left them if they weren’t. But they are anxious for news of you and I had to see how you are.”

  “I lost the baby.... Did they tell you?”

  “They did. I’m so sorry, Colleen. But I’m thankful that you are still here with us. The boys and I need you.”

  “And I need to get out of here so I can take care of them.”

  “Colleen, you need to recover more before you even think of coming home. I’m taking care of the boys until you can.”

  “Where are they? Are they with Rose?”

  Kathleen shook her head. “No, Luke—Mr. Patterson—came by to bring me to see you, and Mrs. Heaton and one of my friends are with the boys at your apartment.”

  Colleen looked around. “Luke—he’s the man who helped us that day in the park? The one you’ve written me about?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “He’s in the hall. I wasn’t sure how you’d be or how you’d feel about seeing a stranger with me.”

  Her sister surprised her by saying, “Please ask him to come in. I’d like to meet him.”

  Kathleen stood and looked down the aisle to see Luke looking into the room from his bench. He hadn’t grabbed a paper to read. Instead he seemed to be doing just as he said he’d do. Waiting to see if she needed him. She smiled and waved him in.

  Luke smiled and nodded as he stood and made his way into the room.

  “Here he comes now.”

  As Luke made it to her side, she turned to Colleen. “This is Mr. Luke Patterson, Colleen. Luke, this is my sister, Colleen Sullivan. She wanted to meet you.”

  “I’m pleased to meet you, Mrs. Sullivan. And I’m very sorry about your loss.”

  Kathleen saw the tears well up in her sister’s eyes as she nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Patterson. And thank you for helping us that day in the park and for being there for my sister the night I sent her to Heaton House.”

  Luke smiled down at her sister, who looked so battered and bruised, much as she herself must have looked when she arrived at Heaton House. “You’re welcome, but there is no need to thank me. I would hope any other man—”

  “Oh, no. Not just any man would have come to our aid that day. But you did. And for that, Kathleen and I will be forever grateful.”

  Kathleen could tell Luke didn’t know what to say and he seemed a bit uncomfortable, so she quickly changed the subject. “Do you know when your doctor will be in to see you?”

  “You just missed him. He came in earlier and said that I might be able to go home tomorrow.”

  “That seems awfully early after all you’ve been through.”

  “I’ll heal better at home than here. I want to be with my boys. And besides, look around, Kathleen. They don’t have any empty beds in this ward.”

  Kathleen glanced around the ward and found her sister was right. Last night there’d been a couple of empty beds, but today it looked as if those were filled and a couple more brought in.

  “Well, I’ll be there to help you. I do have to let Mrs. Driscoll know why I didn’t come in today.”

  “I would imagine that Mrs. Heaton has already done that. She mentioned that she’d telephoned her this morning,” Luke informed her.

  Kathleen saw her sister smile. “I’m so glad Mrs. Heaton gave you her card, Kathleen, and that you kept it. It appears I sent you to the right place.”

  “Oh, there is no doubt about that, Mrs. Sullivan,” Luke said. “None at all. I’ll be glad to help Kathleen get you back home tomorrow, if the doctor does release you.”

  “That would be nice of you, Mr. Patterson. Thank you.”

  Luke’s offer didn’t surprise Kathleen but it warmed her heart and gave her some peace. Her new friends—or family, as she’d come to think of most of them—weren’t going to forget her just because she wouldn’t be living at Heaton House. They’d already shown they’d be there for her and her family. She had much to be thankful for.


  Chapter Nine

  Colleen had been allowed to come home the next day. Luke had helped get her home, but she still seemed to be very fragile and he could tell Kathleen was afraid to leave her alone.

  Once she was settled in her room, Kathleen came out and said, “Would you mind staying for a few minutes while I run and ask Rose if she can come over while I go to the grocers and the pharmacy?”

  “I will, but there’s no need to ask Mrs. Walsh. I can run any errands you need,” Luke said. “I can take the boys with me and you can stay with Colleen.”

  “I don’t want to impose on you.” She shook her head.

  “Kathleen, you aren’t imposing on me.” Luke rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “I’m your friend—at least I hope you consider me one. Please let me help you.”

  “You have work to do, Luke. You can’t keep taking off for me.”

  “I can write at night—one of the blessings of being a writer.” He pushed an errant strand of her beautiful hair behind her ear. He’d love to pull her in his arms and tell her not to worry, that as she took care of her sister, others were trying to find a way to help them both. But he didn’t want to say anything in case Mrs. Heaton and the others’ plans fell through.

  And just because she’d let him hold her once didn’t mean it would ever happen again. He could see the wariness in her eyes and quickly lowered his hand. “Now, please give me a list. Your sister needs to nap and it will do the boys good to get out in the fresh air and quit worrying about their mama for a bit.”

  Collin and Brody had been overjoyed to see their mother and now they each sat on the bed beside her. But Colleen looked exhausted and they looked worried.

  Kathleen nodded and began to write a short list. Then she handed him some bills and called to the boys. Luke stuffed the money in his pocket, knowing she’d never take it back.

  “Want to go to the store with Mr. Patterson?” she asked the boys. “He’s going to pick up a few things for us and you two know what items your mama uses and can help him, if he has any questions.”