“It’s not a problem at all.” Luke turned to Kathleen. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
There was nothing to do but go with him and try not to let Mrs. Heaton see how frustrated she was at Luke for starting all this. It hurt that they didn’t feel she could do the job by herself. “Let’s go. See you this afternoon, Mrs. Heaton.”
“You two have a good day,” the older woman said as they headed toward the front door.
Once they were on the trolley, Luke turned to her. “What was that all about?”
“Mrs. Heaton overheard you talking about my safety and decided you were right. But, Luke, it’s the job they hired me to do. I can’t always have someone with me.”
“Maybe it is a job for two people.”
Kathleen sighed. “I don’t want them thinking I can’t handle it.”
“They aren’t going to think that for a moment. But they aren’t going to want you in danger any more than I do.”
Her pulse skittered at his words. How was she going to distance herself from him when he turned her heart to mush?
Chapter Seventeen
Luke went with Kathleen to the Walshes’ and was welcomed into their apartment right along with her. Mrs. Walsh had the kettle on, along with a pot of coffee.
“Which do you prefer, Mr. Patterson?”
“Coffee, please.”
She set a cup in front of him and brought a teapot and two cups to the table for her and Kathleen.
“Well, what is your decision?” Kathleen asked once the woman joined them at the table.
She let out a huge sigh and grinned. “We would very much like to run the home if the Ladies’ Aide Society wants us to.”
“Oh, Rose, I’m so glad. With Colleen running the first one, I don’t know anyone I’d trust more to run another than you and your husband.”
“And Harold is as happy about it as I am. To think we’ll be able to get out of here for good. I can’t thank you enough for thinking of us, Kathleen.”
“Well, I have to give Luke credit for suggesting that Harold might be able to have work, too.”
“Thank you, Mr. Patterson.”
The sheen of tears in her eyes was hard to ignore. “You’re welcome, Mrs. Walsh.”
“I’ll let you know when your interview will be with the board,” Kathleen told the woman, “but I know they are going to be very pleased to have you and Harold in charge of the next home.”
“I certainly hope they are. I’ll be waiting anxiously to hear from you.”
The two women hugged and then he and Kathleen were on their way to see Reba and find out if she’d landed a job yet.
Kathleen seemed to be in better spirits after the news Rose gave her and he was glad. He knew she was upset with him over bringing up her safety in Mrs. Heaton’s hearing.
Luke hadn’t meant to make her feel incompetent in any way. He just didn’t want anything happening to her. Maybe he’d talk to Michael and get some ideas from him on how to protect her without her knowing it. There had to be a way for her to do her job, be protected and not feel smothered.
When they arrived at Reba’s building she turned to him. “I think I need to go by myself to visit Reba, Luke. I’m barely getting to know her and I want her to trust me. I’m afraid she might feel uncomfortable with you along.”
“I understand. Do you want me to wait outside or visit with Mrs. Connor?”
“It’s your choice.”
Her tone was a little cool and Luke really didn’t know what to do about it other than to let her do her job. “Well, Mrs. Connor isn’t expecting us, so I’ll wait for you out here on the stoop. I brought my notepad, and I’ll stay busy. Take all the time you need.”
“I will, thank you.” She started up the steps and then turned back. “I’m sorry I’ve been grouchy today. I do appreciate that you want to protect me, and—”
“It’s all right, Kate. The last thing I want is for you to feel suffocated while you work. And you won’t always be coming here so often. For now—”
“For now, we’ll do it your and Mrs. Heaton’s way. But only for a while.”
* * *
Kathleen hurried up the stairs. She didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed Luke wasn’t with her. Much as she protested and felt bad that he was giving up writing time to go with her, she did appreciate it and she liked his company.
But that was the problem. She liked his company too much for her own good and she was dangerously close to falling in love with him.
Reba opened the door slightly and after recognizing Kathleen, she smiled and let her in. “Good morning. I was hoping you would come today. Would you like some tea?”
Though Kathleen had already drunk two cups at breakfast, she didn’t want to offend Reba. “Yes, please.”
Reba’s daughter was at the kitchen table and gave Kathleen a shy smile when she sat down opposite her.
“Good morning, Jenny. You look very pretty today.”
The child didn’t speak but her smile grew.
“Tell Miss O’Bryan thank-you, Jenny.”
The little girl ducked her head. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Reba brought the tea to the table along with some gingersnaps that reminded Kathleen of the ones Mrs. Heaton made. “Well, have you any news for me? Did you hear back from any of the places you applied for?”
“I did. In fact I’m to go back for an interview at Macy’s this afternoon. Mrs. Connor is going to watch Jenny for me and I’ll let you know as soon as I know. I do hope I get to work there. But if so, I’ll need someone to keep Jenny on a regular basis soon. Mrs. Connor has said she’d help, but I don’t want to impose on her for long.”
“I think I can get Jenny in the child care home my sister is running. I’ll check and see. Otherwise, my old neighbor is going to be running the next home but I’m not sure how long it will take to get it going. I’ll check on it as well.”
“This is such an answer to prayer, Kathleen. I can’t tell you how blessed I feel that you came by to see me.”
“Well, Mrs. Connor gets the credit for that. But she didn’t tell me a lot about you other than you are raising your daughter alone. My sister is raising her sons alone since her husband...” Kathleen didn’t want to go into all the details just yet. “Since he died. Are you a widow, too?”
She felt horrible at the look on Reba’s face. “I’m sorry. That is certainly none of my business.”
Reba took a sip of her tea and looked at her daughter. “All done with breakfast?”
Jenny nodded. “Can I go play now?”
“Yes, you may play in our bedroom.”
The little girl scooted out of her chair and ran to the bedroom. The door was open and they could see her pull out a small cloth doll.
“Mrs. Connor made that for her. She doesn’t have a lot of toys like I—”
Kathleen felt sure that Reba hadn’t always lived this way. She seemed to be educated and there was a manner about her that bespoke of better times in the past. Of course, a lot of the immigrants in the tenements had had better lives before coming to America—at least at one time. However, Kathleen didn’t think Reba was an immigrant. But she’d already pried when she shouldn’t have. She wasn’t going to ask.
“Do you mind if I iron while we talk?” She put her iron on the stove to heat up and pulled out her ironing board.
“No, of course not.” There was no way Kathleen would object—this was how the woman made her living after all. But the fact that she hadn’t just asked her to leave made Kathleen think she might want to talk.
Reba took a shirtwaist, sprinkled water on it and began to iron. “I—I actually ran away from home with the man I loved—or thought I loved. He promised a great life if we came to
the city and it all sounded so wonderful. My mama didn’t approve of him and, well, we ran off.”
She looked over to where Jenny was playing in her room and smiled, then she looked at Kathleen. “Jenny is the blessing that came out of it all, but I never thought I’d be raising her alone.”
“She’s very pretty and quite sweet.” She’d never answered whether or not she was a widow, but it didn’t matter. What did matter was that Reba appeared to have been duped by the man she loved—the man she thought she could trust. More than ever Kathleen wanted to help her be able to raise her child and get out of the tenements one day.
“Thank you. I just want a better life for her. I’m not an immigrant—I’m actually from Virginia.”
“Did you ever think about going back? Do you have family there?” There she went again, asking questions she had no right to ask. “I’m sorry, Reba. I’m being quite nosy today.”
“It’s all right. I expected some questions. I won’t go back to Virginia.”
Kathleen nodded. There were things she’d decided she wouldn’t do, too.
They talked a bit more and she saw Reba’s hope and optimism for the future.
“I was beginning to think it’d never be possible to leave here,” she said, “but thanks to Mrs. Connor and you, I believe it is.”
“So do I.” Kathleen took the last sip of tea. She knew a little more about Reba than before and she liked the young woman. Still, she couldn’t shake the niggling feeling that she’d seen her somewhere before. But if she was from Virginia, then it must have been just passing in the street or the grocer, as Luke and Mrs. Connor had suggested.
She got up to leave. “No need to see me out. You keep working. I’ll be back in the office this afternoon, so just let me know how your interview turns out. I’ll be praying all goes well and you have a job when I hear from you.”
“Thank you, Kathleen. I need all the prayers I can get.”
Kathleen let herself out, and headed back downstairs, praying all the way that Reba got the job today, and that Colleen would make room for Jenny.
* * *
Kathleen opened the door to the outside to see that Luke was observing the people around him and making notes. She supposed that all writers enjoyed watching people. He’d explained to her that he might hear a snippet of conversation that might make it into one of his stories, or see a particularly interesting person whose looks might fit a character he was writing about.
Now her heart did a little twist and dive as he looked up at her and smiled. “Well, how’d it go?”
“Good. She’s going for an interview this afternoon, so say a prayer she gets the job. She really wants it.”
“I’ll certainly do that. Where to next?”
“I’ve got to stop by Colleen’s and see if she has room for one more child before I go to the office. I want to be there in case Reba calls me later.”
Luke pulled his watch out of his pocket. “Want to grab something for lunch from one of the street vendors?”
“Why don’t we see if Colleen has something? No need spending money when we can get something better for free.”
“Now, that’s a better idea. Let’s go.” He stuffed his notepad and pencil stub in the inside pocket of his jacket and held out his arm.
Kathleen took it and they were on their way. They caught a trolley on Second Avenue and got off on Twenty-fourth. From there it was a short walk to Colleen’s.
“Why and what brings you two here just in time to eat today?” Colleen asked, motioning them into the dining room where the children were seated around the table. “The children are almost finished, but we’ve plenty of stew for the two of you. Come into the kitchen.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. Can you keep us company for a few minutes? I’ve something to ask of you,” Kathleen said.
Colleen ladled up the stew and set it down before them. “Take a seat and I’ll let Ida know.”
Luke said a blessing and they’d just begun to eat when Colleen came back into the room. She ladled a bowl for herself and sat down with them.
“Now, what is it you want to ask?”
“Well, first I’ve got a bit of good news for you. The Walshes are going to run the next home.”
“Oh, but that is good news, isn’t it?”
“It is, for sure. And the other news is that Reba Dickerson, the young woman I told you about, is close to getting a job at Macy’s. But she’ll need care for her little girl quickly if she gets it.”
“Ah, and I know what the questions is, then. Of course we’ll make room for one more child.”
“It might only be until the other home is up and running, but I’d like to be able to tell her that Jenny can be taken care of as soon as she gets the job.”
“Tell her, then. Actually, Ida and I have been thinking we could take a few more on.”
“Thank you, Colleen. I knew you’d agree. And if you can take on several more children, I know that will be good news for Mrs. Heaton and the others.”
“Now that you’ve got someone to run the next home I’m sure it won’t take long to fill it up—at least according to what the parents of our children tell me.”
“An idea just came to me,” Luke said. “Colleen could ask for referrals from the women who are bringing their children here. Perhaps that would make it easier on you, Kathleen.”
“That is a good idea, Luke,” Colleen said.
Kathleen smiled and gave Luke a little shake of her head. She had a feeling his motive came from trying to keep her out of the tenements as much as possible but how could she be upset at him for caring enough to try to keep her safe? “It is a very good idea. You seem to be full of them lately.”
“Let me know when you’re ready for me to start gettin’ a list of names together.”
“I will. I’ll try to find out how long it will take to get the other home up and running first. I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up too fast.”
“I understand that, I do. I am so glad Rose and Harold want to do this. It is such an opportunity for them. For so many people. When I think of all the people the Ladies’ Aide Society will end up helping because of the child care homes, it makes me want to cry. Every day I see the mothers of these children relieved that they can help their families and it’s only because they have someone to look after their children. I am so happy to be part of it.”
“I know that feeling,” Kathleen said. She’d never thought to see her sister as happy as she was now. She took her and Luke’s bowls to the sink and washed them out, laying them on the drain board. “Thank you for lunch. I need to get back to the office now, but I’ll telephone you and let you know what I find out from Reba.”
“Good. In the meantime, I’ll let Ida know we’ll be getting at least one more child soon.”
Kathleen and Luke said goodbye to Ida and the children as they went back through the dining room on their way out. With the exception of her grouchiness to Luke that morning, it’d been a good day. Now if only Reba got her job, it’d be a great start to the week.
Chapter Eighteen
Kathleen was the last one in the office when Reba telephoned to let her know she got the position at Macy’s and that she was to start the next Monday. Kathleen promised to return the next day to have her fill out the paperwork needed for Jenny to be accepted for the day care and to take her to meet Colleen and Ida and see the home herself.
She had convinced Luke that she could get to her office without him accompanying her there and back, only now she missed him as she took the trolley back to the stop nearest Heaton House. She couldn’t wait to share the news of the day with everyone.
But Mrs. Heaton wasn’t in her study and Luke was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he was working. Kathleen hoped so. She headed upstairs to get ready for dinner. Her news would just
have to wait until then.
She freshened up and redid her hair, pulling it up in the newest style she and Elizabeth had been trying out. As it was a Monday, she kept on the brown skirt and beige shirtwaist she’d started the day out in.
She was the first to get to the parlor, which was unusual, but she used the time to look at some of the pictures around the room. She’d been told that Mrs. Heaton changed them every so often, adding newer ones and putting older pictures in a box. She walked around the room, picking up first one and then another. There was one of Michael and Violet at their wedding and another of the group of boarders on an outing at Central Park, before she became part of the group. She grinned as she spotted one Elizabeth had taken the day they went to Coney Island. It was nice to feel she truly was one of the family of boarders now.
She moved to another table and caught her breath. Her heart began to pound as she picked up the frame and looked closer at the photo.
The woman in the photograph looked very much like Reba. Only younger by several years at least, and her hair was done much differently. She was dressed much nicer but she so resembled Reba that Kathleen had to wonder if they could be the same woman. But that was impossible. Or was it? Perhaps she’d been a boarder at one time? No, if she was important enough for Mrs. Heaton to have a photo of her in the parlor, Kathleen was sure she’d never have ended up in the tenements. Still, she looked so much like Reba—
“Kathleen, you’re down early,” Luke said as he crossed the room and came to stand beside her. “How did things go? Did you hear from Reba?”
“I did. She got the job!”
“That’s wonderful news.”
“It is. But, Luke, who is this young woman? Do you know?”
“I do. It’s Mrs. Heaton’s daughter, the one who is missing. Do you know about her?”
“Yes. Elizabeth mentioned her to me.”
“Well, for a long time, she couldn’t bring herself to put Rebecca’s photo up, but then there was a letter or something that gave her and Michael hope that she is still alive and I believe she finally felt able to have her photo up where she could see it.”
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