A Place of Refuge

by Janet Lee Barton

  Tears burned the back of Kathleen’s eyelids. Could Reba be Mrs. Heaton’s daughter?

  “Luke, I—”

  “Good evening, you two,” Elizabeth said as she entered the parlor.

  “Good evening, Elizabeth.”

  The room quickly began to fill up as Julia and Millicent, John, Ben and Matt entered.

  “You were going to tell me something?” Luke asked as the others greeted each other.

  “Yes but not now. Maybe after dinner if you have time?”

  “Yes, of course. Is it something— Would you like to go to the park?”

  The man read her entirely too well. She didn’t want to talk about her suspicions where she could be overheard. “That would work well, thank you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Whatever for?”

  He smiled and leaned closer, sending her heart galloping. “For—”

  “Dinner is served,” Mrs. Heaton said from the doorway.

  “Later.” Luke held out his arm and Kathleen took it with no hesitation at all, knowing she trusted him more with each passing day. Trusted him to keep her safe, to be ready to listen to anything she had to say, to be there for her. Her heart longed for her to trust him with it as well, but could she? After hearing how Jenny’s father had treated Reba she wasn’t sure she ever would.

  * * *

  Luke thought Kathleen had never looked lovelier as she told Mrs. Heaton and the boarders about her day. She was so animated there was no doubt that she was as happy to be helping others get out of the tenements as she’d been herself.

  He wanted to know what it was she’d been about to tell him when the others came into the parlor, but as Mrs. Heaton asked them both to her study after dinner, he knew it was going to have to wait.

  They settled in the chairs across from her desk and she clasped her hands together and grinned. “I am so happy about your news, Kathleen. We’ve got things going on the purchase of the next house and it won’t be long before you’ll be needing to fill it up.”

  And that meant more visits to the tenements for Kathleen. Only she would be protected whether she liked it or not.

  “I can’t tell you how happy I am.”

  Kathleen’s smile warmed his heart.

  “You don’t have to, dear. It shows,” Mrs. Heaton said. “I know we have the right person as our liaison in you. But we are going to come up with some ways to assure your safety as you go in and out of the tenements.”

  “What are you thinking?” Kathleen asked.

  Luke knew, for he’d talked to Michael Heaton about it after leaving Kathleen that afternoon. But he thought Kathleen would take it better if it came from Mrs. Heaton instead of him.

  “I’m getting Michael’s advice on it and of course we want to hear what you think, Luke. But the Society is thinking of hiring someone to accompany—”

  “Oh, Mrs. Heaton, please don’t—”

  Mrs. Heaton held up her hand and waved it once in a way that everyone came to know meant “say no more.”

  “Kathleen, dear, I know you are a strong woman and not afraid to come and go in the tenements. But we are afraid for you to. I’m not sure you’ve been told about my daughter?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Elizabeth told me when I first came here. I’m so sorry. I...”

  Mrs. Heaton nodded. “Well, we have recently learned that she is still alive, but we have no idea where she is. I can only pray that she is safe.”

  Luke saw Kathleen swallow hard. It was heartbreaking to think of all Mrs. Heaton had been through.

  “I must ask that you allow us to make sure you are safe in your work for the Ladies’ Aide Society. The fact that you lived in the tenements once might keep you safe—or the fact that you’ve made it out might cause someone to—” She took a deep breath and shook her head as if she couldn’t bear to continue.

  “You must let us do what we feel is in your and our best interests. It wouldn’t do us any good to have something happen to our liaison, now, would it?”

  “No, ma’am, I suppose not.”

  Luke breathed a silent sigh of relief at Kathleen’s response. She might not like having an escort while she worked, but she would no longer fight it.

  “Thank you. Now, you did say that Colleen has room for more children and that she had an idea on how to go about finding others who need our services?”

  “Actually, it was Luke’s idea. I’ll let him explain it to you.”

  Luke did, and when he was finished, Mrs. Heaton smiled. “I love it! Who better to get names from than neighbors and friends of those in need? Eventually, it will cut down on having to knock on so many doors and actually make it safer for you, too, Kathleen.” She nodded. “We’ll meet again soon and see what Michael and Luke come up with.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “And in the meantime, you’ll be seeing this young mother, Reba, and getting her daughter enrolled?”

  “First thing tomorrow.”

  “Good. I’m glad we can help her. Thank you for the report. I’ve got to telephone the others now. I know they’ll be as happy as I am with your news.”

  “I hope so.”

  Kathleen stood and Luke did the same. He wondered if she still wanted to go to the park or if she was too upset about having to be escorted from now on. He didn’t have to wait long as she turned to him almost as soon as they walked out the door.

  “May we go to the park now, or is it too late? We can go to Mrs. Heaton’s garden if need be, but I must talk to you.”

  The urgency in her voice had him going to the table where the park keys were kept and he grabbed one and held it up. “Let’s go.”

  They managed to get out the door without anyone noticing and once they were out of sight of the house he turned to her. “What is it? What’s so important?”

  “I think I may know where Mrs. Heaton’s daughter is.”

  * * *

  Luke seemed to be at a loss for words as he hurried Kathleen to the park, unlocked the gate and led her to a bench.

  “What are you talking about? How could you know where Rebecca Heaton is? No one has heard anything from her except for a letter she’d sent to Violet’s mother months ago letting them know that she was alive at that time.”

  “I think Reba Dickerson may be Rebecca Heaton.”

  “What?” Luke jumped up from the seat. “Why would you think that?”

  “She looks almost exactly like the photo in Mrs. Heaton’s parlor, only a little older and more mature. It’s uncanny, Luke.”

  “This is what you were about to tell me before dinner?”

  “Yes. I wanted to tell Mrs. Heaton, but I can’t get her hopes up if Reba is not Rebecca.”

  “No, you can’t do that. She’s been through way too much already. But surely, Kathleen, if it were Mrs. Heaton’s daughter, why would she be living in the tenements?”

  “I don’t know. I think it’s possible she might feel she’s shamed her family, but I’m not sure. When I go back tomorrow I need you to come with me at least long enough to get a good look at her.”

  Luke nodded and sat back down beside her. “All right, I will. It would be wonderful if she is Mrs. Heaton’s daughter and they could be reunited.”

  “I know. But I’m not sure it will be easy. If it is her, there’s got to be a reason she didn’t feel she could go home and it might bring more heartbreak for everyone.”

  “It could, yes. We must pray it doesn’t.”

  “But first, I need to know if you think it could be her. And then, could you help me to find out for sure?”

  “I’ll do all I can, surely you know that by now, Kate.”

  And she did. Luke was indeed the trustworthy person she knew and— She stopped, amazed at her own thoughts. Yes, in spite of
Reba’s story, and Colleen’s, she knew Luke could be trusted. She felt it in her heart.

  “Kate? Are you all right? You look a little bemused.”

  Bemused, bewildered, that she was. “I’m all right. I just...” Her heart began to pound as she looked at him, and she jumped up from the seat. “I suppose we should be getting back to the house. We left late and—” She turned and looked at Luke.

  He had a slight smile on his face as if he were trying to figure her out. They needed to go—now—before he read her thoughts as he’d become quite good at. “Are you coming?”

  “Yes, I’m coming.” He lightly grasped her elbow and turned her toward him. “Kathleen, we’ll find out if Reba is Mrs. Heaton’s daughter. And as soon as possible. Trust me.”

  “I do.” There, she’d said it out loud and to him.

  He smiled and his eyes crinkled. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Luke leaned a little nearer and for a moment she thought he might kiss her. Was sure he would. Wanted him to. She stood still and held her breath. And then he closed his eyes and gave a little tug to her elbow, propelling her out of the park and up the street.

  They walked back to Heaton House in quiet. Kathleen wasn’t sure what to think. She was almost certain he’d been about to kiss her, but he hadn’t. Why? She knew she was falling in love with Luke. And that she trusted him...to keep her safe, to help her find out who Reba really was. But could she truly trust her heart to him? And did he even want her to?

  * * *

  She trusted him. She’d said so. Luke’s heart slammed against his ribs. But did she really? Just because she trusted him to help her find out who Reba really was didn’t mean she trusted him in everything.

  And yet, something was different. He hadn’t seen the wariness in her eyes when he’d leaned nearer. But he’d heard her quick intake of breath. What had it meant—that she was afraid he would kiss her or wishing that he might?

  Oh, how he’d wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her. And yet, once he did, he’d be committing to...loving her. And he did. There. He admitted it to himself. Kathleen had come into his life that day in Central Park and he hadn’t quit thinking about her since. She had his insides twisted up in all kinds of ways.

  She’d replaced Beth—first in his thoughts, then his dreams, and finally in his heart. He loved her. Plain and simple. But to admit it to her, to woo her, to commit to her? To put himself in the position of possibly losing the person he loved most in life as he had Beth?

  Luke wasn’t sure he could do it. And even if he declared his love for Kathleen, could she trust her heart to him completely?

  Maybe all they both needed was time. And helping her find out about Reba would give them some. Instead of just escorting her in and out of the tenements, they’d need to spend some time together, alone, to talk it over. Maybe then he could get a sense of how she felt about him.

  It was when they arrived at Heaton House that he realized they hadn’t spoken on the way back. He paused at the steps. “I’m sorry, Kathleen. I was lost in my thoughts.”

  “It’s all right, so was I.”

  Had they been thinking along the same lines? “Kathleen, I—”

  “I hope Mrs. Heaton won’t be able to sense I’m keeping something from her. She reads me well.”

  Evidently not. “I don’t think she sensed anything earlier.”

  Kathleen nodded. “No, I don’t either. I’ll just have to be careful, but oh, I hope we can find out for sure, and soon.”

  Much as Luke wanted Reba Dickerson to be Rebecca Heaton, he wouldn’t mind it taking a few weeks to give him more time to spend with Kathleen. More time to figure out what he was going to do now that he could no longer deny how he felt about her.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Kathleen and Luke didn’t tarry long at the breakfast table the next morning. In fact they were the first ones to leave the house.

  “Oh,” Kathleen breathed as they headed for the trolley stop. “I thought for sure Mrs. Heaton was going to ask me what I was hiding. I hope we find out something soon. I don’t like not being open with her.”

  “You don’t have to worry,” he told her. “She really doesn’t think you’re hiding anything from her. Of course if we keep leaving earlier than everyone else, she might begin to wonder.”

  “Oh, no! Do you think?”

  The trolley came to a stop just then and Luke chuckled as he followed Kathleen on and sat down beside her. This was a side of her he’d never seen. “Do you just find things to worry about?”

  “Normally, no. Life gives us enough of that on its own. But I do hate to feel like I’m lying—although I’m not. I don’t know who Reba really is, but still...”

  “We can’t say anything about it until we know for sure. It will be much better for Mrs. Heaton to know nothing than to think she’s found her daughter and it turn out not to be her.”

  Kathleen leaned back in her seat and expelled a huge sigh. “Of course.”

  “So please quit worrying.”

  “I’ll try. I don’t want to hurt Reba, either, so I’ll have to be careful on how I question her.”

  “That’s true. But the forms you help her with should ask for some of the information we need.”

  “I’m glad I saw the photograph yesterday. Otherwise, I would just turn in the paperwork and not be able to get it back without explaining why or telling a lie.”

  It came as no surprise to Luke that she didn’t want to lie—he’d known from the first she was a woman of integrity. It was one of the reasons he was so attracted to her. He’d tossed and turned most of the night again, flitting from one dream—one nightmare—to another. There was no doubt in his mind that this woman had replaced Beth in his heart.

  When he’d awakened this morning realizing that it was only Kathleen who was on his mind all night, he’d felt almost guilty that it wasn’t Beth who occupied his thoughts day and night. And then, he’d felt hopeful. He was moving on.

  Maybe this was the Lord’s way of telling him to put his heart on the line again. To give it to Kathleen, holding nothing back, and trusting in the Lord to help him keep her safe. In truth, he hoped so. Because denying he cared that deeply about her would be lying.

  “Now, how do I introduce you to Reba? I don’t quite know what she’s going to think of my bringing you with me.”

  “Hmm. And we don’t want to lie to her.” He thought for a moment. “How about you just say that I’m your friend. We are friends, right?”

  Kathleen nodded. “Yes, we are.”

  “And that I’m accompanying you today because you want to go to lunch with me when you’re through and I needed to know where to pick you up.”

  “Oh! Yes, that will probably work.”

  “How long will it take to fill out the papers and have your talk?”

  “A few hours,” she replied.

  The trolley stopped and they got out on Second Avenue and walked the rest of the way to the building. Luke was eager to meet Reba Dickerson and see for himself if she looked like Rebecca Heaton.

  When they reached her floor, Kathleen turned to him. “Are you sure this will work?”

  “No. But I don’t have any other ideas, and we’re here.”

  “That we are.” She reached out and knocked on the door, making sure that she was the one Reba would see when she cracked it open.

  The young woman gave Kathleen a smile, but it quickly disappeared when she saw him.

  “Reba, this is my friend Luke Patterson. Luke, this is Reba Dickerson. Luke came with me because we’re having lunch together later and I wanted him to know where to meet me. Will it be all right if he calls for me around noon?”

  Reba looked from one to the other and then smiled. Suddenly she did resemble the woman
in Mrs. Heaton’s photograph—a little older and more mature as Kathleen had said. Still, he wasn’t certain she was Rebecca.

  “Of course Mr. Patterson may pick you up.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Dickerson.” Luke turned to Kathleen. “I’ll see you later. You two have a nice visit.”

  “Thank you, we will.” Kathleen turned back to Reba, and Luke turned to leave. He’d have to look at the photograph of Rebecca again. He tried to commit Mrs. Dickerson’s face to memory so that he could compare the two. And he’d see her again when he came to get Kathleen. He wondered how they could get a photograph of Mrs. Dickerson. Suddenly an idea came to him and he hurried back to the woman’s apartment and knocked on the door.

  Once again, Mrs. Dickerson cracked it open only far enough to see who was there. She smiled this time. “Mr. Patterson, you’re a bit early, aren’t you?”

  Luke chuckled. “I’m sorry but I need to speak to Kathleen for a moment, if possible.”

  She must have heard her name, for she came to the door just then. “Luke? Is something wrong?”

  “No, I just—” He hoped he wasn’t overstepping, but it was the only way he knew to get his idea across to her. “I wondered—you didn’t have your camera with you to take the pictures for your records—would you like me to bring it when I come back?”

  He could see that she caught on quickly as she nodded and smiled. “Oh, yes, please. Thank you for thinking of it.”

  “You’re welcome. I’ll bring it back with me.” He hurried down the stairs this time, feeling quite proud of himself for coming up with the idea. It could never hurt to have pictures of the people applying to the day care homes, or to run one. He’d tell Mrs. Heaton about the idea—if she saw him with the camera and asked about it. Then, once the film was developed, he and Kathleen could compare the photographs side by side. Then they’d know if Reba was who they thought she was.

  * * *

  Kathleen followed Reba back to the kitchen table where they’d just begun to chat while the tea steeped.

  Luke came up with some of the best ideas. She’d never even thought of bringing a camera—not that she had one anyway—but it was a wonderful idea to include photographs with the application records. Not to mention it’d help in trying to find out who Reba really was.