When Stars Are Bright

by Amber R. Duell

  I place a hand on his sleeve. The red velvet is sandpaper beneath my fingers. The trick to lying is to stick to the truth as much as possible, especially if you have to make it up at the last second. “My mother warned me men sometimes take advantage of girls.”

  He places his hand over mine. “Your mother is a smart woman. However, I’m far too old to be playing games. There are things I need in life and I’m getting up in years.”

  “Mr. Chamberlain,” I start.

  “John, please.”

  “John.” I yank his name from my throat. “I have to admit, I’m nervous. It’s a big commitment.”

  He laughs. “The thought of marriage makes all young girls anxious. Especially if the man is much older, but I assure you, you will want for nothing. Anything you want will be yours. I understand it’s a hard concept to grasp but I have enough money to buy you a new dress for each day of the year. Jewels. A room full of pianos, if you wish it.”

  I look down to hide the flash of anger on my face. Why would I need a constant supply of new dresses? And I’ve never played a piano in my life. “Thank you,” I say.

  Ten minutes and a thousand promises later, I exit the office as Chamberlain’s fiancée and storm into the practice room. I’m so angry I can barely see straight as I scan the room for Nik. I find him at the back, behind Pearl and Ben, talking to Tommy. They lean over a sheet of paper and Tommy snaps his fingers in quick succession.

  “Gus should have a solo,” he says.

  I grab Tommy’s fingers before he can snap again and glare at Nik. “Can you give us a minute, please, Tommy?”

  “Sure thing, Dollface.” He backs up, winking at Nik. “Don’t be too hard on the lug.”

  I stare Nik down, not speaking, until Tommy’s a few feet away. His expression is tight, his eyes dull. “What was that?” I whisper. “Are you dipping into your nightly deliveries? Is that an added perk of your night job?”

  “Hush.” He looks over his shoulder. “Don’t say that so loud; you aren’t the only dry person in here. Besides, I quit the day after you followed me.”

  “Swell,” I screech. “So what’s your excuse then? Temporary insanity? It seems to be going around.”

  He steps closer until he’s an inch from my face. I want to step back but my pride won’t allow it. “You’re welcome,” he says.

  “Yes to the insanity then?”

  He presses his lips together and takes a shallow breath. “It was the best excuse I could come up with.”

  “If that’s your best excuse, I’d hate to see your worse.”

  “Listen, we were alone in the office.” He steps closer and lowers his voice. “If we didn’t have a good enough reason, something to distract him, the first thing he would’ve assumed was the truth. Only instead of thinking I was trying to talk you out of it, he would’ve thought I was the mastermind.”

  His eyes burn into mine and I see the truth there. He panicked like I did, but he was able to recover in time to save us both. It doesn’t change the fact that Chamberlain is upstairs planning our nuptials as we speak.

  “I’m not going to marry him,” I say. “I won’t do it.”

  The corners of his mouth lift in a bitter smirk. “Canary, if I thought you were, I’d kidnap you myself.”

  “I’m glad it’s so easy for you to laugh about this.” I push past him, blood boiling, and storm from the practice room.

  “Canary, wait,” he calls. “Lina.”

  Ignoring him, I move faster, desperate to be alone somewhere I can scream.

  The silence of the boarding house pulses in my ears; each groan in the walls twists my stomach a little tighter. Everyone’s been asleep for hours. Everyone except me. Any moment now, the grandfather clock downstairs will chime four times and it will be time to go.

  Bong.

  I take a long, shaky breath. Pushing the covers off, I fling my feet to the floor, still wearing a pair of nylon stockings. I shake out the skirt of my pink dress and pull my hair back into a messy braid.

  Bong.

  My heart threatens to pound out of my chest. It was a mistake to try stealing from the safe, but a mistake I would make again. If I could do things over, the only thing I would change is the end result. Chamberlain’s arrogance made my lies easy for him to believe but there’s absolutely no way I’ll go through with the engagement. Penniless or not, I’m leaving now.

  Bong.

  I grab my shoes from under the bed and tiptoe to the door. I’m leaving the supplies—they’ll only slow us down. We’ll have to move fast for this to work. My hand shakes as I reach for the handle.

  Please let Nik agree to come along. My anger from earlier at the theater is forgotten. In fact, I’m grateful. Without the push, I might have kept delaying until I had money and I’ll likely never have any here. I’ll go on my own if necessary but I really don’t want to.

  Bong.

  It’s officially four. I inhale, holding the air in my lungs while I slip into the hall. I can do this.

  I creep across the hall to Nik’s room and slip inside without knocking. Silence is essential when making a getaway. If I learned anything by sneaking out to meet Christian, it’s that.

  With Nik’s curtains shut against the full moon, I spare a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness of the room. When they do, I make out his outline beneath a dark sheet. He’s lying on his side, facing the wall, with one bare arm on top of the covers.

  Please be wearing pants.

  “Nik,” I whisper. He shifts but his eyes remain closed. “Nik. Wake up.”

  He grunts and rolls on his back. “It’s morning already?”

  “Get up, would you?” I shake his shoulder until his eyes fly open.

  “Lina? What are you doing in here?”

  “We’re leaving.” I squint around the dark room until I find the blue dress shirt he wore earlier crumpled on the floor. Snatching it up, I toss it in his direction. “I can’t stay here anymore. It’s been too long already and things have gone too far.”

  The bed groans under his weight as he sits up and the sheet slips around his waist. Heat blossoms in my cheeks at the sight of the toned muscles in his chest and stomach, but it’s the large wing tattooed over the left side of his chest that holds my attention. He hurries to pull a sleeve-less white shirt on over his head, then slips the dress shirt on over it. “Have you thought about this?” he asks in a rush. “We haven’t even checked the ship schedule yet.”

  “It’s all I’ve thought about.” I ball my hands into fists against a shudder. “There’s no other choice. I’m leaving now before Augustine or Chamberlain can stop me.”

  “Mind turning around?” He leans over the bed and grabs his pants. I spin to face the wall, my blush spreading down my neck, and fabric rustles behind me. “All right.”

  When I turn around again, he’s pulling suspenders over his shoulder. “I know it’s dangerous for you to come. Chamberlain could turn you in and the authorities would be on your tail, but you can’t stay here forever either. You want to leave too so why not now?”

  “Why not,” he echoes. He kneels beside the bed and presses on a loose floorboard. It shifts and he picks it free, reaching into the hole. A moment later, he has a handful of neatly folded bills inside a silver clip. “I should still have enough without my pay to get us both a train ticket.”

  My breath catches but I don’t want to make assumptions. This whole plan might crumble without him. “Does that mean you’ll come?”

  “Well, I’m not going to let you run off on your own.” He shoves the money in his back pocket, grabs his shoes, and stands. “We’ll go to Grand Central and take the first train to North Carolina. We can stay with my sister until we figure things out.”

  “North Carolina?” That’s further away from Holland than New York is. It seems counterproductive to run in opposite direction.

  “Just for now.” He hurries around the room, grabbing his jacket and hat. “I know it’s not where you want to go, but if I�
��m going to leave, I have to get straight out of New York.” He meets my eyes in the dark. “I can’t stay. They’ll find me.”

  There’s a gleam in his eyes, both nervous and excited, and I can’t bring myself to take it away. The important thing is leaving—my final destination doesn’t have to be the same as Nik’s. If I’m with him, I’ll be safe long enough to earn passage home. Really earn it, not dig myself deeper into trouble.

  “I’ll get you home as soon as I can,” he adds. “I swear it.”

  I nod. “Okay. Let’s go.”

  He smiles, letting out a breath, and cracks his bedroom door open. After peering into the hall, he steps out with me right behind. We slink along the wall. My palm runs over the textured wallpaper, feeling every bump and groove.

  The top step creaks under Nik’s weight and we both stop. “Let me,” I whisper. My heartbeat echoes in my ears, making it impossible to hear anything as I slip in front of him. “Step where I step.” I move slowly, supporting some of my weight with my hands against the walls, and step in certain places on certain stairs. Some I skip completely, just like I practiced.

  Finally, we reach the landing and I breathe a sigh of relief. I step toward the door and pause. The screech of screen door slipped my mind. “Should we go out through the kitchen?”

  Nik shakes his head. “We’ll hit loose floor boards between here and there, and then the back door is just as bad. If we open it slowly and just enough to get out, we’ll make it.”

  I’m not so sure about that. Screen doors are tricky. Even opening it slowly, the spring will make a popping noise. But no one ever came running when Nik crawled in and out for his bootlegging runs so there’s a chance. He has more riding on this than I do—prison is a lot worse than marriage to Chamberlain. If we’re caught, I’ll still have a choice. They can drag me to an altar but they can’t make me say I do. Nik won’t be given an option about jail.

  For every second the door inches forward, it seems like a million of them pass. I hold my breath and glance between the door, the hallway, and the staircase. Finally, Nik presses himself against the doorframe and ducks onto the porch. He’s wider than I am, so it’s not surprising how easy it is to slip out after him. It takes Nik another minute to shut it behind us then he jumps to the lawn to avoid the stairs. His socked feet land quietly on the grass and he turns with his arms held out, dropping his shoes. I throw mine down beside his and jump without a second thought. Nik catches me under my arms, setting me gently down beside him.

  Taking a second to shove our feet into our shoes, we sprint across the lawn and down the street.

  We don’t slow down until sweat pours down my face and my lungs scream. He seems to be holding up better than I am with only slightly labored breathing. It sounds like I’m dying.

  “We can’t stop,” I wheeze. The prick of watchful eyes burn at my back, but when I turn, the street is empty.

  Nik bends down and grabs his knees, gulping air. “I know.”

  The boarding house is behind us but it’s not enough. We still have to make it to Grand Central before dawn, which seems nearly impossible now that we’re out here. The walk home with Jackie took hours, and we weren’t far from the station. Even if we continue at this pace without stopping, it will take at least two hours. I steel myself to run again because there’s no choice.

  I wipe my forehead with the back of my hand. “Do you know the way?”

  “Yes.”

  We reach for each other’s hand at the same time and take off toward the bridge leading to the city. Our pace is slower this time and more manageable. There will be plenty of time to rest once we’re on our way to North Carolina.

  I underestimated the journey. Instead of two hours of running, jogging, and stopping for air, it takes nearly three before Grand Central Station is in view. The white building rests between two taller ones but it’s by far more appealing with its massive arched windows, decorative columns, and elaborate clock. The mere sight of it makes me want to collapse right there in the street. My throat burns and my muscles quiver, but we made it. The sky is already bluish-gray and we can’t risk missing the first train. I lock my knees and try to still my quaking body.

  “You okay?” Nik rasps.

  I draw in air like I’ve just spent an eternity under water. “I will be as soon as we’re on the train.”

  We stagger across the street and through a set of glass doors. The brilliance of it makes me stumble. Arched windows, polished stone staircases, and a golden orb with four clock faces over an information kiosk. It’s more like stepping into a palace than a train station. Nik tugs me toward the ticket windows before I can take everything in.

  “The next one leaves in forty minutes,” he says.

  “So long?” Really, I’m glad it isn’t longer.

  “By the time we buy tickets and make our way to the terminal, it will feel like no time at all.” He sounds confident but he’s blinking rapidly. His pupils are blown wide and he keeps darting glances at the exits. I press closer. “Why don’t you get cleaned up while I go up to the counter? It might be better if the teller doesn’t see us together,” he says gently. “In case anyone comes asking.”

  “Good idea.” I pause, gathering my strength to make the short walk to the washroom.

  “I’ll wait over there.” He plucks a curl off my temple and points to rows of double-sided wooden benches with a few weary looking travelers. Small suitcases with worn edges and a round hat box sit by their feet. An older woman clings to a leather travel bag with gloved hands.

  “Okay.” I sink my teeth into my bottom lip to direct the pain away from my legs.

  Everything seems to move slowly through my haze, but I manage to make my way to a white porcelain sink. The cold water I splash on my face steals my breath, but doesn’t help shake the fatigue.

  My gaze drifts up to the girl in the mirror. I barely recognize myself looking back. Gone are the soft edges and playful spark in my eyes. I’m broken. But, I’m not alone and I’m safer than I’ve been since Walter took me. Even if someone discovers we’re missing this very moment, the chances of them finding us on time are slim. I pat my hair into place the best I can and splash more water on my neck. It doesn’t help much—I still look like a hot mess—but it’s as good as it’s going to get.

  Nik waits right where he said he would. Something white pokes out of his shirt pocket as he leans over his knees, his head bent. A warm sensation fills my center. He has done nothing but protect me, even with his hands tied. Maybe I’ve asked too much of him. If he didn’t pay for my ticket, he’d have enough money to live for a few days, at least, regardless of finding a job or his sister. If he had waited just a little longer, a better way for him to disappear might present itself. This may be my only chance but is it his?

  “Nik?” I ask quietly.

  He slides over so I can sit between him and the armrest. Pulling the tickets from his pocket, he runs a finger over the dark ink. “We have to change trains in Pittsburgh but it gets us out of here.”

  My body dissolves into a pile of goo when I sit beside him and my legs shake uncontrollably. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” I whisper so the women on the other end of the bench don’t hear.

  “Am I sure? This was your plan.” He peeks over at me with a weary expression. “But, yes. I’m sure. We can make it.”

  “I know we can. But... It’s just... I’m not sure it’s right to ask so much of you.”

  “I want to be here, Canary. It’s my choice.” He leans into me and rests his cheek on top of my head with a yawn. “We’re in this together.”

  This time it’s not just a phrase to show he’s supportive. We are in it together now and there’s no turning back. “Right.”

  “Don’t sound so enthused,” he jokes.

  I nudge him with my elbow. “If I had to choose anyone to have this adventure with, it would be you.”

  He laughs. “An adventure, is it?”

  I wave my hands, drawing a circle throu
gh the air. “One so epic they’ll tell tales of it for years and years.”

  He chuckles into my hair. “I hope our story ends well enough to be told.”

  “Nik,” I say, my voice coming out as a puff of air. I ache for him; for both of us. “You’re supposed to be the optimistic one. Leave all the worrying to me. I’ve become an expert these last months.”

  He straightens his legs out in front of him. His hands shake as he rubs at his knees. “It might suit us better to be realistic until we’re safe.”

  I swallow against a lump in my throat. Walter will always be looming in the shadows for me. There will always be an Augustine trying to use me and a Chamberlain trying to own me. It’s no wonder my mother prefers to stay away from people. People like Christian will never be in short supply and it’s too hard to find someone like Nik. It’s impossible to know who will hurt you and who will stick by you. One day I hope to tell the difference but for now, I choose to stick with the handsome fugitive with too much kindness in him.

  “How much longer?” I ask after a long silence.

  “Not long.” He stands with a grunt and rubs at his thighs. “We should head to the platform.”

  I follow him closely, a yawn bringing tears to my eyes. It won’t take long to fall asleep once we get moving and it scares me how deep it will be. People can’t run on empty forever. They can only pretend to, and I’m tired of pretending.

  A cold wave rushes over me, like being dunked in ice water. I know the sensation too well. “Nik?” I press into him and look over my shoulder. “I think we’re being watched.”

  He wraps an arm around my shoulders and peers behind us. “I don’t see anyone,” he says, but his body stiffens against me.

  I shiver. “Are you sure?”Because I’m not. The tight look on his face tells me he isn’t either.