A Home for Her Heart

“How old were you when your mother passed away?” John asked, and then regretted doing so as the expression in Elizabeth’s eyes saddened.

“I was twelve.”

“That had to be tough.” He reached across the table and touched her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up sad memories. I shouldn’t have asked.” As usual his timing was awful.

She pulled her hand back and shook her head. “No need to be sorry. I love remembering her. I just wished I had her longer, but you... I wish you’d had your mother longer, too.”

It saddened John that they’d both suffered similar losses. At the same time, knowing that they’d both experienced the same kind of pain seemed to have created a bond of sorts—at least for him. Was it possible Elizabeth felt the same way?

* * *

By the time Elizabeth and John started back to Heaton House, they were both frustrated. Even on a Monday afternoon, the managers of both buildings they checked into were nowhere to be found and the tenants they were able to speak to didn’t know who owned the buildings.

The conditions in both were every bit as bad—if not worse—than the building they saw on Saturday. Rickety staircases, no air ventilation, filth built up in the corners—one could see which tenants tried to keep their places clean—but there seemed to be no care of the area the landlord would be responsible for. Elizabeth took photos of it all, but was sure none of them would be the same quality of Millicent’s.

When she mentioned as much to John, he shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I just realized we need to have proof of the condition of the buildings when we find the owners. If they don’t do anything once they are notified, the city will need proof to go into action.”

“That’s true.”

“I’m sure whatever you have will be fine. We just need to keep good records as to which buildings the photos come from, no matter who takes them.”

“If you’re going to do the research on who owns the buildings, I can at least keep a record of where the photos were taken.”

John surprised her by agreeing readily. “Sounds like a good idea to me.”

“I’m still having trouble with what some of the tenants told us about hardly ever seeing the managers except during the week the rent is due.”

“I know. Even though they have apartments in the building, I wonder if they live somewhere else.”

“Which means there is no one in charge, if a fire breaks out or something else awful happens,” Elizabeth said, her heart heavy just thinking of the squalor the children lived in—playing in trash-filled streets, dark stairwells and hallways.

Her long sigh must have alerted John to her feelings as they got off the trolley and began walking down the clean streets of Gramercy Park. “I know. It’s hard to accept that people have to live in those conditions.”

“It’s awful. It breaks my heart to see children trying to make the best of things.”

“I don’t think they know any better.”

“To be born there and never leave— Oh, John! Hopefully our articles will do some good.”

“I think they will.”

“Oh, I do hope so.” Seeing the surroundings so many lived in made her feel guilty for being born into a well-to-do family. She’d never had to worry about a roof over her head, much less the condition of it. Never had to worry about dust building up anywhere for that matter. And she’d never had to wonder about having enough to eat.

As they entered Heaton House and were greeted by the tantalizing aromas wafting in from the kitchen, tears sprung to Elizabeth’s eyes remembering several children they’d seen who were much too thin. Dear Lord, please help our articles serve to help those in the tenements. Please help us to find the owners of these buildings who have let them fall into such disrepair.

“Are you all right, Elizabeth?” John asked, as she stood in the foyer, her head bowed.

“I’m fine. Just thinking how blessed we are to have Heaton House to come to at the end of a day.”

He nodded. “Yes, we are. I—”

“Elizabeth and John, you’re back. Did you find out anything about who owns the buildings?” Kathleen hurried down the stairs, eager expectation on her face.

“No,” John said. “It seems that the landlords of the buildings of disrepair don’t even want to live in them. The tenants see little to nothing of them unless they are collecting the rent. But don’t worry. We’re going to get to the bottom of it. We’re going to find out who owns these buildings.”

“I’m so glad I asked you two to help with this. I was getting more discouraged by the day. But I know that between all of us, we’ll make a difference.”

“I wish I had as much confidence in us as you do, Kathleen,” Elizabeth replied.

Her friend put an arm around her shoulders. “I know it is difficult to see the bad conditions. But my family and I are proof that one doesn’t have to live in the tenements forever. And we’re going to do all we can to help those who can’t leave right now have better living conditions while we help to show them they can get out, too.”

“My admiration for you and Colleen grows each day, Kathleen,” Elizabeth said. “And I’ll do all I can to help.”

“So will I,” John added. “You’ve given us a challenge I don’t think either of us will back down from.”

“I’m glad to hear it. I know you’ll both give it your best. Now let’s go freshen up for that delicious dinner Mrs. Heaton has in store for us. And maybe we can get some wedding planning in this evening, if you have time, Elizabeth? I’d like to go over to Colleen’s and get her input, too, if you don’t mind.”

“I’ll make time, Kathleen. And I don’t mind going to Colleen’s at all. I haven’t seen her or those sweet nephews of yours in a while.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.”

“And I’ll leave all that planning to you two ladies. See you both at dinner.” John grinned and took the staircase down to the ground floor while the two women headed up to their rooms.

Helping Kathleen plan her wedding sounded wonderfully refreshing after spending the afternoon in the tenements. And Elizabeth could think of no one she’d rather help right now than Kathleen.

* * *

As it was still light after dinner, Elizabeth and Kathleen took the short walk to Colleen’s by themselves, with Luke promising to come get them if they weren’t home before dark.

“Luke didn’t seem too upset by not having your company tonight,” Elizabeth said.

Kathleen chuckled. “Well, he has a new deadline and he wants to get his book edits finished before the wedding, so it should be a little easier to have a planning session now and again.”

Luke made his living as a dime novelist, but because of Kathleen and what her family had endured in the tenements, he’d written a novel that he wanted to bring light to the problems there and at the same time give hope that others could make it out as Kathleen and her family had. It was to be on the shelves before Thanksgiving.

“I still can’t believe we’re getting married,” Kathleen said. “I never thought I could be this much in love or this happy.”

Elizabeth was truly happy for her friend, but she was surprised by the sudden surge of longing to experience that kind of happiness for herself—even though she had no intention of letting herself fall in love again. She’d already experienced betrayal in her lifetime and she didn’t intend to let it happen again.

“You deserve all the happiness you can get, Kathleen. You and Luke are perfect for each other.” And they were. Neither of them could ever be accused of marrying for any reason other than love. But for Elizabeth—there was no real way to know if that was the case. It wasn’t worth the heartache that came with finding out a man’s interest was only in her wealth and not her.

“Thank you, Elizabeth. You deserve the same, you know. And it will happen one day. I’m sure of it.”

Elizabeth only shrugged. She couldn’t go into how she felt, as Kathleen didn’t know who she really was—something that weighed on her mind more and more each day. This woman was her best friend. How would she feel if Elizabeth told her the truth? Would she feel betrayed?

“How is it working with John? I hope I haven’t asked too much of you.... I know he can irritate you at times.”

“So far it’s okay. And it is for a good cause so we’ll make it work.”