A Place of Refuge

Mrs. Heaton came out of her study just as he ended the call. “How did Kathleen do today?”

“I think it was hard on her. She seemed to be in some pain—her rib, I believe. Elizabeth was going to help her wrap it, I think.”

“I’ll go up and see if we need to telephone the doctor.”

“Good.” Luke felt better just knowing Mrs. Heaton would be checking on Kathleen.

“It’s going to take a while for her to heal,” she said as she pulled a letter out of her pocket. “But I have something that I’m sure will make her feel better. She got a letter from her sister today—well, I think it’s from her sister. It has her neighbor’s name on it but Kathleen said that’s how they would correspond so her brother-in-law doesn’t find out.”

Luke watched her go upstairs and prayed she was right. Hearing from her sister was bound to make Kathleen feel better. He went downstairs to wash up before dinner, and afterward he made a few notes on ideas that’d come to him for his next chapter. But his mind was on Kathleen and he couldn’t concentrate. He dropped his pencil and sighed. It was time for dinner anyway. He’d work later. He joined the others in the parlor and was pleased that Kathleen and Elizabeth joined them only minutes later.

Mrs. Heaton announced that dinner was ready and he had only a moment to reach Kathleen’s side and ask, “Are you feeling any better?”

“I am. Mrs. Heaton and Elizabeth wrapped my rib. I should have gone to work with it wrapped today. I’ll be sure to tomorrow.”

He escorted her to the dining room and pulled out her chair for her. John Talbot said the blessing and once Mrs. Heaton began passing dishes around and everyone began to talk, Luke turned to Kathleen again. She hadn’t mentioned the letter so Luke took it upon himself to ask. “Mrs. Heaton said you received a letter. Is it from your sister? Is everything all right with her?”

Kathleen’s smile told him it was good news—at least for now.

“She said Clancy is still working and the boys are doing well. They were happy to hear from me and said to tell me they love me.”

Kathleen’s eyes seemed to mist for a moment and she quickly blinked back whatever tears had begun to well there. “She said they aren’t happy with their papa that I had to leave but they’ve accepted it.”

“Perhaps you and your sister will be able to get together one day.”

“I hope so. But it will be difficult. I don’t dare show up at the apartment. And it’s hard for Colleen to get away when Clancy is at home.”

Luke wished he could find a safe way for Kathleen and her sister to get together. He’d have to give it some thought.

Once the meal was finished he pulled back Kathleen’s chair. “Are you going to join the others in the parlor?”

She shook her head. “Not tonight. I really am tired and I think I’ll go on up. Thank you for seeing me to work and home again, Luke. But please don’t feel you have to keep doing it. I—”

“I don’t feel I have to. But I will be seeing you in the morning. I hope you sleep well and feel better tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

Luke watched as Kathleen made her way up the stairs to the landing. She was holding her side and he knew she wasn’t feeling as well as she said she was.

He headed back down to get some work done, praying that Kathleen’s rib would heal quickly and completely. He’d come to enjoy evenings in her company. Chatting with the others didn’t hold the same appeal without her.

* * *

The week actually passed faster than Kathleen had thought it would. And she was getting used to being back at work. She’d taken to sleeping in a corset and her side was feeling much better by Friday.

She gave part of the credit to Luke’s kindness in procuring a hack to take her to work and bring her home. She’d tried to tell him not to, but she was fast learning that the man had a mind of his own, and for the rest of the week she rode in relative comfort. The girls at work teased her constantly about Luke, insinuating that he was courting her, but she kept insisting he was a very good friend.

And he was. She’d never thought she’d have a man friend, but she felt more comfortable in Luke’s company than any of the other boarders except for Elizabeth—and of course Mrs. Heaton.

But now, as she left work for the day and saw Luke waiting for her, her heart skipped a beat. She told herself it was only because she was glad the week was over.

Luke helped her in the hack and took a seat beside her as the driver moved out into the traffic. He grinned down at her. “You made it. A whole week. How are you feeling this afternoon?”

“Glad it’s the weekend.” She chuckled, knowing that wasn’t what he meant, and quickly added, “My side feels much better.”

“Good. But I’m glad it’s the weekend, too. Do you think you might feel up to going to Michael and Violet’s this evening?”

The couple had asked everyone over to their new home for dinner that night. “I do. I’m looking forward to seeing them again.”

“Good. We’re all looking forward to it. It’s the first time they’re entertaining and I think they’re looking forward to having us as much as we’re all looking forward to going.”

Kathleen had found that traveling by hack was much quicker than by trolley and they were back at Heaton House in no time.

They parted ways inside, Kathleen to go upstairs to get ready for the dinner party and Luke downstairs to do the same. She felt excited to be going out for an evening. It wasn’t something she’d ever done before.

Thankfully, Elizabeth had helped her choose what to wear and offered to do her hair. Kathleen still had trouble believing the life she was now living. Oh, she worked as usual, but the life she lived outside of work was so drastically different from where she’d been just weeks ago. She prayed that she wouldn’t get so used to it that she couldn’t go back, if she had to. But it wasn’t easy. She wanted to see her sister and nephews, but she didn’t want to go back to the tenements. She wanted her loved ones out of there!

She’d received another letter from Colleen telling her how glad she was that Kathleen was with such good people. Colleen only wanted what was best for Kathleen, but Kathleen wanted the same for her sister. Only she didn’t know how to go about helping her to get it. At least, not now. All Kathleen could do was send what money she could—made possible only by Mrs. Heaton’s generosity to her.