“I don’t rightly know. Our Nora is rather independent. I hope she does, though. It sounds like a wonderful place.”
“Will you all go?” Even as he asked, he didn’t expect the woman to answer such a personal question. He was surprised to see her face bloom, giving him a glimpse of the beauty she must have been when she first got married. Then it closed over just as suddenly, he almost thought he had imagined it.
“I can’t go traveling to Colorado. I have a husband and a home here.” Ruth stood up and started preparing dinner. The conversation was closed. Thankfully Doc Erin decided it was time to leave so there was no awkward silence to sit in. On the trip back to the hotel, Doc Erin didn’t seem to be in the mood for conversation. Robbie sat beside her in the cab, his own thoughts scrambling all over his head. What was he going to do about Nora? He should just forget about her. He had plans, big plans and getting married and having children had never figured into those plans. He’d only just met this girl, yet he was thinking of what their children would be like? He must be sick or something…
Chapter 24
Nora’s job didn’t last long and she found herself visiting Doc Erin again. She told her gran she wanted to find out more about Clover Springs. Her gran hadn’t said anything but her raised eyebrow suggested that she didn’t believe it was Erin who was the attraction. Nora didn’t want to admit to herself she was hoping Robbie would be there.
“Nora, how lovely to see you. We were just about to go to Macy’s. Come with us,” Erin said.
“Thanks, but I don’t have the money to go shopping in a store like that.”
“But I do and I want to spend it.” Alicia graced her with a warm smile. “Come with us, please. It gets rather boring with just myself and Erin. She may be a wonderful doctor but she isn’t a great shopping companion.” Alicia blew the hair out of her eyes in a show of jovial frustration.
“Wouldn’t Lily like to go?” Nora asked.
“Lily? That girl will never come shopping with me again. It was my own fault. I thought she should own a ball gown. Everyone should, really.”
Nora burst out laughing. Alicia was so different from the people she normally spoke to.
“I think I should have the most expensive one of all. I can model it around our tenement.” Nora clowned around pretending to model a dress.
Alicia hugged Nora but Erin looked at her gloomily. “I wish I could get your gran to move out of that place.”
Nora hated herself for making Erin sad, but the reality was her gran wasn’t going anywhere.
“Come on, Erin, enough sulking. We can buy Nora some outfits for Clover Springs. She’s going to need more than one dress.”
Nora wanted to hug herself with excitement. She had never been inside Macy’s for fear of being thrown out as soon as she stepped inside. But that wouldn’t happen with Alicia and Erin beside her.
“Is Robbie coming with us?” She almost bit her own tongue out at the gleam in Alicia’s face that her words caused.
“Is someone more than a little attracted to our handsome young friend?”
Nora blushed, her scarlet face so heated she could fry an egg on it.
“Stop teasing her, Alicia, or I’ll tell her tales about when you met Aaron,” Erin said.
Alicia stuck her tongue out at Erin but she stopped teasing. Nora sent Erin a grateful look. The doctor looked back, her face a mask of concentration. For some reason, that made Nora more nervous than Alicia’s teasing.
Robbie didn’t come with them but any disappointment Nora felt was soon forgotten by the joy of shopping. She couldn’t remember ever having so much fun. There were so many things for sale in the store she couldn’t make her mind up what to buy. Alicia insisted on buying some sweet, but fairly practical, dresses for Katie and also some clothes for Stevie. She wanted to buy Nora’s ma a dress as well, but Nora didn’t think her mam would feel comfortable with that. She persuaded Alicia to buy her a pretty shawl instead. “She can wear it to Mass.”
Nora came back to the hotel with a number of bags. She was now the proud owner of three new dresses, one good one and two so-called practical ones as Alicia called them. She had two pairs of shoes too, and some new underthings. Erin had bought her some ribbons and a new brush and comb set. She felt like a little girl on her birthday.
“Did you leave anything on the shelves?” Aaron teased his wife when they returned to the hotel.
“I bet the salesgirls were thrilled to see you. Judging by the number of bags, I think they must have earned a lot of commission today.” Robbie smiled at her.
Nora smiled back at Robbie’s teasing, secretly thrilled he was treating her the same way Aaron treated his wife.
“Nora, are you staying for tea?” Erin offered.
“No thanks, I best get home. I can’t wait to show the little ones what you bought them.” Nora shot Erin and Alicia a grateful smile.
“If they are anything like my boys, they will be more interested in the candy than in the clothes.” Alicia glanced toward where her boys were engrossed playing with Lily, an indulgent expression on her face.
“Would you like some help with your bags, Nora? I have to go over to that side of town so you can share my cab,” Robbie asked.
Nora was about to decline out of habit but a daring glance from him made her change her mind. “Thank you, my feet feel like they are about to fall off. I can totally understand why Aaron and Mick don’t go shopping with their wives.”
She thanked everyone for a lovely day and then followed Robbie out of the hotel and into the waiting cab.
“You’re very good to take me home.”
“It’s my pleasure. But I admit I have an ulterior motive.”
Her heart leapt, she had to clasp her hands closer together in a bid not to show him how excited his words made her. He wasn’t thinking of courting her…was he?
“I was wondering what you knew about a certain man who lives near you. Says he’s a friend of yours.”
His words had the same effect as a bucket of ice being thrown at her. She stared at him in shock, her mouth hanging slightly open. It took more than a couple of seconds for her to regain her composure.
“A man? Who?” She managed to ask, her voice sounding almost as shaky as she felt. The joy in the day had disappeared. She wanted to jump out of the cab and run home.
“Ned Duffy.”
“He’s no friend of mine. How dare you insinuate I would have anything to do with that, that…” Nora struggled for a polite word to describe the snake. He reached out to take her hand.
“Calm down, Nora, I didn’t mean to frighten you but I had to be sure. He’s been saying things.”
“What sort of things?” All rational thoughts had left her mind as she was swallowed up by rage. How dare Ned Duffy imply to anyone she was his friend, let alone someone like Robbie. If Duffy were standing in front of her now, she would tear him limb from limb.
“I’m not surprised you hate him, but you best keep away. He has ideas.” Robbie’s grim expression gave her some indication of what those ideas were. She shouldn’t be surprised. Duffy had told her he would take her one way or another.
“I wish he was dead,” she mumbled.
“You and me both but there are better ways to treat people like Duffy. Please, Nora, put him out of your mind. I had to be one hundred percent sure of your feelings. He has, shall we say, a different opinion.”
“I’m sure he does. I can just hear him. But he won’t get his dirty little paws on me. I would rather die first.”
“Let’s not be drastic.” Robbie tried to tease her but she wasn’t having any of it. She wanted him gone so she could give in to her feelings. One minute she’d been as happy as a lark, the next she felt like someone had dunked her in the dirty canal.
“Nora, please forgive me. I’m usually a little more subtle, but the thought of you and him…”
“There is no me and him. There is no me and anyone.” She didn’t look at him but stared out of the c
ab until they reached her home. Thanking him for the ride, she tried to get out of the cab without his assistance but he was too quick for her. He opened the door and put his hand out to help her. It would be churlish to ignore him. She let him help her, trying her best not to react to his touch. His hand stayed at her waist for seconds longer than it needed to. She could feel him staring at her but she refused to meet his gaze. She didn’t want to lose any more of her dignity by crying.
He didn’t take the hint but insisted on helping her carry her bags. She walked through the tenement conscious of him following her. She opened the door all set to dismiss him when her gran spotted him.
“It’s you again. Come in and don’t let the neighbors see ya. Wouldn’t want them to think we’re moving to the other side.”
Her gran’s teasing made Robbie smile. She could sense he was watching her, but Nora continued to ignore him. Her gran looked from one to the other. “Better put a cup of tea on the boil for these two. They look like they need it.”
“Robbie isn’t staying, Gran, he has things to do.”
“I would love a cup of tea, thank you, Mrs. Doherty.”
A smile twitched on her gran’s face but she didn’t say anything. Cheeks flaming, Nora tried to escape to her bedroom but Katie stopped her. “Is there anything in those bags for me?”
“Yes, there is. I think your sister has some candy for you.” Robbie picked up the little girl and swung her in the air as she giggled delightedly. Katie’s laughter forced Nora to smile.
“If I’d known that’s all it took to put a smile on your face, I would have picked her up ages ago,” he whispered for Nora alone to hear.
She was about to reply when her mam interrupted.
“Nora, thank goodness you’re home. Your cousin Paul came over earlier, he’s heading over to our Michael’s to stay for a few days. Cheeky so and so took my last apple pie.” Ruth pretended to be upset, but Nora knew her mam adored both Paul and Michael. “He told us your aunt may have heard of a job for you. You best get over to your aunty Nancy’s and find out. Robbie won’t mind going with you, will you lad? I don’t like her walking the streets alone.”
Nora could have cried but it would be no use. She was desperate for a job. She turned and gave the bags to her mam with instructions on where to find the candy. “Doc Erin put in a few gifts for you and gran too. I won’t be long. Are you coming?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Robbie answered, making everyone but Nora laugh. She caught him winking at her gran. It made her even crosser.
As they walked in silence, Nora having refused his offer to get a cab, Robbie knew he didn’t have much time to repair the damage he had caused.
“It was nice of your cousin to think of you for the job.” Robbie tried to make conversation. He had kicked himself at least a thousand times for the way he had handled things. He meant to warn her to be on the lookout for Duffy. Instead, he made it sound like she was chasing after him.
“Round here, we look after our own,” she said.
Her short reply annoyed him. He had been looking after his own. He wanted to protect her from ever being hurt. Especially by the likes of Duffy.
“Nora, stop and listen to me.”
She ignored him. He put his hand out and grabbed her firmly but gently on the arm. “Please listen to me. I’m sorry.”
She stared up at him, her eyes almost black. She looked as if she would cry. He pulled her close expecting her to struggle but she didn’t. She looked stunned.
He pushed a strand of hair gently away from her face before bending down and kissing her forehead. The way she looked up at him, he wanted to capture her lips and sear them with a kiss but she wasn’t ready for that. Not yet.
“I am really sorry. I just wanted to warn you.”
“I wouldn’t have anything to do with Duffy,” she protested, but the fire had gone out of her voice. She didn’t sound a bit like his Nora.
“I know that. I was stupid.”
“Why would you think that?”
“I don’t. I heard what he had been saying and it made me angry. I was so…” Could he admit it?
“So, what?” She looked up at him waiting for his answer.
“Jealous. I was jealous.”
He looked at her expecting a look of disdain. Instead, she smiled. The smile nearly did him in. He wanted to kiss her even more.
“You were?”
“Yes, Nora, I was. Very.” He pulled her closer to brush his lips across hers. She stood on tippy-toes to kiss him back quickly before turning away.
“If Father Devine hears about me kissing on the street, he will have me kneeling saying novenas for a year.” She smiled up at him shyly. “We best get to my aunty Nancy’s.”
He nodded, incapable of speaking. He took her arm in his and together they walked to her aunt’s house. The tenement wasn’t as bad as the previous one, and it smelled much better. To his relief, her aunt was alone.
“Aunty Nancy, this is Robbie Fenton, a friend of Doc Erin’s. Mam asked him to walk me over. She said you had news of a job?”
Robbie politely declined the woman’s cup of tea having seen the curiosity in her eyes. He wasn’t in the mood to make polite conversation. He wanted to be alone with Nora, to kiss her again. But he had to be careful. Nora Doherty was a respectable girl. He didn’t want to do anything to endanger her reputation. Given what little he knew of her priest, Father Devine, it wouldn’t take much to bring his wrath down on the Doherty family. Walking out with a Protestant would be a sin in the eyes of the priest and others like him.
He was relieved when Nora made some excuse for them to leave after not too long. Robbie insisted on walking her home, but this time he didn’t take her arm. When they got to her door, he asked her to wait a minute before going inside.
“Nora, I know a little about your priest and his views on those who don’t marry within his church.” As her eyes widened, he continued quickly. “I’m not proposing anything other than I’d like the two of us to get to know each other better. But I don’t want to cause any problems for you or your family.”
“You won’t. Father Devine doesn’t scare me.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her chastely. It took every ounce of control not to deepen the kiss, especially when his body sensed she wouldn’t put up a fight. He could tell she wanted him too. But she was so innocent she probably didn’t realize what her body was telling him. He sighed, kissed her again quickly and then reluctantly let her go.
“You best go in. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said.
She nodded, but the way she looked at him told him she wanted him to kiss her again. He couldn’t. There was only so much restraint.
“Good night, sleep well.”
He didn’t look back until the door had closed behind him. His feelings for her were stronger than anything he’d ever experienced before. If anyone were to ask him if he loved her, he would be hard put to deny it. But an Irish Catholic and an English Protestant? That wasn’t a match made in heaven by anyone’s standards.
Chapter 25
Erin called back to the Dohertys’ to examine Joe. Carmel and Ruth greeted her warmly, but Joe treated her with contempt.
“I ain’t letting no woman doctor near me.”
“Joseph Doherty, you should be ashamed of yourself. Doc Erin has been very good to your family,” Carmel said firmly.
“Goody two-shoes like her love lording it over the rest of us. I’m off to see Fred.” Joe groped his way past their chairs and headed toward the door. Erin stood up and calmly blocked his way.
“Mr. Doherty, I apologize if you think I was being arrogant. That wasn’t my intention. Please take a seat and let me examine your eyes. Once I’m done, I will escort you to your friend’s house.”
“Get out of my way, lady.”
“Joe, please. She’s been so good to Nora and…” Ruth spoke quietly.
“Shut up, Ruth. I don’t want to hear another word from you or you’ll pay,” Joe th
reatened.
Erin saw her turn pale with fear and the rage building inside her exploded.
“That’s quite enough of that, Mr. Doherty. My father was with the fire department and I know enough firemen and policemen to form my own parade,” Erin said, crossing her fingers at the lie. Knowing people on the force hadn’t helped her deal with her own problems last year.
“Are you threatening me, lady?”
“No, unlike you, I don’t make threats. Instead, I’m making you a promise. I don’t think any of my friends would appreciate you putting a hand on me. My husband certainly wouldn’t. The law may say you can do whatever you like to your wife; however, you cannot treat another woman the same.” Erin’s heart beat fast, she couldn’t remember the last time she was so annoyed. She was tempted to take a pot out of the sink and hit this man over the head.
He sat down. “Get it over with then.”
Taking a deep breath, Erin washed her hands before she examined his eyes. She asked him a number of questions. When he didn’t answer she stepped on his foot. “Oh, I am so sorry, Mr. Doherty. I didn’t see your foot.”
“You need glasses then,” he replied.
Erin didn’t answer. She couldn’t look at Carmel or Ruth either. She kept her head down and continued with the examination.
“Are you finished yet?”
“Yes, I am. Joe, I am going to speak to the eye specialist. From what I can see, your eyesight loss need not be permanent. I don’t want to raise your hopes up without further examination but I think some of your sight could be restored with the proper medical attention.”
“You do?” The hope in his voice had her feeling sorry for him. But then, just as quickly, the sullenness returned. “I don’t believe ya. If I could have sight, the male doctors would have sorted it out. You should be ashamed of yourself going around telling people what you think they want to hear. Get out of my house. Go on GET!” Joe roared at her.
Carmel walked up and slapped her son across the back of the head.
New York Bound Page 9
