Stealing Time

by Nancy Pennick

  Midnight was her time limit. If Drew didn’t show by then, she was escaping no matter what. Hoping for the best, Kate sat on the edge of the bed until the last minute.

  “Please, Drew. Please come home!” She spoke to the empty room as if willing him to magically appear.

  As she waited the clock hands hit twelve. She made her way to the door. Her hand trembled as she reached for the handle, turning it slowly so as not to make a noise. She debated which way to go. The front door was definitely out, but the second floor office door was a possibility. From the two trips she made through the house at night, Kate knew no one guarded that area. Her other choice was to go to the sunroom and slip out the backdoor, but that way was the furthest from the street. Her heart pounded as she made her final decision.

  Nicolas was probably out with Drew so who would dare be in the home office without him? Her choice was made. She slipped down the hall bordering the stairs. Her hands shook as she stood before the door leading to the office complex. You can do this.

  Without making a sound, Kate opened the door, silently closing it behind her. She headed for the side door that led to the outside steps. It was almost too good to be true she made it that far. She stood shivering at the top of the metal stairs and stared into the darkness. It would be a challenge to get down them quietly. Any noise may alert the men patrolling the perimeter of the house.

  One step at a time, Kate held her breath until she reached the gravel drive. That was the last obstacle to overcome. She tiptoed through the small stones to the front of the house. Just when she thought she made it, Kate heard a voice behind her.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Kate!”

  Was that Drew? Was he looking for her? She spun around to see Rudy running toward her.

  “You shouldn’t be out here alone at night. Let me escort you back to the house.” He was so polite and kind. It was hard to believe he was the enforcer who had beaten her uncle.

  Rudy took her by the elbow and guided her around the back of the house. “Don’t know how you slipped by me. I would be happy to walk the grounds with you anytime.”

  “That’s kind of you, Rudy. You won’t mention this to Mr. Martin, will you?”

  “Of course not. You didn’t know an escort was needed.” They entered the back door, through the sunroom. “Good night.” Rudy waited for her to go up the stairs.

  Knowing she was defeated, she obliged. As Kate slipped into her empty bedroom, she hoped Drew was in the bathroom or the dressing room closet. Checking everywhere, she realized she was alone. Not being able to take any more setbacks, she threw her possessions to the floor, curled up on the bed and cried herself to sleep.

  * * * *

  Kate made sure she was up and dressed early the next morning. She knew the knock on the door to wake Drew or tell them they missed the train would soon be coming. Drew had stayed out late with his father but at least didn’t come home drunk. She pretended to be asleep when she heard him come in because she was too angry to talk.

  It was past one in the morning when he snuck into their room. Kate was surprised by his continued behavior. Would this be her life if she really lived in the 1920s? Not very appealing. She would trade all the money and amenities for time with Drew. Shaking him lightly, he rolled over and smiled. “Is it morning already?”

  “Yes and your bored, trapped bride isn’t enjoying this part of her honeymoon.”

  “I’m just trying to spend time with my father...time I know we’ll never have again.”

  “I understand completely, but it just seems like you’re...different. Changed.”

  “Kate, I know it looks that way, but I’m still the same Drew. I want out of here as much as you do. We’re leaving this morning and won’t be coming back.”

  “I doubt that we’re leaving. Haven’t you figured that out? They won’t even let me leave the house. I wanted to visit Lilly, go for a walk, do anything by myself, and I’m not allowed.”

  “What?” Drew sat up. Kate could tell he was surprised by what he just heard.

  “Oh, so you’re finally listening to me. We’re prisoners in this house. We need to find a way out. Haven’t you noticed? Your father’s deliberately keeping us apart. We never see each other. He makes sure your whole day’s planned. You lose track of time. I bet you don’t even know what day it is. You’re sneaking into our bed in the middle of the night, hoping I’m asleep. I’ve never seen you act like this before. It scares me.”

  “Now that you put it that way, I see your point. You’re making me sound like a cad!”

  “Cad? What’s that?” Kate laughed at some of the old-fashioned terms he used.

  Drew hung his head. “A man who behaves irresponsibly...toward women. I’m sorry, Kate. I had no idea. I was so caught up in my father’s world I wasn’t paying attention to ours. You have every right to be angry with me.”

  “I’m not angry. Just disappointed. I want to forgive you. Give me some time. I even tried to run away last night, but Rudy caught me.”

  Drew’s jaw clenched, looking as if he was given quite a scare. “Without me? Kate, I’m so sorry. He didn’t hurt you, did he?” She shook her head. “You were desperate enough to leave? It’s that serious? You were planning to leave me for good, weren’t you?”

  “Yes, if I had to,” Kate whispered. “You’re never here. We never talk. I felt all alone for the last couple days. It was as if I didn’t exist.” She began to cry.

  Drew gathered her in his arms and held her tightly. “You exist and are the reason for my existence. How stupid can I be? Everything went to my head. The power. The money. The glamour of this life. I swore it wouldn’t get to me. It’s not the life I want.” He pounded his fist into the mattress. “I will do anything you want, if you can forgive me.”

  “I’m shopping with your mother today and am going to find a way to get to Lilly’s. You need to do the same if you want to come with me. Leave everything behind. We don’t need a thing.” Kate gazed into his eyes. “Are you coming? Or are you staying here?”

  “Of course, I’m coming. How can you even ask that question? I promised your father I’d take care of you and did a terrible job. Wait till he hears about this. I’ll lose his trust for good.”

  “No, you won’t. My father’s just been a little overprotective this year. He’ll understand.” Kate took his hand.

  “My head’s clear now. It’s the two of us against them.”

  Relief spread through her body. Kate felt like she could relax. She and Drew were on the same team again. He had lost his way, but she could forgive him. It happened to everyone. No one was perfect.

  “Drew, last year, did your father ask us to stay on longer like he did the night of the reception?”

  “Yes, he did. I declined the invitation but promised to come back at Thanksgiving. Although I knew it wasn’t true.”

  “So that’s why he let us leave.” Kate’s thoughts drifted to that day. Nicolas was almost kind to her. At the time she felt she had finally made a breakthrough with him. But really, he just wanted to make sure they came back for Thanksgiving. Little did she know Nicolas postponed the plan to keep them in New York until they returned for that holiday. He’d have time to work out all the details beforehand. This time he accomplished his plan earlier. “So you lied to him last year?”

  “Exactly. And now I see I shouldn’t play with history. I should’ve told him we were leaving Sunday...just like before. I created this mess. If I had stayed on script, we’d be back home in Ohio.”

  “But Drew, you already went off script. All this didn’t happen because you told your father we’d stay. Remember the wedding? You gave your father information he didn’t have before. He had almost two weeks to prepare before we got here. Even if you told him we were leaving on Sunday, we’d still be here. You know we can never come back again. Use today to say your good-byes. Maria’s back at boarding school, but you still can see your mother and Freddie.”

  “That sounds so final. I hope
I can pull it off. I won’t have a problem getting out of the house because I join my father every day at the store. How do I deviate from the schedule? Someone’s always with me now that I think about it.”

  “Say you want to buy me a present and need to stop somewhere.”

  “Where do you plan on shopping with Mother?”

  “I have no idea. I’m only familiar with Saks. You have to help me. Where can I look at linens and décor for the house?”

  “B. Altman’s, corner of Thirty-fourth and Fifth. It’s a huge store. We need a meeting place.”

  “How many floors?”

  “Eight.”

  “Jewelry’s usually on the first floor, right?”

  Drew nodded and pulled his pocket watch from his coat lying next to the bed. “Synchronize our watches.”

  Kate looked down at the one Drew gave her on their anniversary night. It was a special, sentimental gift at the time. Little did she know she’d use it now to save their lives. “Give me an hour with your mother. Let’s meet at eleven-thirty.”

  She climbed back on the bed and crawled over to Drew. He held her in his arms until the knock on the door came.

  “Sir, are you awake?” It was Sal’s voice.

  “Yes, I am.” Drew got up and opened the door. “I cancelled today’s departure because my wife informed me she’s shopping with my mother. No need for your services right now.”

  “Very good, sir.” A sneaky smile crept over Sal’s face.

  As he walked down the hall, Drew called out to him. “Oh, Sal, I hope the car’s repaired. I have a lot to do.” Drew shut the door and winked at Kate. “How’d you like my performance?”

  “It was perfect. You took the upper hand and caught him off guard. I’m sure he’s running to tell your father the good news.”

  “Let’s get some breakfast. You can confirm plans with Mother. I’ll act all business-like around here for an hour or so and then say I’m ready to go to Martin’s—with one stop before I get there.” Drew slid back onto the bed, pulling Kate next to him.

  Kate needed time because inside she had been angry with Drew for days. She told him she forgave him because in her head she knew she did. It was her heart that still ached and needed mending. “It will take awhile to recover from this,” she said quietly as she lay in his arms.

  He made no effort to leave the bed or the room like the last few days. She knew he was sorry. Life was far from perfect unlike the fairy tales she so loved as a girl. There would be bumps along the way, but this was a big one.

  Drew kissed the top of her head. “I don’t know how I can make this up to you. Tell me what to do.”

  Suddenly Kate realized her perspective on the past week was different from Drew’s. This was his family, his life before he met her. He was comfortable here and familiar with a routine. “You don’t have to do a thing. This is your family. You had no idea your father was that controlling.” Kate sat up and turned toward Drew. “You do know what he is, don’t you?”

  “I think so. I just don’t want to admit it.”

  “He’s more than a designer of men’s fashion. Much more. He’s not catering to mob clientele...he is the mob. And more to the point, he’s in charge.”

  Drew was silent. Kate feared she went too far but felt he needed to face facts. Then he said exactly what she wanted him to realize on his own. “He doesn’t want me to work at the store or learn that business. Father wants to train me to take over the mob one day.”

  “Yes, Drew, he does. Is that the life you want?”

  “No, it isn’t. So when I died at the canyon, all his plans died that day.”

  “I think so.”

  “Then let’s get back there and not change history anymore than we already have.” He jumped out of bed and went into the dressing room. “Kate?”

  “What?”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  At breakfast, Drew and Kate put on quite a show as newlyweds excited over the prospect of decorating their own apartment in the house. “We’ll be able to stay longer and come more often, Mother.” Drew smiled as if he really meant it. “You know I love being in your company.”

  “You have always been the most kind and generous son.” Ilene took his hand. “I miss you every time you leave.”

  “And I miss you. That’s why I got this for you.” Drew slipped a little blue box from his pocket and handed it to his mother. Kate thought she saw Tiffany & Co on the lid.

  From the box Ilene pulled a lovely gold locket embellished with a pale purple lilac, her favorite flower. As she opened the locket, Ilene put her hand to her mouth. “It’s perfect. Thank you, son.” Passing the necklace to Kate, she rose from her chair and left the room.

  “Why didn’t she want you to see her cry?” Kate realized that was the reason Ilene left. Gazing down at the picture, Kate saw three stoic-looking faces—Drew, his brother Freddie and sister, Maria. “Oh, Drew, this is perfect. When did you do it?”

  “It wasn’t all fun and games when I was out. I special ordered the locket from Tiffany’s and picked it up last night. I want her to have something to remember me by.”

  Ilene returned, coat in hand. “Kathryn, dear, I’m ready as soon as you are.”

  “I’ll just be a minute.” Kate ran up the back stairs to her room, grabbed her coat and anything else she deemed important and stuffed them into her pockets. The phone caught her eye as she gave the room one last sweep with her eyes. For a brief moment, she wanted to grab it and dial her grandmother’s number but didn’t want to risk it. There was a strong possibility someone could be listening. So instead, she turned toward the door and took a deep breath. She was strong. Wasn’t that what Anna told her in the letter? She could do this. Her plan would work, and it would start as soon as she walked out the bedroom door.

  It would be the last time she would see Drew until they met at the store. There was no opportunity to discuss the details again. She heard him talking to his mother as she descended the stairs to the first floor.

  “Ah, here she is. Didn’t you say you’d love to shop at Altman’s, Kate?” Drew smiled up at her as she reached the final set of steps.

  “Yes, I’ve never been there and heard it’s fabulous.”

  “Then let’s stop wasting time and get started.” Ilene put her arm through Kate’s, not giving her a chance to speak to Drew.

  “Mother, you can’t take my bride away without letting me give her a kiss.” Drew was really playing the part.

  Kate swung back around, facing Drew. “I love you,” she mouthed as they quickly kissed.

  The two women settled in the back of the Cadillac as Sal prepared the car for the journey. Ilene and Kate made small talk on the way to the store. Kate asked if they could shop for linens first and wanted to know the best place for lunch. Guilt swept through her every time she told another lie. It was hard to think how to leave and still be on good terms with her mother-in-law. Kate had no idea what the next step would be, so she decided to wait until they reached the store. Sal parked in front of Altman’s, running around to the passenger side to let them out.

  “You don’t need to wait, Salvatore. Andrew needs your services. I’ll put in a call when we’re ready to come home.” Ilene took his hand and stepped out of the car, followed by Kate.

  Sal nodded and drove away, giving Kate her first idea. She could pretend she was ill and needed to leave with Lilly immediately, not able to wait for the Martin car to arrive. She’d hug and thank Ilene profusely and say she’d see her in a bit. Relieved to have a small part of the plan worked out, Kate decided to enjoy the shopping trip.

  Surprisingly, she chose a lovely bedspread and linens for the apartment rather quickly, and the women took the elevator to another floor. Ilene wanted Kate’s opinion on lamps and tables. She checked her watch as they headed up a floor and saw it was close to eleven-thirty.

  Embarrassing as it would be, Kate decided to say she needed to use the restroom and hopefully fin
d a phone instead. As they wandered through the rows of lighting, she grabbed her stomach. “I think I need to find a ladies room.”

  “Oh, I’ll go with you. There’s one on the floor we were just on.”

  “Please, keep shopping. I’ll be back before you know it.” Kate was already on her way to the elevator as she said it. Maybe Ilene realized Kate needed her privacy or just couldn’t wait.

  As the elevator doors closed behind her, Kate quickly gave the operator her floor number. She couldn’t take her eyes off the giant dial that showed the numbers, willing it to begin the countdown to the first floor. When the doors opened, someone she never expected to see stood before her. “Dad! You’re still here!”

  “You didn’t think I’d leave after that phone call from Andrew, did you? I wasn’t leaving my little girl here all alone.”

  “I have it under control.”

  “I’m sure you do. I’m only here as back-up.”

  “How did you know I was in the store?”

  “I’ve been watching the house. I saw Drew leave every day with his father, but you were nowhere to be seen. I had Mother call the house and ask to speak with you. They said you were out which we knew wasn’t true. So I’ve been patiently waiting and watching the house every day, trying to keep myself from storming in, demanding to see you.”

  “You wouldn’t have,” Kate giggled and slipped her arm through her father’s. “I’m meeting Drew. Don’t have time to fill you in on the details, but I can tell you this much. Nicolas is trying to keep us here. There’s always an excuse why we can’t get to the train station. I haven’t been allowed out of the house or their sight the whole time I’ve been here. It’s always done very nicely—the car’s in the repair shop. Maria’s going back to school and wants to have lunch with you. Ilene’s in the sunroom and needs your help. Polite but scary.”

  “I knew he couldn’t be trusted...”

  “Dad! How can you say that about Drew?”