A Place of Refuge

by Janet Lee Barton

  They headed out the door to the landing and were met there by another woman.

  “Kathleen, this is Julia Olson. She works at Ellis Island and is a good friend.”

  “I’m pleased to meet you, Kathleen,” Julia said. “Mrs. Heaton told us there was a new boarder, and we’ve been hoping you’d be able to join us for dinner soon.”

  “Thank you, Julia. It’s nice to meet you, too.”

  Kathleen followed the two girls downstairs, trying to calm her jittery nerves. Julia had been very nice and if her attitude was any indication of the kind of boarders Mrs. Heaton had, everyone else would be, too. She hoped so, for part of her wanted to run right back to her room and hide, while the other part desperately needed a diversion from worry about her sister and nephews.

  Elizabeth led them to what Kathleen thought was the parlor, only it was much grander than any she’d ever seen. She tried not to show how out of place she felt as she took in the fine furnishings. The parlor suites were covered in a burgundy silk, along with several chairs upholstered in a gold-and-burgundy-striped fabric. The draperies were made of the same striped material, making the room look inviting.

  There were several very comfortable-looking chairs clustered around a round table in another conversation area in one corner of the room. A piano sat in the opposite corner.

  “It’s beautiful,” Kathleen said.

  “It’s very comfortable,” Elizabeth said. “It’s a great place to gather after dinner and we do so quite often.”

  Kathleen walked around the room looking at the various photographs here and there. There was one of a pretty young woman who reminded her of someone, but try as she might, she couldn’t place her.

  Male voices were heard in the foyer and Kathleen turned to see three gentlemen enter the parlor.

  “Ben, John, come meet Kathleen O’Bryan. Luke, you’ve met her already,” Elizabeth said.

  At the mention of Luke’s name, Kathleen looked past the two men headed her way and caught her breath as the man who’d come to her rescue walked toward her. He was as handsome as she remembered—if not more so. He hadn’t been smiling that day in the park. But now his lips turned up in a smile that had her heart hammering in her chest to each step he took toward her.

  “Kathleen, this is Benjamin Roth, a teacher, whom we call just Ben,” Elizabeth said, pulling Kathleen’s attention to the men standing in front of her. “Ben, this is Kathleen O’Bryan.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Miss O’Bryan.” He had blond hair and blue eyes.

  “And this is John Talbot. He’s a reporter for the New-York Tribune.”

  “I’m glad you could join us this evening, Miss O’Bryan,” the man with hair the color of rust said. His eyes were a cool blue-green.

  “I’m pleased to meet you both.”

  Suddenly Luke appeared behind them, taller and broader than either man, and they seemed to move to the side to make way for him.

  “And I believe you’ve met Luke Patterson,” Elizabeth said.

  “I have. Good evening, Mr. Patterson,” Kathleen said.

  Luke held out his hand and Kathleen found herself slipping her own into it. “It’s good to see you are finally able to join us for dinner.”

  His voice was husky and deep just as she remembered and her heart warmed at the sound of it. The others had moved away, giving them a chance to speak in private.

  “Mrs. Heaton has refused to let me come up to see you again, but she’s been good to let me know you were getting better each day. Still, it’s not quite like seeing for myself,” he said. “I’m glad you’re healing.”

  But when he reached out and touched her chin, it took her by surprise and she flinched. Instead of this man, she saw Clancy coming at her for the second time that night he’d beaten her and her hand went up to protect herself.

  “I’m sorry, Miss O’Bryan,” he said. “I should have known—”

  His words brought her back to the present and she shook her head. “No. I’m sorry, Mr. Patterson. I just...remembered Clancy coming at me with his fist raised and—”

  “I shouldn’t have—”

  “No, it’s all right. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Patterson. And thank you for helping me the other night and—”

  “Oh, good, it looks as if you’ve all met Kathleen. I’m glad,” Mrs. Heaton said, coming into the room. “I came to let you all know that dinner is ready. Luke, will you escort Kathleen into the dining room? And Ben, would you escort me?”

  “I’d be delighted to,” Ben said.

  “Miss O’Bryan?” Luke crooked his elbow and looked down at Kathleen.

  She wasn’t used to gentlemanly actions and wasn’t totally sure what she should do, until she saw Mrs. Heaton glide her arm through Ben’s arm. Kathleen mimicked what the older woman did, slipping her hand through Luke’s crooked arm and resting it on his forearm.

  They followed Mrs. Heaton and Ben and left John Talbot to escort both Elizabeth and Julia to the table. Once Luke had seated her and taken the seat to her left, she breathed a sigh of relief that she’d managed not to embarrass herself.

  She was glad Elizabeth was sitting across from her so that she could see what fork and spoon to use. Why anyone would need so many utensils to eat one meal was beyond her. At home they only used what was needed, a spoon for soup or porridge, a fork for everything else and a knife only when needed.

  “John, will you say the blessing, please?” Mrs. Heaton asked as soon as everyone was seated.

  “Certainly.” He bowed his head and Kathleen bowed hers along with the others.

  “Dear Lord, we thank You for this day, we thank You that Miss O’Bryan is well enough to join us and we thank You for the food we are about to eat. Please help us to do Your will. Amen.”

  Kathleen was touched that he’d included her in his prayer and her heart filled with thanksgiving that she’d wound up in this home.

  Gretchen and Maida, her twin sister who’d greatly confused Kathleen the first few days when they would come into her room, began to serve the meal of roast chicken, creamed potatoes, peas with baby onions and piping-hot rolls.

  Kathleen thought this kind of meal was served only in fancy restaurants, the kind she could never afford. For a moment she wondered what Colleen and the boys were eating and swallowed hard. It didn’t seem right that she should be treated so well when her sister was stuck in such horrible circumstances.

  “Miss O’Bryan? Are you feeling all right?” Luke asked.

  “I— Oh, I’m sorry. I’m fine. I was just thinking about my family and wondering...” She shook her head. “I’m fine, really.”

  She glanced over to see that Elizabeth had used the large fork, and picked up her own. She took a bite of potatoes and tried not to embarrass herself as she gave her attention to the meal.

  Elizabeth smiled across the table at her. “We’ve been thinking about going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art tomorrow. Would you like to go with us?”

  “Oh, I don’t know, I—”

  “It will do you good to get out in the fresh air for a bit, Kathleen. If you are feeling up to it, that is,” Mrs. Heaton said.

  Kathleen had never been to the museum. Some of the girls she worked with had talked about going, but she’d never had the opportunity to go. She was curious to see all the museum held, and it would give her something to do. Her room was lovely but she was beginning to feel a bit confined. Now that her face was looking more normal she wouldn’t feel self-conscious about being out in public. “You’re right. It would do me good. I’d be glad to join you, Elizabeth. Thank you for inviting me.”

  “So we’re all going?” Elizabeth asked.

  “I’d like to,” Luke said.

  “Count me in,” Julia said.

  “John and I were the ones who first brought it up, s
o we’re going,” Ben added.

  “Well, I’m going to visit Michael and Violet,” Mrs. Heaton said. She looked at Kathleen. “Michael is my son and he and Violet Burton got married last December. They don’t live far from here and you’ll be meeting them on Sunday. They usually come to Sunday dinner.”

  “I look forward to meeting them.” Kathleen was relieved to know the woman had a son who lived nearby. When she and her sister’s family had come here to America, she’d dreamed of falling in love and having a home near her sister’s.

  But that had never happened. Instead it was all Clancy and her sister could do to pay the rent and feed their children—and that only with Kathleen’s help. She wasn’t sure Colleen and Clancy would be able to get along without what she’d contributed to their income and she vowed to send her sister what she could. It seemed that was all she could do. Kathleen needed to accept it and quit feeling guilty that life for her had changed for the better.

  Apple pie was served for dessert—something that only happened on special occasions with Kathleen’s family. She watched as Elizabeth picked up the smaller fork and did the same, praying that no one noticed that she had no idea what utensil to use.

  * * *

  Luke would have kicked himself if he could. He should have realized that Kathleen might be skittish about any man who entered into her space, touched her without being asked. He’d seen the fear in her eyes and known he never should have reached out to touch her.

  He didn’t understand it, nor did he particularly welcome it, but something about Kathleen O’Bryan called out his protective instincts in a way no other woman had ever done.

  He didn’t think she realized how lovely she was or how badly he wanted to get hold of her brother-in-law and teach him a lesson for what he’d done to Kathleen. She’d looked so vulnerable as he walked toward her in the parlor. And yet, there was a dignity about her that made his chest feel tight with an emotion he couldn’t name.

  Sitting beside her, Luke could tell she was unsure of what utensil to use by the way she kept watching Elizabeth. But why should Kathleen know which fork or spoon to use? He doubted her meals were anything like the ones he and the others had become accustomed to.

  When the meal came to a close, he heard Kathleen release a small sigh and was almost as relieved as she sounded.

  He quickly drew her chair out for her.

  “Thank you, Mr. Patterson.”

  “My pleasure, Miss O’Bryan. Will you be joining us in the parlor?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. I—”

  “Some of the boarders usually gather there for a bit after dinner and continue with whatever conversations they were having, or speak to someone else they didn’t have a chance to speak with. It’s a way for you to get to know the others,” he added, hoping to persuade her to join them. The week had been overly long waiting for a glimpse of her just to know for sure that she was recovering.

  “I suppose I should get to know everyone. It appears I might be here for a while.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” Luke said, a little unsure whether to offer his arm to her again. Everyone else headed toward the parlor singly and he didn’t want her to feel awkward.

  She saved him from making a decision as she began to walk unaccompanied. He fell into step beside her, feeling a bit awkward himself, but needing to ask. “How are you feeling?”

  She stopped and turned to him. “Much better, thank you. I’ll be going to work on Monday.”

  “That’s good news.” He was glad to know that she was getting better physically, but...he had to know. “How are you adjusting? I’m sure it’s hard to be away from your sister and nephews.”

  Kathleen looked at him questioningly.

  “They were there that day in the park.” Luke remembered them pleading with their aunt not to send their papa to jail that day. How hard that must have been for her. The man should have been locked up. But she’d chosen to honor her nephews’ pleas instead of assuring her and her sister of a few days of peace.

  “Yes, they were.” Her gaze met his and her eyes were bright with what he thought might be unshed tears. “I— Mr. Patterson, I never really had a chance to thank you that day. You saved my sister and me from his fists and I’d like to thank you now.”

  “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I only wish I could have saved you from this last episode.” He nodded toward her face.

  Her hand came up to touch her cheekbone and she smiled. “But you did save me from crumpling at Mrs. Heaton’s feet.”

  “I’m glad I was here. Have you heard from your sister?”

  “I have. I received a letter from her just yesterday and that’s made me feel better. At least she and my nephews were all right when she wrote it. And we’ll be keeping in contact through a neighbor. I still can’t remember all of what actually happened that night. I only know what I’ve been told and the bits and pieces that come to me. I must admit, I’m relieved I won’t be going back, but I don’t know when I’ll see my sister and the boys again.”

  They’d reached the parlor by then and Luke said quietly, “I’ll be praying for them to stay safe and for you to be able to see them soon.”

  “Luke, Miss O’Bryan, come on in. We’re going to play charades,” Ben called.

  “Charades?” Kathleen asked as they entered the room and took a seat on one of the sofas.

  “Is it new to you?” Luke asked.

  “I don’t know. How do you play it?”

  “It’s a game where we guess a word or phrase from one’s pantomime.”

  Kathleen shrugged and smiled. “I’m not sure. I’ll watch tonight and perhaps play another time.”

  “All right. But once you catch on, feel free to join in,” Elizabeth said.

  For the next half hour, the others put on quite a show, trying to draw Kathleen into the game. But she held her ground and, while Luke was sure she’d caught on, she only watched and laughed at everyone’s antics.

  She had a light melodious laugh, one he would like to hear more often. Hopefully, he would. She’d be staying here, at least for the foreseeable future, and it relieved his mind to know that she wouldn’t be living in the tenements. Never again would she live in those conditions, if he had anything to do with it.

  * * *

  Suddenly feeling exhausted, Kathleen said, “I think I’ll go up now, if you’ll all excuse me.”

  “Are you all right?” Luke asked in a quiet voice.

  She nodded her head. “I’m just a bit tired.”

  “We’re glad you joined us,” Elizabeth said. “You are going with us tomorrow, aren’t you?”

  “I am. What time do I need to be ready?”

  “I don’t think we need to leave until after lunch, do you?” Elizabeth looked around the group for confirmation.

  “That won’t give us a lot of time,” Ben said, “but perhaps for Kathleen’s first outing, we shouldn’t make it a long day.”

  “I don’t want you changing your plans for me. I can go another time,” Kathleen said.

  “Oh, no. We want you to come along,” Julia said. “We’ll go back again.”

  “Then I’ll be glad to go. Thank you all for making me feel so welcome tonight.”

  “It’s nice to have a new boarder. With Michael and Violet married and gone, we’ve felt a bit...” Elizabeth’s voice trailed off.

  “Bored with each other, is what she’s trying to say,” Luke said. He grinned down at Kathleen.

  “I did not mean that, Luke,” Elizabeth said. “But now that you mention it, you might be right.”

  Everyone laughed, including Luke. Circumstances had always been serious when they were together and Kathleen had never heard him laugh. The sound was deep and husky like his voice, and it flooded her with warmth and seemed to brigh
ten her mood. It was good to know there was laughter in this home.

  “Good night,” Kathleen said as she left the parlor. She went upstairs and readied herself for bed, thinking how nice all the boarders had been. Mrs. Heaton was right. They didn’t ask questions she didn’t want to answer, as she’d feared they might when she finally joined them for dinner tonight. Instead, everyone had gone out of their way to make her feel comfortable.

  Kathleen thought it would be a while before she really felt at home here—at least until she learned to choose her eating utensils without checking to see what everyone else was using.

  She pulled out her Bible and read Psalms 121:8 about the Lord preserving her going out and coming in from now on and for always. Peace stole over her. She was safe here. She prayed that Colleen and her boys would remain safe across town in a completely different world than the one she was in now. And she thanked the Lord for seeing her safely here. He had a plan. Kathleen knew He did. She only needed to trust that the Lord would reveal it in His time.

  As she closed her eyes, her last waking thought was about Luke. There was something about his smile that put a hitch in her breath, and the concern in his eyes made her feel special in a way no one ever had. He made her feel a sense of safety she’d never known before. And yet, she warned herself that even Luke might not be the kind of man he seemed to be. From what she’d seen of men in the last few years...one never knew.

  Chapter Three

  Kathleen went down to breakfast for the first time the next morning to find Mrs. Heaton, Elizabeth and Ben already at the table.

  “Good morning, Kathleen.” Mrs. Heaton smiled from the head of the table. “I’m glad you felt like coming down this morning. As you can see, we all eat breakfast at different times. Just help yourself, dear.” She motioned to the sideboard.

  Kathleen was a bit disappointed that Luke wasn’t there, but tried not to show it as she picked up a plate on the sideboard and chose some fluffy scrambled eggs, bacon and a biscuit. She was going to have to watch that she didn’t gain weight living here, for the fare was much more than she was used to.