A Place of Refuge

by Janet Lee Barton

  “That didn’t take long,” he said, stuffing his pencil and pad back into his pocket.

  She chuckled. “I was in there nearly an hour. You must have been writing longer than you thought.”

  “Possibly. But at least that proves you aren’t keeping me from working.” He pulled her hand through his arm and looked down at her. “Let’s go get some lunch. Want to go to a street vendor or...there’s a little café a few blocks away that’s pretty good.”

  “Wherever you want to go is fine with me,” Kathleen said. “After waiting on me all morning, I think the least I can do is give the choice to you.”

  “Well, let’s go to the café. You could use a break, I’m sure.”

  As they were a bit later than the normal lunch hour, they were seated right away in the small café over on Third Avenue. While Kathleen looked over the menu, he wondered if she was disappointed in him for not helping out one of the street vendors who possibly lived in the tenements.

  “I suppose we could have gotten some clams at one of the vendors. I—”

  “No, it’s all right, Luke. I don’t know many of the vendors and I’d only feel safe buying from one I did know. Not all of the carts are as clean as I’d like and I just talked to a woman who said she got sick from eating oysters at one only last week. I’d have gone had you picked one, but I’m glad you chose someplace you know is good. What do you recommend?”

  “Their daily special is usually the freshest and today it’s creamed chicken with rolls. I’ve had it before and it’s very good.”

  “I’ll have it, then.”

  Once they’d given their order Luke smiled across the table at Kathleen. She’d dressed in a plain skirt and shirtwaist, much as she’d worn to work at Tiffany Glass. He’d overheard her and Mrs. Heaton talking about what to wear and Kathleen had wanted to be sure she looked just like she had when she lived there. She didn’t want anyone she knew to think she was putting on airs just because she’d moved out of the tenements.

  “How did things go this time? Did you find anyone you could recommend?”

  “I found several, but either their husbands don’t want them to work outside the home even though they might need for her to, or they are too prideful to accept free and reliable child care. I think that could be one of the biggest problems and I’ll have to be careful on how I present the offer. I can understand the pride. I’ve had my share of it, too, and wrongfully so. Proverbs talks about pride coming before destruction and having a haughty spirit comes before a fall. I don’t want either of those things happening to me, so I must be watchful always to be neither haughty or prideful.”

  “I suppose we all have trouble with those two feelings.”

  “Yes, but we can’t quit fighting against them.”

  “True.” He admired this woman more all the time. She had such high morals and love for the Lord—more so than any other woman he knew.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to sound preachy. I—” She leaned back in her chair and sighed. “I’ve been so blessed that coming back here makes me feel kind of bad, almost guilty that I’ve moved out and so many are still there. Will always be there.”

  Luke nodded. “I understand. I felt somewhat that way as I waited for you. Knowing I didn’t have to live there and so glad that you don’t either. But don’t feel guilty, Kathleen. You are going to be able to help many people over the years.”

  “I suppose I might feel better when I know that I’ve been able to do so. Hopefully Mrs. Connor will talk to the young woman she thinks needs child care. Of course we don’t have another home up and running just yet—I have to find someone for that soon. But perhaps, if the need is great enough, Colleen and Ida could take one more child. But it’s made me realize that my first priority is to find people to get the new homes started.”

  Their meal came just then and they spent the next half hour talking about where to look for someone who could run one of the homes. “I’m trying to think. Maybe... Mrs. Walsh is wonderful with children. Her husband does work, but I’m sure they could use the extra money and—”

  “You know, if he’s handy, it’s possible that Mrs. Heaton and the others would want someone who could take care of the homes and—”

  “Oh, Luke, that is a wonderful idea! I need to run it by Mrs. Heaton before I even think about talking to Rose about it. I’m not even sure how handy her husband is, but maybe—” She broke off and looked at Luke, her expression one of hope. “Maybe he can learn what he needs to—if he needs to?”

  “There are all kinds of trade schools around. I’m sure he could learn anything he needs to.”

  “The homes will be in good shape when they are moved into and by the time something goes wrong perhaps he will know what to do.” She gave a little laugh. “I’m getting way too excited about this, but it could help them get out of the tenements and, well, I know Rose would be wonderful at running one of the homes.”

  “I think Mrs. Heaton will like the idea.”

  Kathleen nodded. “Yes. So do I. And although this was started to help working women, I don’t think anyone would object if it helped a man out of the tenements, either. He could keep the job he has now, I would think.”

  “I’m sure he could. And you knowing the couple would probably make the ladies feel better about hiring them.”

  By the time they left the restaurant, Luke wasn’t sure who was more excited about his idea—him or Kathleen.

  * * *

  When Kathleen and Luke returned to Heaton House and presented Mrs. Heaton with the proposal to hire Rose and her husband to run the next child care home, she was almost as excited as they were.

  “Oh, my dears, I love the idea. I will have to run it by the others, of course, but I don’t think there will be one objection to it.”

  Kathleen leaned back in the chair in Mrs. Heaton’s study and released a pleased sigh and smiled at Luke. “I told Luke it was a wonderful idea.”

  Mrs. Heaton looked from one to the other. “Well, you’re right. I’ll get on the telephone and try to have an answer for you by dinnertime.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Heaton. I suppose I should go write up notes on what I did today and about the young woman Mrs. Connor told me about. I’ll fill you in on that at dinner. But right now, I’ll leave you to make your call.”

  “Oh, and we have a new boarder. She’ll be joining us for dinner tonight. Her name is Millicent Faircloud and she’s a photographer. I think you’ll both like her.”

  “I’m sure we will. I’ll be sure to welcome her, if I see her before dinner,” Kathleen said.

  “Thank you, dear. I appreciate that. And please tell the others.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Luke said. He followed Kathleen out of Mrs. Heaton’s study and into the hall.

  Kathleen turned to him. “I think Mrs. Heaton likes your idea as much as we do, Luke.”

  He smiled at her. “I told you it was going to be all right, Kathleen.”

  “Thanks to you—you’re the one who came up with the idea that might get us our next home up and running.”

  “You probably would have thought of it on your own, but I’m glad to help in any way.” They reached the staircase and Kathleen turned to Luke. “I do appreciate you going with me today and for lunch. But—”

  “If you are going to tell me I don’t need to come tomorrow, don’t. Please. I actually got some good ideas from people-watching while waiting for you. You are not hindering my writing in any way. I’ve always worked better late at night.”

  “But you aren’t going to get enough sleep.”

  “I don’t require a lot.”

  “I’m not going to convince you, am I?”

  “No, ma’am. You aren’t. I’ll either be going along with you or following you—at least for a while.” He smiled. “But I’ll go get some work done now s
o you don’t have to worry about keeping me from it. See you at dinnertime.”

  Kathleen watched him hurry downstairs before she headed upstairs to get her notes in order. She couldn’t honestly say she was disappointed in Luke’s response. She had felt safer with him along, but he couldn’t shadow her everywhere all the time. She was going to have to become more comfortable coming and going in the area she’d lived in for so long.

  She’d never really thought about her safety as much as her sister’s before now, but going in and out some of the buildings today, she’d realized she’d have to be very aware of her surroundings. And there would be some buildings she might not enter. Once she got the word out to those she trusted, eventually people would end up contacting her for the day care opportunity. Then maybe Luke wouldn’t feel quite so responsible for her. And she wouldn’t feel quite so—

  “Kathleen, wait up!” Elizabeth hurried up the steps to join her at the landing. “How did your day go?”

  “It went very well. I have a lead on someone who might really need to put her child in the day care home and Luke gave me an idea on who I might talk to about running the next one.”

  “That is wonderful! I heard we have a new boarder. Have you met her yet?”

  “No, not yet. But I’m looking forward to it.”

  “So am I. I do hope she’s easy to get along with,” Elizabeth said.

  “I’m sure she will be. I can’t imagine anyone Mrs. Heaton has accepted as a boarder wouldn’t be.”

  “Oh, you’d be surprised. There have been one or two. But thankfully, they’re no longer with us.”

  “Well, I look forward to meeting Miss Faircloud.”

  “It’s always interesting to find out more about our boarders. Matt has been a nice addition.”

  “Yes, he has. I don’t think John likes the attention you give him, though.”

  The smile on Elizabeth’s face told Kathleen that was not bad news for her.

  “Really? I didn’t think he noticed.”

  “Oh, he’s noticed.”

  “Hmm,” Elizabeth said.

  She’d never mentioned being interested in John, but anyone who sat at the dinner table with the two of them would have to be blind not to know they cared about each other.

  The two women parted at the top of the stairs to get ready for dinner and Kathleen found she was looking forward to it a great deal. She was excited to hear what Mrs. Heaton had found out about taking an offer to the Walshes—and to see how everyone took to the newest boarder. Living at Heaton House was never boring.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Dinner was every bit as entertaining as Kathleen thought it might be. Millicent Faircloud was petite with light blond hair and blue eyes, and she captured the attention of most everyone at the table the moment she took her seat.

  “A photographer, you say?” John asked. “And you’re going to start up your own business?”

  That fact seemed to take everyone a little by surprise. It certainly wasn’t normal to see a woman going into business on her own, but to the women at the table it was quite an admirable thing to try.

  “It’s what I want.” Millicent gave a little shrug. “But it might be a while before I get a name big enough to actually make it work. I truly would like to photograph weddings and families, capturing just the right shot to show people at their best for years to come. But in the meantime, I’ve set up appointments with several magazines and newspapers this week, to show them my work and try to get on their list of photographers.”

  “Did you put The Delineator on your list? I’m sure they’d be interested,” Elizabeth said. “If you didn’t, I’d be glad to talk to my supervisor and—”

  “You work there?” Millicent leaned across the table toward her.

  “I do.”

  “I love that magazine and I definitely have them on my list. I’m supposed to meet with them on Friday.”

  “Good.” Elizabeth nodded. “I hope you’re successful in starting your own business and I will mention that I know you.”

  “Thank you, Elizabeth.”

  “It’s refreshing to see women taking advantage of all the opportunities available to them today,” Mrs. Heaton said. “I hope you all know how blessed you are.”

  “We truly are,” Kathleen added. She still couldn’t quite believe the changes in her life.

  “Well, I wouldn’t have this opportunity had my grandmother not left me enough to live on until I can get started,” Millicent said. “But I need work so I don’t have to dip into my little nest egg too much. And of course, had Mother not known you, Mrs. Heaton, I know I wouldn’t have been able to come to New York City.”

  “I’m glad she sent you to Heaton House, Millicent.”

  “I am, too.”

  Kathleen knew firsthand how blessed the young woman was to be here and she’d soon know it, too.

  As dinner progressed and conversation flowed around the table, Kathleen noticed that Elizabeth didn’t look any happier about the attention John was giving Millicent than he’d been about the attention she’d given Matt a few evenings earlier.

  “Do you think those two will ever admit their feelings for one another?” Luke whispered to her.

  “Maybe they’re trying to deny how they feel.” She could understand if they were. She’d been trying to ignore a few feelings lately herself.

  Luke shrugged. “I suppose they might be. But they seem made for each other. She works for a magazine and he works for a newspaper. They even cover some of the same stories.”

  Kathleen had been at Heaton House long enough now to know that John covered much of the social goings-on in the city. He entertained them with stories often. And Elizabeth occasionally covered some of the same things for The Delineator. Yet they sometimes seemed in competition with each other—maybe that was the way they fought their attraction to each other. But hard as they might try to ignore their feelings for each other, Kathleen didn’t think there was anyone at the table who didn’t believe they cared for each other.

  Her heart suddenly skipped a beat, and then another. Could everyone at the table tell how she struggled with her growing feelings for Luke? Oh, she hoped not. She—

  “Kathleen, dear, I have news for you.” Mrs. Heaton broke into her thoughts. “You’ve been given permission—no, actually you’ve been greatly encouraged to see if the Walshes might be interested in running the next home. Everyone thinks it a wonderful idea just as I did.”

  “Oh, that is fantastic news, Mrs. Heaton! I’ll be sure to go see Mrs. Walsh first thing tomorrow.”

  “We don’t have a home ready yet, but all should be in place within the next few months. So that would give them time to prepare.”

  “I will let them know.”

  “Might I ask what these homes are?” Millicent asked.

  Mrs. Heaton explained about the day care homes and how Kathleen was working to identify the families in need.

  “Aren’t you a little frightened going to the tenements?” Millicent asked Kathleen.

  She shook her head. Even if she were at times, she wasn’t going to admit it—not with Luke listening to her every word. Still, she didn’t want to lie. “So far I’ve mostly been visiting the area I lived in and—”

  “You lived there? Oh, I would love for someone to show me around.”

  “I’ve heard it’s not a place for anyone to go alone, unless they are very familiar with the area,” Matt said from across the table. “So don’t be taking off by yourself, Millie.”

  “I do not like being called Millie, Mr. Sterling. And furthermore I don’t like being told what to do by someone I’ve just met. I said I’d like someone to show me around. I have no intention of going by myself.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry if I overstepped, Miss—”

  “Y
ou may call me Millicent and I’ll call you Matt. I’ve been told everyone is on first-name basis here.”

  “Yes, that’s what I’ve been told, Millicent.”

  Mrs. Heaton cleared her throat as she passed a basket of rolls down the table. “It’s so nice to have a full table again.”

  Luke nudged Kathleen’s elbow and leaned a little nearer to whisper, “Seems like those two might have lit a spark of some kind between them.”

  It certainly seemed like it. She could almost feel the electricity in the air. Or was it her reaction to Luke’s nearness she was feeling?

  Tired from her first day out in the tenements, Kathleen didn’t want to linger in the parlor for too long after dinner. But she wanted to stay long enough to make Millicent and Matt feel welcome. She knew how much it’d meant to her to have everyone try to make her feel at home in Heaton House.

  Julia played the piano and they gathered round to sing along with her. Kathleen liked all the songs—“After the Ball,” and “Daisy Bell,” but her favorite and that of most of the boarders was “The Sidewalks of New York.” When Julia played it, everyone knew it would be the last song of the evening.

  The group put their all into it and Kathleen loved hearing Luke’s rich baritone from right behind her. It gave her goose bumps and made her shiver, while her heart turned kind of mushy at the same time.

  If he ever quit writing, he could probably make a good living singing.

  The last note died away and everyone began to go their separate ways. Luke touched her elbow before she headed out the parlor door, sending tingles up her arm. “I’ll see you in the morning. I’m eager to find out what the Walshes say about your offer.”

  “Yes, so am I.” She almost told him once more that he didn’t have to accompany her, but she knew it would fall on deaf ears and besides, it was his idea to include Mr. Walsh. He deserved to know what their reaction was. “See you tomorrow.”

  * * *

  The next day Kathleen and Luke set out for Mrs. Connor’s first. They took the trolley as far as Third Avenue and then walked by foot amid the hustle and bustle of the city streets.