Janet Barton - A Place of Refuge

“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, so 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.