A Home for Her Heart

“There is much to choose from. But we really ought to go on a picnic while it’s still fairly cool,” Mrs. Heaton suggested. “Why don’t we go this coming Saturday, if the weather holds up?”

“Oh, I love the sound of that,” Millicent said. “I’d like to get photos of all of you at the park.”

“It’s about time we had some new ones made. But we need to include you and Matt in some. Maybe we can get a passerby to take a few.”

“That’d be nice.”

Everyone seemed excited about a trip to Central Park.

“It should be lovely this time of year. Just about everything has bloomed now,” Mrs. Heaton said.

“If your garden is any indication, there will be roses everywhere,” Elizabeth said.

“I think we should all take another trip to Coney Island and go swimming before long,” Ben suggested. “That might be something to think about for Independence Day. And you know they set off fireworks on Manhattan Beach on that day, too.”

“Most of the parks will have bands playing patriotic music, too. We’ll just need to figure out what it is everyone most wants to do that day and do some planning,” Mrs. Heaton said.

“That’s a good idea. We’ll have to see what we can work in,” Luke said.

“Sounds good to me, too,” John said. The clock in the foyer chimed the hour and he leaned near and nudged Elizabeth’s shoulder. “You about ready to go check out those buildings?”

“Anytime you are.”

“Let’s go, then.” He pushed back his chair and stood. “Let us know what you come up with for Independence Day.”

Luke nodded from across the table. “We will.”

“Where are you two off to so early?” Millicent asked.

“We’ve got some investigating to do,” John answered.

“Oh, I see. Well, if you have any need for professional pictures to be taken...”

John had just scooted Elizabeth’s chair out for her to stand and he turned to the other woman. “You know, Millicent, we may just call on you if we need to have photos taken. What do you think, Elizabeth?”

“I don’t know. Photographs might help.” Elizabeth didn’t mention that she had a camera she could take. She wasn’t really very good at photography and it was Millicent’s career, and she was just starting out here in the city. Still, she felt John had put her on the spot and it irked her a little.

Millicent nodded and smiled. “I hope you can use me. I need the work and the exposure, you know.”

“We do,” John said. “But we couldn’t pay you. That would only come if the Tribune or Delineator wanted to use them.”

“I understand. I don’t have a problem with that.”

“I suppose you could tag along.”

“Maybe we should take a look and make sure we have the right buildings before we waste Millicent’s time,” Elizabeth suggested.

Millicent’s smile disappeared and she shrugged. “I’ll be around this morning. I can meet you there if you need me.”

Elizabeth sighed inwardly. What was wrong with her? If she didn’t know better she’d think she was jealous. But she liked Millicent. She was very nice and she did need the work. If they did an article and used her pictures, she’d make money. “You know, on second thought, why don’t you go get your camera and come on with us now?”

“Really?”

“Yes, but hurry,” Elizabeth said. She didn’t look at John for fear he’d see that she really didn’t want the other girl to go with them. And she wasn’t even sure why. She had little time to think about it, though, as Millicent was back downstairs in a flash, camera in hand.

“You know, I’m not sure taking your professional camera is a good idea,” John said. “We really only need some snapshots and we don’t want to alert the landlords to what we’re doing right now.”

“Oh, well, I can go get my Kodak. Will that work?”

“That will be fine.”

Elizabeth sighed as the other woman rushed back upstairs.

* * *

“What’s wrong? Don’t you think a smaller camera will be better?” John asked.

“I do. But I have one. I could snap the pictures.”

“Oh... I’m sorry, Elizabeth. I can tell Millicent we don’t need her. I should have—”

“No—we can’t do that. Not after telling her she could come. It will be fine. I’m just a little out of sorts this morning. I’m sorry.”

“Maybe you didn’t get enough sleep.”

“Maybe not. At any rate, I shouldn’t take my mood out on Millicent or anyone else.”

“It’s all right. We all wake up on the wrong side of the bed occasionally.” But John couldn’t remember when he’d seen Elizabeth in a bad mood of a morning. She was usually sunshine and light. Maybe it was lack of sleep, but he couldn’t help but wonder if something had happened at her aunt’s. She hadn’t seemed quite the same since she got back.

He wanted to ask but had a feeling she wouldn’t like his prying and he really couldn’t blame her. Still... “If there’s anything you want to talk about, I’d be glad to listen.”

An odd look passed over Elizabeth’s face and she opened her mouth—

“I’m back,” Millicent interrupted the moment.

Elizabeth’s mouth clamped shut and John felt let down. For a moment he was sure she was going to say something, but Millicent’s arrival quickly put a stop to it before it could happen. Something was bothering Elizabeth and it wasn’t just an out-of-sorts mood. But he wasn’t sure what to do about it. And at the moment there was nothing he could do.

“Let’s go, ladies.” He motioned to the door and followed them outside. It was a beautiful early summer day, blue sky overhead with only a few puffs of white cloud. They took the trolley past Gramercy Park over to Second Avenue and then to Eighth Street. The tenements weren’t pretty—especially compared to the neighborhood they lived in. All the buildings were pretty much the same, made of brick with stoops out front and most from six to seven stories high. But he knew the outside of them was deceiving—it was the inside that varied and most were in bad condition.

He didn’t like taking Elizabeth and Millicent there, but the cause was important and he’d learned long ago that Elizabeth had no qualms about going into the area. It had been obvious she had empathy for the poor from the first time they’d come here together to help Kathleen move. Was she born with it, or did it come from something in her past?

He’d known her for three years now, yet she remained an enigma. He felt he knew her better with each passing day, but he also felt that what he didn’t know about her far surpassed what he did. There was something about the woman that fascinated him and yet he was certain Elizabeth Anderson was far out of his reach. Not that it mattered. He’d learned his lesson about giving his heart to a woman the hard way and he had no intention of letting it happen again. Ever.

Still, he considered Elizabeth a friend and—

“Is this the address, John?” Elizabeth had stopped in front of one of the buildings.

“I think so.” He pulled the paper Kathleen had written the address on out of his pocket. “Yes, this is one of them. I’ll take a look.”