“I don’t know much about sewing either, or I would offer to help in payment for your kindness.” She stuck one dirty finger on the plate to pick up the residual crumbs. “As it is, I can only offer you a safe place to sleep tonight. And I tell you, a safe place on the streets is worth its weight in gold.”
She glanced at Noah. “And we know that from experience, don’t we, Son?”
Noah picked up his apple pie plate and licked it. He pursed his lips together as Rebekah had seen Thomas do when he was really serious. All eyes, he nodded big nods.
“Ready to take them home for the night?” Noah stood up and nodded. “Then let’s go.”
***
“This is it?” Joseph’s voice was a whisper. “Lord above, take care of these people.”
Rebekah was speechless.
Peter said nothing at all.
“I know it isn’t much, I don’t pretend that it is. It isn’t even a home. But nobody dares come here because of the shakiness from the train—they call it the El.”
Sure enough, Patty and Noah had carved out a cozy little bolt hole beneath the elevated train tracks. “Said the train has been running elevated like this since 1870. I would have thought people would hurry to make their homes here. I was wrong.”
“Thank you,” Joseph said, his Pennsylvania Dutch accent sounding even more musical against the backdrop of the English world.
“Yes, we are much obliged,” Peter added. “Do you mind if Joseph and I walk around a bit?”
“Please, go find your love.” Patty smiled. “You’re welcome to return here.”
Butterflies took flight from the recesses of her stomach as Rebekah listened to the two men she loved.
Joseph strode over to where she stood.
They’re going to wander the streets of New York City.
What if they get lost?
What if they don’t come back?
“We will be back soon.” He brushed the side of her face with this thumb. “God willing, with Katie in tow. Rest well.” Without asking permission, he leaned forward and dotted her forehead with a kiss.
Her insides flamed to life. She had so many things she wanted to say to him. Confide in him. But exhaustion and sheer bad timing stilled her tongue. Instead, she reached for his hand and intertwined their fingers. “Please be safe.”
He flashed a heart-rending wink, before disappearing behind Peter into the New York darkness.
What if they don’t find her?
What if they do find Katie...and Joseph realizes his love for her?
Is that why he’s really on this journey?
Rebekah shook her head to stop the little voice, that sounded surprisingly like Katie herself. “I feel so silly,” she said aloud. “Silly and...” She let her voice trail off. “Not very Christian.”
Tears sprang into her eyes. “What’s wrong with me?” She dipped her head into her hands and let the cleansing tears come.
A tiny hand on her back made her jump. Noah’s sweet face was there and his little hand patted her back.
“Don’t you worry, Rebekah,” Patty said. “I could tell you that your Joseph loves you like Peter loves Katie, but me words won’t do anything to ease the fear in your heart.”
“What will?” She sniffled.
“Talk to him. Always, show him your heart. He will do the same.” Patty lit a candle and gestured to her bolt hole. “Come on inside now.”
Rebekah did as she was told and crawled in before Noah and Patty. They followed. She pulled a hidden piece of fabric down to block out the night’s chill. “There now,” Patty said. “Home sweet...home.”
“Thank you, for this. And for sharing your wisdom.” Rebekah settled in against the back of the well-constructed little cave. Exhaustion gripped her bones and threatened to turn her eyelids to stone, but her quilting bag seemed to be calling her name.
“Also, I am sure it seemed odd for me to be talking to myself...”
Patty laughed loudly, a surprising sort of laugh that took them all by surprise. Noah made a little sound too.
“You’d be surprised at how many people talk to themselves, Rebekah Stoll. Hide and watch and you’ll soon see everyone does it. Only the ones who are different in other ways, like us, are scolded for doing so.”
Rebekah nodded. It felt nice to nod and not hurt. The memory of Joseph’s fingers kneading her neck popped into her mind without warning and made her blush.
Noah curled up in Patty’s lap and began to hum. She hummed too, and patted his back. Soon, he was breathing deeply and fast asleep.
“You keep looking at your bag,” Patty observed.
“I have to finish it, or I never will.” Rebekah swiped at one eye with the back of her hand and reached for the rumpled bag with the other. “If you don’t mind, I think I will get started on this dress before I fall clean asleep.”
“Please, me home is your home tonight, Rebekah. Do as you wish.” Patty leaned back into a groove in the wall that Rebekah hadn’t noticed before and closed her eyes. It appeared she and Noah had their routine down.
Suddenly, Patty’s eyes sprang open. “Oh my. I almost forgot!” Carefully, so as not to wake her sleeping boy, she rummaged in her rags. “I wanted to give you something. For your dress.”
After some rummaging, she spoke. “Aha. Here is it.” Slowly, she removed her hand from the rags, a long piece of green lace in tow.
Rebekah gasped. “That is beautiful. I’ve never seen its equal.”
“It’s for you.”
Rebekah accepted the cloth. Silky lace, green in color, laid delicately over her hands.
“It came across the ocean from Ireland with me.”
Rebekah reached toward Patty, the silk lace covering her hands like a prayer shawl. “I cannot take this.”
Patty shook her head. Noah stirred and she went back to patting. “Oh you must. Please. Use it on your wedding dress, such a beautiful custom to sew your own dress. Didn’t your brother say your family came from me country, as well?”
Rebekah’s eyes misted with gratitude and she nodded. Dropping her hands into her lap, she studied the fabric carefully. “Thank you, Patty. Where did this come from?”
“It came off me mother’s mantilla, and is made from Spanish lace she was given as a wedding present to her from me father’s mother on their wedding day.” Patty’s face softened at the memory. “The legend says that me grandmother got the mantilla on a pilgrimage to Rome.”
