A Place of Refuge by Janet Lee Barton

Author:Janet Lee Barton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-07-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The next week passed swiftly for Kathleen. She was in meeting after meeting at the United Charities Building on Fourth Avenue and Twenty-second Street. The building had been set up to assist all the benevolent societies in the city as they tried to help those less fortunate.

The Ladies’ Aide Society with their newly formed Child Day Care Program was one such society and it was no surprise to Kathleen that Mrs. Heaton sat on its board. The society had a small office in the building but Kathleen was told she could work from Heaton House where Mrs. Heaton had set up a desk for her in the small back parlor.

She was feeling overwhelmed by the job she’d been hired to do, and as the week progressed she became more and more nervous.

Luke must have sensed her worry, for after dinner on Thursday night he sought her out and asked if she’d like to take a walk.

“Yes, I believe I would, thank you.”

They met Mrs. Heaton in the hall and told her they were going for a walk.

“Why don’t you take Kathleen to Gramercy Park? I don’t believe she’s been there yet, has she?”

“No, I haven’t,” Kathleen answered for herself. “I’d love to see it, though.”

“That is a great idea, Mrs. Heaton. I’ve been meaning to show it to her.”

Mrs. Heaton nodded and went to the table in the foyer. She opened the drawer and pulled out a key. “Here you go, Luke. You two enjoy the nice evening.”

“Thank you, we will,” Luke said.

He swept Kathleen out the door and down the steps and onto the sidewalk. “You’ll love the park. It’s a great place to go when you need time alone or when you need to talk without worrying about someone walking in on your conversation.”

“That might be nice.” She loved Heaton House, but it wasn’t always easy to have a private conversation with anyone.

Luke tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and they sauntered down the walk until they came to the gated park. Kathleen was a bit surprised when Luke pulled out the key Mrs. Heaton gave him and unlocked the gate.

“I still can’t believe this park is private.” Kathleen didn’t know of another that was.

“It is. And each home only has two keys. It’s been that way since the beginning and no one is inclined to change it. It’s fairly small and was put in specifically for the residents of the neighborhood.”

He led her into the park and Kathleen could see why the residents wanted to keep it to themselves. It was lovely, with trees that’d grown tall through the years and bushes that were sure to be filled with roses or other kinds of flowers as soon as it warmed enough for them to bloom. Luke led her into the middle of the garden and stopped at one of the benches. “Want to sit a little while?”

“Yes, I think I would, thank you.” The park seemed an oasis in the middle of the city, much quieter than Central Park and very private.

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