From The Journals of Katherine Plumber

June 12th, 1900

Jack smirked then glanced around us, "Everyone is staring." He said with an awkward chuckle.

"Let them." I grinned, "I now get to show my love for you in front of everyone. No more hiding, no more lying. Just us, together."

"Ise love ya, Ace." Jack smirked.

"I love you, too, Cowboy." I smiled wide.

"Mr. Kelly!" Father yelled from behind us.

I quickly jumped out of Jack's arms and turned to see him rampaging over, "Father, I swear I didn't plan for this to happen! Neither of us did! We just-"

"Mr. Kelly, I expect to see you at my home office, Tuesday afternoon." Father said.

Jack quickly looked at me in shock, "Yes, sir." He said.

Forget being assaulted. Forget the strike. Forget all the break ups. The hardest thing to go through is what I am about to go through: Speaking with my Father and Jack together for the first time. After me and Jack's very public display of affection, there is no hiding there is something between us. I am relieved. Well, I will be after this conversation.

I have spent the whole morning standing in front of the mirror, trying to make sure I looked perfect. I want this day to be perfect. This will be the first day in the near year that I have known Jack that we get to act like a normal couple. A happy, normal couple. It seems so close, since we've worked for this for as long as we've known, but it also seems so far. Just a few more hours.

I straightened out my dark purple, almost maroon skirt, making sure my cream colored blouse with the ruffles down the front was neatly tucked in. My nearly shoulder length hair bounced in tight curls around my face. I still feel like this is missing something. I ran to my dresser, pulling out a dark purple and lavender striped tie. I puckered up my shirt, making it seem like a collar before tightening my tie. I took a step back and let out a sigh of relief. Perfect.

"Katherine?" I heard as I spun towards the door to see Edith smiling at me.

"Hi." I smiled.

Edith just smiled wide and ran over, hugging me tight, "I heard what happened last night. I am so happy for you two!"

"I know!" I smiled, holding her close, "But, we still have to get past Father."

"Maybe it will be easy. I mean, he has accepted Jack as an employee." She said.

"Not family, though." I sighed.

"Did you ever think he might've wanted this? He invited Jack to the social season, even after you two broke up. Father is sneaky, I don't doubt him doing such things." She said.

"I do. It's Father. Even though Jack saved my life, Father still wouldn't want us to be together." I said.

"Maybe so." She said.

As she said that, loud footsteps were heard coming down the hall towards us. I looked towards the door, hearing a knock, "Who is it?" I called.

"Timothy." I heard him say from beyond the door.

"Come in!" Edith said quickly.

I shot her a look of unamusement before he stepped into the room, "What do you need?" Edith asked.

He looked at her, then at me, "Ms. Pulitzer..."

And, of course, he needn't say much. The look of his eyes alone - Which were sharing a relieved, happy, amused, nervous, yet victorious look - said enough. My jaw dropped just a little as I let out a sigh of relief and happiness, nodding slightly to say I understood. Tears were already building up in my eyes even. I quickly looked in the mirror, straightening out my skirt before turning to Edith, "Well?" I asked, doing a little twirl.