Whatever It Takes: A Crutchie Love Story

Chapter Thirteen: He's Back

Thomas paced back and forth in his bedchambers, pondering the events. How in the heck could she have escaped? She was in no condition to walk. Nevertheless she was gone along with some of her personal belongings and all the money in her mother's mahogany box. He sat on his bed. The wedding was supposed to be tomorrow. That made him angrier. He flipped over his nightstand, but the wood scraped his hand.

"God dammit!!!"

He carefully plucked the splinter out of his palm. A wood splinter. How could he had been such an idiot. Of course that's where she would go. Wherever the crip was she was bound to be. He stormed out of his bedchambers and raced down the stairs. He immediately found Winnie's mother.

"We'll need to leave right away if we want to get to New York by this afternoon."

"What do you mean we? Thomas, soon she will be yours to chase. Consider this practice. Until you break her in she'll do this all the time. I'm not going. I have too much to tend to here, like making sure your wedding is absolutely perfect. Fetch your bride by yourself."

"Fine. Farewell then."

"Good riddance."

He went to the train station with plenty of money in his pocket and boarded the train departing for New York.

A scavenger hunt. Oh joy.

He arrived later at about twelve o'clock. Winnie and Katherine, who became best friends overnight, were on a walk in the neighborhood. Winnie immediately spotted him.

"Quick. We have to leave here."

"Why?"

"Just trust me. It's not safe."

She nearly pulled Katherine's arm out of the socket as she dragged her into an alley to avoid being seen.

"Why are we running?" Katherine asked as she rubbed her sore arm.

"That's Thomas. The man in the suit right there."

"Let's get back to my place. He won't find you there."

They sped back to her apartment and locked the door behind them.

"Are you sure it was him?"

"I'd bet my life on it. I can't go into the streets. He'll be looking for me everywhere. You have to go tell Crutchie to stay inside."

"Why?"

"He doesn't know who you are. Also Crutchie could be hurt. My mother probably gave him all kinds of information on where to find him or the Delanceys."

"Ok. Just stay here."

As soon as she left, Winnie prayed to God for him not to find her. She knew too well what would happen. And it couldn't. She wouldn't let it. Nothing, not Thomas, nor law, nor tradition, nor locked doors, nor anything was going to keep them apart.