Hidden Romances

Chapter Eleven

"Ellie, someone's here for you!" I heard my mother yell from downstairs. I put a robe on over my night gown and headed downstairs.

"Who is it?" I asked. My mother opened the door and Davey entered.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Davey asked. I looked to my mother and she nodded her head reluctantly. "Thanks. It's nice to see you again, Mrs. Van Wyck," he smiled.

"You too, David. Tell your mother I said hello," mother responded. Davey opened the door for me and I thanked him.

"Is everything okay?" I asked him. Jack walked up behind him.

"Not really. They'se got Crutchie. And I know where they took 'im," Jack said.

"Jack, he's not in the refuge, is he?" I asked. I heard stories about the refuge and how awful it is, I can only imagine how bad it actually is. 

Jack nodded his head; "Yeah, but Dave and I are gonna bust 'im out."

"No, Jack, it's way too risky, you could get caught and then both of you would be thrown in there, and then what would the rest of them do? You're the one they look to during this strike," I argued. If they got caught, the newsies strike would be over.

"Ellie, I know my way around the refuge, we'll all be fine," Jack cooed. I nodded my head.

"Okay, please, just stay safe, And bring Crutchie by sometime," I smiled. They both nod their heads and run off. I watched them run in the direction of the refuge before I head back into the house.

"What did David want?" mother asked. I thought of an excuse quickly:

"He wanted to know what he's missed at school; he's had to work since his father got injured," I explained, hoping she didn't suspect anything.

***

The next morning I was woken up earlier than usual for breakfast. "Nana, what is it?" I grumbled.

"Your father has some news he would like to share with you," she explained. I got up, brushed my hair and headed downstairs.

My father and mother were sitting in their usual seats at the table, father with a coffee in hand.

"Is something wrong?" I asked as I sat down across from mother. My father shook his head and chuckled.

"No nothing is wrong, I actually have some good news. I'm heading to Brooklyn later in the day for a meeting and I'm going to be staying over night. You've always seemed to have an interest in Brooklyn, so how would you like to go with me?" he explained. Mother looked up from her breakfast with wide eyes.

"What? Dear, Brooklyn is incredibly dangerous! How could you even think of bringing our daughter to that place?" She argued. Father waved his hand at her.

"Ellie's a smart, strong young woman. I'm sure she'll be fine in Brooklyn," Mother sighed and left the table to the family room.

I stood up and hugged my father, "thank you so much, I promise I'll behave," I swore.

As I headed up the stairs to pack, I couldn't help but think what would happen if I ran into a certain "King of Brooklyn."

I know, it's kind of all over the place. But I'm getting somewhere with this, I promise!!

--xoxo