Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

Hardly Going to Elope-December 1920

Thursday, December 30, 1920

A group of Episcopalians cornered Nucky in the lobby of the Ritz, but listening to them only took half his attention. He watched the lobby for other potential contacts with the other half of his brain. That's why he saw his daughter, dressed in a patterned gray brocade coat with wide cuffs and lapels and a matching hat over a gray wool dress and carrying a hatbox, step off the elevator with Richard Harrow. The latter was carrying a two-toned blue suitcase that was part of a set Nucky bought Clara when she graduated from high school. Harrow was undoubtedly much better dressed than he had been when he first came to work for Nucky. He was wearing a greenish double-breasted coat with leather gloves. Clara was animated and talking happily, and Harrow, well, who the hell could tell his mood?

"Why was Clara and her suitcase walking out of the elevator with Harrow?" Nucky asked Eddie when he returned to the suite.

"Clara is going to New York with the Darmodys for the weekend. Mr. Harrow is escorting her to the train. Is this against your wishes?" Eddie responded.

Oh, yes. Nucky vaguely remembered Clara saying something a few days ago. Truth be told, he was so busy getting Margaret and the children settled into the new house that he rarely saw Clara these days. When he was in the suite, he mostly just heard the infernal clattering of the keys of that damn typewriter. Days had even passed before he saw her again after their fight on election night, and the next time Clara saw him, she simply acted like nothing was wrong, and Nucky went along. It seemed so much easier.

"No, she's hardly going to elope with Harrow, and she said something about going to New York for New Years with James and Angela."

On the train, Jimmy looked around him. Angela. Richard. Clara. Tommy. He knew he was doing the right thing. It was long past time he married Angela. Tommy would be old enough soon to know his parents weren't married, and Jimmy would be damned if any playground bully would taunt his son with the cry of bastard. Besides, he had all of his favorite people with him. They were young. They had money. It was going to be a great weekend. "This," Jimmy announced, "is going to be the best weekend of our lives."

"I'm glad your expectations aren't too high," Angela said with a laugh but kissed him on the cheek anyway.

"And I'm going to New Pork!" Tommy said happily.

"I still think we should have left him with Ma," Jimmy said.

Angela caught Clara's eye. Not telling Gillian, having their wedding weekend to themselves, was the rare fight Angela went all-in on.

"Hey, that's what I'm here for," Clara said. "Built-in babysitting."

Tommy jumped from his father's lap across the aisle into Richard's, and stuck his feet into Clara's lap.

"Please, Tommy, make yourself comfortable," Clara said while laughing.

"Richard, also sit me?" Tommy asked.

Clara looked up at Richard. "I mean, what more fun could you possibly have than spending time with Tommy and me? You'll get to see all the best carousels and ice cream stands."

Richard looked away. "Yes."

Their hotel, the Biltmore, was attached to Grand Central Station, so they were quickly in the suite. Angela and Jimmy left to get their marriage license.

Richard read one of the brochures on the coffee table. "We could. Go ice skating. Here at the hotel. They turn one the gardens. Into a rink. In the winter."

"I've never been," Clara said. "But it sounds like fun, and Tommy could stand to burn off some energy."

"I'll teach you," Richard says, not making eye contact with her.