Stealing Time (19 page)

* * * *

Kate woke with a start, surprised she fell
asleep. There was a note on Drew’s pillow. He was already gone. She
picked up the letter and held it close, afraid to read it. The
words on the paper were probably another apology for being drunk
last night.

Kate,

Sorry to cause all this pain. I see it in
your eyes. I promise we’ll talk tonight. Save a seat for me at
dinner.

Love,

Drew

That sounded promising. Perhaps she wasn’t as
alone as she thought. Hopefully, there’d be two of them escaping
tonight. As she dressed for the day, she made her decision. The
best time to leave would be in the middle of the night. No one
expected her, and hopefully Drew, to do something like that.

Before heading down to breakfast, Kate felt
the need to go in the opposite direction, up instead of down. She
walked to the stairs leading to the third floor and slowly went up
to the apartment designated for her and Drew. Standing in the
doorway, Kate looked over the furnishings and decided they weren’t
bad. She wondered if she left, if Drew would move up here. Would he
and Gia become a couple? Shuddering at the thought, Kate walked to
the large window, gazing down at the street. Drew was getting in
the limo. If she hadn’t come up here, she might have seen him at
breakfast. Turning quickly away from the window, she almost bumped
right into Nicolas.

“Oh, you frightened me!” Kate stepped back,
not liking the sly smile on his face.

“So sorry, my dear. Are you enjoying the
view?” She knew he was aware Drew was getting into the car.

“Yes,” Kate lied.

“Andrew’s enjoying his time here. I hope you
are, too.”

“Since he gets drunk every night, of course,
he’s enjoying himself. Is that the plan? Keep doing that until he
gives in?” Kate was shocked by the forcefulness of her voice.

Nicolas settled in on a small loveseat,
casually draping his arm across the back of the sofa. “Is that what
you think I’m doing?”

Kate knew she needed to play along and not
make him any more suspicious. She needed to change her tone and
sound like a concerned wife. “I don’t want him coming home drunk
every night.” A woman of those times would worry about the
drinking. She decided to go with that storyline.

“I understand your concern. I want to show
him a good time. It won’t always be like this. He’s learning the
business, too, you know.” Again the smile.

“That’s good to hear, but I’d like my husband
to be home at night.” She hoped that sounded like a dutiful wife.
Then she changed the subject. “Will the car be available for my
shopping trip with Ilene tomorrow?”

“I’m sure that can be arranged.” Nicolas rose
from the sofa and seemed satisfied with their conversation. “I’ll
talk to Sal today. Enjoy the apartment. Stay as long as you like.
There’s a notepad and pen in the desk if you care to jot down what
you’d like to buy. Have a good day, Kathryn.” Nicolas disappeared
as quickly as he showed up in the apartment.

Now it was Kate’s turn to sit on the small
loveseat. Nicolas confirmed what she suspected all along. He wasn’t
going to let Drew leave without a fight. If he kept him there long
enough, Drew would want to stay and not give up the good life. It
was a great plan. Nicolas didn’t care about Kate or her feelings.
She was just someone he could use to keep Drew in line...and in the
house. “Go home to your wife, Andrew. You’re wife is waiting.” Or
the opposite, “Your wife is fine. She’s at home with your mother.
She won’t mind if you come home late.” She could hear all the
excuses and covered her ears with her hands, trying to block the
sound of Nicolas’ voice running through her head.

At that moment, Kate realized she was an
important piece of the puzzle. Nicolas could use her. He may not
care about her but definitely could use her. Maybe escaping
wouldn’t be as easy as she first thought.

Kate hugged herself tightly, rocking back and
forth on the small sofa. Nicolas was a manipulator and had years of
practice. He came up here with the clear intention of feeling her
out, to see if she was breaking down. She was in the apartment so
it had to be a good sign. His wife was well-trained, and his two
younger children appeared to do as they were told. He wanted his
eldest son back in the fold. Wasn’t there something about a father
and his first-born son that made them special to each other?

“I need to stop this and get on with my
plan.” Kate stood and smoothed her dress. She took a deep breath
and knew she had to get through another long day in the house.

She forced herself to go downstairs for
breakfast. Arrangements with Ilene needed to be made. They could be
used as back-up if she didn’t escape tonight.

As she came down the first set of stairs, she
spotted a handsome young man with dark hair standing guard outside
the second floor offices, leaning against the stair railing. As
Kate approached the end of the hall she nodded at him. Then she
decided to stop and befriend him. His help may be needed later.

“I’m Kathryn...Kate.” She stuck out her hand.
“I don’t believe we’ve met.”

“Rudy, ma’am.” He nodded but kept his hands
folded in front of him.

Kate’s blood ran cold as he said his name. He
was the man who beat up her Uncle Albert. To keep her hand from
shaking, Kate put her arm back down by her side. “Well, nice to
meet you, Rudy. Please call me Kate.”

“Yes, ma’am...Kate.” He stammered a little.
Maybe she got to him.

“Beautiful fall day, isn’t it?” Kate gave her
best smile and continued down the stairs. “I’d love to go for a
walk later.”

“Feel free to go out in the backyard anytime,
Mrs. Martin...Kate,” Rudy called after her.

Oh, really, I’m allowed out in the
backyard. What am I? A dog?
Kate giggled at the thought.

Ilene was having coffee at a little table in
the sunroom. “I’m so sorry. I had the staff take everything away. I
didn’t think you were joining me today. I’ll ring for them
immediately.”

“No, please don’t. I’ll just have
coffee.”

Ilene poured another cup and set it across
from her. “Please, sit. Are you enjoying your stay?”

“Yes, you’ve been so nice, and the house is
wonderful. We’ve stayed a little longer than I thought we would. I
really need to get back to school.”

“Nicolas was afraid you’d say that. Just give
us the number of your school. He’ll put a call in to them, explain
the circumstances.”

There are circumstances?
“I’m sure it
will be fine. If Andrew can miss all those days, I can, too.” Kate
sipped her coffee to gain her composure. She reminded herself that
the Martins think they’re dealing with a naïve sixteen year old
girl. She wanted to tell Ilene she was eighteen and much smarter
than that girl. She’d been a time traveler for two years. Feeling
stronger and a little more courageous, Kate took a deep breath. “Is
tomorrow good for our shopping trip?”

“Yes, that will be lovely. I’d love to get to
know you better. Have you made a list?”

How did she know about the list? Nicolas
suggested it less than twenty minutes ago.
“I decided to wait
and see what’s available when we get to the store. Everything looks
brand new in the apartment. I’d hate to change too much.” In her
mind Kate couldn’t let go of the fact Ilene knew Nicolas was with
her. “Funny, I was surprised to see Nicolas. I thought he left for
work.”

“Oh, he was about to when one of his men said
you went up there. He told me he just had to talk to you before he
left. He wanted to tell you to have fun with the decorating. Such a
generous man, he’d let you redo everything if you wished. I told
him to have you make a list.”

So someone was spying on her. Made sense.
Kate made idle chitchat with her mother-in-law to pass the
time.

Ilene reached in a bag next to her chair and
pulled out her needlepoint. “You really need to learn how to sew.
It’s very relaxing.” She smiled fondly at Kate. “I can show you, if
you’d like.”

“Sure, maybe after the shopping trip.” Kate
had no interest in needlepoint or anything else that would help
relax her or waste the day away. She lived in another time where
there were so many choices. Needlepoint wasn’t high on her
list...or on the list at all.

* * * *

Another night and Drew did not come home for
dinner as promised. Kate made up her mind she was leaving
tonight...with or without him. She packed a few things in a bag,
grabbed money from their hidden pocket in the luggage and stuffed
it in her handbag. Her plan was to run up to Fifth Avenue and
travel a few blocks either way. She was sure she could flag a cab
and take it to her grandmother’s house.

Midnight was her time limit. If Drew didn’t
show by then, she was escaping no matter what. Hoping for the best,
Kate sat on the edge of the bed until the last minute.

“Please, Drew. Please come home!” She spoke
to the empty room as if willing him to magically appear.

As she waited the clock hands hit twelve. She
made her way to the door. Her hand trembled as she reached for the
handle, turning it slowly so as not to make a noise. She debated
which way to go. The front door was definitely out, but the second
floor office door was a possibility. From the two trips she made
through the house at night, Kate knew no one guarded that area. Her
other choice was to go to the sunroom and slip out the backdoor,
but that way was the furthest from the street. Her heart pounded as
she made her final decision.

Nicolas was probably out with Drew so who
would dare be in the home office without him? Her choice was made.
She slipped down the hall bordering the stairs. Her hands shook as
she stood before the door leading to the office complex.
You can
do this.

Without making a sound, Kate opened the door,
silently closing it behind her. She headed for the side door that
led to the outside steps. It was almost too good to be true she
made it that far. She stood shivering at the top of the metal
stairs and stared into the darkness. It would be a challenge to get
down them quietly. Any noise may alert the men patrolling the
perimeter of the house.

One step at a time, Kate held her breath
until she reached the gravel drive. That was the last obstacle to
overcome. She tiptoed through the small stones to the front of the
house. Just when she thought she made it, Kate heard a voice behind
her.

Chapter
Fourteen

“Kate!”

Was that Drew? Was he looking for her? She
spun around to see Rudy running toward her.

“You shouldn’t be out here alone at night.
Let me escort you back to the house.” He was so polite and kind. It
was hard to believe he was the enforcer who had beaten her
uncle.

Rudy took her by the elbow and guided her
around the back of the house. “Don’t know how you slipped by me. I
would be happy to walk the grounds with you anytime.”

“That’s kind of you, Rudy. You won’t mention
this to Mr. Martin, will you?”

“Of course not. You didn’t know an escort was
needed.” They entered the back door, through the sunroom. “Good
night.” Rudy waited for her to go up the stairs.

Knowing she was defeated, she obliged. As
Kate slipped into her empty bedroom, she hoped Drew was in the
bathroom or the dressing room closet. Checking everywhere, she
realized she was alone. Not being able to take any more setbacks,
she threw her possessions to the floor, curled up on the bed and
cried herself to sleep.

* * * *

Kate made sure she was up and dressed early
the next morning. She knew the knock on the door to wake Drew or
tell them they missed the train would soon be coming. Drew had
stayed out late with his father but at least didn’t come home
drunk. She pretended to be asleep when she heard him come in
because she was too angry to talk.

It was past one in the morning when he snuck
into their room. Kate was surprised by his continued behavior.
Would this be her life if she really lived in the 1920s? Not very
appealing. She would trade all the money and amenities for time
with Drew. Shaking him lightly, he rolled over and smiled. “Is it
morning already?”

“Yes and your bored, trapped bride isn’t
enjoying this part of her honeymoon.”

“I’m just trying to spend time with my
father...time I know we’ll never have again.”

“I understand completely, but it just seems
like you’re...different. Changed.”

“Kate, I know it looks that way, but I’m
still the same Drew. I want out of here as much as you do. We’re
leaving this morning and won’t be coming back.”

“I doubt that we’re leaving. Haven’t you
figured that out? They won’t even let me leave the house. I wanted
to visit Lilly, go for a walk, do anything by myself, and I’m not
allowed.”

“What?” Drew sat up. Kate could tell he was
surprised by what he just heard.

“Oh, so you’re finally listening to me. We’re
prisoners in this house. We need to find a way out. Haven’t you
noticed? Your father’s deliberately keeping us apart. We never see
each other. He makes sure your whole day’s planned. You lose track
of time. I bet you don’t even know what day it is. You’re sneaking
into our bed in the middle of the night, hoping I’m asleep. I’ve
never seen you act like this before. It scares me.”

“Now that you put it that way, I see your
point. You’re making me sound like a cad!”

“Cad? What’s that?” Kate laughed at some of
the old-fashioned terms he used.

Drew hung his head. “A man who behaves
irresponsibly...toward women. I’m sorry, Kate. I had no idea. I was
so caught up in my father’s world I wasn’t paying attention to
ours. You have every right to be angry with me.”