Chapter 19 #2
“I’ll check on you in a day or two,” Phillip said as his friend walked away.
“He’ll be fine,” Mrs. Kowalski said. “I have soup for him and bread right out of the oven. His clothes are clean, and so are his bedclothes. I pray for him every day.” She looked up the stairs where he’d gone. “He will need time, though. He’s not himself.”
Two weeks had gone by since Timothy had been released.
Phillip had been working at the cannery and staying extra hours to try and make up for all the time he’d missed.
Father Tom had taken Nora Button to the convent where her younger sister had been staying and attending the school the nuns ran.
Fanny was now living with a woman who’d lost her son and husband in the War Between the States.
The woman was prepared to take Nora into the home she kept over the bakery and restaurant she owned as well.
Fanny seemed very happy according to Father Tom, still attending the school and helping at the bakery.
Nora had asked him if he knew where her aunt was when he picked her up from the police station and took her to Saint Vincent’s Church.
He'd told her truthfully that he had no idea where the woman had gone.
“She wasn’t worth much as far as taking care of us, but she still was my pa’s sister,” Nora had said and shrugged. “Nobody left but me and Fanny.”
“I’m glad you have your sister,” Phillip had said.
She’d nodded. “One of them at least.”
Phillip had left her in Father Tom’s care and wondered if she’d ever be the same young girl she had been before she’d been taken to Shelly’s. But sometimes troubles were the making of a person, as Uncle Patrick always said, and Phillip believed it.
He’d stopped by Timothy’s rooms every other day or so.
After a week, Timothy asked him to tell him everything that had happened.
He really had little idea of what had gone on from the time he’d been taken to Station Ten other than when Virginia had visited and talked to him, although he admitted he had not been inclined to hear what she’d had to say at the time.
“I’ve never been so low,” Timothy said. “It’s hard to describe. I wouldn’t let myself hope that you’d be able to find the real killer. I sat for days, looking at the wall in my cell, thinking about nothing, maybe even wishing I’d die.”
“Nobody knows how hard something like this is until they’ve experienced it themselves. To be accused of a crime as serious as murder and know you hadn’t done it.”
“That was a problem too. I didn’t know. There’s just an empty space where the memories of that evening and night should have been. And then to wake up with a woman dead beside you, covered in her blood.”
“But you’re out now and looking like you’ve gained some weight. Do you have plans to go back to the station?”
Timothy nodded. “Captain told me to come in anytime I want. I’m going to take one more week. Have to get back in shape before I’m on the street again. I’m eating everything Mrs. Kowalski sends up or what Sarah brings from your house.”
“Sarah’s been here?”
“She has,” he said, a defiant tone to his words. “She has.”
“Is that wise? She’s an unmarried woman visiting a single man’s rooms. I don’t want her talked about. People gossip and speculate. Sarah doesn’t need that . . .”
“Settle down. I’m going to ask her to marry me once I’m back at work and have myself in better shape.”
“Marry you?”
Timothy stared at him. “She’s liked me since we were kids, Phillip.
I was too much of a fool, until a few months ago, to realize how lucky I was.
I dismissed her, hurt her surely, because all I could see was her as your little sister, tagging along with us.
But she’s no little girl. She’s a woman grown and beautiful.
She’s kind. She’s bright, and she’s a hard worker.
I love her. Fortunately, she still loves me. I’m a lucky man.”
Phillip sat back in his chair. “And this just came to you.”
“You do a lot of thinking when you’re in a jail cell. I’ve been a fool as far as she’s concerned, and I don’t intend to waste any more time.”
“What about Wilma?”
“What about her? I haven’t done anything with her in the bedroom for ages other than take her a little gift now and again although she may have said otherwise.
Truth to tell, I felt sorry for her. Last time I was there I told her I wouldn’t be back.
That’s what she told you, right? She wasn’t lying, but she was angry and probably hurt and told Norris I was going to Red’s for a brew. That’s how he knew where to find me.”
“That’s what she said,” Phillip replied. “When did this all begin with Sarah?”
“Last spring when you were trying to figure out who killed Cornelius Colfax.”
“I was busy, and you were charming my sister while I wasn’t home,” Phillip said and smiled.
“Something like that,” he replied and smiled too. “You know I’ll treat her right. I want to speak to Patrick before I say anything to her. He’s been a father to you both and deserves to hear from me.”
“He’ll like that.”
Timothy looked away, and his bottom lip quivered. “I have to tell you,” he cleared his throat, “I have to tell you how very grateful I am. I would be on trial right now with little defense if you hadn’t kept looking and digging to find that poor woman’s killer. I can never repay you.”
“You would do the same for me, I’m sure of it,” Phillip said. “You’re like a brother to me, always have been since we were both scrawny kids. Now you’re going to be my brother in truth when you marry Sarah.”