Daniel and I were left standing together in the darkness. “I must go and fix that bread and milk for the children,” I said. “Thank you for bringing us home and thank your men for coming to our aid.”
“Molly,” he said urgently, “I’ll tell her, I promise. Don’t do anything rash.”
“If you mean marry someone else, it wouldn’t be rash. It would be a carefully thought through decision. I don’t make promises lightly.”
“Promise me that you won’t make a commitment to another man until I’m free to ask you myself. If I get down on my knees and you tell me that you choose another man over me, then I’ll go away and never bother you again.”
I looked up at his earnest face and suddenly laughed. “Daniel—I’ve a feeling you’re full of blarney. You won’t tell her. Oh, you’ll have great intentions, but when you see her and you realize what you’d be risking and what you’d be giving up, then you’ll suddenly become tongue-tied again.”
“No, Molly. Not this time. I swear to you. I love you. I can’t live without you. I beg you, don’t rush into a marriage you’d regret. A lifetime is a lot of years to live with someone you don’t love.”
“And a lot of years to wait for something that may never happen,” I said.
“Just tell me you do still love me and that if I come to you free and available, you’ll not send me away.”
I looked at him and had to smile. “Oh, Daniel. Like Katherine said, you can’t just stop loving somebody. There will probably be a place in my heart for you for the rest of my life. But that doesn’t mean I can’t find happiness with someone else.”
“Not the same happiness we two can have together.”
“No, probably not the same kind of passion. But passion often dies, doesn’t it? Mutual affection and companionship can last forever.”
“You can get those from a dog,” Daniel said.
“One thing you should understand, Daniel,” I said. “If I marry Jacob, I won’t be settling for second best. I would be marrying him because I believe we could be happy together.”
“No, Molly. I won’t let you marry him. I’ll burst into the ceremony and carry you off if I have to.”
“Oh, Daniel.” I had to smile again. “If you come to me on your knees before I’ve made the trip to the altar, I might listen to what you have to say. Other than that, I’m not promising anything. Good night, now.”
I moved to make my escape but Daniel was quicker. He grabbed me and crushed his lips against mine. I tried not to respond but my body took over and for just a moment I was one with him, pressed against him, the warmth of his body flowing through me. Then I controlled myself and pushed him away.
“That wasn’t fair, Daniel. Go home.”
“Does he set you on fire when he kisses you? Does he make you feel the way I do?” he demanded.
“There’s more to life than kisses.” I fled to my front door and slammed it behind me, leaving him standing on the cobblestones outside. Once inside I rested my forehead against the cold oak of the door. Not for the first time I wished I had never met Captain Daniel Sullivan.
The sound of lively children’s voices came from the kitchen.
“And then you’ll never guess what the policeman did!”
I envied their ability to rebound from tragedy or terror.
The next morning I was awakened by pounding on my front door. I put on my robe and made my way downstairs. Jacob stood outside, a newspaper in his hands.
“I’ve just seen today’s paper,” he said, waving it at me as he came into the house.
The headline in the first column of the New York Times read, DANGEROUS RESCUE ON NEW EAST RIVER BRIDGE. I scanned down the text. Two young women attempted daring rescue of a child, taken up there by a madman. Situation resolved by fearless, sharpshooting New York police. It mentioned me by name.
“What were you thinking?” Jacob demanded.
“Michael Kelly had Bridie with him. He wanted to trade her for Katherine. I went along to make sure Bridie got down safely.”
“You’re lucky to be alive. I went to take a look for myself this morning. Those few planks along the side of the cable? That’s what you were on?”
I nodded. “And it wasn’t very pleasant, I can tell you.”
He put his hands on my shoulders. “Molly, please listen to me. No more of this reckless behavior. I can’t live, worrying about you every time you’re out of my sight. The moment I saw this I thought that I should have been there, I should have saved you.”
“I don’t intend to make a habit of it, I assure you. In fact I can positively guarantee that I’ll never climb up a half-built bridge again.” I attempted a laugh. “You don’t have to worry about me, Jacob.”
“Not worry? Since I’ve met you a woman was killed by mistake in your place, you were almost burned to death in a fire, and then almost hurled to your death from a bridge. What is there to reassure me that you’re not to be worried about?”