Once a Thief

Nineteen

Nearly a week had passed since Blake and his father had rescued Danielle and Jimmy from Sutton. The Kramers had opened their arms and their home to Danielle’s little brother, just as they had to her.

When Mr. Kramer had mentioned having a doctor examine Jimmy to see if anything could be done for the infirm leg, Danielle had been stunned. She’d never imagined the possibility that Jimmy’s leg could be fixed.

Jimmy trembled on the carriage seat beside Danielle. She didn’t know if it was from fear or the shaking of the carriage as they drove through Lincoln Park.

Amelia smiled from the seat facing them.

The carriage turned down Fullerton and stopped in front of a cluster of stately buildings.

Jimmy straightened from the slumped position he’d held most of the way. “Is this it? I won’t have to stay here, will I?”

Danielle felt cold fingers squeeze her heart as his voice broke. “No, of course not, Jimmy.” Amelia’s voice was full of sympathy. “We’re just going to let the doctor examine your leg and then we’ll go back home.”

Jimmy took a deep breath and his voice, when he spoke again, was nonchalant. “Oh. I just wondered. I’m not scared or anything.”

They stepped out of the carriage and walked up the broad walk to a massive door. Amelia opened it and they went inside. The room was spotless, its white walls gleaming. Several chairs stood neatly in rows. About half of them were occupied.

A white-clad nurse behind the front desk directed them down a hall and to the right. They found Dr. Paulsen’s office quiet, with only a few people in the waiting room. Danielle gave the young woman at the desk their name and sat to wait.

When Jimmy’s name was called, Amelia turned to him. “Would you like for me to wait here while you and your sister go in?”

“Yes, ma’am. I only want Danni to go in with me.” His face turned red. “It’s not that I don’t like you or anything like that.”

“That’s all right. I understand. You don’t need me in there. I’d probably be in the way.”

Danielle and Jimmy followed the nurse down a short hallway and into a cold, sterile examining room. Danielle noticed Jimmy’s nervous glance around the room and reached over and patted his hand. They’d only waited a few minutes when a man with steel gray hair came in, looking at a chart. He took the chair across from Jimmy. “Well, young man. My friend, Kramer, tells me your leg isn’t working quite right.”

“Yes, sir. I mean no, sir. It never has.”

“You were born this way?”

Jimmy looked up at his sister. “You tell him, Danni.”

Dr. Paulsen peered at Danielle over his steel-rimmed glasses. “And you are?”

“My name is Danielle Grayson. I’m Jimmy’s sister. Our parents are deceased.”

Sympathy crossed the doctor’s face, but only for a moment. “I see. Well, Miss Grayson, Kramer didn’t tell me much. I need to know how your brother became lame and any other information that might help make a proper diagnosis.”

“He had some sort of illness when he was two. I don’t know what it was. But it left him lame. We didn’t have money for doctors.”

“I see. It could have been any number of crippling diseases. But we’ll go with what we have. If you’ll step outside, Miss Grayson, I’d like to examine Jimmy.” He glanced over at Jimmy. “That is, with his permission.”

Jimmy nodded and gave a nonchalant wave in Danielle’s direction. Knowing it was only a brave front, she threw him an encouraging smile and returned to the waiting room.

Amelia’s needles clicked and bright yarn of red and green cascaded across her skirt. She reached over and patted Danielle’s hand.

Danielle sent her a grateful smile. “Waiting is hard.”

“I know it is, my dear. Would you like to help with this scarf to pass the time?”

Danielle blushed. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how to knit.” She darted a glance at Amelia to see how she’d take that piece of information.

“Well, of course you don’t, being raised without a woman to teach you. Crochet?”

Danielle shook her head. “No, I can barely sew on a button where it will stay.”

“Ah. I think perhaps we need to have some lessons, my dear, before you get married.”

Startled, Danielle stared at Amelia. “Married? What makes you think I’m getting married?”

A knowing smile tilted Amelia’s lips. “Some things are pretty obvious. Such as the way you and Blake look at each other when you think no one is watching.”

“Oh. Well, if Blake had any affection for me before, it’s gone now. He hardly even looks at me since he found out I was part of Sutton’s gang. We ride to the theater and back in silence except for a polite hello and goodbye.”

“Now, dear, I’m sure Blake doesn’t blame you for what happened to you when you were a child. Look how he insisted the Nelson Law Firm defend your friend, Cobb.”

All the children twelve and under had been placed in a children’s home, except for Jimmy. The judge had been kind and allowed Jimmy and Danielle to stay with the Kramers while he investigated the situation. Danielle had confessed her intended part in the bank case, but since she’d actually done nothing, in the end, he found nothing to charge either of them with, and the exploited children would be cared for. The boys between ages thirteen and seventeen had been placed in a boys’ home, pending individual investigation. Most would more than likely be cared for until age eighteen and then released.

Sutton was being held in jail awaiting a hearing, and to Danielle’s sorrow, so was Cobb and all the other adult members of the gang. Mr. Nelson had agreed to represent Cobb in court, but he said the young man would probably be found guilty and serve some time in prison.

“I know. Blake’s been very kind to the children. But I don’t think he can forgive me for lying to him.”

“And I think you’re very mistaken.”

Danielle hoped Amelia was right. But she didn’t hold out much hope, and her heart was sick over it. She hadn’t realized how much she loved Blake until now.

The doctor called Danielle back into his office. “I will, of course, need to run some tests to make sure, but there is a fair chance surgery will restore your brother’s leg. The nerves responded well and that’s always a good sign.”

Jimmy’s face tightened. “Will I have to stay here for those tests?”

“No. I’ll schedule an appointment with the laboratory. They should be able to get them all done in one day. But if surgery is an option, you’ll have to be in the hospital for a week or more.” He peered at Jimmy. “Can you manage that?”

“Well, if it’ll help me to walk right, sure I can.”

Joy shimmered through Danielle, and with a lilt in her voice, she thanked the doctor. Then she and Jimmy hurried out to tell Amelia the good news.

❧

Blake sat in his front row seat in the darkened theater and watched the dress rehearsal for Peg in Dreamland. It was the evening before opening night, and the perfection nearly took his breath away. At any other time he would have been puffed up with pride and delight, but now he sat with despair on his heart.

Every time he thought of the tragic circumstances that had surrounded Danielle and her brother for years, he wanted to hit something, hard. When he opened the closet door and saw them sprawled on the bottom of the dark closet, he’d wanted to take her in his arms and never let her go. Make sure nothing evil could ever touch her again.

But mixed in with his sympathy and love was a thread of anger and disappointment that she’d lied to him. Hadn’t trusted him at all. Her lie about her brother hit him the hardest. How could she pretend the boy was dead?

A picture of her lying in the fallen leaves the day he’d met her washed over him. Now that he knew her story, he realized she must have been terrified that day. He could understand that. And all he’d done was to make accusations and demand an interrogation.

But what about all the months since then? Surely she knew him well enough now to trust him. Why hadn’t she confided in him?

He took a deep breath. Well, at least she’d received some good news. Jimmy’s tests had shown that surgery should make his leg almost as good as new. He’d wanted to take her in his arms and whirl her around with the joy of it, but his uncertainty about their whole relationship held him back.

Anyway, she didn’t need him. Tomorrow was her big day. Opening night. He was quite sure her performance of Peg would launch her into a successful acting career. She’d be able to take care of herself and Jimmy very well.

He turned his attention back to the stage and shock zipped through him. She was staring at him with a sad, questioning look on her face. When his eyes met hers, she turned and looked away.

He glanced up as Pop sat down beside him.

“How much did I miss?” He was breathing rapidly as though he’d rushed to get here.

“Just the first half of act 1. It’s really good, Pop. They’re doing a fantastic job.”

“Ah yes. Peg in Dreamland will be a big success. I’m sure of it. So why are you sitting here like a dog who has lost his last bone?”

Blake didn’t answer. Couldn’t answer.

“Don’t be so hard on her, my lad. Her life hasn’t exactly been a fairy tale. She’s been through a lot.”

How did Pop always read him so perfectly? How did he know?

“Why couldn’t she have trusted me?”

“Nelson.” Blake glanced up to find Bosley glaring at him. “We’re trying to have a dress rehearsal here. Keep the voices down.”

Pop leaned closer and whispered, “If you’d been orphaned at ten, thrown out in the cold with a little lame brother to care for, and raised by an evil exploiter and mountebank like Sutton, maybe you’d find it hard to trust anyone, too.”

A vice squeezed Blake’s stomach. Was Pop right? How could Blake know what drove a child who grew up in circumstances such as Danielle’s? He’d been loved and cared for since the day he was born.

“Have you told her you love her?”

“Yes, weeks ago. She ran away from me.” The memory cut through him as though the event had just happened.

“Ah, but that was when she was in the throes of her trouble. James Sutton is an evil man and he had young Jimmy in his clutches. Besides, I’m sure he made threats against her friends as well as her brother.”

“Do you think so, Pop?” If that were true, it could explain why she hadn’t confided in anyone.

“Well, if I were in your shoes, I’d be finding out. Don’t throw away your chance with the woman you love because of your supposing.”

Blake looked at Danielle again. This time he gave her a hopeful smile.

Her eyes lit up and she stumbled over a word.

“Danielle, would you get your mind on the production and see if you can stay in character?” Bosley snapped then threw Blake a disgusted glance. “Stop making eyes at her, Nelson. We’re trying to get through a dress rehearsal here.”

Danielle blushed and averted her eyes as chuckles broke out among the rest of the cast.

Blake’s heart pounded. Could he have been wrong? Did they have a chance after all? He forced himself to concentrate on the rest of the cast, everyone but Danielle.

The remainder of the rehearsal went smoothly, and Blake took the whole cast out for a late supper at Tony’s. Pop excused himself and went home, despite the pleading of the entire cast that he join them.

Later, as the carriage rolled down the dark streets on the way home, Blake argued with himself about what to say to Danielle. He pulled to a stop in front of the Kramer house. “Uh, Danielle?”

“Yes, Blake?” She turned and spoke breathlessly.

Her soft lips were so close, and the thought of the kiss they’d shared a few weeks earlier hit him like a hammer. If he moved his head just slightly, he could touch her lips with his own.

He’d never been shy or tongue-tied around women before, but fear that she’d reject his love washed over him. He swallowed. “Do you need a read-through tonight? I’d be more than happy to help.”

Her eyes clouded. Was that disappointment he saw in them?

“No, thank you. I’m very tired. I think I should go to bed and get a good night’s rest.”

“Of course. I should have realized.” He jumped from the carriage and hurried around to help her down.

She smiled slightly, and ignoring his proffered arm, ran lightly up the steps and went inside.

Blake stared after her for a full moment before getting back into the carriage and driving down the street to his house.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. He continued to berate himself all the way into the house.

“Blake dear, your grandfather said rehearsal went very well.”

“Yes, ma’am. It was a good rehearsal.”

“I’m so excited about opening night,” she chattered, her voice full of excitement. “Oh, and I forgot to tell you, but the Kramers are hosting an opening night party after the show.”

Blake’s eyes gleamed and he threw his arms around his mother in an enormous hug. Tomorrow night, he would ask Danielle to marry him.