CHAPTER 21
We tried to go to sleep early knowing our departure was at the crack of dawn. Of course we were both too excited to sleep, which was just as well really, since both of us were a little excited in a different way too, what with being so close in the same bed and all.
I finally fell asleep late into the night with Frankie’s strong arms keeping me warm. It was a restless sleep though, far too many thoughts raced through my head. I had dreams of my sister. Then of my father yelling at me for one thing or another the way he had my whole life. I never seemed able to please him.
Once, I woke up and Frankie was smoothing my hair. “Everything’s okay,” he said sweetly. “Tomorrow, everything will be okay.” I didn’t even know what the dream was about, but Frankie said it was a bad one.
I woke for good before the sun came up and I checked every five minutes until Frankie’s pocket watch finally said six o’clock. Time to get up and get dressed. I could not wait for our new life to begin.
We got ready quickly, both of us anxious and excited. The air was full of possibilities and neither of us could stop smiling. Finally, my life with Frankie was about to begin.
But we couldn’t leave for the train station too soon.
“It’ll be best to get there right on time,” he explained. “I don’t want to risk someone recognizing you out there,” he said, motioning toward the window.
I nodded, relived. It was going to be hard for me to leave the only city I’d ever lived in, and the less time I had to take it all in, the better.
Finally, with only twenty minutes to go before the train was scheduled to leave, we snuck out of the motel.
“I’ve never been so glad to leave a place in my life,” I said.
Frankie chuckled. “Yes, it’s about time you got out of that dingy old room.”
I tried not to blush, remembering how good the fresh air felt during my excursion yesterday. We walked briskly and made it to the train station in just over ten minutes. Another ten and we would be safely away.
The platform buzzed with excitement.
I tried not to look at the families hugging, saying goodbye with tears glistening in their eyes. Instead, I pulled my hat down over my face, hoping beyond hope that no one would recognize me. I was grateful again to Frankie for thinking ahead and getting the hats. They were proving to be invaluable.
The train was proudly stretched out in front of us, gleaming in the sun. Frankie led the way, carrying most of the luggage that we’d hauled over. We packed lightly, only bringing the new clothes Frankie had bought for us, leaving the old ones behind in the motel room. “To start fresh,” Frankie had explained. “And less for me to carry,” he added, winking.
First class on the train was even lovelier than I’d expected. Everything looked so new and shiny, as if we were the very first people to enjoy it. The seats were comfortable and would make for a relaxing journey, even one as long as the one we were about to embark on.
Stowing our things, we settled in for the ride. I had to admit I was excited to have Frankie all to myself. No sneaking away to who knows where and to do who knows what while I was stuck all by myself with nothing to do but stare out a tiny crack between curtains. Heaven forbid I would open them, there was always a chance someone might see me, at least according to Frankie. Thank goodness he hadn’t found out about yesterday.
I leaned my head back and took a deep breath, completely unable to keep the smile off my face. Frankie leaned in and kissed me softly on the cheek. “Just a few more minutes.”
I smiled even larger and nodded, closing my eyes, enjoying the warm sun shining on me. I was as content as a lazy cat finding a sliver of sunshine for a long afternoon nap. Frankie watched past me out the window, looking at the people go by out on the platform.
“Max?” he suddenly said, jolting up straight. “Sadie, that’s Max. Wow, I didn’t think he made it out the other night. Thought he was in the slammer for sure,” he whispered.
I followed Frankie’s gaze and saw a short, plump fellow with the same sort of three-piece suit that all the employees of the Boss seemed to wear, though I couldn’t help but notice the suit did not look nearly as good on this Max person as a similar one did on Frankie.
“I have to go talk to him,” Frankie said, jumping up.
“Frankie? No! Are you crazy? We’re so close to being out of here,” I protested, a deep feeling of dread settling into my stomach.
“Just for a second,” Frankie said, smiling at me.
All I could think was as careful as we were about no one seeing me, he sure wasn’t very careful about anyone seeing him.
“Just to tell him our plans. Maybe he can still make the train with us.”
I sighed. “This man must be awful important to you,” I said, pouting a little.
I suppose I wanted to be the only thing important in Frankie’s life. And then I realized what a silly thought that was, and since I’d been trying so hard not to act like a little girl, I decided to straighten up, and even cracked a tiny smile.
“Alright, but please hurry back.” I hoped he could hear the worry in my voice.
He bent down and gave me a peck on the cheek and strode out of the train car. I glanced back out the window, secretly wanting to see just how much better Frankie wore his suit than his stubby friend, when I saw it.
A face that looked all too familiar.
My heart knew before my brain that something wasn’t right. I’d seen him somewhere before, but I couldn’t place him. I looked around wildly, searching for clues.
Frankie was coming into view. He had his hand outstretched toward his friend, getting ready to shake his hand. But Max wasn’t reaching out to take it. Instead, he was saying something and looking genuinely panicked.
Oh, how I wished I was able to read lips at that moment, but there was one tiny, little phrase that was unmistakable. “I’m sorry,” were the two words I could understand.
A flurry of activity broke out on the platform.
Men rushing toward Frankie. Men in uniform. Police. Someone knocking Frankie down from behind, slamming his arms out to his sides. Ladies and children screamed while family men pushed them out of the way of the dangerous criminal who was being apprehended. Two more men jumped on top of him, making sure he was held securely as the first officer cuffed him. Yet another officer held Max’s arms behind his back, stopping him from helping Frankie. And then the man. The man whose face I recognized strolled up to the scene.
That’s when it all fell into place. The man from outside my parent’s house. The man who had tried to follow me down the street when I’d gone to leave my sister her note. He wasn’t a reporter like I’d thought. He was with the police. And by the looks of it, he was the head detective on the case. He’d probably been watching me since yesterday.
I jumped up out of my seat and was about to run off the train when Frankie looked right at the window I was sitting behind. If I hadn’t been staring right at him at the time, I might not have noticed it, a tiny shake of his head and one word mouthed.
“No.”
Then he looked away so as not to alert their attention toward me.
I wanted nothing more than to run out there and hug the love of my life and make it impossible for anyone to tear me away, but I knew that eventually they would. And then what? Back to my father’s house?
Too much had changed for me to ever go back and live that stifling life again. But I couldn’t very well just leave Frankie all by himself for who knows how long, and to endure who knows what kind of torture while they interrogated him.
Perhaps I could just quietly get off the train, down at the end where none of the policemen would notice, and walk away. If I could get back to the motel and get a minute to think, I was sure I’d be able to figure something out.
But how will I pay for the room?
I had absolutely nothing but the clothes on my back and what was in my suitcase.
Tears sprung to my eyes and I
sat down quickly, hoping no one had noticed my distress. Through the tears, blurs of color stuttered outside the window. They hauled Frankie to his feet, his hat falling off in the process. I wanted so badly to retrieve it for him so he could have at least a bit of dignity while he was marched through all those people who were no doubt judging him, thinking he was nothing but a two-bit thug.
The smug looking detective was talking to Frankie, but again I could not make out the words, and Frankie just kept shaking his head.
It was over. There was nothing I could do. And now I had nowhere to go.
The train whistle blew. The final boarding call. The call signaling the end of my old life. No more family, my best friend gone. And cruelly, signaling the end of my future as well. There would be no house with the big front porch and beautiful yard. There would be no watching the lake at dusk. There would be no Frankie at all.
As I looked out that window at my love for the last time, two things happened. First, Frankie looked toward the train and mouthed the words “I love you”. And second, just as they led Frankie away and the train jolted into motion, the detective looked right at my window, meeting my gaze. I couldn’t tear my eyes from his as he stood as frozen as me, getting smaller and smaller as my train slowly pulled away.
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