Free A Home for Her Heart by Janet Lee Barton

along with the others, he was very glad he was here and not hard at work.

Chapter Six
    J ohn’s laugh was deep and rich and Elizabeth wished he did it more often. She didn’t even mind being the cause of it.
    But she couldn’t resist saying, “Tickled your funny bone, did I?”
    He chuckled and nodded. “I never thought to hear that sound coming from you.”
    She grinned. “I do love a good soda.”
    “Well, so do I.” He took a last slurp of his soda as did Luke and Kathleen all at the same time and together the three of them managed to put hers to shame, causing much laughter at the surrounding tables.
    The four of them were still laughing as they left the establishment. Elizabeth stumbled on an uneven patch in the sidewalk and John reached out to steady her, pulling her hand through his arm. It was a beautiful early summer evening, and she liked seeing lights on in the homes they passed on their way back to Gramercy Park and Heaton House.
    “So, have you two decided where you’ll live once you’re married?” John asked.
    “We’ve begun looking at a few places. It’s going to be hard to leave Heaton House,” Luke said.
    “Yes, it will be. But we’re not going to lose touch with everyone. We’ll visit and have you all over,” Kathleen said.
    Somehow Elizabeth hadn’t thought about them actually leaving Heaton House, and happy as she was for them, she hated the thought of not having Kathleen right next door to her. They’d become good friends from the very first and things wouldn’t be the same with her gone.
    She sighed deeply and John leaned his head near. “You’re going to miss Kathleen, aren’t you?”
    “I am.”
    “I wonder who will take their places?”
    “I don’t know.” Elizabeth didn’t even want to think about it. She’d been close to Violet when she came and then she’d married Michael. But she considered Kathleen one of her dearest friends and she couldn’t see anyone taking her place. It’d be lonely without her there.
    “We’ve considered another boardinghouse that takes couples, but I think we’d like to have our own place,” Luke said. “But it won’t be far from Heaton House. It’s been home to both of us and we hope to be asked to Sunday dinner once in a while.”
    “Oh, I’m sure you will be. Mrs. Heaton considers us all her family,” Elizabeth suddenly felt better just saying the words. Even with her own daughter back in the fold, Mrs. Heaton cared about each and every one of her boarders. She’d be heartbroken if she didn’t keep in touch with them.
    There was no need to be anything but happy for Kathleen and Luke. Kathleen would still be her dearest friend and she’d see a lot of her, one way or another. No need to get all maudlin about her leaving.
    “We do need to decide on something, soon, though. It’s not all that long until the wedding, you know,” Kathleen said. “And, well, I’ve never had to decorate a home of my own before. Elizabeth, you will help me with that, won’t you? Luke keeps telling me I can fix it up the way I want, but—”
    “You’ll do fine,” Elizabeth hurried to assure her. “But I will be glad to help you in any way I can.”
    “Good,” Luke and Kathleen said at the same time and laughed at their timing.
    “I don’t want to be dragged from store to store,” Luke said.
    “I can understand that,” John said.
    “I truly will be happy with anything Kathleen chooses. Thank you for offering to help her, Elizabeth.”
    “Looks like we’re going to be busy from here to your wedding, and after, Kathleen,” Elizabeth said.
    “Will you still have time to work on the tenement articles?” John asked.
    “Oh, of course she will. I want her working on those,” Kathleen said. “I’m not going to take all her time, John. Don’t worry about that.”
    Elizabeth wasn’t sure if he worried about her part or not, but she wanted him to know she wasn’t going to back out. “Kathleen’s right, John. There’s no need to