Boston, April 1881

"Pull it tighter Mattie! I want to look perfect tonight!" As Nora and her mother entered Aileen's room they were greeted by the sight of Aileen gripping a bed post with white knuckles and her maid red-faced with the effort of pulling her corset laces tightly. As thin as her sister was Nora wondered if she couldn't have gone without a corset altogether.

"That's enough, Mattie!" Mrs. Kelly snapped. "I won't have you passing out due to a too tight corset. I'm surprised you have any room left to breathe much less eat later on." Aileen smiled brightly.

"Not to worry mother. I'm so excited I couldn't eat a thing!" Nora furrowed her brow. Aileen hadn't cared about Mr. and Mrs. Denton's dinner party two days ago. She had whined and grumbled for a good 20 minutes about dinner with tedious older adults who are old fashioned and lacking vision and tedious younger adults who simper and treat her as a child. She had come up with every excuse to get out of it to no avail. Their mother was firm on them attending. It would be rude to decline and they would all attend as a family. Nora was grateful for the latter. She might pass out if she had to arrive at Brian Denton's on the arm of Irving Harrison. She shuddered at the mental image then inwardly cringed at feeling as melodramatic as Aileen had been lately. Nora narrowed her eyes at her pretty younger sister.

"Why are you not ready yet?" she queried. Their mother turned towards the out of breath maid.

"Mattie, I gave you very specific instructions on what time to start getting Miss Aileen ready. I expected those instructions to be obeyed to the letter." Mattie nervously glanced between Mrs. Kelly and Aileen.

"Yes ma'am." She whispered back quietly.

"Why were you so late?" Nora's mother clucked her tongue. "Were you chit chatting with Helen in the kitchen? You have your half day for that. Dawdling will not be tolerated in this household." She gave her full attention to the now trembling girl who squeaked out,

"No, ma'am."

"If you continue to remain incompetent in your duties I will have no choice but to dismiss you."

"Yes maam." Mattie looked over at Aileen again and Nora began to suspect the blame didn't fall on the maid.

"Aileen? Was Mattie late coming up to dress your hair and get you ready? Nora inquired. Aileen fiddled with a piece of her hair as she offered,

"Well, I suppose she may have been on time." Mrs. Kelly's head pivoted to her younger daughter.

"You suppose?" she barked. "What time did she come upstairs?" Aileen's hand left her hair and tugged anxiously at her corset which wasn't budging after being laced so snugly.

"I can't be entirely sure of the EXACT time." she offered unhelpfully. "I'm sure it wont happen again. Mattie is generally rather punctual so we can let this one time go. Come and help me finish dressing, Mattie. I will be ready in no time at all." Nora was on the verge of saying that something didn't add up but her mother was already speaking in a deceptively casual way.

"Mattie, was Miss Aileen napping when you came in her room." Mattie was now back to looking nervously at Aileen. "Matilda, look at me!" Mrs. Kelly demanded. "If you value your position in this home then I suggest you answer me and do so truthfully. Was Miss Aileen in her room when you arrived?"

"No, Ma'am." was the quiet reply.

"Thank you. Aileen, where were you?" Aileen looked at her maid in annoyance.

"I was out taking a walk and misjudged how long I had been gone. It really would not have made a difference except she was exceedingly clumsy and had to rearrange my hair 3 times." Mattie flinched as Nora spoke up.

"3 times? That's excessive especially for Mattie. She always does my hair beautiful the first time. I asked for her to do my hair tonight but you insisted that you needed her." Aileen's eyes flashed.

"Well beautiful isn't good enough!" she snapped. "I need exquisite perfection! Mattie, my dress!" Mrs. Kelly recoiled in shock.

"Aileen, I think you are not yourself. You made Mattie wait and proceeded to insult her and cause her more work and furthermore intended to let her take the fall for your behavior. I think it may be best if you stay home this evening."

"NO!" Aileen shrieked. "It's just…it's just…I'm so nervous. I have never been to Mr. Denton's home and the dinner party is thrown by his mother. What if I do something wrong in her home and she doesn't like me. I was walking in an attempt to clear my head and i guess it didn't help enough."

Mrs. Kelly instantly softened and hugged her daughter. She spoke words of encouragement while helping Mattie with Aileen's dress.

Meanwhile, Nora had stiffened and gaped at her sister. To hear her speak as if she especially liked Mr. Denton and hoped to please his mother was to say that they practically had an understanding. Nora felt sick to her stomach. She had thought that her sister hadn't particularly like Brian more than anyone else and thought that she had guessed that Nora did. The sisters were fairly close and she knew Aileen wouldn't typically claim Mr. Denton while knowing that Nora liked both knew Nora was meant for Irving but that hadn't completely kept her from hoping her parents would agree to someone else provided he was from a good family and met all of the usual expectations and she had thought that Aileen understood that. While Mrs. Kelly helped Mattie with the task of doing the long row of pearl buttons down the back of Aileen's dress, the fidgety girl studied her appearance in the mirror with an approving smile. As she caught Nora's expression in the reflection, her smile slipped and she gave her an apologetic yet guilty look. Nora knew definitely then that her sister knew what she had done and though she felt a bit bad hadn't considered Nora at all or if she had she didn't care. Aileen had always been prettier and well liked without trying and Nora had never really cared. She was occasionally flighty but sensible where it mattered most until recently. It wasn't as if Nora was ugly or unlikeable but Aileen had that something that captured someone immediately and she hadn't seem to notice it about herself until now. Nora had always admired that in her sister but as she took in what had just happened, the subtle manipulation, she looked at Aileen and instead of shrugging and smiling back she set her face to harsh indifference and briskly took her leave of the room.

"I don't know for sure that she doesn't like Brian Denton but I am 99 percent sure she doesn't which means she is using him for some selfish reason." Nora thought to herself as she descended their long curving staircase. "However, I believe Mr. Denton to have a strong character and I hope he is able to see through any deception."

New York City, Summer 1899

I stepped outside and took a large gulp of air. I took a quick glance around, relieved to see no sign of David anywhere. The distant buzz of conversation that floated through open windows with an occasional captured word here and there. My brother's voice broke through the gentle hum,

"Y'know Evie," I smiled at his childhood nickname for me, "It's ok to be excited about something you don't fully understand yet. When something big is happening it's natural to want to get in the middle and taste the action. At least it's natural for us Kellys." He slung his arm around my shoulders as we sat on the front stoop of the tenement building. I sighed.

"Jacky, I'm not a Kelly. I'm a Harrison, remember? Like aunt Nora and Uncle Irving. Before that my name was Sullivan. Apparently fitting since I'm only looking for the next thing to keep me entertained." I quietly echoed David's words.

"You look at me, Evie." I reluctantly turned to my brother. "You are a Kelly like me. Ready for adventure and smart and strong and brave enough to go after it. You couldn't be a Sullivan if you tried." He spat out the name Sullivan in distaste.

"Jacky, do you ever wonder what it would have been like if mama had lived and papa was well…i don't know…y'know… a real father?" Jacky's face hardened further. "Do you think we would have been a family like the Jacobs? Sitting around a table talking about our day, smiling and laughing?" I conjured up an image in my mind trying to recreate the family scene from dinner then quickly frowned. "Except for David. He scowls a lot and hates me." Jacky chuckled a little.

"Davey was wrong to talk to you like that but he's stubborn and forms a quick impression. He didn't like me at first either." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Probably cause I lied to him a few times." he added sheepishly.

"Jacky!" I smacked his arm in slight rebuke.

"Evie, it was hard seeing a happy family. I made mine seem a little more normal is all." I nodded in understanding. "As for Davey, it's easy for someone who is struggling for money to think that having it means a happy and easy life but you and me both know that ain't true. Seems like the times dear old Frank Sullivan had money jingling in his pockets he was only meaner. The more he had the quicker it was gone. Having Pulitzer's money didn't make me happy and look at yourself. Sitting on some hard steps with your newsie brother instead of in your comfy feather bed in some house on a hill." I smiled faintly at his remark until he smirked and added, "Or you could be with Hugh hoity toity Drexel." I groaned and hoped I wasn't about to get a big brother speech.

"Sarah told you I am guessing?"

"Yeah. She also told me you don't like him very much." I made a small noise of annoyance.

"I actually like Hugh very much. He was my first and really only friend in Boston. We were good friends from the start but now everyone expects us to be engaged including him. I like him just not in a marrying kind of way. I don't feel a difference around him. It's not like you and Sarah. You walked in tonight and she just lit up. She was brighter just because you were there. Hugh doesn't do that to me. He doesn't make me blush like you do to Sarah." I watched him smile as his thoughts travelled to Sarah Jacobs. We sat in silence for a bit until he cleared his throat.

"Don't settle for anything less, Evie. As for all this happy family like the Jacobs stuff, you and me are a great family and the Jacobs have kinda become my family so that makes them yours too. Esther loves you already!" He stood up and took my hand to help me up. I brushed dirt from my skirt and tucked stray strands of hair behind my ears. "I should get you to your house." Jacky told me. "Do your Harrisons have a house in New York or are you staying at one of those fancy hotels?" He looked at me expectantly.

"Um, everything happened so fast so the house wasn't really ready. I am staying at a hotel." I chose my words carefully and did my best to sound casual.

"I'm sure its not very close so lets see you there then."

"I really appreciate it Jacky but I am fine. It's getting late and you must need to be up early to sell papers. I will take a hansom cab." He looked at me uncertainly.

"I don't know Evie…Are you sure?" I nodded firmly.

"Yes. I am perfectly sure. See? There's one now." I pointed ahead a ways.

"Okay. But I will walk you to it." Once I was seated inside the cab he asked, "Are you free tomorrow for lunch? You could meet me at Tibby's. It's near the distribution center. I will probably be there around noon." I smiled enthusiastically.

"Of course I will be there." He smiled back.

"Alright. Tomorrow then. I'm really glad you are here Evie." I watched him saunter away until he turned a corner and was out of sight.

"Where to miss?" the driver asked and I gave him the address. He frowned. "Are you sure thats the right address?" I nodded. "That distance will cost you extra." I bobbed my head again. He stared at me for a moment before turning around and clicking to the horse. I told myself everything was fine. I really didn't know at all where we were going but the look on his face made me nervous. I nodded off to sleep on the way and woke when we bumped to a harsh stop in front of a nondescript building on a narrow lane. The dingy sign read O'Malley's. I stepped bravely out onto the pavement and handed the driver, an older man with graying hair, his payment plus a generous tip.

"I'm not trying to be forward miss, but you look like a nice girl. Is there nowhere else I can take you?" I hesitated. He acted as if this place might not be a good place to stay but i didn't really have a choice.

"Thank you but no. I am renting a room here for three nights." I turned and walked up the steps. Pushing the door open, the smell of smoke and alcohol assaulted my senses. Through a slight haze I saw tables where men played cards, ate, and drank. A few girls served up orders and mingled among the patrons. A man played a tinkling melody on a piano in the corner. I stepped up to the bar and cleared my throat. "Excuse me. I am looking for Pat?" I hadn't meant it to come out as a question but I was beginning to agree with the cab driver about being here. The one man behind the counter handed a girl a tray with drinks before looking at me.

"I'm Pat." he grunted, "You the new girl Danny hired?"

"Um no. I have a room reserved for three nights. A boy at the station took my bag and payment for three nights lodging. He gave me this address." I took another doubtful look around. Pat walked over to the bar's swinging door.

"DANNY!" he hollered. A boy of about 13 with a face full of freckles came trotting out.

"Yes sir?"

"Is this the girl you hired?" Danny looked at me.

"Yep." I let out an astonished scoff.

"You most certainly did not! You said you knew of a respectable room to rent and I paid you 3 nights lodging and an extra nickel to bring my bag besides! There was no mention of a job!" The boy gave a cheeky grin.

"I went down to the station to hire a girl and thats what I did." He shrugged and crossed his arms still smiling. I turned back to Pat.

"I demand my bag and my payment returned to me at once."

"Sorry miss. Haven't seen any money and we don't rent rooms. If you need a place to stay, lodging is for employees only. You can work with the girls and share a room with one of them if you like." I figured I may need a job eventually but as I again looked around I noted the low cut necklines and bright colors their dresses were made of and took a step back while shrieking,

"How dare you suggest I want a job working with your GIRLS?! Give me my money and my bag so I can leave right now!" Pat leaned close.

"I told you. I haven't seen any money. If anything, you owe me money since I expected you here for work a good 3 hours ago."

"That boy must have kept my money then!" Pat leaned on the bar counter.

"Looks to me like you are stuck. Seems you have nowhere to go so you may as well take my offer. It's not easy to find quick decent work around here."

"You call this decent?" I snorted and he actually looked offended. "Here's my offer. You give me my bag and money and I won't go to every paper in this city with your hiring methods and ways of tricking new arrivals to the city." I added nonchalantly. "Did I mention my brother is the leader of the recent newsie strike? Maybe he and I could talk to your employees about forming a union. Maybe I could talk to some of them right now. When is their break?" I inspected my fingernails and Pat gave a growl of annoyance.

"Danny, go fetch the bag you found at the station. As for money, I never saw any." I decided to cut my losses and when Danny handed me my bag I smiled pleasantly. "Thank you gentlemen. If you could be so kind as to give me directions to the World Distribution Center, I would be so grateful." Danny started snickering while Pat gave an eye roll.

"You really have no idea where you are or what you are doing at all do you? It's quite a distance to The World from Brooklyn. Good luck out there tonight. Now, unless you wanna buy a drink or become an employee then kindly get out." He took my arm and steered my through the door, slamming it behind me. I jumped a little and realized how stupid I had been. The situation could have gone much much worse for someone who just handed their money and belongings over to the first person they talked to and then showed up on their doorstep in the middle of the night. I was grateful to have my bag and that I had kept the rest of my money on me and not in it. However, as I peered down the dark lane I could only think,

"Brooklyn? Isn't it full of murderers and thieves and the worst sorts of people? How am I supposed to survive the night in Brooklyn?"