July 1902

The next morning, Lily walked across the bridge. As she crossed, she realized she'd only ever been to Brooklyn with Race, and she didn't know her way around.

She didn't even know where to start to look for Amelia. She wandered the streets until she saw the newsie that would hit on her whenever she ran errands for Amelia to Brooklyn.

"Do you know Amelia?" she asked.

"Ain't you Race's girl?" he asked.

"Not anymore." Lily rolled her eyes. "Just tell me where Amelia is."

A small boy ran up to the newsie and yanked on his shirt. "Here ya go." He handed a pape to the young boy, who ran off around the corner, presumably to sell his 'last pape.'

"She works in a shop near the bridge," said the newsie. "One of those fancy custom dress shops."

Lily frowned. "Really? I thought she'd be selling with Spot."

"Spot's in the refuge."

All this news made Lily realize how long it had been since she'd seen her friend.

The small boy ran back around the corner and the newsie handed him another paper.

"Okay, thanks," said Lily, turning around.

"She won't get off for another few hours," the newsie said. "I got all these papes to sell…you wanna help? We could split fifty-fifty?"

Lily raised her eyebrows. "Why?"

The newsie shrugged. "You seem a little lost, needing your friend. Obviously you ain't sellin' with Race, you're gonna need money."

Lily looked at him suspiciously. He was right; she was going to need money. She hadn't made any money in weeks. All of her needs had been taken care of by the Carisi family when she was watching their children. Not anymore.

"Look, I don't offer help to just anybody, you wanna sell or not?"

"Thanks," said Lily, taking a small stack of his papers.

"I'm Flint," he stuck out his hand.

"Lily." She shook his hand.

The small boy ran back and Flint gave him another paper. "And this here is Pint." Pint looked at Lily and ran away, back around the corner. "Don't worry, he don't talk. Not unless you're Spot or Amelia."

Lily chuckled. She walked away a few yards and started calling made up headlines. She sold her small stack of papers in a matter of minutes. She walked back over to Flint.

"Not bad," said Flint.

"I'm a little out of practice," said Lily, taking another small stack.

"You seem all right to me," Flint smirked. Lily chuckled and walked back to the other corner. As she walked, she realized by the lilt in his voice, Flint may have been flirting. This was unfamiliar territory. No one had ever flirted at her before. Everyone else had either ignored her, used her in Atlantic City, or was…Race.

At the thought of Race, anger burned inside of her. After all they'd been through, he had gone back and worked for Morello. Voluntarily. He was no different than Bruno in her eyes, and she felt sick every time she thought of Bruno.

She shook the thoughts out of her head and focused on selling the papers. By the time she sold her stack, she walked back to the corner where Flint and Pint were sitting on the curb, waiting for her.

"Lunch break before the afternoon edition?" Flint offered, standing up. "My treat."

"Um…sure," said Lily. "We can settle up there."

"Come on, Pint," said Flint. "Let's go get us a pretzel."

Pint stood up and walked along with Lily and Flint.

"So I never asked, what's got you in Brooklyn?" Flint asked.

"It's a long story," said Lily.

"Well, the afternoon edition don't come out for another hour," said Flint. "I got time."

"It's…" Lily sighed, "none of your business."

Flint put his hands up. "Fair enough. That's all you had to say to begin with."

"Well, you kept asking," said Lily.

"I was just makin' conversation," Flint chuckled defensively. "You Manhattan girls are wound tight."

"We are not," said Lily, relaxing a bit more as she sensed Flint was just trying to be nice.

They walked to a street vendor and Flint bought three pretzels. He handed one to Pint, one to Lily, and bit into the third. They found an empty bench to sit on.

"All right you two, spill," said Flint. The three of them dug into their pockets and counted out their money. Pint pulled out a pocket full of silver coins.

"Ah, I remember those days," said Lily. "I was six when I first started selling. Nickels, dimes, quarters…bein' a newsie was a goldmine back then."

"I do too," said Flint. "It don't last. Probably lasted longer for you, since you're a pretty girl." He turned to Pint. "Enjoy it." Flint and Pint settled up first, fifty-fifty, although Lily noticed Flint gave Pint closer to sixty percent, keeping only forty for himself. Flint settled up with Lily for what she sold.

That afternoon, Lily sold the afternoon edition with Flint and Pint.

"Well, we're gonna head down to the docks," said Flint. "Head down this street for two blocks and take a left. Amelia's shop will be right there."

Lily nodded. "Thanks. And thanks for letting me sell with you."

Flint nodded. "Hope I'll see you around." He looked down. "Come on, Pint."

Flint and Pint walked down the street.

Lily turned around and followed Flint's directions. There was a custom dress shop right where Flint said there would be. As soon as she turned the corner, Amelia walked out of the shop and walked down the street.

"Lily!" she said as soon as she saw her.

"Hey," Lily grinned and walked over to Amelia. The two girls embraced.

"It's been so long, how are you?" Amelia asked.

"I'm…" Lily couldn't lie to this woman, "Not good."

Amelia pulled back and look at Lily. "What's wrong? What happened?"

As the girls walked along the street, Lily told Amelia all that had happened with Race.

"It's like he doesn't even remember what we had to go through last time," said Lily.

"This sounds like actual work, though. You're not under his thumb, just working for him," said Amelia.

Lily looked at Amelia. "Are you forgetting that this is the same guy who kidnapped Maggie? And Spot had to break a guy's hands to get her back?"

Amelia was quiet for a moment. That seemed like a lifetime ago.

"So what are you going to do?" Amelia asked.

Lily sighed. "I don't know. I am so angry; I don't even want to look at Race. I don't want to see him; I don't want to run into him. I want to be far away from him."

"Well you're welcome in Brooklyn," said Amelia. "I'm stayin on the roof of the lodging house. It's a little lonely being up there by myself. I wouldn't mind some company."

Lily nodded. "Thanks. I think I'll stay for tonight and make any big decisions in the morning."

"Good thinking," said Amelia.

"Speaking of big decisions…you hear about Penny?"

Amelia nodded. "Yeah. I haven't seen her since…" She paused. Amelia told Lily the story of when Specs and Penny came over to Brooklyn.

"I feel awful about how I acted, but I just haven't had a chance to get over to Manhattan," said Amelia.

"When did you start working at the shop?" Lily asked.

"A couple days after Spot got put back in the refuge," said Amelia. She told Lily the story of the almost marriage, Spot's arrest, and getting the job at the shop.

"A dress shop sounds perfect for you," Lily grinned. "What did the owner say when you told him your name?"

"Oh, um, nothing," said Amelia.

Lily looked at her suspiciously. "He said nothing to hiring a Vanderbilt?"

"I didn't use my married name," said Amelia, looking ahead.

"He didn't raise an eyebrow to hiring a Wakefield? Does he know your father owns half of the textile factories in the city?"

Amelia kicked a pebble, but didn't say anything.

"What name did you give him?"

"Conlon."

Lily chuckled.

By the time they finished talking, they were at the docks. They heard rapid little footsteps running down the docks. They looked over and saw Pint racing to greet them. Pint wrapped his arms around Amelia's legs.

"Hey buddy," she grinned, tousling his hair.

"Mama's home," Lily joked. Amelia rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, you're old enough to have a kid his age." Amelia's grin faded and Lily could see the sad look in her eye. Lily knew she was remembering her miscarriage. "I'm sorry, Amelia, I wasn't thinking."

"It's okay," said Amelia, brushing it off.

Flint walked over. "Still on this side of the bridge, huh?" He grinned.

"Hi," Lily gave him a grin.

Amelia furrowed her brow, confused. "Did I miss something?"

"While I waited for you to get off work, I sold with Flint and Pint today," said Lily.

Amelia nodded, eyeing Flint. "Hey Mikey?" Amelia called.

"Yeah?" Mikey asked from his spot a few yards away.

Amelia grabbed Lily's wrist and walked her over. "This is Lily, she's gonna be staying on the roof with me for a couple nights. Would you mind showing her around a bit, introduce her to the guys?"

"Sure," Mikey nodded. "Hi," he smiled kindly at Lily. He led Lily off down the docks to meet the guys.

Amelia walked back over to Flint. "Now you listen to me, I want you to stay away from her."

Flint frowned. "Why? She ain't seein' anybody." Amelia raised an eyebrow. "She told me herself."

"She's going through a lot right now, and the last thing she needs is a handsome Brooklyn newsie makin' eyes at her."

Flint smirked. "I am pretty handsome, aren't I?"

Amelia rolled her eyes. "I'm serious. That girl means a lot to me, and things with her and Race are not over. I do not want to see her hurt or confused over a silly boy like you."

Flint raised his hands in defense. "Fine. I'll stay away. But if she comes to me, I'm not sayin' no."

"Fine," said Amelia.