MANHATTAN – OCTOBER 1900
The shrieking of steel on steel from an oncoming train scraped against Jack's spirits, which were worn as ragged as the carpet bag he was holding for Henry.
"Stay next to me," Jack reminded Henry, pulling him nearer.
Grim came around from the other side of the taxi carriage, taking his own bag down and paying the driver. Tide was quizzing Grim, making sure he had everything he needed.
The people hurrying on the train platform ballooned around the four, nearly running into them. Jack darted a glance near the depot, watching Sarah say goodbye to a friend she'd bumped into on the way there.
"Looks like you're all set, then," Tide muttered to Grim from beside Jack, his voice spiked with the same regret Jack felt.
Once Grim and Henry boarded the train, that would be it for a long time.
Sarah joined the group, bending down to hug Henry as the train whistled. The conductor shouted the signal for 'all aboard,' and Jack felt like it was going all too fast.
"Take care of that kitten," Jack said, giving Henry a big hug. "And look after that father of yours, okay? He's a good man."
Henry nodded, offering Jack a wide smile. "I'll write to you as soon as I learn how. Daddy says I'll be starting school."
Standing beside Grim, Henry looked so small, so hopeful.
"I'd like that very much. I'll write you back," Jack said.
Sarah gave Grim a fond goodbye. She pulled back as Henry tugged gently on her skirt, trying to get her attention. "I decided what I'd like to name my cat, Aunt Sarah."
"Oh?" Sarah smiled. "What's that?"
"Calico," Henry said bashfully, grinning up at Grim. "After my daddy's friend."
Jack's heart melted at those words. "That's a perfect name," he said.
"I wish you were coming with me," Henry said, tears rising in his eyes.
Jack swallowed fiercely to keep the excruciating lump in his throat from growing and creating tears in his own eyes. "You have the sun and the moon. And when you see them, just know we can see them, too. The California sun and moon are the same sun and moon as here."
"Okay, I will," Henry said, some of the fear leaving his voice.
It was too much for Tide. He slumped his shoulders, bending down and hugging Henry tightly. "You keep in touch," Tide said in a soothing voice, kissing the top of Henry's head. "Don't forget about us back in old New York, okay? Bring us some farm fresh eggs every now and again."
Henry grinned up at him.
Grim took the bag from Jack, giving him an empathetic smile as the train whistled again.
"I'm going to miss you so much," Jack said, feeling trapped.
Grim's expression softened as he set the bags down, pulling Jack in for a hug. "I'm going to miss you terribly." He held him out at arm's length. "But you'll be in Santa Fe soon enough. That ain't so far."
"No, it ain't," Jack said, knowing he had to stay optimistic and relaxed. A calm emptiness surged through him. This was harder than he thought.
"We won't say goodbye then," Grim assured him as exhaustion overtook his features. He looked like he'd fought enough wars for one year and couldn't handle the idea of waging another. "Bis später."
"Thank you," Jack said, giving Grim a knowing look. "For everything."
Grim just smiled back in understanding. "You stay out of trouble, Jack Kelly."
"All aboard!" The conductor called again, wrangling in any stragglers.
Henry clung to Grim, refusing to let go.
Jack noticed Tide was barely holding it together. Grim read his uneasiness, holding out his hand for Tide to shake.
Tide took it, shaking it firmly as the two old accomplices fought to hold back tears. "You'll make one crazy farmer," Tide said with a choked laugh.
"How about that," Grim laughed along, shaking his head. "A quiet bit of land. Living the rest of my life out in peace with my son. It's what I've always wanted."
"I hope it brings you great happiness," Tide said, clasping his other hand atop their two. "Really, I do."
"I only wish that…" Grim sniffled a little, shaking his head as he looked away. "Natalie—"
"I know," Tide said, offering Grim a rueful smile. "Me, too."
Grim nodded, biting back his torrent of emotions. But Tide had known him for too long, had been through thick and thin with him since they were small. And in an instant, Tide threw his arms around Grim, hugging him tightly.
Grim held onto Tide, his eyes squinting with tears as Tide patted his back. For a few seconds, the two forgot how to breathe.
Grim sniffled again and lightly kissed Tide's cheek, pulling away. "Goodbye, my friend. Look after the fellas for me."
"So long, Miles," Tide said, giving Grim a tearful nod.
Grim picked up his bags again, heading for one of the train doors. He set the bags inside, and then picked Henry up, placing him onto the train. Then he pulled himself up with the railing as an attendant slid the door closed.
Jack was tempted to beg them to stay. But at the same time the remorse and disappointment that had plagued him earlier rushed back with the force of a tidal wave. Grim and Henry deserved so much more than the life they'd known in New York. And now they were on their way to finally having it.
"Hey, Tide!" Grim shouted to him, waving with Henry through a compartment window. "Don't make me come back to break you out of Sing Sing!"
This elicited surprised and confused looks from strangers.
"I'll make no such promises, Krause!" Tide shouted back in good humor.
The train began to move, grinding along the tracks as the whistle blew, smoke pouring from the stacks.
Jack's feet were dug into the ground as the wheels turned, knowing Grim would have a whole other life awaiting him. New scenery, new adventures, new friends. Jack also knew Grim would take good care of Henry – holding him tight if he got scared, bandaging his cuts and bruises, and telling him bedtime stories.
"Bye!" Henry was shouting over the noise as the train rolled forward. He was smiling wide. "Bye Uncle Logan! Bye Uncle Jack! Bye Aunt Sarah! I love you!"
"Goodbye! Goodbye!" Came from the trio standing on the platform.
Jack tried to beam and wave at them, though he wished he could sit down and cry. But he continued seeing the train off with a brave façade.
Sunlight reflected off Grim and Henry's faces, illuminating an angelic glow. They were happy.
Jack's throat tightened around the words as he yelled them. He didn't want to meltdown right there, didn't want to trigger a similar reaction in Grim or Tide. Instead, he looked on quietly as Grim and Henry were driven away from him.
His eyes pierced with tears, but he held them down. He wouldn't cry here. Maybe at home after Sarah had fallen asleep. But here, he had to be tough. Tough all the time.
He had to keep in mind they'd thrive in a place they could start over. It was preferable to living on the streets of New York, struggling to make ends meet. And they would grow stronger together. Jack would be closer to them soon. Through all the changes ahead, Grim and Henry have each other.
Jack put on a cheerful face, trying to make it a reassuring one, although his guts were grinding to bits. He'd had his time with them. He'd reunited them. Now it was time to part ways and continue to grow. Perhaps California would promise a good life. Perhaps they would settle in with a new community as easily as they had with the old one.
Sarah leaned into Jack's embrace, wiping her tears on her shawl as Jack hugged her. They watched the train pull out of the station, screeching down the tracks with Grim and Henry waving all the way.
As the train rolled down the tracks, Jack held down a wave of anxiety at the idea of missing them. What if he never saw them again? Then he calmed himself down, thinking about how they were spreading their wings, getting a real home, becoming a real family.
Even as the anxiety receded, a sense of desolation remained and festered, a desolation so intense that Jack was likely to sink if he said anything. So, he clamped his mouth shut and gazed at the train, watching the two waving hands grow smaller and smaller.
Jack was still holding Sarah in his arms as she cried, and he looked over at Tide, exchanging a heavy but content smile. None of them said a word as they stood there, watching the big iron horse peel around the corner at the opposite end of the station and disappear into the distance.