The next afternoon, Adelaide sat at her and Spot's usual booth. She read the newspaper as she waited for Spot. She didn't even look up when the bell over the door rang and someone slid into the booth in front of her.
"Hey Spot," she said, without looking up.
"Hi Aide," Skittery said softly.
Adelaide's head snapped up at the sound of his voice. Though she could hardly believe it, Skittery sat right in front of her. He had shiner on his cheek and looked like he hadn't eaten or slept in days, but he was there.
"Skittery," she whispered.
Skittery gave her a small smile.
"What…what happened to you in there?"
Skittery shrugged. "I didn't get it as bad as some of the others in there." He reached across the table and took her hands. "Aide, I'm so sorry about Tumbler. I tried to stop them, I really—"
"I know." She nodded. "Spot told me."
Skittery swallowed and nodded. "I heard about Ralphie."
Adelaide averted her eyes and nodded.
"How come you're still in Brooklyn?"
Adelaide shrugged. "With you in jail and Tumbler out west…"
"What about now?" asked Skittery.
Adelaide felt tears sting her eyes. She smiled and nodded.
Skittery grinned and squeezed her hands. They slid out of the booth and Skittery pulled her into his arms.
Adelaide buried her face in his shoulder and felt the weight of the past six months melt away.
"How'd you find me?" Adelaide asked, as she and Skittery walked down the street hand-in-hand.
"Spot told me I could find you there."
Adelaide chewed on her lip for a moment. "What else did he tell you?"
"Only that you and I have a lot to talk about. And that you've been missing me."
"Anything else?"
Skittery shook his head and looked down at her. "He said none of it was his to tell."
Adelaide looked up at him for a few beats, feeling her eyes fill with tears. She looked back toward the street.
"Everything okay?" Skittery asked, squeezing her hand.
Adelaide nodded. "I'm just really glad you're here."
Skittery grinned. "Me too." He grin faded. "Snipes told me a few things after I got home last night."
Adelaide looked up at him. Her heart pounded at the idea that Skittery might know everything. "What did he tell you?"
Skittery stopped walking and turned toward her. "That you really stuck your neck out for him."
"Oh," said Adelaide, feeling her heart slow with the relief. "Um…yeah. He stuck his neck out a few times for me too."
"Yeah?"
Adelaide nodded.
Skittery watched her for a few beats. "Aide, I know these past few months have been hard on you. All I know is Ralphie made you pickpocket and share his bed. That alone makes me wish I could've been the one to kill him. But I know there's more. And I know that since Spot won't tell me, and you haven't come home, that Ralphie must've done a real number on you." Skittery paused. Adelaide looked away, feeling the tears sting her eyes once more. "But none of it changes how I feel about you. You're hurting, Aide. I can see that."
Adelaide nodded.
"Talk to me."
"I can't," she whispered. "Not yet."
Skittery slowly stepped towards her and she didn't step away. Tears began to stream down her face. He put his arms around her and held her close.
After so many months, she had almost forgotten how well she fit against him when he held her. How her cheek fit right against his shoulder, and she could bury her face in his neck; how his arms around her made her feel like nothing could touch her; how he would bend his neck so his lips were right next to her ear and he would whisper sweet nothings.
For a moment, Adelaide felt at peace. All was right with the world. She and Skittery were together and everything was going to be okay.
Until she remembered the last five months.
Her throat tightened and the tears streamed down her face. She gasped in and sobbed into his chest. She cried for every day she hadn't seen him. She cried for every time Ralphie hurt her. She cried for the days after Ralphie died that she didn't go running back to Manhattan. She cried for not being able to say goodbye to Tumbler. She cried for her baby.
Through it all, Skittery didn't move. He held her close, whispering, "It's gonna be okay, Aide. It's all over now."
After several minutes, she pulled back. She used her sleeve to wipe away her tears.
Skittery tilted her chin so she could face him.
"Can you take me home?"
Skittery nodded. "Gladly."
"You've been livin' here?" Skittery asked, looking around at the tenement basement. Empty cots and blankets were all over the place.
"Just sleeping," said Adelaide, walking to her makeshift room. She pushed the sheet aside and walked through. She walked straight to the corner of the room and grabbed the pillowcase she had come to Brooklyn with.
Skittery followed her, lingering at the entrance. His eyes wandered over the two mattresses pushed together. Adelaide kicked one to the side. She tried to move three different floorboards before she found the loose one. She move it to the side and reached down into the floor. She pulled up a small brown cigar box. She stuck it in the pillowcase. She walked around to the other side of the bed and grabbed a stack of dime store novels and put them into the sack.
She gave the room once last look, making sure she'd grabbed everything. She stood up, pillowcase in hand and looked at Skittery.
"Let's go home."
Skittery grinned and took her hand. He led her out of the tenement building for the last time. They walked hand in hand toward the bridge. They turned the corner and saw Spot selling papers.
As they approached, Adelaide could see a genuine smile on Spot's face.
"It's about time you got outta here," he said.
"Don't miss me too much, Conlon."
Adelaide and Spot shared a look for a few beats.
"You're always welcome in Brooklyn, Aide."
"See ya, Conlon."
Skittery nodded at Spot as he and Adelaide passed him by. "Thanks, Spot."
Spot nodded and watched them walk across the bridge.
