John looked surprised but appreciative as he accepted the drink. “Tonight was all you, John. Not sure I could have arranged anything near as good as this.”
“Not bad, huh?” John grinned. “I never thought I’d say I enjoyed a plan more than an all out fight, but this came pretty close.”
He headed over to a couple of the High Tide boys, enjoying this brief truce, and Jerry turned back to the bar, smiling to himself. It had been a good night for the good guys, he thought smugly. The victorious men filled the tavern’s coffers for another hour, then they all drifted apart, heading back to their own turf.
“I have a couple of boats going in the morning,” Dutchie reminded Jerry on his way out.
“We’ll be there,” he promised. “It’ll be a long week, but it’ll work.”
Dutchie hooted out another laugh. “I hope we haven’t made things even worse. Willoughby hangs on to his grudges. But it sure was fun.”
“It sure was,” Jerry agreed, turning back to the bar for one more celebratory drink. But as he lifted the glass to his lips, he heard again the man on the boat, shouting at them they’d be sorry. Normally, those words meant nothing to him. Typical male bravado. Flexing muscles for show. But they felt a little different now, and Jerry felt strangely uneasy at the threat. Because for the first time in his life, he realized, seeing Adele’s smile in his mind, he had something to lose.
twenty-oneADELE
— August 1921 —
Adele spotted Marie before the train had even come to a stop, and she waved madly, trying to catch her attention. A smile broke out on her sister’s face, and the next thing Adele saw was little Madeleine popping into view, her fat little hands pressed up against the window. Adele could hardly wait to hold her niece again.
She had been cajoling Marie into coming to Windsor for a visit for the past three years without any luck. So it had come as a complete surprise when her sister had written that she was coming to see them in two weeks. She said it would just be her and the children. Adele had been too excited to ask any questions.
“You’re finally here,” she cried, sweeping Marie, Madeleine, and little Arthur into her arms. Her sister’s cheek felt warm against hers. “I thought you’d never come.”
“I’m sorry it’s been so long,” Marie said, squeezing her back. “But I’mhere now.” She turned and signalled a porter, who came to carry all their bags to the waiting car.
“And you!” Adele said, scooping up her niece. “You and I are going to have such fun. Yourgrandmèrecannot wait to see you. She has been baking sweet bread all morning. Tell me, who is that your mother is holding?”
“That’s my little brother. Arthur doesn’t do much. He just cries.”
As if on cue, Arthur began to fuss. “Sorry,” Marie said, rocking him. “He’s probably hungry. It was a long trip.”
“Of course,” Adele said, noticing the dark lines under Marie’s eyes. “You must be exhausted. Shall we go?”
“I can walk,” Madeleine declared, leaning toward the ground. Adele put her down then felt a rush of affection when the little girl took her hand.
“She’s a little bossy,” Marie said as they headed toward the car.
“Nonsense. She just knows what she wants. Just like her mother.” She opened the trunk of the car, and the porter packed everything inside. Marie put a coin in his hand, then they all climbed into the car, with everyone piling on top of each other in the front seat.
“I’m so happy you’re all here,” Adele said again. “You have to tell me what happened. What did I finally say to convince you to come? You sure made me work for it.”
Marie shrugged. “You haven’t met Arthur. I thought it was about time you did.” She gazed out the window, and Adele saw a hint of a smile on her face, though it seemed a little sad. “Oh, it’s more beautiful than I even remembered.”
“So’s that sweet baby of yours,” Adele said. “He looks so much like Fred. How is Fred, anyway?”
“Oh, he’s fine. Fred’s always fine. Working hard as ever.”
“My daddy’s very important,” Madeleine said, and Adele caught her sister’s eye, trying not to laugh.
“Now tell me about this new beau of yours,” Marie said, sitting a littletaller. “Fred wanted me to ask what line of work he’s in, but I just want to know if he’s handsome.”
Adele had planned her response in advance. She didn’t want to start the visit off with the shocking news that she was in love with a gangster of sorts. “I happen to think he’s the most handsome man in the world. As for his work, he’s a businessman. And here’s the best news: Maman has invited both him and his brother, John, over for dinner tonight, so you can meet them both.”
“Tonight?”
Adele’s spirit fell a little. “Oh, but we’d all understand if you were too tired after this journey. I’m sure we could postpone.”
“No, no,” Marie said. “In fact, I think some fresh company might wake me up.”
