Three’s a Crowd

The bunkroom at the Harlem Newsgirls Lodging House was empty save three girls towards the middle of the room, unusual for a December Tuesday evening. The colder the weather turned, the sooner the girls returned at the end of the day, not willing to spend a moment longer than necessary in the frigid New York winter. Judging by the lively prattle, the other lodgers weren't missed at the moment.

"An' that leaves just you two," Ruby Gallagher said, finishing off a list of Harlem couples attending the upcoming Christmas party. She sat in the middle of the aisle formed by the two rows of wooden bunk beds, idly digging through her sewing basket.

Molly Harris, called Imp because of her trademark impish grin, dangled her legs off the top bunk she was sitting on. "What about it?" she asked, still in the "boys don't matter" stage.

Ruby looked up, a mischievous glint in her green eyes. "Ya tried on that dress yet?"

The younger girl stopped swinging her legs for a moment. "Not yet. Why?"

"Try it on." Ruby glanced impatiently at the window at the other end of the long room before focusing her attention back on the matter at hand. "I wanna make sure it fits so I have time ta make any alt'rations."

Imp toyed with the faded ribbon ending one of her dark brown braids, wariness showing on her face. "Where'd you leave it last?"

"In the wardrobe? Ya know, where we keep clothes?"

"Thought I'd might as well ask." She rolled her eyes before hopping down, landing on a creaky spot in the wood floor. After an exaggerated show of rummaging through the wardrobe she retreated to the washroom, yards of deep blue material trailing behind her.

Ruby turned behind her to the other girl in the room. "Ver? You need anythin' fixed for tha party?"

Verity Fowler, who had watched the exchange in amused silence, stretched out on her bunk with a new book, not hearing the question. When it came to reading she tended to forget her surroundings.

"Verity?" Ruby knocked on the bunk post. "Ya need anything fixed up?"

She glanced up briefly. "No, thank you. I just have to let them hem out a little." Hopefully that's all she had to do to the dress. She hadn't worn it in a long time, not since her cousin's wedding the previous year, and hadn't spent much time worrying about what to wear to the party.

The redhead nodded. "Just makin' sure. Whatcha readin'?"

"A new book I got," Verity said, holding it out for her to inspect. The cream cover had a maroon line drawing of a half-sunk ship emblazoned on it. Above, letters the same shade of maroon spelled out the title, Futility.

Leaning back against the bunk, arms crossed, Ruby asked, "What's it about?"

"This giant ship hits an iceberg and sinks." She turned a page. How could something like that happen in real life? It was, after all, 1901.

"Sounds... cold. And wet."

There was a light rap on the windowpane, as if whoever was there wasn't entirely sure they were supposed to be there. Verity didn't notice it, but Ruby peered sharply at the figure on the other side. "It's about bloody time," she muttered.

Smug, she sauntered over to the window and raised it. Her voice dripping with honey, she asked, "Gee, Noah. What brings ya all the way over here?"

The lanky boy carefully climbed into the second floor bunkroom from the fire escape. After a bit of hesitation, and not answering her question, Noah Kingston busied himself wiping away the fog that had formed on his glasses before removing his cap.

Ruby patted him on the arm. Turning, she said brightly, "Hey, Verity, look who's here!"

Verity sat up, smoothing out her skirts with one hand, and smiled politely at their guest. "Hello." What was up Ruby's sleeve? She looked far too pleased with herself to be trusted. And why did everyone insist on using the window? That's what doors were for.

Noah studied the toes of his scuffed black boots. "Uh, hey, Verity. How are you?" His knuckles started to turn white from the tight grip he had on the grey tweed cap.

"Doing well." There was a long pause during which no one said a word, not even Ruby who had sounded so pleased at seeing him. "What about you?" she finally asked, hoping the other girl would help keep the conversation going.

He continued to stare at the floor. "Good, thanks." Obviously nervous about something, he cleared his throat and shifted his weight.

"That's good." She glanced at Ruby for support, but the redhead was already edging toward the washroom door.

"I'm gonna go see if Imp needs any help with her dress." She bolted from the room, leaving Verity to fend for herself.

Neither knew what to say. Verity looked at the book in her lap longingly, fingers tracing the cover. It would be rude to start reading with company there, and Ruby had undeniably left them alone for a purpose, whatever purpose that might be.

She opened her mouth to ask if he'd like to sit when Noah broke the silence. "I'm not very good at this," he stammered, brushing dark hair back with a hand.

From the direction of the washroom came Ruby's voice calling out, "Would ya just spit it out? We don't got all night," followed by Imp's advice, "Ignore her! She's jist impatient!"

Verity laughed lightly, as if someone had told a humorous story. At the moment, she couldn't decide if she'd rather hug Ruby or kill her for the prompting.

Noah flushed and glanced in their direction out of the corner of his eye. "Thanks, Ruby." He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment before looking at Verity and blurting out, "Would you do me the honor of allowing me to escort you to Medda's Christmas party?"

Verity bit her lip, thinking quickly. Shiner, one of her close friends, really hadn't truly asked her to the party, although he had mentioned going several times. Ruby apparently had her heart set on this match. Noah had come all the way over from Queens. And it would be rude to tell him no and someone else yes. After all, he had asked first.

"Yes."

She hadn't believed anyone could look as relieved as he did at that moment. Not even a prisoner receiving a pardon mere seconds before his execution could look as relieved.

"Great! Um, yeah, terrific," he stammered. "I'll be by around seven?"

Someone applauded—Ruby, more than likely—and Noah flushed even redder. Verity shot a dirty look in the direction of the other two girls before replying, "That will be fine."

"I'd better go, long way back to Queens and all," he said, running a hand through his hair again. "See you Tuesday?"

Smiling, Verity nodded. After stammering through several synonyms for wonderful, he said goodnight and retreated from the bunkroom.

She stretched out on her bed again, but just propped the book open in front of her face. If she looked interested in the novel the others wouldn't bother her for a while, giving her time to sort things out. Eventually, she knew, Ruby would want to know all the details of what she hadn't managed to overhear from the washroom doorway.

Where to start? Noah, she decided. What she thought of Noah was the logical place to start sorting out her feelings.

He wasn't bad looking. Tall, several inches taller than Verity, something she appreciated. Occasionally she was self-conscious about her own height. She rather liked the way his brown hair, darker than her own, flopped over his forehead into his eyes occasionally. It was charming. His deep brown eyes were what she called "expressive eyes," eyes that shone with whatever emotion possessed the soul. The eyeglasses enhanced the air of intelligence surrounding him. From what she knew about him through Ruby, Noah was well bred and well educated.

Verity rested her chin on one hand. Pity he was reduced to selling newspapers for a living. At least they'd have interesting conversations at the party. If he could manage to say more than a few words to her at a time without stumbling over them.

Maybe Ruby would have some ideas on what to do about that. After all, she'd known him longer. Verity decided she'd ask her in the morning. Now, she just wanted to read.

Lost in the extravagant world Morgan Robertson had created, she didn't notice if anyone else entered the room or not, nor did she really care. Nothing could distract her from the fate of the Titan.

Sometime later she set the book down so she could stretch. Glancing at the others, she saw Ruby beaming at her from her place on the floor.

"Don't ya think they make a cute couple?"

"Who?" With Ruby's love of matchmaking, she could have been talking about anyone.

Ruby tilted her head to one side. "Imp and Cody?"

She blinked. "Oh. Yeah. When did that happen?"

The other two burst out laughing. "Ya really don't pay attention to anythin' else when ya read, do ya?"

Verity laughed back. "I'm surprised you hadn't realized that by now."

The redhead shrugged nonchalantly. "I had more important things to think about," she said, winking. "He kissed her."

"Ruby!" Imp, face a deep pink, tossed a pillow at her, hitting the girl in the shoulder. Turning to Verity, she explained, "It was jist on the cheek."

Verity nodded, slipping into the role of an older sister settling a dispute between middle and youngest sisters, even though the three weren't related at all. "Cody's nice. I'm sure you'll have fun."

"We're goin' skating afterwards." She bounced on the bed. "I love skating."

Ruby, sitting on the floor again, settled back against a bunk, a satisfied smile on her lips. "That takes care of everyone, I think."

"No, it doesn't." Verity curled up at the end of her bed and leaned on one arm.

Puzzlement showing on her face, she started counting out couples on her fingers again. "Imp an' Cody, you an' Noah..."

"Which leaves Shiner out," she reminded her. Often she and Caleb Sanderson, called Shiner because of the constant black eyes, went to parties together although there wasn't anything romantic behind it.

Ruby's eyes widened. "Oh! Hmmm..." After a long thoughtful pause, she asked, "Wanna have two dates for tha party?"

She raised her eyebrows. "Two dates? What would I do with two dates?" Verity asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Her friend's eyes sparkled as she replied. "Noah and Shiner. It can be done."

Imp, unseen by Ruby, stared at the ceiling while attempting to suppress a grin. To no one in particular she repeated, "Two's a couple, three's a crowd, four on the sidewalk's not allowed."

Verity smiled at her before turning to Ruby again. "Just how are we going to manage that?"

"Ya might have a bit of explaining to do once one of them realizes he ain't your only date." Imp's eyes sparkled just as much as Ruby's were.

Head tilted to one side, Ruby thought about it for a minute before shrugging her shoulders and grinning. "So it ain't one of my better ideas. I mean, Noah did ask ya first."

"Exactly."

As others drifted in, the conversation turned to other things, such as how everyone's day had been, and how cold the weather was getting, and why hadn't it snowed yet. In the confusion of twenty girls getting ready for bed, any questions Ruby may have had for her were forgotten, something for which Verity was grateful. She didn't know if she could discuss it with everyone listening. Things had a way of spreading quickly, and she wanted to be the first to break the news to Caleb.

Somewhere a church bell pealed out the noon hour, its notes fading away over Mount Morris Park as Verity hurried across it. Normally she would have taken her time crossing it, enjoying the semi-peaceful walk across the square and wondering what the view must be like from the top of one of the octagon fire towers, but she normally wasn't late to lunch with Shiner, either. Their near-daily luncheon date was almost a ritual, rarely broken except when on knew they wouldn't be able to make it ahead of time. Not once could she recall just plain being late.

When she entered Annabelle's, the bell over the door rang merrily. Millie smiled at her as she hung up her coat. "He's already here. Usual table."

Verity thanked the blond waitress before weaving her way through the dining room to a booth by the plate glass front window. Sliding in across from the pale boy already there, she smiled. "Sorry I'm late."

Caleb Sanderson looked up from the menu he had been studying, blue eyes wide, the left one slightly swollen and bruised. "You're not late!" Glancing at the clock, which read ten after, he added, "Oh, I guess you are."

After tucking her few remaining papers out of the way, she opened the menu in front of her. "What happened to your eye this time?" she asked, scanning the list of entrées.

Shiner gritted his teeth in annoyance. "One of Ruse's 'jokes.'" Ruse Murphy wasn't very well liked among the Harlem newsies because of his cruel practical jokes and twisted sense of humor.

"Somebody ought to do something about him. If it's still pretty bad tonight, come by the house and we'll put something on it."

Neither said much as Millie, smiling, came to take their orders and then, still smiling, disappeared back into the kitchen. Verity used the time to mentally rehearse what she would say about Noah and to pray that he wouldn't bring up the Christmas party first.

"So... how's the sellin' goin'?" he finally asked.

"Only a few papers left. But I didn't take as many this morning." She brushed aside a wisp of hair that had come loose from her chignon during her brisk walk to the little restaurant. "What about you?"

"Eh, not bad. Why didn't ya get as many?"

She crossed her fingers under the table. "I'm going Christmas shopping with Breathless, Ash, and Imp this afternoon." She neglected to mention that they were shopping for things to wear to the Christmas party as well. Please don't let him ask, please don't let him ask...

"Sounds like yer gonna have fun." Brow furrowed, Shiner added, "But shouldn't ya try ta sell more papers if yer goin' shoppin'?"

Verity couldn't help but smile at his practicality. "I have some money, remember? From that stranger the other night?"

He stared blankly at her, and she fancied she could see the wheels turning in his head as he tried to recall the incident. When he finally shook his head, she launched into an energetic recounting of the stranger who climbed into the bunkroom through the fire escape, bewildered poor Imp with philosophical questions, accused herself of stealing his navy overcoat, and then left two silver dollars for her, giving the encounter all the twists and turns of one of her beloved books.

"And that," she finished up as Millie set plates of steaming food in front of them, "is why I don't need extra money. Besides, I still have some saved up."

Mouth full of food, Shiner nodded in response. "How are ya gonna get their presents if they're with ya?" he asked after swallowing.

"Oh, I'll just find out what they like now and go back tomorrow," Verity replied airily, waving her hand for emphasis.

They were almost finished with the meal when the conversation returned to Christmas, after touching on the lack of snow, new books, the Fowler family. Verity tensed, waiting for the inevitable, hoping she could spare his feelings as much as possible. Judging by the determined way he approached the subject, she wondered if that would be possible.

"Are you going carolin' Chris'mas eve?"

She gazed into her teacup as if it held the answers to all the questions of the universe before taking a sip. "I might. It depends."

"On what?"

More calmly than she felt, she said, "On if Noah Kingston arrives before we leave to go caroling."

He frowned slightly. "What's that got to do with anythin'?"

She breathed deeply and plunged to the heart of the matter: "He's taking me to Medda's Christmas party."

He froze while his brain absorbed the meaning of her statement. She fidgeted, waiting for the spark of comprehension to flash in his eyes, and bracing herself for the hurt and confusion that was sure to come.

"But I thought we were going together..." Shiner finally said.

"Well, you never really asked me. He did." She smiled, but it felt forced. Lame excuse, but it's the truth.

"Can't ya tell 'im no?"

Verity shook her head sadly. "I already said yes. I can't back out now."

"Sure ya can. Lotsa girls do."

"I'm not like that," she snapped. Seeing the hurt in his blue eyes, she sighed. "I didn't mean to yell just now. I'm sorry."

Running a hand through his dark hair, he said, "It's all right," although anyone could tell by the tone of his voice it wasn't all right at all. "I know yer not that kinda girl."

Verity relaxed some. "So, I'll see you at the party?"

He stood and placed a few coins on the tabletop. "Yeah, sure." Without another work he walked out of the restaurant.

Hazel eyes wide, she stared after him. Outside, Shiner paused in front of the window long enough to glance in at her, then headed down the sidewalk, hands in his pockets, shoulders slumped, the perfect picture of dejection. Even after he had disappeared from view she gazed out the window, thinking.

"Is everything all right?"

Verity looked up to see Millie's concerned face looking back at her. "Yes, Millie," she said, smiling weakly. "Everything's just fine."

"Ruby'll like it just fine," Imp said, then sneezed.

Ash set the small bottle of New Mown Hay scent back on the counter and turned to the other two girls with her. "What do y'all think?"

Breathless laughed when Imp sneezed again. "The violet, less ya want her sneezing all the time!"

Imp stuck out her tongue. "I can't"—sneeze!—"help it!"

"Yes, the violet," Verity agreed a trifle absently.

After the small bottle of eau de toilette was paid for, the girls left the department store and strolled down the Ladies' Mile towards a small music store Ash used to visit during her Mercer Conservatory days. Ash and Verity followed Imp and Breathless as they made their way through the throngs of other Christmas shoppers, occasionally pausing to take in a fanciful window display. The festive spirit in the air permeated Verity's soul, making her forget for the time being how miserable she felt at lunch.

A small group of carolers raising money for one of the many poor children's funds added energetically sung tunes to the chatter of shoppers, rumbles from "el" trains, and clatter of horse hooves on cobblestones. Naturally, the singers reminded the Harlem girls of Tuesday evening's plans.

"Mess is taking me out to dinner Christmas Eve," Ash said, eyes shining at the prospect. "What are you and Shiner planning to do?"

She was saved from coming up with a flip answer by Imp cutting in. "She's not goin' to the party with him!" The younger girl's eyes sparkled with the light of someone in on a secret.

"But I thought..."

"So does everyone else," Verity replied, smiling wryly. "Noah Kingston is taking me."

Ash tilted her head to one side. "Isn't he the boy from Queens?"

"Yep!" Imp grinned, walking backwards to stay a part of the conversation. "He asked her last night."

"Cody asked Imp last night, too," Verity teased.

She flushed and nearly backed into a lamppost until Breathless, laughing, guided her away at the last minute. "Well... yeah."

The others laughed and the conversation switched—with a little help from Verity and a lot of help from Imp—to books as the foursome passed a bookstore. Ruby's matchmaking wasn't mentioned again until they reached Central Park on their way home, Christmas shopping finished for the day.

"I love ice skating," Verity said, as she and Ash meandered around the Lake to a bench, watching people glide across the ice. "I haven't done it in so long, though, I don't know if I still can."

"I've never been," the Southern girl replied, eyes following two little boys as they darted between others on the Lake. "Mess said he'd teach me if I wanted to learn."

Verity smiled. "It's fun."

Neither said anything while they watched, although Ash looked as if she had something on her mind she wanted to discuss. When shadowy fingers delicately probed the girls' bench, and Ash's teeth began to chatter, the two silently agreed it was time to head home.

"Verity?" Ash finally broke the quiet that lay between them as they neared the Harlem end of the park.

"Hmm?"

"Do you..." She paused before timidly continuing, "do you mind not going to the party with Shiner?"

After a moment's reflection, she answered, "Really and truly? I'm kind of looking forward to it."

A little sigh of relief escaped Ash's lips. "Good. Does he know yet?"

"Told him at lunch today." She made a face, remembering how dejected Shiner had looked as he walked away from Annabelle's.

"Oh. I'm sorry."

Verity shifted her purchases while they waited for a carriage to pass before crossing the street. "Don't be. Ruby was bound to play matchmaker for me sooner or later. He and I would still disagree over it no matter when it happened."

Ash laughed lightly. "Maybe she should have fixed him up first."

Verity agreed, even more sincerely than her voice sounded. If Ruby had found someone for Shiner first, he wouldn't be jealous of another boy escorting her, nervous as he would be about getting ready for a "real" date. She didn't believe that she herself would be jealous over that, since she often encouraged him to find a girlfriend. Unfortunately, the one he seemed to have in mind was her.

The two continued home in comfortable silence, enjoying each other's company. As they walked, Verity thought over what she had just told Ash. Some realizations creep up like kittens getting ready to pounce on a target until the moment of impact, and others are like an unexpected lightening strike, a bold out of the blue skies above. It struck her, quick as lightening, that everything she had said was true: she did want to go to the Christmas party with someone other than Shiner, and he would have fought with her over a date with someone else no matter who it was with or when it was.

Their friendship seemed to have been leading up to this moment for four years. Friendship versus love, and friendship won. At least, it seemed to have won. She couldn't tell whether they'd continue to be friends after the way he had acted earlier in the day. She hated to loose his friendship, but if he acted as stubbornly as she knew he could when he wanted, she saw no other option. As for love, he would be a jealous lover, and she loved him more as a brother or cousin than a suitor to begin with.

Verity made up her mind. She'd leave Shiner alone until he came to his senses. Meanwhile, she'd enjoy herself at the Christmas party while getting to know Noah Kingston.

Heart infinitely lighter than it had been a few hours previous, she almost danced up the lodging house steps, Ash laughing as she followed her. On the staircase, them met Smoke descending.

"Yer in an awfully good mood," she observed.

"Why shouldn't I be?" she asked, hazel eyes sparkling. "It's Christmas."

The blonde wrinkled her forehead. "But Hammer said you had a fight earlier with Shiner..."

"Oh, that? It was silly. Don't worry about it. Besides," she added, quoting Imp, "two's a couple, three's a crowd."

She continued upstairs humming "Joy to the World," leaving Smoke to ponder what she meant by that, and put away her packages before digging out the satin rose colored dress from her cousin's wedding. She had said she was going to have fun, and she meant every word. Pushing the memory of the argument aside, Verity settled down to get ready for next week's party and a date with Noah Kingston.