Secrets of the Heart (20 page)

“Then would you do this for Meggie and me, Mr. Stallworth…would you take us home on your way downtown?”

“You don’t want to stay here?” Maria said hollowly.

“It’s best that Meggie and I go home, Mrs. Stallworth.”

Maria’s eyebrows arched. “Oh. Well, all right. John will drop you off at your house.”

John delivered Kathleen and Meggie to their house, then headed downtown. His first stop was at the hospital to view the body, then
he drove to Chicago’s finest mortuary to make funeral arrangements. From there he drove to the office of his attorneys.

That evening, on his way home from the office, John stopped by Kathleen’s house and told her what mortuary was handling the funeral and informed her that the services and burial would be on the following Monday. He offered to come by and pick her and Meggie up so they could sit together, both at the funeral home and at the graveside service.

The next evening, Kathleen persuaded a neighbor family to drive her to the mortuary so she could view Peter’s body. She left Meggie with them and entered the mortuary alone, identifying herself as the widow of Peter Stallworth, and was given private time before the open coffin. The undertaker had informed her that John Stallworth had decided the coffin would remain closed for the services.

Kathleen’s small frame shook as she stood over the body Peter’s head was severely damaged, and the morticians could hardly disguise it.

He had been a wonderful husband, and she loved him with all her heart. She couldn’t imagine life without him, but seeing his body made the fact of his death more real. He was gone, and she would have to raise Meggie alone.

As she looked down through a wall of tears at the cold, ashen face, she lovingly clasped his folded hands then leaned over the coffin, her tears falling on his still features, and kissed his cheek. Her constricted throat permitted only a whisper as she said, “Oh, my darling…Good-bye, Peter. I love you.”

Seth O’Banion pulled the family buggy up in front of the Peter Stallworth house just as Kathleen and Meggie were getting out of the neighbors’ vehicle after returning from the mortuary.

Hennie slid from the buggy, telling her husband she wouldn’t stay long.

When Kathleen recognized her friend, she began to cry. Hennie explained that her husband would wait in the buggy while she came in for a few minutes. But as Kathleen clung to her, Hennie excused herself and ran out to Seth, telling him to come back in an hour.

“Hennie,” Kathleen said brokenly, “how did you know?”

“I read about Peter’s death in the
Tribune
and came as soon as I could.”

Hennie held Meggie on her lap as the two women sat down at the kitchen table. Kathleen’s nerves settled some as they shared an aromatic pot of tea.

With kindness and compassion Hennie once more brought up the subject of salvation but found that her friend was too angry at God to accept His love.

Kathleen did allow Hennie to pray for her and Meggie, and when the hour was up, Hennie told her she would be at the funeral to pay her respects.

There was a large gathering at Peter Stallworths funeral. His parents were well known and respected by the upper class of Chicago, and Peter’s character had attracted many friends.

During the service, Kathleen and Meggie sat with John and Maria Stallworth. Meggie pressed close to her mother’s side and kept looking up at her face beneath the black veil she wore. The child was unsure of what was happening and a bit puzzled about what she was supposed to feel and do.

While the solemn service progressed, Kathleen was quite aware of her daughter’s glances, and she kept her expression as stoic as possible. Occasionally she looked down at the small, serious face and gave her a wan smile.

Finally the long service came to a close. Kathleen caught a glimpse of Hennie in the crowd as she and Meggie went with the Stallworths
to the carriage that would follow the hearse to the cemetery.

Meggie stuck to her mother like a second skin and was holding her hand with all her might as the funeral procession moved slowly down Chicago’s narrow streets to the cemetery at the north edge of town.

Upon arriving at the cemetery, the family was guided to wooden folding chairs placed under a canopy near the grave. The minister approached Kathleen and told her that since she was the widow, she would be the one to drop the first handful of dirt on the coffin after he had said, “Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust.” John and Maria would follow and do the same thing.

The graveside service was brief, and Kathleen was soon tossing the dirt on the lid of the coffin as Meggie stood by her side. Her veil obscured the tears flowing down her set features as Peter’s parents tossed their handfuls of dirt on the coffin. When the minister closed in prayer, people immediately began gathering around John and Maria, expressing their condolences.

Kathleen took hold of Meggie’s tiny shoulders, turned her around, and led her down the gentle slope toward the waiting carriage.

Hennie O’Banion emerged from the crowd and rushed up to them. “I love you, honey,” she said to Kathleen as she embraced her, then Meggie. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

Kathleen wiped tears from her cheeks. “No, Hennie, but thank you. We’ll be fine.”

Hennie pressed a small slip of paper in Kathleen’s hand. “This is my address,” she said. “If you need me, please let me know.”

They embraced again and Hennie walked away.

Kathleen and Meggie climbed into the carriage and waited for the Stallworths.

Kathleen had been informed that John and Maria’s closest friends and associates from the company would be coming to their home for refreshments, and of course, Kathleen was expected to be there.

“Kathleen, I’ve hired a neighbor girl to look after Meggie during the time our guests are here. She’s seventeen and quite responsible. Her name is Alta Washburn. Alta will see that Meggie is fed and will keep her upstairs in Peter’s room.”

Kathleen nodded.

Maria took Meggie in her arms, kissed her cheek, and said, “Grandma loves her little Meggie doll.”

“I love you, too, Grandma,” Meggie said, putting her arms around Maria’s neck.

Maria turned cool eyes on Kathleen. “Go on into the parlor and sit down; I’ll take Meggie upstairs to Alta.”

John left Kathleen alone and went outside to stand on the front steps, waiting for the carriages and buggies pulling into the drive.

When the guests had gathered and refreshments were passed out, Kathleen tried to mingle with the friends and associates of her late husband and his parents, but she was snubbed by most of them, and the rest were only slightly cordial. She couldn’t ask John to take her home before the guests were gone, so she found herself a corner chair in the parlor and sat down to wait.

After an hour or so, when the first guests departed, Kathleen left her chair and stepped up to John, who was in conversation with two men in the hallway outside the parlor. When he paused to give her his attention, she said, “Mr. Stallworth, I really am very tired. Would you mind taking Meggie and me home now?”

John smiled and said, “Pretty soon, dear. Could you give me a few more minutes?”

“All right. I’ll go upstairs and see how Meggie’s doing. We’ll come down in a little while.”

John nodded, and Kathleen headed for the sweeping spiral stair-case. When she reached Peter’s room, the door was ajar. She could hear Alta Washburn’s voice.

She tapped on the door lightly. “Hello…it’s Meggie’s mother.”

“Come in, Mrs. Stallworth.”

Kathleen pushed the door open and saw Alta sitting in a chair next to a window, with Meggie on her lap, holding a book.

“Mommie!” Meggie cried, sliding off Alta’s lap and dashing to her mother’s side. She wrapped her arms around her mothers legs and squeezed hard. “Are you all right, Mommy?”

“I’m fine, honey,” Kathleen assured her. She loosened Meggie’s grip, bent down, and took her in her arms. “Are
you
all right?”

“Uh-huh. Alta’s been reading me some stories from a book.”

“That’s nice, honey.” Kathleen rose to her feet and smiled at the girl. “Hello, Alta. I really appreciate your looking after Meggie.”

“It’s been my privilege, ma’am. She’s such a sweet little thing.”

“Can’t argue with that,” Kathleen said, patting her daughter’s head.

“Are you leaving now?”

“Yes. Meggie’s grandpa is going to drive us home.”

Alta hugged the child and told her good-bye.

Maria was waiting at the bottom of the staircase when they descended. She greedily lifted her granddaughter in her arms and said to Kathleen, “John told me you wanted to go home.”

“Yes. I’m very tired.”

She set Meggie on her feet again and said, “All right. I’ll get him. Most of the guests are gone now.”

After a few minutes, John returned and indicated he was ready to take them home. He hesitated at the door and looked over his shoulder at Maria. She gave him a tight smile and nodded. Then he ushered Kathleen and Meggie out the door.

Only a few words were spoken between John and Kathleen during the ride to Kathleen’s neighborhood. When they rounded the corner onto her street, Kathleen’s jaw slacked at sight of a Chicago police wagon parked in front of the house.

“I wonder why they’re here,” she remarked.

John remained silent and pulled up behind the police wagon.

Two officers waited on the porch, watching as Kathleen stepped out of the carriage and lifted Meggie out.

Kathleen turned to say something to John about staying until she learned what the policemen wanted, but he snapped the reins and drove away She looked after the hastening carriage for a few seconds, then turned to see the officers coming down the porch steps.

“Mommy, why are the policemen at our house?” Meggie asked.

“I don’t know, sweetie, but it looks like they’re about to tell us.”

One of the officers was short and stout. The other was tall and slender.

“Mrs. Stallworth?” the shorter officer said.

“Yes?”

“I’m officer Bud Fox, ma’am, and this is officer Kale Warneke.” He pulled a white envelope out of his coat pocket. “We have a court order to deliver to you, ma’am.”

Kathleen opened the envelope and took out the official-looking paper. It declared that Megan Kathleen Stallworth was to be removed from the custody of her mother, Kathleen Stallworth, and placed with her grandparents, John and Maria Stallworth.

The reason given was that Kathleen Stallworth was financially unable to provide for her daughter, and because the John Stallworths were more than able to do this, the court’s decision was to place the child in their care until such time as Kathleen could produce evidence that she was financially able to provide for her daughter. It was signed by Cook County Judge Clarence Waymore.

Kathleen felt a mixture of anger and fear. For a moment she stood there breathless, a stitch knifing at her side. Her hands trembled as she held the paper toward the officers and said, “I can’t believe this! How could these people do this to Meggie and me? How could they stoop so low?”

“What do you mean, ma’am?” Officer Warneke asked. “The grandparents are just concerned that this little girl be taken care of properly.”

Meggie ran her gaze between her mother and the policemen, confusion showing on her face.

“No, they’re not!” Kathleen said. “If that was their concern, all they’d have to do is give me the money it would take to stay in this house. They’re filthy rich! No, that’s not their concern. What they want is to take Meggie away from me! They never wanted me as their daughter-in-law, and they still don’t! Well, I’m telling you right now, I’ll fight them! They have no right to take Meggie!”

The little girl’s voice quavered as she said, “Mommy, aren’t we going to live together anymore?”

Kathleen leaned over and hugged her. “Don’t cry, sweetheart. Mommy won’t let them take you away from me.”

“Ma’am,” said Fox, “we have orders from the judge to take the little girl to your in-laws’ home as soon as we’ve placed the court order in your hands.”

“This whole thing is illegal, officer. Don’t I have to be proven unfit to care for my child before the law can take her from me?”

“I can’t comment on that, ma’am. We simply have orders from the judge. If you want to fight this court order, it’ll have to be in court. We must take the child now.”

“Wait a minute! Why won’t you comment on it? I see a badge on your chest! Aren’t you supposed to be the law? Tell me I’m wrong when I say this is illegal!”

“We aren’t here to interpret the law, Mrs. Stallworth,” Kale Warneke said. “Our job is simply to do what we’re told. We must take the child. Would you like to pack some clothes for her?”

Fury coursed through Kathleen and made her chest heave. “No!” she cried. “You’re not taking Meggie from me!”

Meggie grasped her mother around the legs and sobbed, “Don’t let them take me, Mommy!”

“Look,” Kathleen said, her breath coming in short gasps, “I want to talk to this Judge Waymore. Do I at least have the right to do that before you take my daughter away from me?”

Fox scratched his head. “Well…”