Brooklyn, Baby | Spot Conlon ²

Chp. 18: Running Away

Kendall looks out the window that reveals the garden. 

"Anthony, what is the date?" 

"March 11th," 

She sighs, silently bringing herself upstairs. They had returned from Florida a week after her lunch with Anthony, Eric and Rosaline. 

Invitations were sent, everything for the wedding was in order. So why did Kendall feel an odd feeling? Something about it wasn't right, it wasn't correct. 

"Darling, where are you going?" Aunt Anne says. 

"I'm off to bed," She says, her same old excuse. "My head aches," 

Anthony looks at Rosaline with a knowing look. The pair exit as well to stroll off into the gardens by themselves as they often did. 

"I am worried for Kendall," Rosaline says. "I know something isn't right," 

"Kendall is exceptional at hiding her true thoughts, and she always has been." He sighs. "When you grow in the environment as we did, you learn to keep walls up. You must fend for yourself, and trust almost no one. That is the only way to survive," 

Rosaline nods once, indicating she is listening. 

"Francis had a heavy burden. Taking care of yourself is difficult, but yourself and another?That's damn near impossible." He says. "Kendall was adventurous, she didn't listen to orders. She valued her thoughts and dreams very deeply, and no one could change them." 

"I knew another person like this. He was stubborn, and he knew what he wanted and what he needed to do to thrive. He was a brilliant leader, and friend." 

"I think I can guess," She says. 

"Spot Conlon," Race chuckles lightly. "We met once in an orphanage when we were just young boys. At five years old, I was moved to Manhattan due to lack of space." 

"At five?" 

"Oh, dear, if you weren't out by five, you must've been adopted. They need all the room for infants, so we were kicked out." He says. "You joined factories, sweat shops or the paper business. You needed money for a roof, and more importantly, food." 

"Wow," 

"Spot climbed up the ladder very quickly. At just ten, he was already the top adviser for Brooklyn's paper strategies and other affairs. The minute he turned fourteen, he was the king." 

"And?" 

"Spot was a very closed person. More closed than me, Francis, or Kendall. He trusted one person, his second hand man, and that was it. His feelings were the locked secret, and vulnerability was his biggest enemy." Anthony continues. "I knew the moment she went to Brooklyn that the rest would be history. Kendall grew up with males, and you would think she would be immune. Spot was just the right person for her." 

"You do not think Eric is the right person for her?" 

"Eric is certainly a great man. But, Rosaline darling, Spot and Kendall were a pair that was created by God himself. He hand picked them from thousands of children in New York, with impeccable timing. Spot needed her so desperately in his life, and Kendall needed him just the same. They were the perfect balance of each other, and the first time they would ever stay up at night wondering what the other was doing." 

He finished, "In a condensed version, they have experienced real authentic love," 

"Certainly you believe we have real love?" Rosaline laughed. 

"I believe you cannot compare one love to another love," He says. "But I do love you, and you know this." 

"The poor girl, she can't even say his name," 

"Very odd, that is, but completely understandable." He says. "She knew him in a way no other did. Not even his best friend knew him on this deep level. Why she could never again say his name is a legitimate reason," 

"I wonder what she does, late at night, in her room, alone." 

The pair looked toward her window, which was curtained. 

Kendall paced in her room. 

"Why must you do this to me?" She whispered. "Who gave you the right to enter into my mind and claim it as your own?" 

She almost expected him to come climbing into her window, as if she were Rapunzel and he a charming prince. 

She would never admit that she intentionally left it unlocked. 

"I need to get away," 

She took out a paper and pen, scribbling a note. 

To whomever, 

You must respect my need to be alone with my thoughts. 

I assure you I have not gone too far, and I have left with the intention of returning. 

~K.S.

She packed a couple dresses quickly, and closed her suitcase. She snuck down the secret passageway through the library, and exited out a side door. 

"Kendall!?" She heard. 

"Shh!" She whispered. 

"Where are you going?" 

"Please, I do not wish to say--" 

"Kendall, you aren't running away, are you?" 

"Rosaline, please, keep my secret. I am going to be alone, I left a note in my room. I wish I could make you understand, but I-I cannot." 

"Alright, please be safe." 

Kendall smiled, and hopped in a carriage. 

"Train station, please." 

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She arrived at the train station, which seemed to be less busy at night. She held her journal in her hand, open faced. 

She had been planning to be alone for a week. She was not sure where, but she needed to go on a thinking retreat. 

"I am sorry, Eric, I must take a vacation of you," 

"Miss, can you help me read this ticket?" An elderly woman asks her. 

"Of course! Departing to Birmingham at 7:20 p.m.,"

"Thank you, darling," She sits next to her. 

"Where are you going so late, and all by your lonesome?" 

"I am in need of alone time," Kendall sighs. "I am engaged and the wedding is approaching and it is very stressful. I need some time to myself," 

"Sounds like you are running from something," She says. "Or toward something. Where are you going?" 

"Flo--" 

"I should probably rephrase: who is waiting for you there?" 

Kendall looks at her in shock. The elderly woman winks a wrinkly eye, stands up, and walks down the terminal. 

Kendall's mouth is still parted in surprise. How did the woman possibly know that there was someone else in the situation? 

Did Kendall even know the answer to the question? 

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i tried to focus on my school work but it didnt work because i neED TO GET THESE CHAPTERS DONE BECAUSE I HAVE PLANS