April 24th, 1904 – Six Months Later

I couldn’t see him anywhere in sight. The water swirled just as my stomach did, my hand firmly clenched. The crowd huddled around me on the dock looking for any sign of him. Then in the black waters of the river, Houdini surfaces, holding rope in his hands. Harry then is lifted out with the help of his assistants. He bows with his arms open wide, dripping wet. “Thank you! Thank you!” I then followed him inside the carriage with a dry towel I found in my bag. I watched the passersby waving at us, a man in a bowler hat shouts, “Bravo!” When we arrived at the theater, I waited outside in the hallway waiting patiently for Houdini to get into dry clothes. The door then opened, and he tipped his hat politely. I placed my hat on my head and took his arm he offered me. “What a day,” he said, “Now that we don’t have any more performances for a few weeks shall we head home my dear?” I was exhausted and leaned against his shoulder, “That would be nice Harry.” Harry gave me a nod, “Since your things are already there, I don’t think another night would hurt.” So, it was settled. I was to stay at his townhome in Harlem for one more night. This was where I have been staying since we left Boston for a show. About two weeks. It was exhausting going everywhere these past months and we were both relieved to catch a break.

In my room I was sitting on my bed writing in my travel diary. I went back to the first page wanting to reminisce on my journey with Houdini. Around November, when I wrote the first entry, I began my assisting career. So many entries of train rides which I loved. It was then January flying in an airship for his European tour. It was my first time flying but Harry comforted me the entire time until we landed in France. We then took a train to Copenhagen then Berlin where we spent the first week of the tour. The next week we stayed the entire week in London. I loved every minute of it and Harry took me to see all the sites, after his shows were over of course. I have grown very fond of him, and I can clearly see looking back that he did too. I searched and searched my journal looking for any entry I may have written the day we had our first kiss. I couldn’t find anything written on that day to my dismay, but I closed the book, placing it back on my dresser. I then looked down, and something fell out of it. It was a playing card, a two of hearts to be precise, had a puncture in the middle. Now I remember! He did some card tricks for me that day!   

After a show and some dinner, the two of us got bored so I took him to the rooftop of the suite to see the sunset. Harry was flipping the cards back into a deck. He then spread them out like a fan and had me pick one at random. “Before I was The Handcuff King, I was deemed The King of Cards.” I looked at the card, it was two of hearts. I placed it back in the deck then Houdini shuffled them making it look so easy. I sat there impressed by his technique. “How do you shuffle like that? Can I try?” I reached out to take the cards from him, but he chuckles hiding the cards from me behind his back. “Now wait a minute! I need to guess your card silly!” Houdini then pulled out a small throwing knife out of his sleeve which made me even more bewildered. Where did that come from? Suddenly, he placed the deck of cards on the ground, stabbing one out of the deck with great accuracy. I backed off as all the rest of the cards went everywhere sliding into a pile. “Two of hearts!” he cried, he then passed it back to me as I shrieked gleefully. “That’s right! How did…” Harry put one finger to his mouth, and I sighed with a smile. “A magician never reveals his secrets.” He handed me the card with a hole in it, and I was about to place it in my pocket when Houdini took it back.

 He stood up pacing around examining the card and I followed him trying to get it back. “What are you doing Houdini?” I asked as he smoothed his fingers over the puncture. He handed it back to me and cleared his throat, “Miss Martin, I may not… believe in omens and superstitions, but what I do believe in is fate.” I nod a little confused, “Where are you going with this Harry?” He leaned against the railing and was amused by my oblivious remark. “It wouldn’t pain you to suggest that your card shows the true intentions of your heart?” He paced a few steps closer to me; I was even more confused. Why was he speaking in riddles? “So, you are saying that his card… shows my feelings I have for you?” Harry then pulled me closer with one arm holding me and he caresses my cheek with our lips barely touching. “Yes. It’s what it looks like to me,” he whispered softly. Houdini was about to speak when I leaned into his lips and to his surprise I kissed him. My heart was rushing, and I tugged at his back as the kiss deepened. It was longer than I initially intended for it to be. Harry then pulled away with both of us heavily breathing, his breath was hot, but he smiled wide. I backed away, pressing my hand against my cheek. I couldn’t believe I just kissed him. I turned away with my face in many shades of red and I groaned. “I shouldn’t have done that,” I whispered to myself. Harry then put a comforting hand on my back with a happy grin. “Why not, Miss Martin? That was…” He then leaned forward pressing his lips against mine and kissed me back. I leaned into him more, then we pulled away. We locked our eyes with heavy breathing. “Tell me Abby,” he whispered, “I promise I will keep this secret of yours. Is this what you wanted?” I rested my head onto his chest, and he pulled me closer. I simply nodded and just smiled at him.

I laid my head on the pillow reaching for the candle on my side table and nearly blowing it out, until I turned my head and saw Houdini leaning in the doorway. “I’m off to bed now my dear. I’ll see you in the morning.” He stood there with a tired smile in his nightgown and slippers. He walks over to me sitting on the edge of my mattress. He hugs me with his strong arms wrapping around me. He then plants a kiss on top of my forehead. I hugged him back resting into his shoulder with a tired huff. “You were amazing today, Harry. Sorry… I’m exhausted.” He finds a strand of my hair and tucks it behind my ear. “That’s alright darling,” he chuckled, “Get some good rest. We deserve it. I’m so proud of you for holding up for so long.” I rested my head, taking in the softness of his chest hair that poked out from his shirt. “Goodnight. Have pleasant dreams,” he whispered. I then tuck myself under the cool quilts and watched Houdini taking the candle from the side table. I saw his shadow cast in the light, then it vanished. His hand touched the knob of the door, and I said, “Goodnight Harry. I love you.” He slowly closed the door on his way out and said through a smile, “It’s no secret.” Houdini then shuts the door and left the room. I closed my eyes, then heard a thud against the wall. A loud yelp escaped from him, and I couldn’t hold in my laughter, but I laughed quietly at it. It got quiet, I grew worried. I got up to check on him then opened the door. “Oh dear! Are you hurt?” I asked with concern. Harry was standing at the end of the hallway and waved at me. “It’s alright. It’s just hard to see without a candle.” I watched him close the door to his bedroom and I laughed quietly falling onto my bed drifting off to sleep.