No Buddy's Baby

By Marcia A. Oster

Mita Gwenn meets Karen Dailey when Karen starts work at Mita’s place of employ. At 35, Mita has never had a friend until now. Karen gladly pulls Mita into her loving family circle. Frank Dailey thinks of Mita as a younger sister. Joshua and Christina Dailey love Mita to pieces. Then tragedy strikes and Mita’s cat dies in her apartment. From this tragedy, Mita comes into contact with Conur Doyle. Conur falls hard for this sad brown eyed lady. He begins to cautiously court her. Frank gets it into his head that Mita needs a husband. If Conur isn’t Mr. Right then maybe his partner Ace Arlen should be. Going against his wife and Mita’s wishes; Frank schemes to get Ace and Mita together with disastrous results. When a massive dose of gas almost costs Mita her life, Frank insists she move in with them until she recovers.
Conur is soon pressing Mita to marry him. He’s so in love with her. He’ll care for her for the rest of her life. Mita doesn’t love Conur. She wants another apartment, a new job and her independence. Ace can’t forget the scars he glimpsed on Mita’s back. Suddenly, Ace can’t seem to forget Mita at all. Some force brings the two of them together with fiery results. After a two day weekend of passion, Ace seemingly turns his back on Mita and walks away. Conur is still courting her. Mita is not feeling very well. She has caught a nine month bug from Ace. When Conur discovers her condition, he immediately proposes marriage before Ace can get to her side. Mita accepts and they’re quickly wed. Then Ace and Conur start to become friends. However, things keep blowing up or bursting into flames around the young newlyweds. When a burning building collapses on Conur, Mita finds herself forced to turn to Ace for comfort and protection. Ace professes his love for her and his unborn child. Now, someone is trying to kill Mita and the child. Ace slows a bullet meant for Mita. When the bullet enters her abdomen, she goes into labor. Even after Trevor is gone, someone is still trying to kill Ace and Mita. Will Colleen Ann live to see her first birthday? Why won’t people just leave them alone? To the answers to these burning questions, turn the page and read
NO BUDDY’S BABY

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marcia A. Oster
• Release date: Jun 4, 2015
• ISBN: 9781495162145

Marcia A. Oster

BORN: July 17,ST MARY’S HOSPITAL, SYRACUSE, NEW YORKMARRIED: June 7, 2002St. Mary’s is now a mental institution in Syracuse, kind of scary, isn’t it? I lived in Mattydale, New York until age 24. I attended North Syracuse Central High School graduating in 1971. The same High School as the actor Richard Gere. In 1977, my father retired and moved us all to Harrisburg, PA. I lost my mother on January 6, 1972 due to cancer and my father on January 29, 1987 due to kidney disease. I have one sister living in Florida with her husband and two daughters. My best friend sister lives in Mattydale, NY with her two children and two grandchildren.I started writing at the encouragement of my tenth grade English teacher, Mrs. Chappell. Always a verbal storyteller, I avidly wrote for the next six years until a harsh remark by my father caused me to put everything away for over 20 years. In 1999, almost 11 years after his death, I started putting my stories on paper again.My major in high school was business. For 18 years, I was a full-charge bookkeeper before switching to the Caregiver Field for six years and then back to accounting. I have always been an avid reader of romance, mystery-suspense and sci-fi/horror novels. I recently discovered the box containing my old manuscripts from 25 years ago and a variety of stories waiting to be told.My hobbies are needlepoint, photography and reading. One of my passions is cooking. My favorite color is purple. One of my dreams finally came true when I met John Oster via the Internet in October 2001. With his love and support, I hope to realize my writing dreams

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NO BUDDY’S BABY

By Marcia A. Oster

Copyright 2015 Marcia A. Oster

Smashwords Edition

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Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE – MY FRIEND KAREN

CHAPTER TWO – THE ACE AND THE DEUCE

CHAPTER THREE ,- WHAT A MAN WANTS

CHAPTER FOUR – AND THE ANSWER IS…

CHAPTER FIVE – CONURS WIFE, CONURS LIFE

CHAPTER SIX – TRIAL BY FIRE

CHAPTER SEVEN – PLAY YOUR CARD!!!

CHAPTER EIGHT - I DO, I DO, I DO

Synop of Baby

About Marcia A Oster

More books by Marcia A. Oster

CHAPTER ONE

MY FRIEND KAREN

I met Karen when she started part time at Kendal Computers, Etc. I have worked here almost five years as Mr. Vernon Kendal’s Administrative Assistant. For the past year, the business has been growing in leaps and bounds. Suddenly, there weren’t enough hours in the day. The Monday that Vern, the company’s President and CEO, introduced me to Karen turned into a better day than I figured it for earlier in the day.

I’m handling a half a dozen jobs simultaneously, as usual. Vern walks up to my desk with this pretty blonde woman trailing along behind him. She has first day on the job look written all over her. He wraps on my desk (the standing joke being I have no office door) and announces quite proudly, Miss Gwenn, meet Mrs. Dailey, your new assistant. With a slight bow in her direction, he pivots and walks briskly away. He’s rarely still anyway, so I’m used to his handle this attitude. I give a frustrated sigh before standing to offer her my hand saying, Welcome aboard. Please call me, Mita. She takes my hand in a firm grip and smiles the warmest smile I’ve seen in a long time. She closely resembles Princess Di. She has her hair trimmed very similarly. Her poise and air of confidence remind me of films I’ve seen of the late Princess. Karen has the most beautiful pale gray eyes. She’s dressed very nicely in a mint colored suit and is hiding her nervousness fairly well.

She replies, Hello. Call me Karen. Whenever anyone says Mrs. Dailey I think of my mother in law. She’s a sweet lady but over seventy years old. I gesture at the chair beside my desk and we both sit. I spend the next several hours training her to do what I desperately need help handling. We became instant friends during her first week. Her daughter Christina is only 18 months old. The girls in the Daycare Center downstairs love her to pieces. Karen tells me that her son Joshua is 5 and just started Kindergarten. That’s why she works 12 noon to 4. Her husband, Frank, gets home at 3:30. Joshua gets home about 4:30. This arrangement works well. In fact, the following year when Joshua starts in the first grade, business is doing so well that Vern extends her hours from 9:30 to 4. This gives us a half hour to have lunch together.

The first weekend after she started, Karen invites me to her home for Sunday dinner. I’m very hesitant about accepting so she pleads with me. I don’t have any other plans after church, so I agree. I get to meet Frank and Joshua. Christina, I got to meet on Friday morning before Karen took her to Daycare. Christina has this light almost white blonde curly hair all over her head. Her eyes are the same pretty shade as her mothers. She has the cutest dimples. I never held a child before. I fell in love with her immediately. Later on I discover that most people who meet her fall under her Irish charm. Sunday morning, I rush to my usual church service. I’m surprised to see Karen several pews up. I wait for them to pass before I stand. Karen is surprised. She says, Frank, this is Mita from the office. shifting Christina to her other hip and then over into Franks arms. Dah. Christina says laying her head against him.

Frank is this big Irish cop. His hair is light blonde and trimmed very short. He teases that since the children came along, it’s been falling out. When I shake his hand, mine disappears in his massive paw. He’s at least 6’2 tall. They make a very unusual couple. Karen is about 5’3. It doesn’t take me long to discover that Karen rules the roost. Frank loves her for it.You forgot to mention she is this fairy creature! I’m pleased to meet you. This little guy is my son, Joshua." Frank releases my hand to gesture at the young boy standing looking up.

Hello, Joshua. I’m very pleased to meet you. Your mother says that you go to school now. I squat to be eye level while speaking. He proudly states, Yes. I like to meet you too. shaking my hand and smiling shyly. He’s missing a front tooth and lisps slightly because of it. Although he is slender and young, there are a lot of his fathers’ features in him already. Karen motions that we should move along. People are getting restless and squeezing past us. Glancing upwards, I tell her, I guess we’re holding up the line. I’ll go home to change and be at your place at 12 noon. while standing. Karen nods as Joshua grabs her hand to pull her out of the church. Sooner’s fine. She calls back over her shoulder while Christina is waving furiously and grinning over her dad’s shoulder.

I seem to arrive at their home in very short order. I glance at the clock in my car and it’s hardly even 10:30. Embarrassed, I sit in the car, hesitant about going to the front door. Just then, Frank opens the door and motions to come inside. I climb from the car and grab the caramel brownies I made last night. Frank holds the screen door open so I can slip inside. He asks, Whatcha bring? gesturing towards the pan. I tell him, Brownies. suddenly very shy.Whisking the pan from me, Well, let me carry that heavy pan. Before he ducks through the archway on the left which is a formal dining room calling, Karen’s in the kitchen. Come on back. striding in long steps towards the kitchen. I follow at a rapid pace. I discover Karen at the kitchen sink, cleaning up a messy faced Christina.

Christina calls, Hi. while trying to avoid the wet cloth. Karen says, Hold still. Hello. Frank, put the brownies down. They’re for dessert. Before going back to trying to clean Christina’s face. Frank gives a long sigh before setting the pan on the counter top. After a quick peek under the foil, he gives me a wide grin and wink before passing through the far doorway.

Setting Christine down on the floor, Karen says, All done. If you would hold still, this wouldn’t take as long. Christina immediately heads after her father. She hollers, Dah! he chuckles from the next room. Karen shakes her head and says, She’s his shadow when he’s home. He acts annoyed but he loves her to pieces. When she takes a nap, he looks for her. Karen recovers the brownies and slips them into the nearby toaster oven. She says, For safekeeping. with a glance towards the back room she continues, Let me give you the royal tour. I follow her from room to room.

She says, Excuse the mess. when we enter the back room which is a breakfast room. Frank is at the table reading the paper and sipping some coffee. Christina is in his lap, pretending to read the paper. Frank says, Hey, she knows you’re a busy lady. smiling before he continues, Homes are meant to be lived in. Pretty, neat places are found on the pages of magazines or in the fancy rich places with servants. Frank grins. I nod at his words.I tell him, My mother used to say, if my place isn’t clean enough to suit you, I can show you where the cleaning supplies are. Frank laughs so loudly that I jump which makes Christina giggle. Karen says, I’ll have to remember that one. tousling Franks hair in passing. Laundry room. Karen gestures at the room to the left which is sitting full of baskets of dirty laundry on the floor and piles of folded clean stuff on the counter top. I smile. Mud room. She says opening the door to a small room which leads to the two car garage. Along the left side is a built in seat which is stuffed so full that it easily reveals the storage space below.

We walk through the breakfast area to the family room. There is a door leading out onto their patio and fenced in backyard. There is a big screen TV sitting inside a large cabinet. Inside the cabinet are a couple VCR’s, a nice stereo, a camcorder and a multitude of children’s movies. Through this room is Joshua’s room. He’s in the middle of the floor surrounded by a multitude of toys. He looks up, waves and goes back to coloring. Shaking her head Karen says, He’s very busy. He’s picking up his room. He’s a lot like his dad. You send him to do something and he finds something interesting to do in the middle of whatever he’s supposed to be doing. From the tone of her voice it’s easy to tell this doesn’t really bother her. I remember how my father used to beat the living daylights out of me when I didn’t do things fast enough to suit him. When I glance at Karen I realize my face must have mirrored my thoughts.

Sorry. I tell her slightly embarrassed. You looked really sad. She says. Bad memory. I reply. There’s a short hall to our right which leads to the two front bedrooms. The room on the left in the front corner is currently being used as an office by both Karen and Frank. On our right is the door to Christina’s room.

This room was supposed to be a study but that put the nursery too far away from our room. Karen explains as we walk into a little girls’ room. The furniture is all white with the gold gilding. Along with the dresser, vanity and highboy, there is a crib and a single bed in here. Passing through this room brings you back to the front hall. Karen leads me through the dining room and then kitchen to the master suite entrance. She says, This gives us a sort of retreat. with a smile. There is a huge whirlpool in the corner of the bathroom, a big walk in shower, double sinks, a separate powder area and then a nice walk in closet.

My tour completed, we rejoin Frank who is now in the family room. This room is full of assorted toys, baskets of already folded and to be folded laundry and comfortable furniture. I sit on the couch and watch as Christina builds with her colorful blocks under dad’s supervision. Karen sighs and sits in her recliner. She asks, Do you mind? gesturing at the nearby laundry basket. I shake my head and smile. While we talk, she folds laundry. Honestly, I never get caught up. She explains. We have a nice dinner. Then we sit and talk for hours after the children are in bed.

At home, that evening, I find myself weeping in my bed. Christina climbed into my lap during the evening and went to sleep. Now, my empty arms ache to hold babies I’ll probably never have. Every time I think about having anything to do with a man, I remember my father’s rages and the beatings that put the scars on my back. I refused to be his lover. Now I’m terrified to let a man even try to get close to me. It’s been ten years since I left home. The memories still cause me to tremble.

At work on Monday, I’m sure to let Karen know what a nice time I had with her family. Over lunch we discuss my family--slightly. She’s very perceptive and wants to know about my family. I tell her, I ran away from my father over twelve years ago. I look away and pause while our waitress sets water at our places and Karen’s iced tea. Once she’s out of hearing, I continue. My mother became very ill when I was about 8. I took care of her until she passed away after battling five long years with cancer. The waitress brings our salads and removes the appetizer dish. I lean towards Karen and tell her what I have never told another soul. My father wanted me to share his bed shortly after I turned 15. I developed nice breasts and he was fascinated by them. My mother was rather flat chested. My face flushes and I stop. Karen reaches across the table to take my hand in hers and nods for me to continue.

For the next eight years, right up until I left home, he was after me constantly to be his lover. He never forced himself on me. I draw a calming breath. But, he would beat me whenever I refused his advances. He called me ungrateful, cruel, thoughtless and selfish. I often heard how he was lonely and all about a man’s needs. He constantly paraded around naked in front of me, showing me how his aroused male body needed to find comfort within mine. I used to flee to my room and lock the door. He never forced his way into my room. But the next refusal he got, he would take the electrical cord to me until I passed out. I shudder and find myself unable to continue. Sorry. I choke out and she shakes her head.

No. Don’t be. I’ll bet I’m the first person you’ve ever told. She squeezes my hand. You can talk to me anytime. Karen didn’t realize for the longest time that I never had a friend. I began to look forward and treasure our times together. As the days turned into weeks and months, Karen and Frank began to include me more and more in their lives.

One weekend, Karen and I talked ourselves into wallpapering my apartment. I live in an efficiency apartment over a three car garage. The L shaped room across the front is the bedroom /living /kitchen. Just inside the door is the sofa that opens out into a double bed and which I usually don’t fold away because I don’t get company. The other end of this room contains a table and two chairs and the right corner has the kitchen. The kitchen is just the stove in the far corner, the large kitchen sink and a set of cupboards on each side and hung across and over the stove, a small refrigerator, a narrow shelf pantry and then the stacked washer/dryer. There is a nice walk in closet between the kitchen and bathroom which are the back two rooms. The bathroom has a small shower stall on the left with a narrow linen pantry closet beside it, against the bedroom wall. Just in front of this is the toilet and then directly in from the door is the sink. I fell in love with this apartment when the landlord showed it to me five years ago. Compared to my narrow bedroom at home, this is a palace.

The first time Karen stops to visit with Christina, she remarks how dreary the dirty looking tan walls are. We end up discussing wallpaper. I went downstairs and asked the landlords permission. He remarks in his gruff style Don’t care what you do as far as papering or painting but I ain’t buying the supplies. before shutting his kitchen door in my face. Mr. Friendly. I call him behind his back. I don’t care. He never bothers me which suits me just fine. Well, there is no rest in Karen’s bones once she has an idea in her head. We have to go to a wall paper store and purchase the paper, paste and supplies. The following Saturday, Frank watches the children. Karen and I wallpaper. I never papered before. I now, have no desire to ever paper again. Karen has done this a lot and is very good. I finally gave up and let her do it.

Next, I needed new curtains. After several months of small improvements, I have a bright, cheerful place. Mr. Fernstein, the landlord, even remarks when he’s working on the stove while I’m cleaning nearby, that the place looks cheerful now. I smile. He’s not one to spread the compliments around. He even took $40 off my next months rent for the improvements. Most days I wished he’d taken the money and had a professional work on the stove. It’s gas. It has a leak somewhere. Most times the pilot lights plugged so I have to use a match to light the burners. I have cleaned it repeatedly but find I have to leave the window open slightly all the time and turn the exhaust fan on whenever I’m home.

I have a large white cat named Macloud who lives with me but hides whenever anyone comes to visit. I think Karen and I were friends for almost a year before he decides to check her and Christina out. Karen says, Oh! You really do have a cat. reaching down to stroke him. He decides he likes Christina and lays beside her. She gently pets him as though he’s made of cloud material and will dissipate under her hand. He loves it. Karen says, He has the most beautiful green eyes. Mac rolls on his back at the praise. I just smile. Mac likes to sit in the windows and watch the birds outside. He chatters away and never ceases to amuse me. I rescued him from a no kill shelter when he was about 11 months old. Mr. Fernstein said ‘cats are Ok, they keep the mice down’. I never noticed any mice, so I guess Mac is doing a good job.

After that first Sunday, Karen insists I sit with them during the church services. Christina and Joshua both enjoy that. I usually have one on each side. Next, it becomes a weekly routine to join them for Sunday dinner. After a while, I start cooking the dinner to give Karen a break. Frank discovers it’s nice to have a pair of good cooks at his disposal. It seems to bother Frank that I don’t have any men friends. He often remarks that a pretty girl like me needs a man to take care of her. That I should have a home and babies. Karen keeps trying to shush him but he’s very insistent. Frank says, Man, I wish I knew some guy I could introduce you to. The only single man I know is Ace, my partner. Trust me; there is no way a sweet thing like you belongs with that wild card. Then Frank shakes his head sadly. Karen is silently agreeing with him.

I have had several glimpses of this Ace in passing. He’s usually going somewhere with Frank. I don’t merit a second glance from him. The one thing I immediately notice is his beautiful blue eyes and full sensual mouth. My first glimpse of him caused me to wonder what those lips would feel like on mine. Karen caught the blush and asked if I’m feeling poorly. That causes another blush before I quickly glance away. He’s a handsome bugger. She whispers, But make no bones about it, he’s trouble from his toes to his nose. I nod in agreement but he still haunts my dreams for several nights each time I see him.

Friday is just about the worse day I’ve ever had at work. It’s my birthday. Of course, like all the other years, no one knows about it. I’m 35 and really depressed. The entire day at the office is one mess after another. By quitting time, Karen and I are beyond ready to go home. While walking to Daycare to get Christina, Karen casually remarks, Why don’t you come to my place tonight? I tell her, No, I just want to go home and curl up with Macloud and rest. We walk in and Christina runs to greet her mommy. Karen leans close to whisper, Oh, come on. picking up Christina she continues, I know it’s your birthday today. Frank ran your license months ago. We have a nice party planned. Joshua will be heart broke. Now, how can I say no? She knows she’s got me in a corner. I nod and follow her home in my car. Karen pulls into the driveway and up into the garage. I pull up behind her and stop just outside of the garage.

Ace pulls up in his red Thunderbird. I turn and watch as he chats to Frank who waves my way. Ace glances over, smiles and turns right back to Frank. I make a big impression on men. Frank climbs from the car. Ace begins backing away the minute Frank shuts the door. I climb out and Christina runs to hug my legs. She says, Hapee Berfdae! while I’m picking her up. Frank comes over and smiles while hugging Karen. Frank asks, So how was your day? Karen snorts. Terrible. I had to drag Mita here. Why are you just getting home? She asks, glancing around looking for Joshua. Frank says, He’s at a neighbors. We got stuck in a situation. I called our emergency sitter. Karen grimaces as we hear Joshua call from across the street, Hey dad! Did you shoot anyone? Karen grimaces again. Frank walks to the end of the driveway to watch Joshua cross the street.

No. The guy laid down his gun and surrendered. Frank proudly explains. I watch as Joshua’s face falls. Bummer. He comments. Frank shakes his head slowly and tousles Joshua’s hair. We troop into the house. They have pizza’s delivered. Karen made a cake and they have a nice gift for me. Christina helps me open it. I end up crying. It’s a lovely white silk blouse. Very lacy, very feminine and very beautiful. Thank you. I say, dabbing at my eyes. I told you she’d cry. Frank says, striding from the room. I smile. He can’t stand the sight of a crying woman. The old softie has quite a few chinks in his armor. Karen giggles as Christina brings me a tissue. Thank you. I tell her and she nods solemnly. Wiping my face with her hand, she says, Doe cry. We have cake and ice cream before I help Karen put two tired children to bed.

The minute I walk into the apartment, I know something’s wrong. First off, suddenly I can’t breathe at all. The window is closed. Mr. Fernstein must have been here working on the stove. I dash across to open the window and turn the exhaust fan on. I try calling for Mac and end up dizzy and outside gasping for air. I must have passed out and the noisy (thank goodness) lady across the street called the fire department again. I’m awakened by fresh oxygen being administered by a very concerned looking young fireman. I tug at the mask but he shakes his head and holds it over my mouth. Quietly he says, Breathe deeply. I’m on a gurney in the driveway. I point up at the apartment. He looks up and asks, Is there someone else in there? He gestures towards two other firemen who begin climbing the stairs at my nod. I pull the mask away, My cat. I gasp. He nods and smiles softly but then he firmly replaces the mask.

A few seconds later, the two firemen return. The first one is carrying a very lifeless Macloud. They put him on a second gurney and try reviving him. After several long minutes of frantic trying, the young fireman shakes his head and turns to look at me very sadly. I start crying. The man pulls me up into his arms and holds me. He softly says, I’m so sorry. His voice is slightly raspy but almost sexy sounding. He must have been in the gas for a long time. How are you feeling? He lets me straighten slightly. I say, OK. But my eyes are on Macloud’s lifeless body. The man who rescued him takes a little blanket and tenderly wraps Mac in it. After a few more minutes of the oxygen, the fireman, whose helmet reads Doyle, helps me climb from the gurney. He walks me over to the picnic bench in Mr. Fernstein’s yard. Squatting in front of me, he asks What’s your name? I tell him, Mita Gwenn. But my eyes are still held at the sight of Mac’s lifeless body.

My name is Conur Doyle. I’m the Captain of Station 44. There seems to be a large quantity of gas in your apartment. How long has this been going on? I turn back to face him as he removes his helmet. His hair is receding and sort of a dirty blonde. From being released from being under the helmet it’s now standing in wild disarray. His eyes are dark brown and full of soft concern. I explain, The stove has a leak. The landlord has been trying to fix it. I always leave a window open. He must have been working on it again and closed the window before he left. Poor Macloud, he didn’t have a chance. I start crying. The Captain moves up onto the bench beside me and pulls me into his arms again. Several other firemen are milling around faintly embarrassed looking. They’ve already put the big fans in my windows to dispel the gas. When he asks, Is there someplace you can stay tonight? I shrug. I’m numb. He reaches over to tenderly turn my face to his.

I finally look into his eyes and say, I can call my friend Karen. He reaches inside his jacket and pulls out a little phone. Here. After opening it, he hands it to me. He pushes a button and says, Just punch in the number and hit the red button. I do and Karen quickly answers. I tell her, Karen, it’s Mita. I need a place to stay tonight. Macloud’s dead. I start crying as she exclaims, What happened??!!! Never mind, I’ll be right there. The line goes dead. However, it’s Frank who pulls up less than six minutes later, sirens and lights going on his speeding car. I dash across the driveway somewhat unsteadily and find myself quickly enveloped in his strong arms. Frank asks the fireman, What happened here? while keeping me safely enveloped in his arms. There was a gas leak. Evidently the place filled up and the poor animal died. From the raspy voice, I know who’s speaking. I just sigh against Frank. She went inside, opened a window and then came outside and passed out. The lady across the street called us. Frank walks me back to the bench.

Frank sternly says, Let me get you a night gown and change of clothes. Karen is frantic but I insisted she let me come for you. You stay here. Then he follows the Doyle fireman up the stairs. Frank comes outside rather quickly with my smaller suitcase. He shakes his head and takes a couple deep breathes of fresh air. The fireman comes out and removes his mask. Frank starts down the stairs as Doyle (I can’t remember his first name) says, It’s still pretty full in there. We’re going to stay until the gas is all gone. We’ll lock the place up. Wait, she’ll need her purse. He turns quickly and ducks inside to return seconds later with my purse. He hands it to Frank at the bottom of the stairs. Quite a few of the neighbors have clustered at the end of the driveway but several police officers are keeping them back. Frank motions that I should stay seated. He puts my bag and purse in the car. I watch him talk on the radio briefly. Then he walks over and speaks with one of the officers in the driveway. Everyone knows and likes Frank.

Doyle comes back and sits beside me. Are you feeling better? Do you think you should go to the hospital? He asks, touching my hand lightly. I look up. I’m OK. I just want to go to Karen and then bed. I let my shoulders sag and his eyes look so full of compassion and something I don’t recognize. He digs in his pocket and removes a business card.

As I take the card from him, he lightly warns, Well, I want you to call the station tomorrow morning before you come back here. I want to make sure this place is aired out and that leak is fixed before you return. Any spark could have blown up the entire place and probably torched the nearby houses. He has long tapered slender fingers and when I look up I realize he’s handsome in a rugged kind of way. Frank chooses this moment to stride over to help me up.

Frank says, Come on. Karen’s having kittens. She wants me to bring Macloud. We’ll give him a funeral and stuff tomorrow. If that’s OK with you? Frank looks slightly embarrassed. Thank you. That will be nice. Please tell the man who tried to save him thanks for me. Doyle nods slightly and smiles at my words. We’re all sorry. He was a very nice animal. You should wait awhile for the landlord to fix the leak before getting another. Doyle warns lightly with a smile. Yes. I’m going to miss him. Frank has my elbow and is steering me towards the car. I remember how Karen gets but I watch as Doyle gently picks up Macloud to follow us. Once Frank has me inside the car, Doyle lays Macloud in my arms. He strokes his head and then closes my door. Frank gets in, grimaces and starts the engine.

Poor guy. He deserved better than to die like that. Frank says, sadly shaking his head. The crowd at the end of the driveway has gone home for the most part. As we’re driving down the street, a familiar red Thunderbird flashes his lights before he pulls along side and Frank stops. Ace puts his window down and asks, What’s going on? I heard your call on the radio. I’m starring down at Macloud and too heart broke to even look up. Gas leak. Mita’s cat died. I’m taking her home for the night. Frank says. OK. Then it’s nothing serious. I thought you might need backup or something. Aces’ voice drops to a deep timbre that tightens my nipples for some reason. Frank says, No. Thanks anyway. I gotta get home, you know Karen. I hear the T-bird drive off, Ace must have nodded or gestured.

Back at Franks, Karen is standing in the mudroom doorway as we pull into the garage. She walks over to open my door as Frank climbs from the car. She softly asks, Oh, Mita, can I take him? and I nod. She cradles him in her arms like a baby. Frank has my purse and case. I climb from the car in a daze. I don’t remember much. Somehow, I was dressed for bed and tucked in by Karen.

Christina is standing in her crib softly calling my name at 7 a.m. Mita! Mita! Mita! She chants until I climb from the bed to remove her from the crib. Frank enters at that moment. I thought I heard her. He says removing her from my arms. Wet. She tells him. He grimaces when he gets a handful of wet bottom. Yes, you certainly are. As he’s striding rapidly to the changing table and begins removing her wet pajamas. She giggles and waves my way. Mere. She gestures. I grab my robe and come over to assist Frank. She’s soon clean and in dry diapers all dressed for play. Bye. She says as he sets her down. She scampers towards the family room where the TV is softly playing.

I’m sorry she woke you. I came in earlier to get her up but she was still sleeping. Frank apologizes.

I lightly tell him, No problem. I’ll get dressed and join you for some coffee. He smiles and says, That’s a date. He ambles out and over towards the kitchen. I dress in the bathroom and quickly join him. He has a pot made and two mugs all