Friday, July 31st

The house was quiet as I stepped outside for my run. The outside proved the same.

Tyler road was a pretty, quiet, tree lined street, typical of any small country town. Some of the houses were so grand, and some not so much. Francie's house needed some obvious TLC. It was a tiny yellow country house with white shutters and a small front porch. It was a bit run down, but it was nothing that a good cleaning and some flowers couldn't fix.

It was so peaceful here, even at 9am. A big change from what I was used to back home in Baltimore.

The thought of stepping into the sun made me pause just a second, but I didn't want to slack while I was here, so, I dropped my towel on the porch and headed to the edge of the street. I looked both ways to try to decide the least humid way to run. I turned right and headed over the tracks. After about 3 minutes, I realized I must have picked the wrong way.

My mind turns on when I run. It goes in a million directions all at once, but that's how I get stuff done. This morning, my mind was on Cay. This was the first time we have been apart and I was missing her terribly. I thought about the usual stuff, too; work, school, and family. I even started worrying about the plane ride home, a head start on the panic I guess.

The more urgent thought, was about Francie and what on earth I could do to help her. I'm only here for a week and a half. At best, I can help her get the house in order, but there's no way I'm going to be able to get her baby back.

When she called last week and told me what was going on, I almost told her that maybe this was best for the baby and her, at least until she got herself together. I knew all about her drinking problem and I knew she needed help, but I couldn't bring myself to say anything. For a brief second I put myself in her shoes, which was pretty easy to do. We're both single moms and we both have had our struggles, but we are also both lucky enough to have family that is ready and able to help us.

How did she get to the point of her own family turning away from her? They had always been so supportive, even after she got pregnant. But now ...

She promised me that there would be no drinking while I was here. In fact, my first rule of coming down was that at no time would alcohol be allowed in the house. I gave up my vacation with Cay to come help her, the least she could do is to show me that she is making an effort.

After my run, my first order of business was to get her up and motivated. There was laundry to do and cleaning to finish, and then to find a way to get her over to see the baby.

My understanding was that she hadn't seen him in a few days so I know her heart was hurting. It was my job to find a way to get her over to children's services. Her car was broke down, my funds were limited, and my aunt and uncle refused to deal with her monetarily at all, understandably. That and the fact that I know exactly zero other people in this town made for a problem. I had to come up with something.

With somewhat of a to-do list in my head I turned to make the trek back home.

As the tracks came into view, so did the police car out front of the house. As I got closer, I realized that the engine was running and an officer was sitting behind the wheel. I saw that he was young, black, and cute, and he was reading a paperback book. He rolled down the window as I walked up to the car.

"Is everything okay, officer?"

"Yes ma'am. Just waiting on another officer." He nodded towards Francie's.

"He's in there?" I started to move toward the house when he answered.

"Yes ma'am. But everything's fine. He's just checking on a friend."

I called out a thank you to him, as I headed for the door.

When I came into the house, it took my eyes a minute to adjust from the sunlight. When I finally could see, I was surprised to see Francie sitting on the couch, alone. I wiped the sweat from my face and I asked her if everything was okay. She looked irritated.

"Yea, everything's just fine. Don't I look fine?" She was definitely not in a good mood.

At those words the other officer looked out from the kitchen. "Mornin'," he nodded to me.

"Morning to you," I nodded back.

He went back into the kitchen and a few minutes later came out with a cup of coffee. He took it over to Francie, who sat up a bit, but still looked snippy.

"Here ya go, France."

The words tall, dark, and handsome came directly to mind. He was easily 6'2" and somewhat lanky. He had a deep southern drawl and he was definitely cute, all kinds of it, and he was here checking on Francie, so maybe that was a sign of good things to come for her.

"Cath, this is Officer Lonnie Jamison, remember, I told ya 'bout him?" Her snippiness continued.

She had told me on the phone that an old friend who was now a police officer was responsible for her losing the baby. Right at this moment I wanted to shake his hand, but I thought better of it. He looked at me and smiled a bit, and politely offered his hand to me.

"Just Lonnie, and do tell, I'm interested to know the details of that conversation."

I quickly wiped my hand on the towel before I took his, and introduced myself. "I'm Francie's cousin, Cathy. Well really, just Cath, and she just filled me in on what happened is all. Nothing too damning."

I tried to lighten the mood. "This was really nice of you to stop in to check on her. Wasn't it Francie?"

I looked at her with a stern cousinly look. She looked less than thrilled. In my head I was screaming, girl, you are a fool! She just ignored us both and took a sip of her coffee.

"Well, Cath," he looked at me and shrugged his shoulders, "was nice meetin' ya. I gotta head on out. I did just wanna stop in to see how things were comin' along and see if there was any word on when the baby was comin' home. The house is lookin' better."

I smiled. "Nice to meet you, too." I looked around the living room. "We're still working on it, but it's getting there. We're hoping to hear something about the baby soon."

He smiled and headed for the door. He turned back to Francie and looked as if he was going to say something, glanced back at me, nodded a farewell, and left.

"Francie, are you blind? Did you not see that man right here checking on you, worried about you and the baby!?"

The anger on her face multiplied. "He ain't worried 'bout nobody! He's just tryin' to make up for makin' me lose Bobby in the first place! He feels bad 'bout what he did and that's all!"

I honestly think you could see a flash from the light as the bulb on top of my head went off. I ran out the door.

"Officer Jamison, do you have a second?"

He was just getting into the car and then stepped back out when he heard my call. He took off his sunglasses.

"Call me Lonnie, please."

I smiled. "Okay, Lonnie. Listen, I am sorry for that." I motioned toward the house.

"It's all right," he said. "I imagine she's still sore at me. I understand. I'd do it again. It was real bad in there."

"I know, and I do understand. I'd like to ask a favor if I could ...It's been quite a few days since she's seen the baby. Her car is broke down and I have no way of getting her over to children's services, can you offer advice or assistance?"

Without pause he offered help. "Well, I get off duty at 3. I can be here 'round 3:30. Will that work?"

"Yes! Thank you ...really. And thank you for stopping by to check on her. She is very lucky to have a friend like you."

"I bet she'd disagree on that friend part," he said. He looked genuinely sad as he spoke, and I had even more hope for Francie.

I nodded understandingly.

"Will you be comin' along to see the baby?" he asked.

"Well, I had planned on it, but if there's a problem ..."

He smiled the sweetest smile. "No ma'am. No problem at all. I'll see ya 'round 3:30."

He nodded another farewell and got in the car.

"I'll see you then. And thanks ...again."

As I pulled the screen door open I looked back at him, to see him, looking at me.

The day dragged on so hot. The only AC that she had was in the bedroom so we took frequent breaks. During those breaks we laid across the bed and talk about old times and future plans. On a few of the breaks, I talked Lonnie up a bit hoping to spark some interest in what seemed like a decent man with a good job, but she was having none of it. She didn't care for him in high school and she cares even less for him now after everything that's happened. I tried to make her understand why he did what he did, but she didn't want to hear it.

There was a small part of me, just a speck, that was thankful that she felt that way. I don't know why. I don't know why I felt anything at all. I was here to help her out, and I was leaving in just over a week. No me time was to be had.

We did manage to get everything done that we had planned. The house looked great. Looking around now, I could tell it was not a bad place at all when it was managed well. She could raise the baby here just fine if she would get her act together.

Francie was very excited and a little nervous to be going to see the baby. She looked so pretty with her hair up in a cute 'do. The dress she was wearing was a little dated, but still very feminine and fitting for the occasion. I wondered if Lonnie would notice.

He showed up around 3:45. We were ready and waiting.

Just before he got here I made sure that Francie realized that regardless of what happened between him and her, that he didn't have to do this at all, to be nice and be grateful. I was relieved when he got here that she went up to him and offered him a genuine thanks for taking the time to help her out. It showed on his face that he was somewhat relieved, too. Maybe there was some interest there after all.

He apologized for being late but explained that his car only held two people, so he had to borrow a pickup truck from one of the guys that just came on duty.

He was the southern gentleman that I knew he would be and opened the truck door for us. I made sure Francie got in first. She wasn't thrilled, but maybe I was still hopeful that she would warm up to him.

It ended up being a pretty quiet ride over to Children's Services, with no real conversation. I did enjoy looking out at the huge fields and the wide open countryside. It was beautiful. The trip only lasted about ten minutes due to the fact that Sparta was a relatively small town.

The Children's Services building was a huge old Victorian house that was now being used as some type of orphanage. There were kids playing in the yard and babies on blankets under huge shade trees. There were a few ladies sitting in the grass just relaxing and talking while keeping an eye on the kids. It seemed like a happy place.

We thanked Lonnie and told him the we would find a way home, but he insisted on waiting in the truck and I thought that was another good sign for Francie.

When we got up to the huge front porch there was a kindly looking older woman at the door waiting.

"Afternoon, Mrs. Barrett," Francie said. Her anxiousness clearly written on her face.

"Good afternoon ladies. Francie, I'm so glad you finally came. Bobby should just be waking up from his nap."

We headed for the door when Mrs. Barrett said that she wanted Francie to come in alone because she wanted to talk with her privately. I completely understood, so I walked over to the glider at the end of the porch and sat down.

The sound of kids playing and laughing lightened my heart a little. It not only looked like a happy place, it sounded like it, too. It made me miss Cay even more than I did.

I was enjoying the atmosphere for just a few moments when I noticed Lonnie coming up the walkway. He was so handsome and to my liking, a very casual dresser, almost matching my style. A true jeans and t-shirt kind of guy ...and cowboy boots.

Damn.

Maybe, I would use this opportunity to talk Francie up to him. It was hard, but I had to squash the urge just to get to know him for my own personal reasons.

He came right over to the glider. "Mind if I sit a spell?"

"Not at all."

We sat in silence for a few minutes just taking in the sights and sounds. It was not an awkward silence at all, at least not for me.

He finally started the conversation.

"How long ya in town for?"

"Another week, or so."

"Where from?"

"Baltimore."

Cue the talking up of Francie. "I uh, hear you had a thing for Francie in high school."

He smiled a bit and suddenly found his hands very interesting. "I did, I guess. Is that what she told ya on the phone?"

"No. We talked a bit after you left this morning."

"Is that all she said?"

I smiled. "Well, she did say you were quite the ladies' man, always with a different girl on your arm."

"That was a long time ago. She had her mind on someone else, so ...What do ya do up there in Baltimore?"

"I'm a substitute teacher by day and I waitress some nights. Not for much longer, though. In a year I'll have my teaching degree and hopefully find myself a job. Have you seen Francie's baby? I bet he is adorable." I kept bringing it back to Francie.

And he kept bringing it back to me. "You're a busy lady. Ya know what they say about all work and no play?"

"No time for playing in my life. Not yet, anyway ...The baby is adorable, isn't he?"

He looked right at me. "Yea, I guess he is. Though, the last time I seen him he was hungry and dirty."

Now, I found my own hands of interest. "You know," I said, "she really is a good mother. I can see it in her. She just needs help to get off the booze and to get away from the guy she's seeing. Ever think of asking her out on a date for old time's sake?"

He looked a little on edge now. I think he realized I was trying to play matchmaker.

"No, I haven't. This isn't high school. She's very different than she used to be, and so am I. I'm not interested, okay?"

We were quiet for a minute before he continued. "Listen, I know ya want to help her, but I ain't it. I don't think I could raise another man's child. It's just my way."

A small piece of my heart broke off. I felt it lumped in my throat and I swallowed hard.

Maybe he noticed the change in my face, because he added, "I reckon I'd like a few of my own youngin's, someday. Just not now."

There went the rest of my heart completely shattered all over that porch. I fought back the tears. It wasn't meant for me, but it stung.

I'll be leaving in ten days and never see this guy ever again and yet, he completely broke my heart.

There was nothing left to talk about for Francie or for me. I was done. I got up and headed down to the big shade trees leaving Lonnie on the porch. I asked one of the ladies if I could hold a baby, and when she said yes, I sat down on the grass and picked up the little girl closest to me. I really missed Cay.

Francie came out about an hour later. She was so sad leaving the baby here but something that Mrs. Barrett said, had her spirits up and looking toward the future. I was happy for her.

The three of us headed back to the truck to go home. Lonnie asked if we would like to stop for pizza. I waited for Francie's answer before I said anything. She said it sounded good and asked me if I was up for it. I was still upset from Lonnie's words and I was really in no mood to chat, so I asked if they could drop me off at the house. This clearly wasn't what he had in mind, but Francie was oblivious. She was still on cloud nine from the visit with the baby.

He told me that the pizza place in the square had the best pizza in 3 counties. I thanked him for the offer but asked if he could take me home first. He looked a little disappointed but I didn't care. In my mind, he was getting that date with her, rather he wanted it or not. Francie opened the truck door and quietly insisted that I get in first. I didn't care who sat where.

Lonnie and I were quiet the whole way home. Francie did enough talking for both of us. She filled us in on her visit with Bobby and told us how long it might take before she could bring him home. She told us all about the treatment program in Jackson and how eager she was to get started. She also promised me that the next time we went over, I would be able to see the baby. She was happy and actually looking forward to the future.

When we turned down Tyler road, Francie made a noise that sounded almost like a squeal. There was a car out front of her house. I had no clue who it was, so I asked.

"It's Nick," she said, smiling.

Lucky me. I'll finally get to meet him.

We pulled up behind the car and I could see two guys sitting in the front seat. As she opened the door, we started sliding across to get out. She stopped and looked back at Lonnie. "Thank you for the invitation Lonnie, but it looks like I have company ...and thanks again for the ride."

"Don't mention it."

He looked at the two men getting out of the car and watched Francie walk over to them.

I was just about to get out of the truck, when he stopped me. "Cath, are ya sure you wouldn't like some supper?"

He had taken off his sunglasses. I didn't care that he had beautiful eyes.

"Thanks, but no. I'm going to stay here with Francie."

"Listen, I'm sorry if I came off harsh earlier—"

"Lonnie, it's no big deal, really. Thank you for taking us to see the baby. I really do appreciate it."

He had no way of knowing how his words hurt me, and it was really none of his business why, so I kept my personal life, personal.

I turned and headed into the house to meet the infamous Nick. I never looked back.