Chapter 2

AN: Thanks guys, I am so glad you wanted me to continue this. I have some ideas. I want to see if they will work. I will go ahead and issue a tissue alert. I'm not sure the degree. The very last part of chapter one had me a little misty-eyed, so I'm not a good judge.

"You can take any of the clothes you want, Neal." June said as she looked in the closet at the clothes that used to be her late husbands. She kept wiping her eyes, hoping Neal would not notice. "Take them all, they're yours."

Neal shook his head. "I just. I can't June. These…they belonged to Byron."

June nodded. "They belonged to Byron. But they belong to you. And you look very handsome in them." She continued to look through the closet.

June then turned to Neal. "Hold out your hand." June placed something in his hand and then folded his hand over it. "I want you to have this."

Neal didn't know what it was. He hadn't looked yet. "June…you've given me so much, this place, these clothes. You…."

June patted his hand, stopping him. "This is a very old pocket watch. I…I gave it to Byron as an anniversary gift."

Neal opened his hand and looked at the gift. It, indeed, was a very old, very expensive pocket watch. He held it up and then opened it.

Neal shook his head.

"You know…at the commutation hearing I told them that you were like a son to me. I said it then to play upon their sympathies, of course. But," June paused. "...I meant it. I really did. I don't know how I would have explained a white boy to Byron."

The remark got a smirk from Neal.

June continued. "I guess I could have just told him I had a torrid affair with the postman." June replied, smiling through her tears. "I realize now, Neal, how true what I told them was. I can't explain it. I know what you are. I know who you are. But…" She put her hand on his chest. "…I know you have a good heart. And I've seen, just a tiny glimpse of who you can be. The young man who walked in my door three years ago is not the same young man who will be walking out today." June paused. "That young man couldn't really see a future. The man in front of me now looks forward to one."

Neal blinked and tears rolled down his cheeks. "We don't say goodbye."

June smiled as she hugged him tightly. "No goodbyes…just so long, until we meet again."

TBC