Figuring now was a better time than ever to unload the car, while thinking of something to fix for dinner, Gillian grabbed a handful of their belongings and deposited them either on the couch, or on the floor. By the time she had gotten Cal's things out of the car, she had something in mind that would be quick and easy and wouldn't take a lot of time to prepare. It was more if Cal had the ingredients for it that would matter most.

"You look like you've got your hands full." When Gillian turned around, an elderly lady with a friendly smile was standing behind her on the sidewalk; her withering hands stuffed halfway into her pockets, she took them out to point to the backpack."And it looks like you have a little one of your own. I'm Myrna, Cal's neighbor from down the street."

"Gillian."

"Now that's a name I've never heard before." With a twinkle in her eye, she waved her hand as if she were swatting a fly. "I take it you're only visiting?"

"I actually live on the other side of town. Cal and I have been friends for many years."

"Oh! Then you know firsthand, that he is such a hard working man." She added sincerely, while Gillian nodded in agreement. "Since most of my family lives in Minnesota, he's helped me quite a few times around my house-especially when my arthritis starts acting up. I actually came by to see if he was home so I could ask him a question, but since you're here- perhaps you could pass my message along to him? I have an upstairs window—in my bedroom- that always lets in cold air. I was wondering if he knew of a way to seal it off?"

"I would think you'd just need some insulating tape or sealant."

"That's what I was thinking. My husband was always the one who did all the handy work around the house. Things were getting so bad that I just couldn't keep care of him anymore and made the decision to put him in a nursing home. We had twenty beautiful years together. Are you married?"

"I was."

"Hopefully I'm not intruding when I ask—how long?"

"Ten years."

"Never an easy decision." She looked longingly distant for a moment. "My first husband and I were together for a couple years before we got divorced. Well, I should be getting back. The dishes don't do themselves, you know?" Giving a wave, she scurried down the road.

"I see you met our neighbor, Myrna." Walking down the driveway, Emily grabbed her dad's bag out of the trunk. "She mostly keeps to herself. Dad tried to read her once and she shut him down."

"Sounds like something that your father would do."

Emily nodded. "That's when he agreed to help her with projects around her house. I guess her husband did most everything around the house."

"She was telling me that." Gillian closed the trunk of her car; Sophie's backpack swinging back and forth. "At least she has your father to help her now." Smiling, they both headed inside.

"It's good to see you smile again."

Gillian nodded her appreciation. "These past few months have been hard on all of us, and I wish the circumstances had been different."

"Even if those circumstances have brought my dad and you closer together?"

"I have a feeling that would have happened regardless." Blushing slightly, she thought back to them dancing in the living room. She hadn't denied that kiss and they had finally realized the unspoken dance between them.

"He kissed you didn't he?"

"How about we think about what we want for dinner?"

"He did it for you, you know."

"I know."

"Chinese?" Emily's eyes widened. "Sorry. That just kind of slipped out."

"How about pizza?"

"With lots of pepperoni."

"And sausage."

"What's this I'm hearing about a pizza?" Cal's groggy voice carried as he walked into the kitchen; his bare feet shuffling against the tile floor.

"Gillian and I are trying to figure out what we want for dinner."

"And you're settling on pizza?" Trying to figure out what he wanted from the fridge, he paused thoughtfully. "I'm paying." Grabbing the orange juice, he poured himself a glass. "I'm not delirious—go call them." Emily grabbed the phone on the way out of the room.

"Hi." He greeted Gillian in their usual fashion: a kiss on the cheek and a hug. "After you came into my room, I had the most spectacular dream."

Her brow raised with interest."Define spectacular."

"We had a family together. Emily Sophie and a little girl. Didn't look like either of us."

Gillian was still caught a bit off guard; her confidence wavering. "Did she have a name?"

"I don't remember what we called her, Love. Not that it matters because it was just a dream." He caught himself on how ridiculous that sounded. Of course it mattered when he saw the hurt in her eyes—the longing and hurt of never being able to have children. Now that she had Sophie, that longing had died down somewhat, but he knew that it would never fully disappear. "I'm happy with just you, Emily—now Sophie. She's like the second daughter that I never had."

Her face brightened a little as she gestured over to the living room. "Sometimes dreams hold more meaning than we think they do." Tugging at her sleeves, she leaned against the counter. "I met your neighbor, Myrna."

"Has another problem, does she?"

"She has an upstairs window that's letting in cold air."

"Figured as much. I'll call her later." He turned around slowly after putting the orange juice back in the fridge. "Tell me, what kind of vibe did you get from her?"

It didn't take her long to come to a conclusion. "You think she's depressed."

"I know she is."

"She just lost her husband of twenty years. Of course she's going to have some kind of deep depression."

"Okay, I ordered the pizza—It'll be here in about twenty minutes."" Emily interjected, walking into the room. The conversation between Gillian and Cal abruptly ceased, which had Emily suspicious. "I'm not ten anymore. You don't have stop talking whenever I walk into the room. I'm almost sixteen, remember?"

I know how old you are, Love. I'm not sure I want you moving away to college when the time comes."

"Cal." Gillian pressed with a sigh, almost a warning that he was dangerously close to going overboard with the topic.

"What about driving? You can't keep me locked up forever, you know."

"Since we don't have a car, I'm going to have to think about that one."