Something turned into a night of heavy making out, so much so that the next morning Jim couldn't even remember which movie it was they were supposed to be watching. He'd put a halt to their activities when he sensed that things were getting just a little out of hand…or maybe too much in hand. Micha had acquiesced when he said he was taking her home, but reluctantly.

Lying in his bed the next morning, Jim grinned as he remembered her pout when he pulled in front of her place. She gave him enough time to get home and then called him. They'd talked a long time. The sound of her voice over the phone was soothing, her soft whispers balm for his soul. He couldn't explain why, didn't understand her feelings for him, all he knew was she did care for him, maybe could even love him. And slowly, the pain that had been a constant companion for years was subsiding. His empty heart was filling up again with her; her presence in his life was healing him. And despite the difference in their ages, it was beginning to feel 'right' to him.

The feeling was solidified when she shared her dreams of him, dreams very similar to his. Her dreams weren't as erotic as some of his had been, but in her dreams they were together, just as they had been in his dreams. "And that's why when I saw you at that bar…saw your eyes," she told him, "I knew…"

"Knew what, Honey?"

"Knew you were the one I've been waiting for…you're the only one that could ever be right for me, Jim."

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Yeah." She had answered quietly but with conviction.

They'd planned to spend the day together. Beyond that, he had no idea what they would be doing. Glancing at the clock, Jim realized he needed to get moving; he was picking her up for breakfast in another hour.

Jim was adjusting to her exuberance whenever he came to pick her up. Once again she bounced out of her house and into his arms before he made it to the door. But this time, she kissed him, all of her shyness forgotten. His heart soared as he held her and his spirit was lifted. He held her tightly, content to feel her next to him, relishing the boost she always gave his broken soul. She seemed to sense his need and melted into him, mumbling something about how good this felt. Glancing up, he saw the curtains move in the front window and realized they had an audience. "Maybe we should get going," he whispered huskily.

He drove to a little diner off the Boulder Highway and pulled into a parking space. Just as he cut the engine, his phone rang. "Brass,' he grumbled into the phone.

"Jimmy?"

"Annie? Yeah it's me. How ya doing?"

"Good…okay. Look Jimmy, it's Ellie…"

Jim rolled his eyes as a sick feeling enveloped him. "She okay? I mean…she's not…" He didn't want to say it…dead.

"No she's okay, except she got picked up again last night. Third time in four months…drew the wrong judge this time. Arraignment is set for later this morning but I'm afraid he'd going to hold onto her this time."

"She got a lawyer?"

"Public defender. He's okay but overwhelmed. And the new D. A. is a social conservative…ran on a platform of cleaning things up. He's been rough on the working girls, Jimmy. That with Judge Williams…I just don't know what's going to happen to her. She could end up doing some time in jail."

"Damn…." Jim was fighting his temper. "Hell, maybe it would do her some good…"

"Jail is never good, Jimmy. You know that…and right now, our jail is ….pretty bad."

"Yeah, you're right. So, you know any good lawyers that'd take her case?"

"One or two. You want me to make a call?"

"Yeah, if you don't mind. I appreciate the favor, Annie."

"Okay, I'll take care of it. I can't get anymore involved in it than that. But I could get a message to her, if you want me to?"

Jim paused for a minute. "No, no message…just the lawyer. You know where to tell him to send the bill, right?"

"Yeah. I'll take care of it. Take care of yourself, Jimmy."

"Okay….and thanks, Annie." He closed his phone and glanced over at Micha. She was curious, he could tell, but also concerned. Her expression was serious, not at all the happy, bubbly child-woman that had greeted him earlier. "A friend in L.A.," he shrugged. "Called to tell me about…someone….she needs a good lawyer." He didn't want to tell her…didn't want to share the misery with the tale of him and Ellie, and certainly didn't want to admit his daughter was a hooker. "Oh," was all she said. But he could see that she knew there was more.

He felt her eyes on him as they sat at the table, eating. She was watching him closely and saying little. A cloud hung over him after Annie's call and Micha was suffering the effects. It was eating at him, that his life was casting shadows into hers. But what could he do; Ellie was his daughter. Annie had been keeping an eye on things for him and would call whenever something was wrong. He knew more had happened with Ellie than Annie ever let on, but she did call him when she thought the girl really needed something. And Jim always answered the call…she would always be his daughter, no matter what. But just now, he wished, just for an instant, that she weren't; that he could push her aside and forget her, that he was free of everything that she represented in his life. Then maybe he would be worthy of the gift that sat across from him. He smiled sheepishly as he caught her looking at him. "Food okay?" he asked.

"Yeah. But are you?" He swallowed his emotions with difficulty. His heart was pounding somewhere in his throat and in his head. His stomach was in knots and fear dripped from his every pore. "I…yeah…I'll be okay." She cared. He could see it in her eyes, hear it in her tone, and then felt it as she reached across the table and covered his hand with hers. "I'm not porcelain; I won't break. Please tell me what is hurting you so much." Her voice was quiet, tender, and loving.

"I um….yeah, okay. Well…I told you I have a daughter…" She nodded in agreement, her huge eyes not leaving his face, concern all but dripping from them. "Well, my friend, Annie….she keeps an eye on Ellie in L.A. for me. That's where Ellie lives. Annie and I worked together back in Jersey and, well…we kinda had a thing for awhile. But now she's a Captain with LAPD. Anyway…Ellie comes across her radar every so often…" He could see the questions in her eyes as she watched him and waited. "You see, Ellie…she um…well, she started running with the wrong kind of people back when she was in high school and she's still doing it. She came here a few years back and got involved with drug dealers and a murder. After that, she went to L.A." He paused to catch his breath and take a moment to gage Micha's reaction to what he was telling her. She didn't seem appalled.

"So, anyway…her friend got picked up by the wrong guy and Ellie called me to help. I went there…to help her, you know…and that's…." he took a deep breath. "That's when I found out that she's…working the streets," he grumbled. He didn't dare look up, so he stared into his coffee cup. The silence from the other side of the table was deafening. Inside he was cringing, sure that she was withdrawing. It had been a miracle to him that she saw anything in him, anything attractive, that is. And now, she would see what a dismal failure he was and that would be it, it would be over.

Her soft voice whispered, "working the streets? As in…prostitution?" Her hand squeezed his gently, communicating her concern.

"Yeah," he sighed.

"Oh Jim, I'm sorry…" Unbelievably, she was still holding his hand firmly, not backing away. He dared to look up and was transfixed by the emotion in her eyes….her concern, her empathy, her…love? His eyebrows furrowed as he tried to understand. Why is she still here, still holding my hand? Why does she still care?

Then something flickered in her eyes and she looked at him intently. "That's why you reacted as you did when I said I wish I could be more like…those women."

"Well, part of it. I've seen it from a cop's angle for years…it's not for you. And as a man…as a father, I just…well, it would kill you. And it hurts me every time a see a girl like you…or Ellie, caught up in that life."

They sat quietly for a few minutes, Jim grieving and Micha grieving for him. "You know," he sadly, "I used to think she did stuff like that to get at me…hurt me in some way. But, I think she does it because it is all she thinks she is good for. I used to tell her, when she messed up, that she was better than that. But she kept insisting that she's not…"

"You love her very much, in spite of …everything, don't you?"

Tears sat in Jim's eyes as he looked up. "Yeah, I do…I mean, she's my kid…" He sighed. "I've tried. I've screwed up a lot, but I've tried…to be a good father, I mean. For a long time, I wasn't. I wasn't around much and then I moved here and I saw her even less."

"You said she's about my age…"

"Yeah…I think. How old are you, anyway?"

Micha smiled. "Thirty-two."

Jim sat up straight, looking at her in disbelief. "Nooo, no way…"

"Yes. I think I should know how old I am. Now it's your turn," she said grinning devilishly.

"My turn for what?" He grumbled.

"How old are you?"

"Ah…that. Um…what if I don't want to tell you?"

"Oh my gosh," she laughed. "You're worse than a woman…"

"Hey, I already told you I'm old," he said, his eyes twinkling.

"Yeah, but how old?" Her eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Old enough to be your father," he grimaced.

"Yeah, but that covers a lot of territory. I suppose I'll just have to guess. Hmmm, let's see…" She raised her fingers to his face. "You've got a lot of lines on your face, some are laugh lines," she said as she traced the area at the corners of his mouth. "And some are worry lines," she added, tracing the lines in forehead. Then her fingers moved to his right ear. "Your earlobes are …getting longer." Jim snorted, "you mean drooping, don't you?"

Her hand moved back to his, tracing the outline of his fingers. "You know…" she said wistfully, "there's an old wives tale about a man with big hands, big ears, and other large appendages."

Jim knew where she was going and decided to play along. "There is?" he asked in feigned surprise.

"Yes….it says those men have a rather large…"

"More coffee?" the waitress asked, interrupting Micha."

Jim cleared his throat, looking at the woman with frustration and guilt. "Ah, no…we're fine, thanks."

Micha started laughing and Jim turned back to her. "You were saying?"

"Well, I just hope I get to see if the old wives were right…and soon."

Jim took her hand and held it between his. He knew he had a sappy look on his face but he didn't care. This woman was taking years off of him and he felt lighter, happier every time he was with her. "You're amazing," he told her.

"No, I'm not. I just…well, for the first time in my life I feel…safe and…I dunno, like I matter to someone."

"Oh Honey, you matter."

"I…well, thank you."

"Nothing to thank me for; you're something really special. It was only a matter of time before someone noticed."

"No, I meant…for telling me about your daughter. I know it is…difficult. But…sharing that with me…it means so much to me."

"You know, we don't really know that much about each other. I know there are things that, well…I'd like to ask you about."

Suddenly she looked nervous. "I um…"

"Look, why don't we go to my place and …just talk. You can ask me anything and I'll try to answer, but it goes both ways, okay?"

She studied his face, anxiety in her eyes. Finally she sighed. "Okay, but…"

"Don't worry. I just think that if we are going to…well…you know, get closer, then we need to…talk."

SUPERBRASS

Thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter and have reviewed all along. You keep me going!

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