"You can sleep in the house with me, or if you'd be more comfortable in the motel I can fix up a room down there." Norman grabs our bags, walking in the direction of the house.

"I'll stay in the house. I feel safer with you Norman."

He drops a suitcase on the porch, feeling the top of the doorframe and letting out a satisfied "Ah." Before pulling a key down.

The large front door creaks as it opens slowly, revealing the large home. We each cough several times as the dust stirs up.

"Just um, follow me."

I close the door, following him up the stairs.

There's a door on the right, the left, and straight across is a little area two steps up with another door.

"You can stay in here." He opens the door to the right.

The room has a small bed in the corner, and a few random pieces of furniture. The main thing that catches my eye is the theme of the room. It is so obviously a little kid room.

"Norman, was this your room when you were little?" I walk over, viewing a few trinkets on top of the dresser.

"Actually, It was my room up until I went to the institution." He opens the closet door, grabbing a fresh pair of sheets.

"Oh ok. I like it though. You managed to capture innocence in a bedroom."

He simply nods, changing out the bed.

"I can't remember ever having a room like this as a kid. Mine was always cheap furniture and sewn clothes."

He laughs, pulling the blankets up and sitting on the bed.

"Were you poor as a child?"

I nod, walking over to his record player and bending to look at all of the records. "Big classical music fan huh?"

He blushes. "Yep. Uh, so what was your childhood like?"

"Boring. I mainly took care of my sister while my mother worked and slept around. After my father left us she changed. Through some odd chance she met Richards mother and set us up on a date. At first I was so in love, then he got controlling and overbearing and as much as I wanted to leave him, my mother would threaten me. She practically begged me to marry him so that money would start coming in. She scolded me for going to college and not getting pregnant."

He frowns, leaning back against the wall.

"Did you want children with him?"

I nod. "Yes. I still want children, but now I guess it's not gonna happen."

He smiles at me sadly.

I walk over to his book shelf, grabbing a random one. "But anyway, I-"

"Jolene you may not wanna look at that book."

I look down at the random page I'd flipped to, widening my eyes. It's an image of several nude women in quite suggestive poses. I nod, closing it and putting it back.

He scoots uncomfortably, putting his hands over his lap.

I go over to the bed and sit across from him, crossing my legs.

"Sorry you had to see that."

I wave a hand. "Aw Norman, it's perfectly fine. And completely normal. I understand men your age are interested in things like that."

He blushes, turning his head.

"We probably need to get some groceries and things." I break the silence.

"Well, we may wanna order from a catalog. I'd say it's not safe for you to go out in public right now." He says, reversing the roles on me.

I hug my knees to my chest, resting my head on them.

"Norman,"

He looks up.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"Just being here for me. Helping me. Not thinking I'm crazy. It means a lot to me."

He pats the bed next to him and I crawl up by him, laying my head on his shoulder. He wraps an arm around me, resting his head on mine.

"Don't worry Jolene. I'm gonna protect you."

"From what?"

"Everything."

I feel a lump in my throat after he says that. I don't know if anyone has ever cared about me like he does. But it goes both ways. I care about him too. He's truly incredible. More than I deserve.

Honestly I think I could fall in love with someone like Norman.

Someone as warm, soft, caring, handsome, charming, and protective as Norman...easily.

Maybe in another life Norman and I could live happily ever after. Married with children, living in a nice suburb somewhere. He'd work a job and I would too. We'd each have our own car and have someone come during the day to mind the children. We'd cook dinner together and spend the evening on the couch cuddling and maybe once we put the children to bed we would slow dance in the living room and go to bed, cuddling into the night. I'd wake him up with a marvelous breakfast and then the cycle would restart.

Obviously this is just wishful thinking. I know this could never happen. I look up at him and he smiles at me.

One of the most genuine smiles I've received in years.