"Hi!" said a girl, walking fast toward Landon. Landon tried to go faster without her realizing it, but she did. "Why you running from me?"
Landon stopped and turned around, books crammed into his arm: "The History Of The Medical Field," "300 Most Common Diseases: How To Diagnose and Treat Them." "I'm not running from you, it's just I gotta go get things done."
"What things? Maybe I can help you," she replied.
"What's your name?"
"Amber Calvin. I know yours, your Landon Carter," she replied, throwing her long, thick brown hair over her shoulder. It looked a lot like Jamie's. She took his palm and wrote her number in it, and held out the pen to him. He scribbled the numbers onto her hand. "So, what do you have to get done?" she volunteered.
Landon was not hesitant to answer. He was proud of his kids and maybe future child, but know one had gotten close enough to him to ask. Girls were warded off by his distance and blank eyes. "Gotta go pick my kids up."

"Kids?" sputtered Amber. He had caught her off guard, he seemed like the type to donate sperm and run. "When, how-," her voice went off in amazement and confusion.
"Yes, kids, twins actually. Faith and Hope, their cuties."
"Who's?"
"My wife's and I."
"Wife?" Amber couldn't believe her ears. "Who's your wife? How old are they?"
"Jamie Sullivan. She died 7 months ago. They're 8 months old." He felt the familiar feeling of emptiness and turned away, walking toward his vehicle again. "I have to go," he choked, trying to sound normal, but knew she could tell he was crying. "Bye, um, Amber." He didn't actually tell her the truth; he didn't want her asking why he was going to the hospital.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Later that evening, as Landon just finished helping Olivia dress into her nightie, the doorbell rang. "Can I get it?" she pleaded.
"No, sweet bean. Just let me get it." She pouted for a moment and went to her tiny bedroom. They had moved into a nicer apartment with three small bedrooms. Landon went to open the door. "Amber, um, hi," he said, standing in the door, "How'd you know where I live?"
"Number," she replied shortly and saw Olivia run in. "I thought you said they were only 8 months old."
Landon turned around to see her jumping on the couch. "Olivia, get down!" he commanded. She sulked off and pouted at the same time. "Oh, she's my friend's daughter. I'm watching her. Come in?" she nodded and came in.
"Snazzy place," she said, settling into the blue couch. Landon laughed. "Yay, snazzy with crayon pictures on the wall." It was Amber's turn to laugh. "I wanted to see your kids. Your brief intro- I didn't know if they were gorillas!" Landon laughed and let the short way to the twins' room. They were both awake, arms grabbing the air. Landon picked up Hope, and motioned for her to pick up Faith.
"So, which one's the oldest?"
"Faith, by a couple days." Amber smiled at him warmly. "They're both so cute," she cooed, "We should have a play date."
"A play date? You have kids too?" he asked. Why, when he told her he had kids, did she make him feel like an outcast.
"Yeah. Nathan, he's 9 months old, almost the same age." She looked down at her body, wondering if it looked like it had been through childbirth. "Maybe we could have a date at the same time."
Date?! So early? He wondered if he should, if it would be probable. Was he even over Jamie? "Sure," he said, sounding cool despite his emotions inside.
"Sure," she said slowly, "Why does it sound like you don't want to go out Carter?" Landon was taken aback. Only his friends had called him that, and she had said it in a tone that Jamie always used to say it.
"Well," he gulped, "It's just that I don't know if I should, I mean, I don't know if I'm ready, I just-," he continued to babble, fast.
"Landon, Landon!" Amber interrupted, "Landon, if your not ready, that's OK. I don't know why I suggested it anyway. How about we just have a get together and a play date instead of a date and play date. Okay?" Landon nodded, wondering why he had gone ballistic. Then he figured it out: He was already in love with Amber Calvin.