Note: Okay here's the next chapter. I'm still counting any votes on the ships that come in. There's going to be lots of drama and trauma coming up...
"Maureen? Honey, we're home."
Roger smiled as Maria ran in, dressed in her favorite pink pajamas. "Daddy!"
"Hey, princess. You have fun with Mrs. Cohen?"
"Yep. We played dolls and she readed me a story and we watched Cind'rella."
"Wow! Sounds like you had a lot of fun."
She yawned as he picked her up. "Yep."
"Thanks, Maureen," Roger said when she came in. She hugged Mark, kissing his cheek.
"She was a very good girl," Maureen said. Maria smiled.
"I really appreciate you watching her. I think I'd better get this girl home to bed though."
Maureen and Mark said their goodbyes and waved as Roger and Maria's car disappeared into the night.
--LINE BREAK--LINE BREAK--
Benny couldn't stop thinking about the girl from the camera shop. She was so gorgeous. And seemed so sweet. He hadn't dated anyone seriously since Allison. Sure there had been other women, but nothing steady, nothing longer than a few months. Benny took a deep breath and headed out the door.
--LINE BREAK--LINE BREAK--
Roger called Joanne the next day during his lunch period. He hadn't expected her to answer in the middle of the day.
"Hello?"
"Joanne, hi. It's Roger."
"Hi! How are you?"
"Um, I'm good. How are you?"
"Good."
"I was just calling to see if, um, if maybe you wanted to go out again."
"I'd love to. What'd you have in mind?"
Roger swallowed, trying to think quickly. "Well, um, I was thinking maybe we could go see a movie?"
"Sounds great. When?"
Damn it, why do I have to make all the decisions? "How about Friday?"
"You mean tomorrow?"
Roger hit his forehead with one hand, blushing. "Yeah, uh, yeah tomorrow. Oh but that's short notice. You've probably all ready—"
"Tomorrow would be great. Say, eight o'clock?"
"Perfect. I'll pick you up at eight."
"I look forward to it."
"Me too."
Roger hung up and laughed when he saw Benny staring at him. "What?"
"Who was that?"
"No-nobody."
"Oh, come on, Davis. I know you better than that."
"Just some woman."
"Just some woman?"
"That woman Mark set me up with."
"Goin' out with her again?"
Roger nodded. "Yeah…she's…she's nice."
"Nice?" Benny asked, laughing.
"Yes, nice. I've only gone out with her once. I don't really have a read on what exactly she's like."
"She hot?"
Roger nodded. "Oh yeah."
"Smart?"
"Lawyer."
"Damn."
"I know."
"And does she know about Maria?"
Roger nodded again. "And she's cool with it."
"Maybe we'll double-date some time."
"Double-date? You mean you got a girl, Benny-boy?"
Benny laughed, blushing. "Possibly."
Roger raised an eyebrow.
"Well, it's nothing serious or whatever. Just, uh, met this girl and asked her out."
"Go out yet?"
"Nah…we were supposed to go out this weekend but her mom's sick."
"Her mom's sick? Ben, she's not a student, is she?"
Benny laughed. "Give me some credit, man! No, she's twenty-two. She's very close to her mom though and her mom's sick so she's going to visit her this weekend."
"Oh, I see."
"Yeah."
The bell sounded. "Shit," Roger groaned. "Guess I'll talk to you later."
"Yeah, later."
"Oh, hey, you got plans for dinner?"
"Nah, why?"
"Maria asked this morning if Uncle Benny could please come over since you haven't been over all week."
"Of course. Six?"
"Better make it five. She's been getting tired earlier than usual lately."
"She sick?"
"Think she might be comin' down with something. I'm keeping an eye on her."
Benny nodded. "Okay, well, five then."
"Bye," Roger said, disappearing down the hallway.
--LINE BREAK--LINE BREAK--
Mark walked his last client of the day back out to the waiting room.
"I'd like to see him next week again, as usual."
"Oh, of course. Already set it up."
"Great. I'll see you later, Mike."
"Bye," the boy said with a grin.
Mark returned to his office, jotting a few notes in Mike's file. He finished and pulled on his jacket. As he neared the door, the phone rang. He groaned and picked it up.
"Mark Cohen."
"Honey, I thought you said you'd be home for dinner."
"I will—" Mark glanced at his watch. "Shit…I already missed it, didn't I?"
"We agreed on six. It's after seven."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay, I was just worried. That's all. I mean, you might've been in that proverbial ditch your mom always worries about you ending up in."
Mark leaned his head back, staring at the ceiling. "I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean to worry you. I had a client that had to be seen at the last minute and—"
"It's fine. Just be home soon, okay?"
"Okay. I love you."
"Love you too."
She hung up and Mark sighed. He was definitely in for it. Maureen had offered to cook a nice dinner and made him swear to be home on time. He knew by her tone that she was annoyed. Very annoyed. Mark zipped up his jacket and headed to the car, wondering what he could do to make things better.
--LINE BREAK--LINE BREAK--
Angel stood by the door, smiling through her tears.
"I'll be back soon, baby. I promise," Collins said, lifting his duffel bag.
"I know. I'll just miss you."
"I'll miss you too, Angel. You know that, right?"
"Course I do."
Collins dropped the bag and slid his arms around Angel's waist. He kissed her, one hand moving up to cup her face. When he pulled away, they smiled at each other. "I love you, baby."
"I love you too. Now get going before you miss the train," Angel said with a giggle.
Collins kissed her one last time, picked up his duffel bag, and dashed out to the waiting taxi.
Closing Note: Don't worry, Collins will be back soon :)