"Thank-you, Lillian," Gabriel said gratefully as he escorted her across the road to the Royal Brookfield. "I know this isn't what you were expecting when you agreed to come to dinner with me tonight."

Lillian smiled. "Don't worry about it," she told him. "If including Billy in our walk home helps him in any way, then I'm happy to include him. Though I'm not quite sure what you're trying to accomplish."

"To be honest, I'm not quite sure myself," Gabriel told her. "What I do know is that Billy's trust is going to be have to be earned step by step. I guess I'm hoping that by taking him out there tonight that he might see that not all orphanages are like the ones in his past."

Lillian nodded as Gabriel opened the hotel door for her. Joe and Maggie had arrived while they were at the jail, and were waiting just inside. Maggie held a simple bouquet of three roses tied with a white ribbon.

The two couples exchanged greetings as Lillian and Gabriel removed their coats and things. A waitress made an appearance to show them to their table. With her arm looped through Gabriel's arm, Lillian and Gabriel followed the waitress first. One of the tables they passed was occupied by Sam and Ellie Clay. Sam glanced up briefly in their direction, meeting Gabriel's eyes. The once rival for Lillian's affection gave the Mountie a simple nod before turning his attention back to the young woman seated across from him.

The little exchange told Gabriel that Sam recognized that Lillian had made her choice and he respected that. As Sam Tremblay seemed to have chosen to make Brookfield his home, Gabriel was glad the young man had seemed to be able to move on. Ellie Clay was a nice girl. Gabriel hoped the two of them would be happy.

Reaching the table, Gabriel pulled a chair out for Lillian as the waitress placed menus on the table. On the other side of the table, Joe held Maggie's chair for her before sitting down across from Gabriel. The Mountie watched as Joe stuck a finger underneath his tie.

"Did you make the tie too tight there, Joe?" Gabriel asked casually, the remark earning him a jab in the ribs from Lillian's elbow.

"Maybe a little," Joe commented, shooting Gabriel a look. His friend was smirking even as he rubbed his side slightly. To make the comment seem accurate, Joe did loosen his tie slightly.

"I think this might be the first time I've actually sat down and ate here since coming to Brookfield," Maggie commented.

"Be thankful you missed the early days," Gabriel replied. "The food has gotten better. The first cook was not good. Albert actually puts out decent meals, especially the stuffed chicken."

By then time their waitress came back, everyone had decided what they were going to eat. While they waited for their meals, the couples made casual conversation, music from the piano in the room helping to create a pleasant atmosphere. Noticing that Joe wasn't really involved, Gabriel took an opportunity to direct a few questions to the merchant. By the time that their meals came out, the conversation was much more balanced.

When the pianist stood from the instrument, the dining room broke out in applause. The woman, a visitor passing through town, took a curtsey before joining her husband at a nearby table.

"Think Ronnie will ever find a regular pianist?" Joe commented.

"Not at the rate he wants to pay," Lillian commented. She had worked a few evenings playing at the hotel before Christmas as a way to make a little extra money to make the holiday special for the children. The hotel owner had asked her to keep going but what he was paying didn't really make it worth it to Lillian. She felt her time would be better spent with the children.

"That bad, huh?" Joe commented.

Lillian nodded. "Though I was thankful for the extra money to help make the holidays special for the kids."

"I always wanted to try learning how to play the piano," Maggie said wistfully, looking at the instrument. Giving herself a little shake, the nurse looked across the table at Lillian. "Do you give lessons to any of the children?"

Lillian shook her head. "They enjoy listening when I play, but the only one that ever showed an interest in learning was Helen. Fred briefly showed an interest but when Christian and Vincent said playing piano was for girls he didn't want to learn."

"Awww that is a shame," Joe commented.

"It really was. I tried to convince him otherwise but he really looked up to Christian and Vincent. I suppose we all let others dictate what we do and like to some degree. Especially when we are young."

"I wish I had known about it," Gabriel commented. "It might have helped Fred to know that I learned the piano."

"You play?" Lillian said, surprised. "I didn't know that."

"Yeah, well I'm not sure anyone would want to hear me, nowadays. I haven't played in years. Being with the Mounties meant not always having access to a piano. However, yes, I use to spend most of my evenings growing up playing the piano. My mother played. However, none of her daughters showed an interest in it. Maybe that's why I was her favorite."

"Must have been," Joe commented. "Can't see why else you would be? You were probably a terror when you were a kid."

"I won't claim to have been an angel, but I never got in any serious trouble," Gabriel countered. "What about you Joe? Did your teacher have a corner with your name in it?"

"I don't remember, " Joe commented, picking up his glass of water and taking a sip as Lillian and Maggie laughed at the exchange.

Lillian looked across the table at Maggie. "If you wanted to learn the piano, I'd be happy to teach you."

"Really?"

Lillian nodded. "I enjoy playing and sharing music with people. It would be fun."

"Besides, if Gabriel can learn to play, how hard could it be?" Joe commented.

"Does that mean you want to take lessons as well?" Maggie asked.

"Oh, no. I have no musical talent. You can ask anyone who has been close enough to hear me sing at a church service. Lissett use to tell me that it was a good thing that God cared more about the passion with which the hymns were sung than the skill with which we sing them."

"She sounded like a wise woman," Maggie commented, placing a hand over Joe's hand.

Joe nodded, as he looked down at their hands.

Gabriel and Lillian looked at one another and smiled, both knowing that there was something between their friends.

"You know, if you wanted to use the piano at the orphanage, you would be welcome too," Lillian told Gabriel. "I would have made the offer before if I knew you played."

"You might regret that offer after you hear me play. It really has been quite awhile."

"There are five children in that house. You can't create much more of a racket then the five of them when they have too much energy to burn and can't go outside."

Gabriel smiled. "Perhaps we'll have to test that theory," he commented, though he knew it wasn't going to happen any time soon. At least not until he had this situation with Billy figured out more.

Looking toward the front desk, Gabriel recognized Judge Avery. The man was currently accepting a room key from Ronnie Stewart. Key in hand, Bill noticed Gabriel and headed in his direction, a knapsack, blanket, and saddlebags in hand.

"Excuse me," Gabriel said to the other three at the table.

Getting to his feet, Gabriel met Bill part way between the table and the desk. "I'm glad you're here," Gabriel said, holding his hand out to the judge.

"You're welcome," Bill replied, taking the offered hand. "How are things going with the kid?"

"Slow, but I think I'm making progress. He's opened up to me about how he was treated at one orphanage, though nothing about his family or where he came from."

"Well, I think I might have tracked down some information on his family, though I need confirmation that I have got the right kid. It can wait until tomorrow though, as I see I'm interrupting dinner. Meet me here for breakfast?"

Gabriel nodded. "You got it."

"I'm going to go get settled in my room. Tell Lillian hello for me and let her know I'll make it out to see her and Grace while I'm in town."

"I will," Gabriel assured him. "I'm glad you're here."

Bill nodded. "We'll figure out what is best for this kid," the older man assured Gabriel, clapping the younger man on the shoulder before turning to head for the stairs.

Turning, Gabriel went back to the table. As he sat down, Joe asked what was going on. Gabriel gave a brief explanation, as Lillian, Joe and Maggie were already involved with the situation with Billy to some degree as it was.

As Lillian and Gabriel headed across the street to the jail, Maggie and Joe stood in front of the hotel. The fact that he was going to walk Maggie out to her home was not in question. What Joe wasn't so sure of was did they walk side by side like other times, did he take her hand, or just offer her his arm. How long had it been with Lissett before he felt comfortable to just take her hand? Joe couldn't remember.

Lillian and Gabriel had gone inside the jail by now. Not wanting to still be standing here when Gabriel came back out, knowing his friend would tease him later even if he didn't now, Joe turned to Maggie.

"May I walk you home?" Joe asked, offering Maggie his arm, deciding that it was the safest option. Even if she thought of him as just a friend, she shouldn't be offended by the gesture and she wouldn't think he was being too presumptuous either.

"You may," Maggie replied, slipping her arm through Joe's.

Arm in arm, the two of them heading in the direction of Maggie's cabin. As they walked, Maggie lifted the roses she carried and breathed in their scent.

"I really do like the roses, Joe," Maggie commented, turning her head to look up at him.

"You're welcome," Joe replied.

The two walked in silence for a while, neither sure what more to say. As he walked, Joe kept replaying the night in his head. All the blunders he had made stuck with him. However, one incident in particular weighed on his mind.

"I hope I didn't offend you by bringing up Lissett tonight," Joe ventured.

"Of course not," Maggie replied without hesitation. "She was your wife. Actually, I feel honored that you're willing to share memories of her with me, especially as I know you don't talk about her a lot."

"It's hard," Joe admitted.

"I can respect that," Maggie replied. "And know that I know I can never take her place in your heart. Nor would I want to. However, I will admit that I enjoyed having dinner with you tonight. Perhaps next time it can just be the two of us?"

"You would like to go out again?" Joe asked, cringing as soon as the words were out. He sounded like some bumbling school boy.

"Very much," Maggie replied. "I've had feelings for you for a while. I just wasn't sure if you were at a place that you would be receptive of those feelings."

"I have had those thoughts myself," Joe admitted. "But you are the first person since Lissett that has made me even wonder if I could love someone again. I enjoy talking with you. You make my heart feel light again. That is something I thought I would never feel again."

"Sounds like perhaps your heart has finally healed enough to open itself up again," Maggie replied. "We can go slow," she told him. "If you need a little space, let me know and I will respect that. Emotional healing isn't a linear process. All I ask is that no matter what you are feeling, even if you think it might hurt me, that you talk to me and I will do the same. Communication is the most important thing."

Joe nodded. "I can do that," he told her. "In which case, I suppose I should tell you that I did enjoy having dinner with you tonight and that is making me feel guilty at the same time."

"You're not betraying Lissett by being with me. She would want you to keep living. However, you need to convince yourself of that or you are going to feel guilty every time you are with me," Maggie told him. "Take the time you need to process your feelings, Joe. Once you have, know that I will be waiting to spend more time with you."

Joe took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Thank-you for understanding, Maggie."

"You're welcome," Maggie told him, leaning her head against the arm that hers was looped through.

The two fell into a comfortable silence after that. They were enjoying one another's company while processing their own thoughts and emotions. Eventually, they reached Maggie's cabin.

"Thank-you for a lovely evening, Joe," Maggie told him as she turned to face him.

"Thank-you for coming," Joe told her.

Looking down at Maggie, Joe felt the desire to press his lips against hers. Part of him wanted to know what those soft looking lips felt like against his own. Another part of him reminded him that he hadn't kissed anyone since Lissett had died.

Taking a step forward, Maggie placed a kiss on his cheek. "It's okay. I understand," she whispered in his ear.

"I will see you tomorrow, I'm sure," Maggie said as she took a step back.

"I hope so," Joe replied, still feeling conflicted. "Goodnight, Maggie."

"Goodnight, Joe," Maggie replied, turning to open the door of her cabin.

"Maggie, wait a minute," Joe said, as the woman was about to step through the doorway.

Maggie paused, turning to look back at Joe. Before he could lose his nerve, Joe took a couple of steps to close the distance between them. Lowering his head, he pressed his lips gently against Maggie's. He kept the connection between them brief, but even so Joe felt his heart skip a beat and he tried to ignore the guilty feeling. He knew the kiss wasn't romantic or passionate, but it was a kiss. The first kiss he had shared with a woman since the last time he kissed Lissett.

Joe felt like he had past a huge milestone. Taking a step back, he noticed that Maggie had her eyes closed and wore a small, pleased smile.

"That was the perfect ending, to a lovely night," Maggie told him, opening her eyes. "Be safe, on your walk home."

"I will," Joe told her. "Goodnight, Maggie."

As Maggie went into her cabin, Joe turned and headed back toward Brookfield. Though he was feeling a swirl of emotions, Joe was relieved to find that there was one emotion that was absent. He felt no regret over what had taken place tonight. He knew there was a lot he needed to sort out but no matter what happened from here on out, he didn't regret asking Maggie out to dinner or kissing her tonight.

To some that might be trivial but for Joe, it was at least one weight off his shoulders.