New chapter. So sorry for the long wait. Happy Halloween. :)

It was early Tuesday morning, and she called in to work to discuss her vacation package. James Fuller, the library manager, didn't want to give her two weeks off, even though she told him she had a family emergency to tend to.

"I can only give you three days, Abigail," he said. "No one else is able to fill your place on such short notice."

That sounded like bullshit. Someone should be able to cover for her temporarily.

"What am I supposed to do with such a limited amount of time? I don't have anyone else to care for my relative. They can't be alone right now."

He sighed. "Three days is the best I can offer you unless you find work elsewhere. In all honesty, I think that'd be best, since you aren't able to fully commit to your job responsibilities here. Unfortunately, it seems you people cannot obligate yourselves to the tasks at hand. Perhaps there are a couple of other housekeeping jobs that provide more flexibility to meet your needs."

You people? She was pissed off now. Her people are committed to their job, whatever it may be; she's committed to hers. It's racist asses like him that don't treat them fairly or give them the same opportunity. If she were white, she wouldn't even have to ask twice about getting time off.

"Are you firing me?"

"You give me no other option really. You understand, don't you?"

She bit her tongue. "Yes."

"Excellent. Your last pay check will be mailed to you. Good day."

She slammed the phone on its base. With Crane injured and Jenny angry, losing her job was the last thing she needed. Shit. She'd have to figure her job out later. Right now, she should check on Crane. He'd need his bandages changed and his medication soon. She fixed him a glass of water before she went to her room. He was awake. She put his water on the nightstand.

"Morning." She kissed his forehead and handed him his board. "How do you feel?"

"In some pain, but I'll be fine," he wrote.

"Crane, you don't need to pretend with me. If you're hurting, then you have to tell me. I want to make sure you're okay." She touched his cheek.

He kissed her palm and erased what he had to rewrite. "Medication would be most helpful."

She watched him swallow the two pills she gave him and down the glass of water. "I'll make you some soup and toast as well. I'm sure you're hungry. Do you need to pee?"

His eyes widened.

"Don't give me that look." She put the glass back on the nightstand. "You're going to need help getting to the bathroom."

He shook his head.

"Your pride isn't important to me right now, Crane. I know you can do it on your own, but you won't be able to complete certain tasks independently until you're completely healed. I want to make sure your most basic needs are met. That's includes using the bathroom and showering. You'll have your privacy; don't worry."

He pouted but nodded anyway. She carefully helped him sit up and handed him the crutches Mrs. Ann brought over last night. He wobbled, winced, grunted, cursed as he stepped toward the bathroom. The pain was a lot, but he was finally able to relieve himself, among other things. She told him there was a spare toothbrush and washcloth on the sink for him through the door. Then something fell on the ground. There was a light bang of some sort. He sounded really clumsy as she waited for him.

"You okay?"

He gave some kind of grumbled yes after he flushed the toilet. The water ran for a bit. Then he opened the door. She couldn't help but giggle at him. He frowned.

"I know it's not funny, but you look so disheveled. It's cute. Let me help you." She twisted his crooked pajama pants around his waist, tugged his shirt down, and wiped toothpaste from the corner of his mouth. Then she kissed his lips and helped him toward the kitchen. He slowly sat down in a chair and got as comfortable as he could.

"Your medicine should kick in real soon. I'll get your board."

He wrote on it while she prepared them breakfast. After she placed their food on the table and sat down herself, she read his message.

"Good morning, Treasure. Thank you so much for tending to my needs. If there's any way I can repay you for your kindness, then I shall see to it that you receive proper compensation. How was your call into work? Were you able to take two weeks off?"

She didn't want to get into that right now. He'd only blame himself if he knew she got fired.

"You don't have to pay me back, Crane. Your safety is enough. As for my job, I'm handling it. Speaking of which, we have to find you a cover. What happens when you're absent? Does someone come in for you?"

He nodded, erased, and scribbled on his board.

"Yes. A man by the name of Abraham Van Brunt takes over my duties while I'm away on vacation or sick. I shall call him after I've finished my breakfast; it is quite delicious, by the way. Did you prepare it?"

"Mrs. Ann made it. She'll probably come by later today. You'll finally get to meet her. She's amazing and has been really supportive of me and of us. She's the one who cleaned your injuries, gave you medicine, the clothes, and everything else."

"I'll have to express my sincerest thank you toward her for showing such kindness towards me," he wrote.

Abbie nodded, stirred her soup. "Maybe we'll make her dinner and dessert or something to show her our appreciation. We'll plan it."

He penned something else as he bit off his toast. "How is Miss Jenny?"

"I don't know. I didn't see her when I woke up. She's more than likely gone for the day."

"Will you ever mend your relationship with her?"

"I don't know, Crane. It's up—"

She heard the door open; funnily enough, it was Jenny herself. She ignored them sitting at the table and emptied her sack full of dollars, coins, and wrapped cookies and cakes.

"Good morning, Miss Jenny," Crane said.

"Crane—"

"It's alright. I'm able to speak briefly."

She didn't believe him, but she let him be.

Jenny glared at him. She crossed her arms and leaned against the counter.

"I understand you are quite angry, and you have every right to feel that way. I would like to apologize for causing a rift between you and your sister. That was not my intention. My intentions are not to put you or Abbie in—"

"You could get her killed, you know that? I could lose her because of you."

"Jenny—"

"She is correct, Abbie. Miss Jenny, I hope I can show you that I would never put your sister in danger. You have my word that I will protect her at all costs. I love her too much to put her in an unsafe environment or to permit ill will to happen to her."

"Yeah?"

"Yes."

"If you love her as much as you say, then let her go. That's the only way you'll be able to protect her. I don't know all the details about last night, but I can imagine she's probably already risked her safety for you, running around this goddamned neighborhood trying to make sure you're okay. And look at you, all blue and purple. You have stitches and broken bones. For what? For love?" She scoffed.

"With all due respect, Miss Jenny, I'd endure that beating over and over, if it meant those horrid men didn't lay one single finger on her. I have no regrets."

"What's going to happen next time? Hmm? And the time after that? No matter what you vow, she's going to be targeted. Do you even care about your own safety? Do her the favor, let her go." She finished unpacking her sack and then shut herself in her room.

Abbie didn't touch her soup or toast. She wasn't hungry anymore. He didn't say much as he finished his own food in silence. There was a prickle in her chest. She felt things were going to change between them soon enough and not for the better.

After breakfast, Crane called the library. Of course, Abraham could cover for him. Of course, Crane could take all the time he needed to heal from his "accident." Or course, he'd still have his job. Of course, he'd still receive some sort of paycheck. And of course, it pissed Abbie off, but she didn't tell him this. She was glad he still had his job, but it made her question their relationship and how that affected everything else, including her work. Just how much would she lose for choosing to love him? How much could she stand to lose and be okay with?

They napped for a couple of hours that day. Abbie gave him his medication every four hours as recommended and changed his bandages every so often. His scars on his face were healing well. She left the gauze off to give his wounds some air before redressing them. They ate ham sandwiches for lunch in her room to avoid a spat with Jenny. She read them a book and helped him shower for the first time as best she could. Then he somewhat helped her changed the bedding as well as fold their laundry. It was the least he could do, he said.

Later, Mrs. Ann arrived that evening to check on them and bring over some more First Aid supplies, medication, and clothes. Mr. Sam even accompanied her this time. All of them sat at the kitchen table over tea and muffins. With his board, Crane got a chance to ask them questions and get to know them. There was laughter, though not too much, because of Crane's rib, and smiles and jokes.

Crane was sure to thank them for all they'd done. He even stood up on his crutches and attempted to bow for them. Mrs. Ann blushed like Mr. Sam couldn't believe. After a while, Mr. Sam helped Crane back to bed and while Abbie and Mrs. Ann stood outside her apartment to catch up.

"How are you feeling, sugar? You talk to your sister?"

Abbie sighed. "She's….we got into a fight late last night. Of course, we didn't see eye-to-eye." Then she told her about this morning.

"You think he'll listen to her?"

"I don't know."

She doesn't know if Crane would want to call their relationship off. Jenny has a way of getting inside a person's head.

"We'll have to talk about where to go in our relationship later. I think for now, we just need to focus on making sure he's healed."

Mrs. Ann nodded. "I believe you two will survive. I like him, you know? I see why you like him. He really does love you, baby. And I know you love him. It'll be hard, yes, but you two will be okay. Love is a giant."

"Thank you, Mrs. Ann."

"What will you two do about work?"

She shared everything in between.

"I'd give that man a piece of mind if I could. And both of you work at the same place. That isn't right. I'm so sorry, baby. If you need anything…"

Abbie shook her head. "You've done enough for us. I couldn't ask that."

She had her savings. They were slim, but she had them. She'd make do.

"Just remember I'm here for you, sugar." Mrs. Anne kissed her check and hugged her.

She felt like she was running out of thank yous.

"Are you going to tell him?"

"I'm not sure." Abbie sighed. "He'll think it's fault, that he's the cause of it."

"It's not my place, and I can't tell you what to do, but just think on it."

"I'll do that."

They said goodnight, and Abbie went back inside. Before joining Crane, she showered and then got into bed with him.

"Are you in any pain?"

"A bit, but the medicine will take effect soon," he wrote.

"Well, let's get your mind off it. How about we play a game?"

He lowered his eyebrows at her.

"Don't look at me like that. We're never too old for games."

She hopped out of bed and grabbed the stack of cards on her dresser. They played a quiet game of Crazy Eights. He may or may not have cheated when she left to use the restroom. Abbie thought the game would distract her telling Crane about her job, but it didn't. It nagged at her, and it showed as a frown on her face during her turn.

Crane showed her his board.

"In all honesty, I'm not okay. There is something on my mind."

He took her hands as she took a breath.

"I lost my job." And she explained the rest.

Crane hurriedly scribbled on the board. He threatened to quit and seek other employment elsewhere. Any institution that unjustly mistreated her would not receive his service.

She shook her head. "You can't quit your job, Ichabod. It's your only source of income right now. You aren't even able to work yet. Leaving your job isn't the best idea, not even for me. I just consider it a sacrifice for us, a small price. I'll find something else, that's all."

Abbie should have more sense than this. This wasn't something to be nonchalant about, something to downplay, but she wanted them.

"That is where we differ in our views, Abbie. It's not a 'small price.' You shouldn't have to pay the price or be punished because of me. You should not have to pay the price with your relationships, with your job, and especially with your safety," he wrote.

"We knew this would be hard, didn't we? That there would be challenges? This is only the beginning. We could go to a café together and they wouldn't serve us; they'd probably tell me I should go to a café suited to serve customers like myself. It's how it's going to be. I need to know if we can withstand instances like that."

He shook his head and quickly erased the board. "What about instances where your life is threatened, Abigail? I will not tolerate that under any circumstances. Perhaps…"

"Perhaps what, Ichabod?"

Crane put his marker down and stared at her.

Tears crept over her eyelids. He tried to touch her cheek, but she turned away from him. She wiped her face, sat the board on the nightstand. Their relationship possibly ending was something she didn't want to address right now.

"It's getting late. We should sleep."

He opened his mouth, but she said, "Don't."

She didn't want his explanations, nor did she want him talking.

"Do you need to use the bathroom or need anything from the kitchen?"

He shook his head.

"Goodnight then." And she cut off the lamp.

He kissed her lips in the dark; it felt like the edge of goodbye.

Abbie received an unexpected call from Mrs. Ann this morning.

"Is everything okay?" she said.

"I'm fine, sugar. I have some news for you."

Her heart clattered in her chest. "What kind of news?"

"You have a job, baby." Mrs. Ann laughed.

She must've heard wrong. "What?"

"You have a job. I found out our unit is now short a secretary. Sally took a writing position with the newspaper in our area. We need someone to cover her shift during the evenings. It's part-time, but there is a possibility it may be full-time soon, depending on the workload. I've already talked to the supervisor in charge of the secretaries. I told her about your last position, and she really wanted to help out.

"Of course, I didn't disclose information about your relationship to her. It's nobody's business. You don't even have to interview for the position. All you have to do is come in one day this week to complete some paperwork and learn more about the job. You'll start next week."

She didn't know why God decided to bless her with someone like Mrs. Ann, but she was so glad He did.

"I don't even—" Her emotions were stronger than her voice and tears fell on her cheeks. "Mrs. Ann, you didn't have to."

"I wanted to. You've been through so much. I wanted to lift your spirit, baby."

"I don't know how to repay you for this."

"Don't worry about that. I hadn't known you long, but you've become like family to me, Abbie."

She wanted to hug her through the phone. "Thank you so, so much. That means more than you know. Do you know what the hours will be?"

"You'll work between 6pm-11pm. My shift ends at 6pm on a good day, so I'll be able to look after Ichabod for you while you go to work. If my shift runs late, then Sam can take over. He's finishes teaching around 2pm."

"But I couldn't—"

"Sam is fine with it. I've already spoke to him."

"But—"

"Don't argue with me, honey. Everything is worked out."

She smiled. "Yes, ma'am."

"Now, I've got to get back to work. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Okay. Thank you, Mrs. Ann. Really. Thank you. You've done a lot for me, and it has not gone unnoticed."

"You're more than welcome, sweet heart."

Abbie wished her a great day, and they hung up. She told Crane the news. He was more than happy for her. But even with this job, she felt he was still on the edge.