Pie pushed open the door to the bedroom with his foot and carried a tray of food into the room. He set the tray on the nightstand and sat next to Hattie. "Good morning, darling..." When she began to stir, he bent down and kissed her.

She opened her eyes. "Good morning..."

He brushed the hair from her face. "Are you alright?" he asked softly. She nodded. He caressed her cheek. "I brought you breakfast."

She sat up. "Dolan, you didn't have to do that..."

"I wanted to." He grabbed his pillow and put it behind her back. "You cook breakfast and dinner for us and pack me a lunch to take to work. Let me do something for you."

"If you insist..."

"I do," he said, placing the tray on the bed between them. "I thought it best not to try my hand at cooking, so I went downstairs and talked to North"

"She has enough people to cook for Dolan."

He smiled at her. "I paid her for it."

"Good," she said, picking up her plate. "This smells so wonderful."

"Some of it looks...interesting..." he replied.

Hattie laughed. "They're from the South, Dolan. Instead of just bringing her flowers and candy, her boyfriend brings her what she needs to cook her favorite foods from back home."

"It must be expensive."

"I think it's sweet."

He finished his food and set his plate on the tray. "I have to work a double shift today, so don't wait up for me."

She glanced away from him. "I won't."

"If I don't hurry, I'm gonna be late." He stole a kiss from her and left the room.

-

Hattie shifted the basket from one hand to the other as she walked down the docks, looking for Dolan. He had been pulling a lot of double shifts the last few weeks and had left without his lunch that morning. Spotting Beau, Hattie hurried toward him. "Good morning, Beau."

He bowed. "Good morning, sweet lady."

She blushed slightly. "Dolan left without his lunch...could you give this to him."

"I can do better. I was about to call lunch, so why don't you stay and eat with him." He turned and whistled loudly, signalling lunch for his men.

Dolan saw Hattie and jogged over to them, kissing her cheek. "You didn't have to bring me lunch."

"I have the day off...and Beau told me that I should stay and eat with you. If you don't mind that is."

He took the basket from her. "I don't mind...and he's the boss around here." He led her to a quiet spot away from the rest of the men for them to sit.

-

It was dark and snowing when Hattie left the store where she worked as a bookkeeper. She turned to lock the door but her hands were so cold she kept having trouble.

"Let me sweetheart..."

She gasped and turned to see Pie behind her. "You frightened me."

He stole a kiss and took the keys from her. "My apologies." He locked the door for her. "North told me you had to stay late, so I thought I'd come walk you home."

"You didn't have to do that," she said, rubbing her hands together.

"I didn't like the idea of you walking home by yourself in the dark."

"To be honest, I wasn't too fond of the idea myself.."

He smiled and took her hands. "We need to get you some gloves and a scarf."

"I'm fine..."

"Nonsense," he said as they walked home. "Hattie...you don't have to work you know."

She sighed. "I think I would go crazy if I didn't have something to do."

"What about when we have kids?" he asked, and then laughed when she looked up at him shocked. "Don't look so surprised, darling. They'll come along one day..."

She was silent for a moment before answering. "I used to hate it when my mama would leave me at home to go to work."

He wrapped an arm around her waist. "If you want to stop work once we have a family that's fine with me."

"When we have a family, I'll stop," she said, leaning close to him for warmth. He kissed the side of her head and continued to hold her close as they walked the last few blocks.

-

In the corner of the room a dark headed toddler played with six active kittens while nearby flaxen-haired infant slept peacefully in her crib. Across the room five woman sat near the fireplace talking in low tones.

Rae nudged Jess and nodded toward Hattie. "Someone looks happy..."

Jess smiled. "Could it be her husband that makes her look that way..."

Hattie blushed and took a sip of her coffee.

"She's blushing," Silk said. "You girls really must tell me what's been happening. I feel so left out sometimes..."

"I've noticed Dolan leaving the flat and bringing breakfast back a few mornings," Jess answered.

"And he always manages to forget his lunch on her days off," Rae added.

North turned to Hattie. "I guess the two of you talked."

"Yes we did," Hattie replied, blushing even brighter.

"I think they more than talked," Rae laughed. "I'd say from that blush that there was quite a bit of kissing involved and maybe something more..."

"Alana Rae Kelly!" North snapped, sending her a look.

"How did you learn my full name?!" Rae asked.

"My brother bribed Spot," she answered simply.

"I'm going to kill your husband, Silk..." Rae said.

Silk laughed. "Just don't hurt him too badly. I need his help with Blythe."

North shot Rae another look and turned back to Hattie. "What happened?"

"Well, I asked him if he still wanted me...and he told me that what happened wasn't my fault, that it was his fault. And then he said that we didn't marry for love but we had become friends and started to care for each other. I agreed and then he kissed me...and...He didn't pressure me at all...but it was my choice..."

North squeezed her hand. "It's good to see you so happy."

"If they keep this up, it won't be too long before she'll have a little one over there with Blythe and Callie," Silk said.

-

Pie stopped just outside the door to his flat and took a deep breath. How was he supposed to tell her? Things had been going so well between them lately and now he had to hurt her again. He pushed open the door and watched her move around the small kitchen as she prepared their dinner.

Hattie was humming to herself as she set the table and smiled when she looked up and saw him standing in the doorway. "You're home early..." she said, rushing across the room to where he stood and lifting her face for a kiss.

He wrapped an arm around her and bent his head to give her the kiss. "Something came up and I had to take the day off..."

She looked up at him. "Dolan...what's wrong?"

He held her to him for a moment before leading her over to the couch and sitting down next to her. "Hattie, darling...I have something to tell you..."

"What is it, Dolan?" she asked, concern written on her face.

He took her hands and hesitated a moment before answering. "You know that I had been with other girls before we met..."

She nodded. "Yes, I know"

"The brother of one of those girls came to see me today at the docks." He stopped and took a deep breath. "She had a son several months ago...and he's mine."

Hattie pulled her hands away and walked over to the window, staring out it. He had a son with someone else. A month ago it wouldn't have bothered her, but now...she had fallen hard for him. "Why did he come tell you now?"

He sighed. "Because she's dead...and her parents don't want to keep the boy..."

"And if we don't take him he'll end up in an orphanage..." she finished.

"Yes, he'll end up in an orphanage just as I did."

She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the cool windowpane. "Do you want him, Dolan?"

"I told myself years ago that I would never allow a child of mine to end up in an orphanage...yes, I do want him." She turned and walked toward the bedroom. Dolan stood and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Hattie..."

She turned and looked up at him. "I need some time, Dolan. Just give me some time." When she turned to go into the bedroom again he didn't stop her. She closed the door and threw herself on the bed, allowing the tears that had been threatening to spill for several minutes to finally fall.

He sat back down on the couch listening to her sob. He put his head in his hands, not knowing what else to do. At long last he heard the bedroom door softly open and turned to look at her.

Cheeks tear-stained and face pale, she stood with her chin up. "Go get your son, Dolan."

He hurried over to her. "Are you sure, Hattie?"

"He's your son...and I don't think I could live with myself if you sent your son to the orphanage because of me."