When Maya and Katy got to Riley's room, they went to the bay window.

"Maya, what's wrong?" Katy asked, worried.

"Nothing's wrong, Mom. Don't worry. I just wanted to talk to you about something."

"Okay. What is it?" Katy asked, worry still apparent in her eyes.

"Well, I wanted to talk to you…about Shawn."

"What about him?"

Maya looked around, not knowing how to begin the conversation. She didn't want her motives to be so obvious, but she knew her mother would notice if she beat around the bush.

"Maya, what about Shawn?" Katy asked again, interrupting Maya's thoughts.

"Well, I've been spending a lot of time with him lately, I guess, and I want to know what you think of him."

"You know what I think of him, hun. I think he's a good person for you to be around, and as long as he stays around, he can be a good influence on you."

"But that's what you think of him in relation to me," Maya said. "What do you think about him? I mean, do you like him?"

"Maya, I'm not sure where this is going, but I don't see how this-"

"Mom. Just please tell me. I want to know what you think of him. Do you think you're friends?"

"Sure. I mean, he's been very kind to us and helped us a lot," Katy answered thoughtfully.

"Do you like him as more than a friend?" Maya asked.

Katy stared wide-eyed at her daughter, her mouth fumbling to create words.

"Maya, that is not appropriate!" she exclaimed.

"Mom, I just want to know-"

"No, Maya! I don't want to hear anything else about it!"

Maya looked down and sat, thinking, for a few moments.

Then she quietly said, "Mom, can I trust you enough to tell you anything?"

"Of course, Maya."

"Because you've said that I should be able to trust you no matter what. And that our relationship should always be open. That I can come to you for anything, no matter what."

"Yes, Maya. That's all true."

"Then why doesn't that work the other way around?" Maya asked, looking up at her mother.

"What?" Katy asked quietly.

"You expect me to be able to come to you for anything, but you won't trust me with a small part of yourself. How can you think that someone could trust you if you don't trust them?" Maya asked.

"Maya, I trust you. I do."

"How can I know that? You don't tell me anything. I feel like I'm the only one that ever talks. I feel like you know me, but you don't give me a chance to know you," Maya said.

Katy closed her eyes and sighed. "Can I tell you something?"

"Yeah."

"Ever since…ever since your father left, I haven't been very open to people, you know? I think maybe I'm just scared that they'll leave me too. Not that I think that about you, honey, but I think years of worrying about that has changed the way I interact with people."

"Mom, I'm not going to leave you," Maya said.

"I know, baby," Katy said, stroking her daughter's cheek.

"You can trust me."

"I know."

"Mom, please," Maya said, pleading with her eyes. "Tell me."

Katy sighed and looked at her daughter with a small smile.

"Okay," she said.

Maya's heart skipped a beat as she heard her mother promise to open up.

"What do you want to know?" Katy asked softly.

"Mom, do you like him? Shawn, I mean?" Maya asked.

Katy looked down for a few seconds and then looked back up at Maya.

"I like that he's kind. I like that he's a friend of yours. And I like that he says he's a stayer. We could sure use one of those, kiddo."

"Yeah, we could," Maya said. "Do you think he could be our stayer?" Maya asked.

"I think he already is," Katy said. "He hasn't left, and I don't think he's going to," she added with a small smile.

"I really like him, Mom. I wouldn't mind if you did, too."

Katy chuckled and said, "We'll see."

"So, wait, do you like him?"

"I think that this is a person that you really respect. And I think I would really like to get to know him better, because if you like him this much, I probably would too," Katy said.

"Will you, then? Get to know him I mean?" Maya asked.

"I don't know, Maya. Maybe."

"But you want to?"
"Yeah, sure. Like I said, we could use a stayer in our lives."

"Mom, can I tell you something now?" Maya asked.

"Of course, baby."

"Please don't get mad at me for saying this," Maya said.

"Oh, no," Katy said, chuckling. "That's never a good start."

"Well, I may have some inside information on the life of Shawn Hunter."

"Oh?" Katy asked, intrigued.

"Yeah. And this inside information tells me that he'd really like to get to know you too."

"Is that so?" Katy asked.

"Yeah," Maya said. "So you guys should talk about that."

"Maybe we will," Katy said. "But why are you trying so hard to get me interested in Shawn Hunter?"

Maya said, "Because I really like him, Mom. And I really love you. I want you to be happy."

"Thank you, baby," Katy said with a smile. "I want you to be happy, too."

"Then will you talk to him? Please?"

"Okay," Katy said.

Maya's heart skipped a beat at that word again. She had taken them to the final stage of the plan: Shawn and Katy's meeting. Once they actually met, it would be in their hands.

I really like this chapter! I know some people have been asking about when we'll see Katy more, or why she hasn't really contributed to conversations. It's all been part of it! :) I hope your questions have been at least partially answered in this chapter!

Please review and let me know what you think! I appreciate each review! Thank you for reading!