As they went to the front of the store, Stone thought about buying a bottle of wine for Cassandra. It was the polite thing to do but he wasn't sure if she even drank it or what kind she'd like. She did drink beer, which was usually what she ordered when they went out. In fact, she and he had almost identical tastes in beer and had she'd introduced him to a local microbrew recently that they both enjoyed. So instead, he snagged a six pack of it from the cooler.

"We should buy Andra flowers," Max said as they made their way to the registers. "Girls like flowers, right? Mama does."

"Well, Cassandra sure wears enough on her dresses." Stone chuckled. "But I'd bet she'd like flowers from you. What should we get her?"

"Lots of colors," Max nodded. "Andra likes colors."

Stone laughed this time, his son sure had his co-worker begged. He let Max pick out the flowers, the most colorful assortment in the ready to go bouquets. He really didn't want to know how much they cost, but two sets of smiles, the one on Max's face when he picked it and the one he knew Cassandra would give Max made it worth it.


Cassandra looked over her dinner preparations and checked her phone for texts. She and Stone had exchanged a few, mostly related to directions and food preferences. She'd realized she hadn't asked if Max had any food allergies or was a picky eater before she'd left the store. Aside from the ranch dressing preference that she'd guessed, Stone has assured her that Max would be fine with her menu.

There was a text from Stone saying he and Max had just left and they'd be at her place in less than 15 minutes, depending on traffic.

The sauce and meatballs were simmering on very low where they would be fine. The bread was wrapped in foil to keep warm and the water was being kept at a low boil. She'd boil the pasta right at the last minute. The salad was already in bowls ready for dressing. The table was set. She'd completely forgotten to ask about beverages.

She sighed. She only had a bottle, maybe two of beer having completely forgotten to stock up. She did have milk for Max. And there was always water. She didn't want to bother Stone when he was driving, so it would have to do.

She looked around quickly to make sure the place looked presentable. She wasn't sure how child proof her place was, but she didn't really spend a lot of time there to get it too messy. She was sure it was fine.

It was when she checked her hair in the mirror a couple of minutes before she expected Stone that she finally gave herself a firm talking to. This was not a date. She and Stone were not like that, wouldn't ever be like that. She was having friends over for dinner and it was just like the last time Stone had been in her apartment. Only instead of having Baird and Ezekiel with him, he had his son. That was all.

The doorbell rang and she wiped her palms down her skirt and went to open it.

Max was holding a colorful bouquet of flowers, smiling his smile that made his little eyes crinkle up. How had she not seen the similarities to Stone? Because she hadn't even thought of the possibility. But now she knew why she'd been drawn to the little one.

"These are for you," Max said holding them out to her.

She smiled back at him, exactly how his father had pictured it. "That's so sweet! Thank you so much, Max." She looked up at Stone, "and you as well."

"They were all his idea," Stone smiled down at the boy. "But he was so proud of himself, I had to let him get you them. I brought that beer you like."

"Oh good!" Cassandra laughed. "I totally forgot about something to drink and I was afraid you and I were going to have to split a beer. Is milk okay for Max? I know kids drink whole but all I have is 1%."

"It's okay, he'll probably want water anyway, he's picky about the milk."

"Come on, Max," she held a hand out for the child and he took it beaming happily. "Let's get these pretty flowers in some water."

She lead her guests into the kitchen where Stone put the beer in the fridge and asked if he could help with anything.

"If you could turn the heat up on the water, I just need to boil the pasta and we'll have dinner." Cassandra, said, busying herself with arranging the flowers in her favorite vase.

She noticed Max was very careful around the stove and she once again was struck by how well mannered he was. Whatever had happened with his mother, the child had been very well raised.

"Water's boilin'," Stone said. "This the pasta you want to use?"

"Yes, if you can start it, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks, Stone."

Stone nodded, but as he picked up the box, he said, "we're not at work. You can call me Jacob."

She nodded, "alright, Jacob."

Jacob had mentioned to Max that he needed to wash his hands, so Cassandra put the flowers on the china cabinet near her dining room table and directed Max to the powder room.

"He's so polite," she mentioned to Jacob when she returned to the kitchen. "Always thank you, ma'am. You should be very proud of him."

Jacob smiled softly. "I am. We tried real hard to raise him right. His mama has her faults, lord knows I have 'em myself, but she did good with him."

"Is . . .is she okay?" Cassandra's eyes held nothing but concern and Jacob knew that she at least knew his ex had been abused.

He nodded. "Yeah, thank God. Course, he left her, not the other way 'round. Not sure all the details but my sister said the law came after him for somethin', rumor is child support, and he lit out in the middle of the night. Good riddance as far as Josie's concerned. Weren't too long after I took Max. But she's . . . . Well, he's better off here."

"Well, I'm glad to hear she's safe at least."

"Cassie, I know you have a lot of questions . . . ."

"I do. But let's eat first, okay? Then we'll put a movie on for Max and you and I can talk. And whatever you want to tell me, Jacob, I'm here to listen."

He nodded, smiling softly. "I could really use a friend, Cassandra. It's been hard keeping it all in. I was about to tell everyone about him. But, I'm not sure I want Baird, Jenkins and especially Jones to know it all and . . . ."

Max came back into the kitchen and Cassandra told Stone to get beverages for everyone while she drained the pasta.

Cassandra had thought that the conversation might be awkward given that she and Stone couldn't really talk about work in front of Max. But the child was much more talkative than he'd been when he'd first come to the program and they all found enough to talk about.

After dinner, Stone offered to help Cassandra wash up. It was a good way for them to talk. So Cassandra took Max into the living room.

"How about you get started on a movie while your dad and I clean up?" Max nodded and Cassandra took a handful of movies down. "I have these Disney movies or we can see what's on Netflix or tv."

Luckily Toy Story was among the movies Cassandra had and Max was content to watch that.

"So where do you want to start?" Stone asked as Cassandra filled the sink with soapy water.

"Wherever you're willing to start," she answered, stacking up the dishes by the sink.

Stone took the dish cloth out of her hand and took his place in front of the sink. She had a dishwasher, but washing the dishes by hand lengthened their time to talk. She shrugged and took out a dish towel. Just as well as she knew where everything went.

"Cassandra, you gotta have questions."

"Well, I do. But the biggest one is why? Why, Jacob? Why didn't you tell us? We keep hearing how dangerous our job is and you've gotten injured so many times! What if something happened to you? None of us would have known about Max."

Jacob nodded his head, looking intently at the soapy water and turning off the faucet. "I know. It wasn't a problem when he was safe in Oklahoma with Josie."

"Yes, but he's been here since at least January . . . ."

"Yeah, I went home for Christmas and went right to Josie's place. And well, you probably know most of that."

"I know that your ex-wife's boyfriend was about to strike Max and that you took custody." Cassandra shook her head as she took the plate Jacob rinsed off. "And I know Max was in the program longer than he should have been because you worked long and unpredictable hours. If I'd only known. But Jacob . . . ."

"I know. I know. I did make plans just in case. I wrote a letter all about Max and everything all ya'll would need to know if anything happened to me. I left it with Jenkins the day I came back to the Annex after getting Max settled. I knew Jenkins wouldn't open it ahead of time and would do what I asked. I know it's not enough, Cassandra. I know that. Mabel's fate was eye opening to me."

Cassandra's face fell and Jacob suddenly turned the water off. "Cassandra, what happened with her? I don't blame you. She didn't blame you. It wasn't your fault. We did what was right. And I'm sorry if I hurt you in any way."

Cassandra blinked. So obviously Stone hadn't noticed her behavior in Collins Falls or realized why she was avoiding him. Thank goodness. She offered him a smile. "Thank you for that. I really needed to hear that. And I'm really glad to know that you did make plans in case something were to happen to you. But . . . ."

"I know. Honestly, Cassandra, I didn't really think about all of this. I didn't . . . there was so much going on. Suddenly becoming the sole parent, moving him across country from his family, his friends and his mother? I've been so overwhelmed. I've really just been living day to day. While saving the world every week . . . ."

"Twice before Friday," Cassandra finished with a smile. "I do get it. And if you don't feel like you can tell the others now, well you've told me and I'm willing to help."

"I want to be able to introduce Max to the Library and the Back Door. When he's a bit older, you know? He's too young now to understand. Josie put him in my hands because she wanted him to have more than we did. And he will. I'm just not sure how to go about it."

"I'm willing to help you figure that out. Have you any help at all? I mean you must have some child care for him."

"My neighbor, Sarah, she's a single mom, I swear she knows everything about raising a kid in Portland." Jacob chuckled, "she recommended a day care and the program and a list of babysitters when she's not available. Even gave me recs on the preschool I have him enrolled at. But Sarah, even though she's my friend, she thinks I'm an engineer. She knew I had a son, even before Max came here, but you know magic Library."

Cassandra nodded. "So that's why you're willing to talk to me?"

"I need a friend, Cassandra. I just . . .I know things with us are more complicated than they need to be. But I trust you, I know I should have said it long ago, but in Collins Falls . . . .I didn't like what had to be done, but I knew you were right. I knew then that I trusted you completely. And I can trust you with Max. And for once in my life, I really just need someone who knows everything. Who I am, what I'm going through. I know it's a lot to ask someone that I've treated so badly . . . ."

"Jacob . . ." Cassandra sighed. "Let's just start over, okay? We'll forget what happened in the past and just start over? As friends? For Max's sake? I really like your kid, you know."

Jacob smiled, relief across his face. "Thank you."

Then he resumed washing the dishes. Cassandra dried in silence for a couple of moments. "How long were you and Josie married?"

Jacob bit his lip. "Technically almost three years, took six months to finalize everything."

"So were. . ." Cassandra struggled on how to ask.

"We got married because she was pregnant," Jacob said bluntly. "I wanted to do right by them. It was what was expected . . . .And on paper, Josie was the perfect girl for someone like me."

"Who you were pretending to be."

"Yeah," Jacob sighed. "I did want it to work. I tried. She tried. But not enough, I guess. Sometimes I wish I'd been stronger. We could have left that town, maybe in another place, she and I could have worked it out."

"Could have beens are tough," she said softly. "Despite everything, you did okay with Max. He's such a good boy. He's come out of his shell here. He did tell me you and Josie used to fight and that he wasn't supposed to know."

Jacob sighed, handing her another rinsed dish. "We made a point to not fight in front of him. But I guess you can't completely hide it."

Cassandra gave a small smile, "especially not from a boy as smart as Max is." She chuckled. "He said you told him some day Josie would come to her senses. He didn't know what that meant."

Jacob chuckled too. "I hope she does. I'd really like her to come out here with us. "

Stone didn't notice Cassandra's face falling as she misunderstood his comment, he just kept talking. "Max and I weren't not ever going back there. Our life is here in Portland. And Josie could have a life here too, but that's her decision. I can't force her hand, I can only keep asking. I promised her I'd give our son a better life. And that's what I'm going to do. With or without her."

Cassandra took a deep breath, again Jacob had subtly indicated that a romantic relationship was not in the cards for them. But he'd asked her for her friendship and that would have to be enough. It was more than she thought she'd ever get from him and she just wanted him and Max in her life. So be it. Friends it was.

"Well," Cassandra smiled and to her surprise it wasn't forced. "I'm willing to do all I can to help you give him that life."

"Daddy! Andra! Are you coming to watch this?"

"We're almost finished," Cassandra called back, laughing. Then she turned to Jacob, "I mean it. He helped me too. Volunteering with those kids has helped me so much, but ever since he came. . . .He's helped me through some rough patches just with that smile of his. So anything for him, okay?"

"Thank you, Cassandra."