She said goodbye from the edge of the porch

Like he'd been some casual friend

She said "You're better off without me, I'm not what you need" like his mama had said about her

She started the car pulled out of the drive didn't waste anytime lookin back

He watched her go thinkin even a stranger would show more compassion than that

Emma and Neal have a three month old daughter, Kaitlynn. Emma feels nothing when she holds or feeds Kaitlynn. No love. No connection. No motherly instinct. No matter how hard she tried, she just felt nothing. Maybe she just feels guilty about the baby boy she gave up for adoption three years ago.

One morning, Emma packed up all her stuff. She said goodbye to Neal from the edge of the porch.

"Emma, wait! Don't leave. Kaitlynn needs you. I need you." Neal said in an effort to get Emma to not leave.

"Goodbye Neal. I'm sorry, but you and Kaitlynn are better off without me. I'm not what you need. I'm not what Kaitlynn needs as a mother." Emma explained "I don't love her. I feel nothing with her."

Then Emma got in the car, turned it on, and pulled out of the driveway. She didn't even look back at the family she was leaving behind. It was like, she never loved them at all. She didn't even think twice about leaving.

Neal held Kaitlynn in his arms as he watched Emma leave. He thought, 'Even a stranger would show more compassion than that.' He realized that maybe him and Kaitlynn were better off without Emma. Although he didn't know how he could possibly raise Kaitlynn by himself. She was going to need a mother, especially when she became a teenager. Or when she starts puberty or has her first period. There was no way that he explain to Kaitlynn all the changes that were happening in her body.

He could've cried but he didn't have time

He had a baby to feed, a pink blanket to find, to rock their little one to sleep

He could've laid in bed for hours giving misery the power

But he didn't have time

Neal ran his hand through his hair. He wanted to cry, but he knew he didn't have the time. He had to feed his daughter, and then find her favorite blanket so she'd go to sleep easier. Neal wanted to lay in bed for hours and wallow in his misery, but he didn't have the time.

He got a sitter and he got a job 'cause he had a promise to keep

His day was a factory and evenin survival and night was exhaustion and sleep

Sometimes he felt life was passing him by and watching was all he could do

His friends said "You gotta get outta the house and maybe you'll meet someone new"

Neal took some time off from work so he could take care of Kaitlynn, but when it was time to go back to work, he got a sitter since he had a promise to keep. Neal had promised his daughter that she would always be loved, looked after, and that she would have everything she needed in life.

Neal always felt so tired, but because of the schedule he had put in place because of Kaitlynn, he felt like he was running a factory. By the evening, he wasn't even living anymore. He was simply just surviving, and at night was exhaustion and sleep. Although he didn't sleep much, because Kaitlynn would wake up in the middle of the night crying.

Neal felt like life was passing him by, since he no longer had a social life because his life revolved around his daughter.

One day when his friend, Killian came over he said to Neal, "Dude, you gotta get out of this bloody house. Maybe then you'll meet someone new."

Neal sighed and replied, "I don't have the time." He watched his three year old daughter play with her toys.

Kaitlynn was building a tower and when she was satisfied with it, she turned around to her daddy and said, "Wook daddy, wook."

Neal smiled, "I see. Good job, baby." Kaitlynn smiled proud of herself and then went back to playing.

Killian shook his head, "Dude it's been three bloody years. You have to move on."

"It's not about that. I have moved on." Neal defended "I have to be there for Kaitlynn. She needs me. My whole world revolves around taking care of my daughter."

"Well Kaitlynn is going to need a mom eventually." Killian stated

Neal sighed because he knew his friend was right, but he really didn't have the time. Kaitlynn always came first for him.

He could've tried but he didn't have time

He had a five year old to feed, she had ballet class, piano lessons and t-ball little league

He could've laid awake for hours giving lonely nights the power

But he didn't have time

Neal could have taken his friend's advice from two years and tried to go out and find someone special that could hopefully become his wife and a mother to Kaitlynn, but he didn't have time. He now had a five year old to feed, and Kaitlynn had ballet class, piano lessons, and t-ball little league. Neal definitely didn't have time to go out and date even though he was lonely and all he wanted to do was lay awake for hours. He wanted to give loneliness the power, but he didn't have time.

Not time, where would he find the time to trust a woman again

Not time, for that flat tire, a crowded parking lot and then,

Not time, but yes have coffee with the woman that got his tire fixed

He was thinking "Gosh, she's beautiful"

When she asked

"Do you have kids?"

Neal had problems trusting woman around him and his daughter, and he didn't have time to try and trust a woman again. He didn't want to experience another woman walking out on him and Kaitlynn, like Emma had done.

And certainly didn't have time for the flat tire that he got in a crowded parking lot. Then a woman walked up to him and asked, "Do you need some help?"

"Oh that would be nice." Neal replied "My car got a flat and I'm in a hurry. You would happen to know how to change a tire?"

The woman nodded, "Actually I do."

Neal smiled gratefully and got out his spare tire. Then the nice woman help him change the tire. Once they were done Neal said, "Thank you so much. By the way, I'm Neal. Neal Cassidy"

"I'm Amelia. Amelia Shepherd." The woman replied introducing herself, "And you're welcome. It was no problem."

"Could I buy you a cup of coffee tomorrow to show my gratitude?" Neal asked

Amelia looked at him for a while before nodded, "Yes, you may. Here's my number." She handed him a paper with her cell phone number written down, which Neal took and then he handed her his cell phone number.

The next day Neal met Amelia for coffee after dropping Kaitlynn off at school. They were sitting and talking when Nea suddenly thought, 'Gosh, she's beautiful.'

"Hey, do you have kids?" Amelia asked

Neal was shocked by Amelia's question as he snapped back to reality.

He could've lied but he didn't have time, all he said was "She's five"

She said "I saw the car seat, I love kids, does she have your eyes"

And they sat and talked for hours givin destiny its power

He could've been afraid to fall in love that night

But he didn't have time

Neal could have lied to Amelia and told her that he didn't have kids, but he didn't have time. So instead he nodded and said, "She's five."

Amelia replied, "I saw the carseat in your car yesterday. I love kids. Do she have your eyes?"

Neal shook his head sadly, "No she's practically a carbon copy of her mother. Luckily though, she only looks like her mother."

"Why luckily?" Amelia asked

"My daughter's mother walked out on us when my daughter was only three months old." Neal explained

Amelia stated sympathetically, "Oh, I'm so sorry."

"It's okay." Neal replied "She's the one that's missing out. My daughter is an amazing little girl." Amelia just smiled

Then they sat and talked for hours letting destiny make it's own way. Neal could have been afraid to fall in love with Amelia, but it was just easier to give into his feelings for her. He didn't have the time to try and fight the feelings he had.