October 15, 1885
Edgeworth & Wright Law Offices
110 Macklin Street, Los Angeles, California
11 A.M.

I finished hanging up the shingle on the outside of the home that Miles and I shared together, stepping down from the ladder and looking at my work with satisfaction while I stood on the cobblestone sidewalk that led to the three story house brick house on the corner.

Miles had resigned from his position of the county Prosecutor in early 1884, shortly after we began courting, in order to devote his time to a new practice that we went into jointly later that September. I still retained my position as defense counsel although I was more often than not partnered with Miles investigating cases of all kinds that we took for clients.

Mr. Clark had moved on since Miles had arranged for him to take another job at a firm in Cloverdale once we had made our intention known that we were going into partnership together. From all reports, he was very happy and thriving in his new workplace for which I was grateful. I couldn't help but wonder from time to time if he had managed to curb those habits of his that had so annoyed me but pushed that into the further recesses in my mind. He was happy working at his new place and that was all that mattered.

I looked up at the sign, a wide smile spreading over my face. Mr. Larson had done himself well, making this beautiful sign for us to announce our new partnership. He'd insisted on it; even though we had tried to pay him for his work, he steadfastly refused to take our money saying that we had already paid in full by our defense of his nephew who had been accused of a crime that he hadn't committed.

He'd been declared innocent thanks to our uncovering of the real facts of the case that had very nearly cost our housekeeper her life when three of the men responsible for the crime had come to our home. Needless to say, she promptly gave us her notice and, while we were sad to see her go, neither of us could really blame her for leaving after what had happened.

Miles came out on to the porch, his hand resting lightly on the railing as he looked over to where I stood, a sweet smile spreading over his face. I turned to look at him, smiling in return.

"How does it look?" I asked, squinting up at it to make sure that it was straight.

"It looks wonderful, Phoenix," he replied, coming down the steps and walking over to me, putting his arm around my shoulders. "You did an excellent job putting it up."

"Thanks." I snuggled closer to him, sighing happily. I could feel his head slowly come to rest against mine and we stood in companionable silence this way for some time before Miles regretfully moved away but not before I had managed to steal a kiss from him. He chuckled at my cheeky expression and leaned in, kissing me again, his mouth moving sweetly against mine.

"Wonderful," I murmured softly as his lips gently touched mine in the softest of butterfly kisses. I took his hand and squeezed it lovingly.

He smiled at me once again as he looked down the street. He took out his pocket watch and noted the time before he closed it and returned it to his breast pocket of his black suit.

My eyebrow raised.

"What are you doing, Miles?"

"I'm waiting for someone who should be arriving at any moment."

"Oh? Who might that be?" My voice echoed my puzzlement. As far as I knew, we had no clients scheduled to come to our office today.

"The woman who answered our advertisement for a housekeeper last week. She's coming by this morning for an interview."

"That's right." I blushed. "I'd completely forgotten that she was coming by today what with the three cases we've been investigating for the past month or so."

Miles chuckled softly but made no comment and we stood there in silence for a few moments more before his face brightened. "Ah! There she comes now."

I turned my head slightly to see an older woman of about sixty or so coming toward us, walking briskly. As she came closer, we could see that she had a round, pleasant face with sparkling blue eyes behind her round glasses and salt and pepper hair escaping from a tidy bun that was gathered at the nape of her neck. She was dressed plainly in a black dress with white lace at the throat but carried herself with dignity and she held out her hand when she arrived, taking each of our hands in turn and shaking them heartily.

"Wonderful! May I ask your name, Mrs. -?" I paused a moment, my brow furrowing. "I didn't catch your name."

She smiled gently. "Cameron. Delphine Cameron." She curtsied, a twinkle in her eye. "At your service, Sir." I couldn't help but smile at her impishness and neither, it seemed, could Miles.

The interview lasted all of two minutes and, at its conclusion, we'd happily hired her. Her references were solid and she was a pleasant person with a winning smile, as well. She would definitely be a boon to all those who came through our door.

We asked her how long it would take her to move her things into our home since the position was live-in and she said it wouldn't take long, perhaps a day or two at the most. She was a widow of many years with nine children scattered about the country at large and she was more than happy to take the position.

"Welcome to our home, Mrs. Cameron. We hope you'll be happy with us."

"Oh, I'm sure that I will be, Sir," she replied, her eyes twinkling as she made her way down the walk and up the steps. "It will be like having my children home again."

I chuckled while Miles looked bewildered as she disappeared into the house. I leaned over and kissed him again before I turned and started walking toward the house and, after a few moments, Miles shook his head and hurried after me. Little did we know then just how much a part of our lives that Mrs. Delphine Cameron would come to be.

All that was in the future and for now I took a deep breath, inhaling deeply the crisp air with relish. All was right with the world.

.:FIN:.

My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you
I've been running around in circles in my mind
And it always seems that I'm following you...
Cause you take me to the places that alone I'd never find...

...I can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started fighting for...
And if I have to crawl across the floor
Come crashing through your door
Baby I can't fight this feeling anymore...

+REO Speedwagon-Can't Fight This Feeling