There was a little bit of awkwardness at my place. But then she hadn't seen my new apartment yet so that was good and I was a little proud like showing her that I was doing alright after all. Joanie went to get herself ready for bed since it was really late and Emma came closer to me to talk to me.

"You didn't have to bring me here, Jimmy," she said.

"Yeah," I replied, "I did. And it'll be good for Joanie too."

Emma looked at me a little strange and I explained about Aaron. I left out everything that happened on the roof from me telling her an inappropriate story to what Emma would deem inappropriate activity.

"You think me keeping you apart is going to be good for her?" she asked. I think she understood that even if we had shared a bed that night that things probably wouldn't have gotten frisky. We were past that intensity and emotion for the night and at first I worried that Joanie would still need me to hold her. But when Joanie invited Emma, I knew she wasn't just being selfless and she wasn't only thinking of Emma.

"Her mom is pretty tore up and Judy is about all the poor woman can handle," I explained, "She needs a mom right now, not her boyfriend."

I'll admit the proud man part of me hated that she needed something I couldn't give her. I knew that if other events hadn't happened that she would have been fine with me but Emma being there was perfect. I knew Joanie would be better off for Emma being the one next to her and it would help Emma feel better to still be able to mother someone.

I pulled the bed out of the couch and grabbed some sheets out of my closet and Joanie came out of the bathroom. She gave me a quick kiss and then put her hand on the side of my face.

"We're okay, right?" she asked and I nodded. I pulled her to me and held her close for a minute.

"We're just fine," I whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too," she said and then studied my eyes for just a moment. "I always will."

She kissed me again and went to the bedroom calling good night to me. I told the ladies good night and watched as the bedroom door closed. It was about then it hit me how tired I was right then. It had been a really long day and I had plenty to keep me busy the next day. I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow or maybe somewhere along the descent.

When I woke up, I could smell the takeover of my kitchen that had occurred. Emma and Joanie were cooking up a storm. I went over and slid my arms around Joanie's waist from behind leaning around and kissing her cheek.

"Good morning, beautiful," I said, "How're you doing today?"

"Better," she smiled up at me. I could tell she wasn't exactly lying but she wasn't all better and I knew she wouldn't be until Mr. Shapiro brought Aaron home. At least she was a little better.

"Morning Emma," I said when I saw her standing there with her hand on her hip like she was pretending to disapprove. But we hadn't done anything really wrong. I mean it really was just a peck on the cheek. I leaned over and kissed Emma on the cheek making her blush.

"So you did notice me here," she said.

"You have to understand," I said trying to defend myself, "I'm not used to having two beautiful women in my kitchen. But you know who would have noticed you first? That Detective Cain."

That brought an even darker blush to her cheeks.

"Oh Jimmy," she said, "He was just doing his job."

"He told me he'd be over to help replace your windows today," I informed her, "That's not just part of his job."

"Oh Emma," Joanie gushed, "He was really handsome too."

Then she remembered I was still standing there and tried to cover.

"I mean, well, um, for you because, I."

I pulled her into a hug to save her.

"As long as you ain't looking for yourself," I said, "I think I'll just let it slide this time."

We ate and then headed over to Emma's. It was hard not to notice the little whimper when she saw the house. It wasn't a fearful type of sound; just I think a little sadness at the damage that was done. I swore to myself that house would be just the way it was before by the time I was done that day.

I set to taking measurements while Joanie and Emma started sweeping up glass. Al joined me and we headed to my car to make a run to the hardware store. Before we could get there, Sam Cain pulled up to the curb.

"Jimmy," he nodded at me and I returned the gesture.

"Sam," I answered.

"How's Mrs. Shannon this morning?"

"She's much better for a good night's sleep," I said, "But if you really want to get anywhere with her, you're going to have to get on a first name basis."

He looked like he wanted to protest and then just smiled, "Is it that obvious?"

I just smiled back at him. Al decided to stay with the women and get the glass shards out of the frames so we could replace the glass when we got back.

"So how do you know Emma?" Sam asked me on the way back from the store.

"Well," I began and then wondered how to begin. I decided that trying to lie about my past wasn't going to accomplish a damned thing so I went with the God's honest truth. "I got in a lot of trouble when I was a kid and Al sort of took me under his wing, along with a bunch of my friends. Emma lives next door to Al and she just couldn't see all us kids going without supper and stuff like that. She's more my mom than my mom is."

"Is she seeing anyone these days?"

I shook my head.

"I don't think she's had anything serious since her husband died and I got the idea that was quite some time ago," I told him, "She deserves some happiness, she really does. You seem like a nice guy and I hope for her sake you are."

I paused and really thought about what I was about to say next.

"It's probably a bad idea to say this but I'm going to anyway. I'm not the only kid she took care of like she did. If you ever hurt her, you'll have to answer to us all."

I really wondered if it had been wise to say that but Emma was real special to me and he had to know that he couldn't toy with her.

"It's okay, Jimmy," he said and I knew he was talking about my fear over the threat I had just made on a police officer. "I have no plans to hurt that woman. I thought maybe I could take her to dinner and a show sometime. And I used to get in trouble when I was a kid too so you don't have to worry about that either."

"What are the chances you'll catch the guys who broke in?" I asked trying to change the subject and satisfied for the time that he wasn't playing fast and loose with Emma.

"I hate to admit it," he said, "But they aren't all that great."

"Is she in any danger?" I asked.

"It's not likely that they'd come back to the same place," he answered, "Especially since it looks like they are trying to target homes with no one home or with really sound sleepers. I still asked the boys on the night shift to drive by a few times a night and check things out and I'll stop by now and again if that's okay."

"Only if you want to," I said, "Al's right next door and during the day he and I are just at the garage on the corner. We can look after her. Don't come by and make her think things unless she'd be right in thinking them. You can tell her anything you want to but don't come by unless it's her you want to see. And she's a real proper lady too."

He looked me right in the eye and said, "I want to check on her and I want to see her. I really do. I just met her and I'm not saying I want to marry her because I just don't know but I want to see her. I won't be improper with her. I was just thinking dinner and movies and evenings spent on that porch swing of hers."

"She'd like that, I think," I said.

We pulled up to her house and got to work. Al had already gotten the window frames ready so we just had to get the panes of glass in and secure them. I'll never be a professional glazer and neither will Sam but they looked fine and the glass was secure and before Emma and Joanie even had lunch ready for us, she had her big picture window back in the front as if nothing had even happened.

"Well, Detective Cain," Emma began and was immediately cut off.

"Please just call me Sam."

"Alright Sam," and I'm pretty sure I saw a little smile as she said his name, "I appreciate you coming out and helping Jimmy with the window. Is that some new service the police department is offering these days?"

"No, ma'am," he said looking at his plate. "I just wanted to come by and help."

"How about you call me Emma instead of 'ma'am' from now on?"

There was a look passing between the two of them and we all saw it and we all understood it.

"There's a spot on that window frame I'm not sure I got secure enough," I said and headed for the living room.

"And I didn't get one of those pictures back on the wall," said Joanie.

"I guess I've about done all I can here," Al said standing up, "I think the Tigers are about to come on the radio."

Now Al was the only one who didn't lie to one extent or another. Joanie had gotten all the pictures back on the wall and that window was as secure as it was going to get but Sam and Emma needed a bit of privacy and I couldn't just leave because Emma would have felt wrong being in the house alone with a man she hardly knew. I could hear the conversation from where I was pretending to recheck my glazing work.

"Thank you for coming today, Sam," I heard Emma say.

"I was glad to help," he replied.

There was silence for a bit and I was getting a little frustrated with him. I know he liked her and wanted to ask her out. I was just starting to fear he'd chicken out but then he spoke again.

"Emma," he started cautiously, "I was wondering if I could take you to dinner tonight."

"Why Sam," Emma said as though she hadn't known the question was coming. "I think that would be lovely."

Joanie and me exchanged smiles. It was about time Emma got some happiness and started living for herself.

Sam and Emma came out of the kitchen and he headed for the door.

"I'll see you at seven then?" he confirmed before leaving and he left only after he saw her nod at him.

Once he had gone, Emma looked out the picture window after him until he had driven away. Then she turned and faced Joanie.

"What am I going to wear? I haven't been out with a gentleman in ages. What was I thinking?"

Before Joanie could speak I cut in.

"You women worry too much about things, Emma," I said, "He thinks you're pretty already; he won't care much what you're wearing."

"You say that James," Joanie retorted, "But I saw your face and watched you fumble for words when you saw me in my prom dress."

Then she turned her attention to Emma.

"I'm sure we can get you ready before seven," she said with a great big smile. "That's just oodles of time. Why don't you head up to your room and I'll be right there."

Emma started up the stairs and Joanie came over to me.

"James," she said kissing my cheek, "Let me handle this. I owe her for well, a lot of things and I'm a girl. Al would probably love some company for the game."

I just nodded. She was right, we say we don't care and on some level we don't but there are certain impressions we keep with us. And Joanie was right, the sight of her in that dress at prom was dazzling but what she doesn't know is that the way I would forever see her was wearing her little saddle shoes and what they used to call bobby socks and that crinolined skirt in a dark blue with her perfectly pressed cotton blouse and that red cardigan sweater just draped over her shoulders. She might have done all sorts of things with her hair through the years but it never looked better to me than it did in a simple pony tail tied with that red ribbon. The day I first laid eyes on her is how I would always see her, no matter what she really looked like at any time since. And I'm sure she planned that look to some extent or another but not the same way that she planned that prom look. Hell, I think as much as I liked the way she looked that first day, I still liked even more the times she was just wearing one of my t-shirts. We like when our women do themselves up but they're often even prettier with far less work put into it.

I did head over to Al's though. I had no place in helping a lady get ready for a dinner date. I knew my time that day would be far better spent cheering on Kaline and the rest.

"Did he ask her?" Al posed the question as I was climbing his porch steps.

"Yeah," I said, "He's taking her to dinner tonight. Joanie's trying to calm her nerves and help her get ready."

"Well, it's about time she started getting out," he said and then filled me in on the game to that point.

It was long about the seventh inning stretch when something occurred to me.

"Al, why didn't you ever ask Emma out?"

"Well, when she first moved in," he answered, "I was still hurting a great deal about Lucille. Emma wasn't in any shape to think about romance either. I think she took care of me because she just missed having someone to take care of. Maybe for some folks a romance would have bloomed from that but we got a healthy and respectful friendship and I'm not sure but that might be even better."

I understood what he meant. I know I thought for a while about wishing Lou was my girl but then I think it was way better to have her for a friend and it worked out she was perfect for my best friend and there was a perfect girl for me out there too.

We finished listening to the game and just sat for a while each lost in our own thoughts. Eventually Joanie and Emma made their way to Al's porch. Joanie was beaming and was obviously proud of herself and Emma was a vision. Joanie had found a real pretty flowered dress somewhere in Emma's closet where she probably had almost forgotten about it. Emma's hair was up and she had a little hat on. They called them pillbox hats and they were all the rage because Jackie Kennedy wore them a lot. And Emma was wearing little white gloves too. Her make-up was simple, I wouldn't expect anything else from Emma but it was enough to highlight her pretty eyes and the way her cheeks rounded when she smiled. I was glad I had made my case to Sam earlier. I think he was a good guy who knew a good and proper woman when he saw one but it never hurt no one to be careful.

"Emma you look beautiful," I told her.

She looked relieved hearing that. I guess there never comes a time when a first date doesn't make you nervous. Sam pulled up shortly after the women came over and he walked right up to Al's porch and he did nod to the rest of us but his eyes never left Emma. We all exchanged pleasantries and then he offered her his arm and she took it and allowed herself to be escorted to his car. She waved through the window at us and she looked scared a little but mostly she looked real happy.

Yeah...I just don't even know...I guess this chapter is just what it is...

In other news, the Tigers about gave me another stroke but they won and eliminated those evil New York ballplayer people...And the Wings won their opening night so that's good. Not sure how tomorrow will go since the Tigers are starting their next series and the Wings are playing the Avalanche. We used to have quite a volitile rivalry with the Avs...it's less now but it still sometimes good for a goalie fight.

We've had the most delightful weather here in MI the last few days and I don't know why that doesn't seem to be making it easier to write happy things but I seem to get much more inspired when writing tragic or emotional or downright sad stuff...I've written happy before...I really have. I promise. I guess that's all I have to say right now...please let me know what you think.-J