Sometime in the future:

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---

Previously:

“My friend here needs a place to stay.” She pointed to the child, who looked almost androgynous at first glance. Candance turned and motioned for her friend to enter Cathilynn’s office.

“This is Ethan….” She hesitated before correcting herself as her friend shook her head.

“I’m sorry,” she said, looking at her friend. “This is my friend…Emma.” Cathilynn looked the child up and down, and recognition flashed in her eyes.

“Candace? I thought we talked about this?” She frowned, but she wasn’t angry, just frustrated. She was going to continue but she noticed something that gave her pause. She blew out a breath, hoping she was wrong.

“Hi…Emma,” she hesitated as the girl stepped backward, her face beginning to redden.

“Oh, honey, it’s okay, I’m sorry if I was abrupt. So you’re a friend of Candace? School?” The girl nodded nervously and stepped forward, almost clinging to Candace while standing behind her.

“Sweetie, why don’t you sit down? I have some orange juice or water, are you thirsty?” She expected the girl would be very thirsty; she looked unhealthy and tired. Candace grabbed her by the arm and they both sat down in front of Cathi’s desk.

“She doesn’t talk much,” Candace said, looking at Emma, who sat quietly, almost cowering.

“Honey, are you alright?” Cathilynn asked. The girl remained silent as Candace shook her head. There were bruises around her left wrist and she looked like she hadn’t eaten for days.

“Candace, sweetie? Why don’t you take Emma to the kitchen? There’s probably some pizza left from last night that you can have, okay?” She motioned to the doorway and noticing Emma’s distraction, she nodded and winked at Candace. The girls stood and walked out of the office and down the hall toward the kitchen. She looked out her doorway and then picked up the phone.

“Sam? We’ve got a problem.”

---

A few days later in Cathilynn's office:

"So tell me again why you keep ignoring me." Sam smiled and laughed softly. It was a dance that the two of them had been doing for years. For the most part, Cathilynn heeded Sam's advice. But today was one of those 'special' occasions where her heart dictated a contrary course of action.

"She's got at least two old fractures of her right arm, and her collarbone has been broken as well."

"That part I understand. What part of "Mayor's son" don't you understand?" The wording might have been abrupt, but his tone was soft and almost warm.

"Sam, come on...I don't care whose kid she is...she's been hurt and more than once...and it's still going on. You saw the bruise on her wrist. This kid needs our help."

"HE is the mayor's son, regardless of how she presents herself. You know that I support you 110% when it comes to the home, but we're not talking about a regular kid here. This could jeopardize everything you do here. Is one kid worth all that risk?" Sam felt bad even as the words left his mouth.

'Yes, old friend, she is worth everything if only for the fact that she's a living example of why we built the Home in the first place. Besides, once Social Services finds out, it won't make any difference what the mayor feels, or anybody else for that matter. I asked Bella's nephew to place the call from his cell so that it's removed from any connection to the Home. That way we can avoid any conflict that might arise regarding our involvement."

"I hope you know what you're doing. This could blow up in your face, and I can't fix it if it does." He paused and shook his head before adding,

"But you know I'll be down in the rubble helping you rebuild if it does."

"I know. You've given me excellent advice Sam. But sometimes what is expedient and what is moral are two different things. Whatever happens, know that I appreciate every single thing you have done and continue to do for us. We would never have made it if you hadn't been part of this. It's partly your legacy as well, dear one." She smiled and looked out the window.

"What the hell, if worse comes to worse, we can always sell the property for a strip mall or office buildings, right?"

"Yeah, just what this community needs...another tanning salon and pizza joint." He laughed and Cathilynn joined him.

"But just to be on the safe side, I'm going to go home and make sure my property taxes are paid up...just in case." Sam laughed heartily and Cathilynn looked at him.

"I don't suppose you have a spare bedroom you'd be willing to rent out to an old friend?"

---

The next day in the Home dining room:

Janet shook her head and squeezed Drea’s hand.

“So that’s it? There’s nothing more to be done?” Janet choked back a sob.

“It’s okay, really. Hell, I’m seventy-two next month. Dr. Simon gives me three years at the outside; a sesquicentennial celebration to look forward to, yes, since I've lived enough for two lifetimes? I have had a great life…blessed with three wonderful marriages; a beautiful daughter and two lovely step-daughters and two terrific grandsons. I’ve no complaints.” Drea smiled and Bella leaned on her shoulder, squeezing her other hand.

“And what was it you said, my dear?” Drea turned to Bella who laughed softly.

“I said that my fiftieth class reunion is next week, and I bet I’ll be the only woman there who is escorted by a beautiful wife.”

“So, tell me what your good news is.” Drea looked at Janet, hoping that she was able to let go. They had known each other since Drea dated and then married Janet’s sister Toni.

“Cal is taking me out to dinner tonight.” She smiled with an air of pride like nothing either Drea or Bella had seen.

“Every night this week, right?” Drea looked at Janet and smiled.

“He’s going to return to the city to finalize his move, but he hasn’t told me what his plans are after that.” She sighed, and her expression failed to hide her obvious frustration. Bella reached across the table and patted Janet’s wrist.

“Sounds like you have it bad, sweetie.” Bella smiled and patted her wrist once again.

“I can safely say that in all the years I’ve know Janet, I don’t recall her every having It bad for anyone.” Drea laughed softly. She turned to face Janet and noticed a grin on her face.

“What?” Drea raised an eyebrow and cocked her head slightly.

“Well, I can say that I’ve never ever felt anything like I feel for Cal.” She couldn’t believe she was so quick to admit it, but at sixty-five, she could ill afford to be coy.

“But when I was a kid, I had a crush. It was so hard, because I saw him every day for like…forever.” She chuckled softly and looked right at Drea.

“You can’t believe how much I used to dream about you when Toni first started dating you.

“I can see why you would,” Bella smiled up at Drea.

“Well, I’m glad at least we’ve been friends all this time. It’s been a great life, honey, and you have been no small part of it, no matter who and what we’ve both become after all these years.” Drea began to tear up, causing Janet to do the same. Bella quickly changed the subject back to the evening at hand.

“Where are you going? You’re running out of options, aren’t you?” She asked.

“He hasn’t told me yet, but he said he has some things to talk about, including ‘us’.” She looked away and her eyes filled with tears. “Can you believe that, he actually said ‘us?’ I don’t know…. I’m not used to this type of relationship. He’s completely open about himself…his fears, his hopes…you know? We talk about everything. And he’ll e-mail me only minutes after he gets back to his hotel even though we’ve talked all evening.

Bella smiled but said nothing. Drea patted her once again on the wrist.

“Well, keep us posted.” The three got up and Bella hugged Janet.

“He’s a wonderful man, sweetie. I so hope it works out for you.”

“I think that for the first time in my life, I hope it works out as well.”

---

That afternoon in the Home business office:

"No, I don’t think we can. It'll cost too much and we can't afford the expense." Billie looked as Beth went through the brochure one more time. A big 'wedding' wouldn't do for their budget. They had no family to speak of. Beth's mother had left when she was eleven, and Beth, rather her male counterpart, had been raised by her dad. He had been entirely supportive of her decision to go ahead and have the surgery after he saw how much of a daughter his son actually had been all along. He lived long enough to see his daughter safely through her first year of transition before succumbing to cancer at forty-seven. Her mother had been estranged for years, and had only recently begun to ignore her phone calls, as she liked to put it.

Billie's parents refused to acknowledge her at all. At twenty-seven, she was three years past her surgery, and her father still called her William, more as a pointed way of expressing his disapproval for her decision. Her mother deferred to her father in everything except one; she called her child Billie, but still remained unable to embrace her, either physically or emotionally. So neither bride would be having any family attend what proved already to be an expensive proposition.

Beth looked once more at the brochure. A trip to Cancun this time of the year was almost prohibitive to begin with, and with neither girl having much in the way of resources, it looked like a weekend honeymoon was all they could afford.

"We can save up and go next year for the anniversary, okay honey?" Beth wasn't trying to control the situation. If anything, she had ceded much of the responsibilty for planning to Billie, and was happy to support her fiance' in every way. But she was also more pragmatic, even if it was borne originally out of fear and insecurity. They just couldn't afford a big trip.

"Okay...it's not the trip that's important, anyway, right?" Billie blinked out some tears and forced a smile.

"Oh, honey, I'm sorry. Maybe we can put it on my VISA, and pay it off on time. I'll check with the bank and see if I can extend my line of credit." Beth didn't hold out any hope of that happening, but she wanted Billie to know that it was just as important to her.

"No, that's okay. We can't really afford to go any further into debt. Next year is okay, because I've got two things to look forward to." Billie smiled and squeezed Beth's wrist.

"Two things?" Beth looked at her, puzzled.

"Yeah. First, I get to go to Cancun." Beth nodded but asked,

"What's the second?"

"I get to go with you, honey." Billie smiled once again. She leaned forward and kissed Beth. She would have loved to have taken it further but a soft, “Ahem" came from behind.

"Oh… Sandra." The two said almost in unison. Billie stood straight while Beth swiveled in her chair to face Sandra. They might be two different and entirely unique girls, but they resembled twins in that both complexions turned the same shade of red.

"This came for you...both of you actually," Sandra said as she handed Billie a FedEx envelope addressed to Beth Davidson and Billie Penn.

"What?" Beth said as Billie showed her the envelope.

“Here…Open it.” Billie handed her the envelope, and watched as she pulled out a smaller letter sized envelope with their names written in script. She slipped her finger under the flap and popped it open.

“Dearest Elizabeth and Wilhelmina, You are both cordially invited to stop working immediately and join us in the dining room for a party in your honor. Attire is whatever you happen to have put on this morning, although you are free to change into ball gowns if you have them available. We’re waiting, dear ones. Much love!”

The two looked up to see that Sandra had left the room. On the open door of the office, a large sign had been taped, reading “THIS WAY!” with an arrow pointing in the direction of the dining room... Beth got up from the chair and the two slowly walked down the hall, almost tip-toeing in anticpation. As they reached the French doors leading to the dining room, they could hear mariachi music emanating from within. A sign had been taped over the door that read, Bienvenido a la hermosa novias (Welcome to the beautiful brides). Beth knew Spanish and translated for Billie, who immediately began to cry. She fell into her lover’s arms and wept. It was the most special thing anyone had ever done for her, and it was only the beginning.

“Billie…Honey…look at this.” Beth pulled another envelope off the door. In it she found two round trip tickets to Cancun and a hotel voucher. Billie took a quick look at the tickets and once again started to cry, and was quickly joined by her fiance. On the other side of the door, Cathilynn turned to Sandra and smiled.

“I think they found the envelope,” she said with a soft laugh before taking a sip of punch.

“Yes…I think they did.” Sandra smiled and touched her glass of punch to Cathilynn’s.

“Yes!”

---

Cathilynn's office the following afternoon:

“You are not going to believe this.” Sam looked at Cathilynn and Irene and shrugged his shoulders.

“Emma’s parents are fine with her, in a manner of speaking,” He chuckled and shook his head.

“The mayor and his wife have been out of town; he’s in rehab for pain pills and she’s staying at the hotel in town to support him. The kid has been staying with the wife’s sister while the younger sister has been staying with frends. Mom’s sister’s son has been beating Emma up on a regular basis and had been threatening to hurt her younger sister if she talks.”

“Holy shit,” Irene said. Not one normally given to expletives, so to speak, she felt compelled to take it a bit further.

"Son of a bitch!" She looked at Sam as if he had two heads. He looked back and smiled.

“Dad isn’t due out of the program for another six weeks. Mom is going to be traveling back and forth for the time being and asked if we’d keep an eye on Emma while they get healthy. Her daughter is going to stay with her at the hotel. Mom has been attending the groups at the facility, and things seem to be getting better.” Sam looked relieved but added,

“They want someone to work with her until they get home, and maybe beyond that. To keep things consistent. This works for everybody.”

“What about the cousin?” Cathilynn asked, her eyebrow arching in surprise.

“He’s been arraigned on a variety of charges. The kicker is…and this will absolutely kill you….He’s not beating the kid up for being TG. He has an anger problem due to some stuff that has never been diagnosed, and the court and both families believe everyone would be better off if he got treatment in an inpatient program at the state capitol. Go figure!”

“Son of a bitch!” Irene said again, this time with a soft laugh.

“I know just who Emma can stay with, and I know just who can work with her.”

“Yeppers,” Irene said with a smile. I was just thinking the same thing, especially with the changes that are going to happen around here.

“I know this is the best place for her, and not just because the Home is my baby, you know?” Cathilynn smiled, and beamed with pride.

“We’ve got the best folks working here, and I think we’re going to see even more support for the Home come out of this, you know? Now I just have to figure out how it all will fit together.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Irene looked at Sam who looked at Cathilynn. All three nodded and smiled.

---

The Home dining room that evening:

“So you’re going to move?” Janet was nervous about the answer. In the week after Cal arrived, the Home had literally been turned upside down by the events of new romance, new friends, and one scared girl. What would Cal; say. It had been decades since she felt this way about anyone, but she was overwhelmed by the ghosts of the past and feared disappointment.

“Oh, yes. As a matter of fact, I’ve already bought a new place.” He smiled warmly.

“And….where…where would that be?” Janet asked timidly, almost like a child fearing a punishment.

“Are you serious? Why here in town, of course.” He patted her on the hand as she looked away.

“Janet? Janet, dear one?” She turned to find Cal staring at her. He patted her wrist once again and spoke.

“Cathilynn has asked me to come on board, so to speak. I’m to work in the hospice with you.”

“Wha…what?” Janet’s eyes widened, more out of surprise, but a warm feeling overcame her and she began to blush.

“I’m going to work with you at the hospice. Isn’t that grand?” He smiled before chuckling softly.

“I find it ironic that I came here for a few weeks to get away from work and here I will stay.” He smiled and patted her wrist yet again.

“No? What?” Janet looked into his eyes, noting that they had begun to tear up. “Are you going to…to run the program?” She swallowed a mouthful of coffee and cringed, fearing what she might hear.

“Actually…no, I’m not….I am looking forward to working with you, however. We should make a beautiful team. I’m coming out of retirement to return to nursing.” He laughed softly.

“Oh…I see.” She really didn’t see but it was about to become clear. Cathilynn knocked on the doorframe and leaned in.

“Oh great! Just the folks we need to see.” She turned and motioned to someone in the hallway. A moment later, Drea and Irene and Kerry walked into the dining room. All four pulled up chairs and sat down.

“Drea has decided to step down as the director of the hospice.” Cathilynn said and Janet gasped.

“Oh, don’t worry, sweetie, I’m not going anywhere. Bea has decided to move to San Francisco to be closer to family, so I’m going to take her position as child psychologist. Just a sideways move.” She smiled and Janet looked relieved, if a little puzzled.

“Who’s going to be director? Cal tells me he’s coming on board as a nurse here.” She looked at Cathilynn who smiled and looked over to Irene, who said,

“Well, you’ve finished your degree, and I understand you’ve submitted all of your paperwork to the Academy for Grief Counseling for certification, so I guess you’d be the one?” She laughed softly as Cathilynn nodded.

“That is, if you want the position.”

“We want you to move into the new staff cottage that just opened up. If that’s okay with you,” Kerry said.

“Oh, gosh yes….it’s….” wonderful!” Janet was never one to care about position or status, but this was different. She felt like she had finally gotten to the place where she could actually feel good about herself.

“We’ve got one more favor to ask, if you don’t mind?” Irene smiled again; she was already confident that Janet would say yes.

“Emma’s parents are going to be in California along with her kid sister. They’re working hard in his re-hab program, and getting couples counseling, so they’ve asked if someone would be kind enough to keep an eye on Emma until they return in six weeks. You don’t know anyone who’d be willing to take that on, do you?”

“Oh gosh, yes….yes and yes.” Janet looked around the table and saw everyone smiling. It had been a great day, and the emotion of the moment overwhelmed her. She began to weep, more out of joy and relief than at any other time in her life. A welcome but surprising comfort came as Cal pulled her in and hugged her. She buried her face in his sweater and held onto him by gripping his sleeves.

“Well, looks like we’re both having a great day.” Cal said and kissed her. Her first kiss in ages and the only meaningful kiss she had ever had in her life. She kissed back, her tears streaming down her cheeks as she laughed and cried at the same time. A split-second later she pulled back, realizing they were not alone.

“Oh gosh, don’t mind us,” Kerry said with a laugh. “Come on, folks…let’s give these two lovebirds some privacy. Cal looked at them and smiled.

“That sounds like a splendid idea. Thank you.” He didn’t wait for an answer and kissed Janet once again.

“A splendid idea, indeed!”

---

The side lawn of the Home the following Saturday:

Billie and Beth stood side by side, holding hands with heads bowed as the congregation of friends and family stood on the stage and placed their hands on them in prayer. Leading the prayers were Connie and Paulette, their matrons of honor.

‘Dear God, thank you for new beginnings and second chances. Please bless our friends with long life and happiness in peace,” Paulette said. A moment later, Connie took a breath and added.

“May they have your joy, your contentment, your faithfulness to each other and may they be as happy as Paulette and I are.” Sandra choked back a sob as the two stood in front of the minister once again. They exchanged vows and rings before the minister pronounced the happy couple’s union one of blessing and example. She then closed the ceremony in prayer

“Dear God, we thank you for this couple and we vow before you and pray with our own understanding and acceptance of your heart to love them and support them and encourage them May you bless them and bless this place and the people therein that have been so much of these young ladies’ lives….May the blessings of this place carry beyond its walls and borders to help them live and be blessed in their own Home that love will build. Amen.”

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Once again I would like to thank Catherine Linda Michel for allowing me to contribute my heart and my talent to this wonderful series. I have enjoyed every bit of the process. It is my fondest hope to see Catherine’s dream of this Home come true. And it is even more a dream of mine and I expect yours as well that someday a home like this will no longer be needed as people everywhere open their hearts in welcome. Thanks for reading.

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The Look of Love
Words and Music by
Burt Bacharach and Hal David
as performed by Diana Krall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr8xDSPjII8