Chapter One    "I can't believe we are finally here" Beth said as she met Carissa at the passenger side of the moving van. Carissa opened the door and leaned in to unhook Matti's car seat, and lift her daughter out of it.    "I know. It's like a dream come true. I feel like for the first time in the last two years that things are going to be okay."    "Ya know 'Rissa, I think you're right, as a matter of fact I know you are" Beth said as she took Matti from her and headed towards the front door of their new dwellings.   "Come on slow poke! Let's see this new set of digs" Beth called impatiently from the small porch.   Carissa walked to the door and opened the door. "Wow! This place is huge! You could put our old place the middle of the first floor and we'd still have a ton of room left over."   "When Jeff told me he'd found a place for us, I was expecting something along the lines of our old apartment" Carissa said in amazement, as she took in her surroundings.   The first floor contained a medium sized kitchen with a small laundry room, a dinning room, a large living room, a half bath, and a small room that was just perfect to set the computer up in.   They headed upstairs and found four bedrooms; one with a master bath, and another full bathroom in the hall.   "Its a good thing that our parents gave us money for new furniture" Beth joked, as she took in all the space. "I'm going to go get Matti's crib and put it together, so she can go down for a nap," Carissa announced.   "Sounds good. When that's done, we'll start on the big stuff" Beth said as she knelt in the floor to change Matti.   Fifteen minutes later, the crib was put together and set against the wall where Carissa wanted it. She kissed Matti and laid her in the bed. As soon as her head hit the pillow, Matti was asleep. Carissa set the baby monitor on the floor and attached the receiver onto her pants pocket.   The two women got to work unloading the boxes, making sure that they put them in the proper rooms to make it easier when they went to unpack them.   "That's all the boxes. All that's left is the sofa, living room chairs, dinnete set, mattresses, bedroom furniture and the entertainment system. I don't think we'll be able to handle most of it, we're going to have to find some help with the sofa,bedroom furniture and the mattresses" Carissa said, as she surveyed their belongings in the truck.    "Let's take a break first, grab a pop, and then we'll tackle the rest of this stuff" Beth suggested as she headed back to the door. Carissa followed slowly, taking in the surrounding condos.   The area was landscaped with neatly trimmed bushes, and colorful flowers bordered the walks. It was definately a beautiful complex and she for one was glad that Jeff had picked this place.   "Thanks" she said as she took the can of pop from Beth. They had just got comfortable when the doorbell rang.   "I got it. You rest" Beth said as she struggled to her feet to answer the door.   "Hi. Can I help you?" "I'm John Dorough, co-owner of Meadows condominiums. I was stopping by to welcome you to the neighborhood and see if you needed anything." Beth smiled at him and stood back, "Would you like to come in?" John smiled and nodded, and as he stepped in Beth introduced herself, "I'm Beth Silverson, and this is Carissa Brandt." John shook both their hands, and accepted their offer of a drink.    "Thanks," he said with a smile as he took the can, "My brother will be over in a minute, he got tied up in a developers meeting. Do you need any help getting things inside?"   "That would be great. We were just wondering how we were going to get our sofa in here" Carissa spoke up for the first time.   "Anybody here?" a voice called out.    "We're in here" John called. A second later, a man with jet black hair pulled back into a low pony tail stepped into the room.   "Hi! I'm Howard Dorough. I hope my big brother hasn't been making a nuisence of himself" he teased. John rolled his eyes, and playfully swung at Howard.   "Well, if offering his assistance is making a nuisence of himself he can stay" Beth joked, as she finished her pop.   They went outside to the van and started unloading the rest of the furniture. They worked quickly and efficently, putting everything in the proper place.   "Ya know, I'm not even sure why we're moving this thing in", Carissa said as she and Beth watched Howard and John move the sofa out of the van. "Why's that?" Howard asked. "Because we're buying a new one as soon as possible" Beth answered.   "Tell ya what, when you buy it, let us know and we'll help move this one out and that one in" John offered, much to the amazement of Howard.    They finally had the last of their belongings in the house, and the four of them collapsed onto the sofa and chairs in the living room. Just as they got settled in, Matti's cries could be heard through the monitor. "Excuse me" Carissa said as she went to get her daughter.   "Hi baby! How's my girl?" Carissa cooed as she lifted Matti from the crib. She quickly changed her and went back to the living room.   "Hey Miss M did you sleep well?" Beth asked as Matti reached for her. Matti just smiled and cooed in response.   "She's beautiful. How old is she?" Howard asked. "Thank you. She just turned seven months old."   Matti squirmed to be put down, so Beth set her on the floor and she crawled over to where Howard and John were sitting on the sofa. She sat wide eyed and looked at the two men, then raised her arms to Howard. He leaned over and scooped her up. She immediately got ahold of his necklace and began to play with it.    "Matti, no no" Carissa gently admonished. Matti let go of the necklace, and Howard kissed her chubby little hands. "I guess we had better go, so you ladies can get settled in. If you need anything, just give us a call at the office" Howard said as he stood and handed Matti back to Carissa. "Thanks for all your help today. I don't know how we'd have done it with out you both" Beth said, as she too stood.   "I'd like to repay you both. If you're not busy tomorrow, let me cook you dinner" Carissa offered. "You don't have to do that" John said. "That's okay I want to. Its not too often you find people who are as nice as you both are." "If you're sure, then we'll be here. What time?" Howie asked. "Hmm, is six-thirty okay?" "That's fine. See you tomorrow." With that, both John and Howard left the condo.   "OH MY GOD BETH!!! DO YOU KNOW WHO THAT WAS?" Carissa screamed as soon as the two men were across the parking lot. "As if using his full name could disguise the fact that he's Howie D!!" Beth said as they dissolved into a fit of giggles.   Matti sat in the floor and stared at her mommy and 'Aunt Beth' with a look that said 'what's the matter with you two?' and then put her pacifier in her mouth and sucked contentedly.