Chapter Three


    Her eye's widened. "You...You will?"
    He smiled. "Of course."
    "Uh...okay," she said and then walked up the cracked sidewalk that led to the shelter.
    She opened the door and right away you could hear coughs and sniffles; a baby was crying in the corner while a tired mom tried to quiet him down. Women in casual clothing were walking around the room, stopping to see if everyone needed what they wanted.
    Justin saw a middle aged woman with flaming red hair that was tied tightly in a bun. She had a warm smile as she tucked an old women in a small bed. She looked up and her eye's locked with Misty and her smile grew bright. She then patted the woman's hand, before she left her and walked through the crowd and hugged Misty.
    "It's so good to see you, dear," she said as she hugged her. "She's been asking for you."
    She sighed. "How is she doing?"
    The woman's smile fell. "She's not doing good, Misty. It's just a matter of time."
    Misty nodded. "Oh, uh...this is...my friend, Justin."
    She smiled and shook his hand. "How do you do."
    "Good, thanks," he said with a smile. "It's really great what you do here. I watched you tuck that woman in."
    "Oh, well...I just do what I can."
    He smiled. "Well, when you were smiling at her, it seems all her troubles dissapeared."
    The older woman smiled. "Well, that's very kind of you," she said with a smile and then turned to Misty.

    "Can you excuse us," Misty said to Justin as she grabbed the woman's arm and began to move her away from Justin.
    "Sure no problem," he said.
    "Damn, Mist," the woman said. "He's quite delectable."
    Misty rolled her eyes. "Laney, you think every male is delectable."
    She just giggled. "I mean I know I'm old, but look at that butt."
    "Laney," she sighed. "Can we PLEASE get back on track here."
    "Ahem..sorry," she said and then tore her eyes away from him.
    Misty rumaged through her purse and handed her a white envelope. "Here."
    Justin watch Laney grab the envelope and press it to her heart as she mouthed a "thank you." She then opened the envelope and Justin's eye's widened when he saw the amount of money in the envelope. How did she get that money? he wondered. Yeah, she's rich but if her uncle gives her THAT much for an allowance she's gonna be more rich than me one day.
    "Justin," Misty said as they walked back to him. "I'm going to go and visit Lilly now. Do you want to come?"
    "If you want me to," he said with a smile.
    "Sure, you can come," she said and then turned to Laney. "She still in the same room?"
    She nodded. "Yes, the last door on your right."
    "Thanks," she said and then they both made their way to Lilly's room.
    Justin followed close behind her down the dark hallway. The floor squeaked as their feet hit the worn out wooden floor as they walked to the last door. Misty stopped and turned to him. "Justin...This woman is very special to me and..well, I'm just warning you that she's not in the best of shape and...."
    "Misty," he said softly. "I understand. I would love to meet her, but if you don't want me to go in, I'll understand."
    She looked away from his captivating eyes and stared at the floor. "No, you can come in," she said and then knocked softly on the door.
    "Come in," a raspy voice said moments later.
    Misty opened the door slowly and her heart sank when she saw Lilly laying on the bed. She was coughing lightly against her fist, and her face looked bleak. Her wrinkles were getting worse, and her face was pale against the white pillow case. When she finally saw Misty, a bright smile appeared. "Misty?" she asked softly. "That you?"
    "Yes, Lilly," she said as she walked to her and sat on the edge of the bed. "How are you, Lil?"
    "Oh, I've been better," she said as she patted her hand. "But I'm fine now that you are here. Did you bring me some?"
    She smiled. "Of course," she said as she lifted the bag and handed it to her.
    She opened the brown bag and inhaled the lovely scent. "Hmm...French Onion soup. My favorite."
    "Want me to help you with it?"
    "No, I don't want to eat while you are here," she said and then coughed as she set the bag aside. "I'll...eat it...later," she coughed.
    "Okay, take it easy, Lil," she said as she patted her back.
    "Would you like me to get some water?" Justin asked as he stayed back. He couldn't help but say something, he felt so useless just standing there.
    Misty smiled slightly. "Thank you, Justin, that would be great."
    Justin walked over to the corner where the small water cooler sat. He took a small paper cup and filled it up to the rim. He walked over and Misty held out her hand, but instead he walked on the other side and handed it to her himself. "Here you go, Lilly."
    She smiled up at him as she took the cup. "Why thank you, sweetie," she said huskily and then took a nice long sip. "That's much better. Who is this nice man, Misty? Did you finally do as I asked and found yourself a man."
    She smiled at her and then at Justin. "Yes I did," she said out loud and then gave Justin a pleading look when his eyes widened. "I know you always wanted me to have someone to take care of me."
    Lilly let out a chuckle. "Yes, and you always were too stubborn. Saying, boys were trouble."
    "She's right, they are," Justin teased with a grin.
    "Oh, I like him," she said and then reached a hand for him to grab. "Come here, sweetie." Justin slowly sat down on the edge of the bed and smiled at the warm woman. "What's your name?"
    "Justin."
    "Justin," she repeated as she patted his hand and smiled at Misty. "Such a fine name. Now how did you meet my Misty?"
    "Uh...well...we were kind of..."
    "Set up," she finished for him.
    He grinned. "Yeah, set up. By mutual aquaintances."
    Lilly smiled warmly at him. "Such a handsome boy. And what do you do?"
    "I'm a singer," he said and left it at that.
    "Professional?" she asked as her eyes began to twinkle.
    He nodded. "Yes, I am."
    "Misty sings, too, ya know," she said as she patted her leg. "But I'm sure you already knew that."
    He had no idea. "Ahem..sure. She's got a beautiful voice."
    Misty blushed and then looked away. "She sings for me all the time," Lilly said. "Would you sing for me?"
    Misty looked back at them. "Oh, Lilly...I don't think...."
    "I would LOVE to sing for you," he said before she could finish. "What do you want me to sing?"
    "Amazing Grace," Misty answered for her. "It's the only song she'll let me sing."
    "It's my favorite," she said with a smile. "My husband use to sing it to me all the time."
    He grinned. "Amazing Grace it is, then," he said as he gripped her small delicate hand.

    "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
    That saved a wretch like me.
    I once was lost, but now I am found.
    Was blind, but now I see."

    "That was beautiful," Lilly said as she wiped a tear from her eye. "You sing it better than my husband did...well, almost."
    Justin laughed softly. "I'm glad you liked it."
    "Well, Lilly...we should really be going and let you have your rest," she said with a sniffle. She had to get out of there, before the tears were too uncontroable.
    She smiled. "You're sweet. And thank you for bringing Justin along. Such a sweet boy."
    "It was nice meeting you, Lilly," he said and then leaned down and kissed her wrinkled cheek.
    "Oh," she said as she blushed. "Such a charmer. OH! Isn't that pretty," she said when she saw the ring on his right finger.
    It surprised him that she would be attracted to such a simple ring. It was a sliver band with a cross inbedded in it. "My grandmother gave it to me," he said as he took it off. "She said that it would keep me safe."
    "That's sweet," she said with a smile.
    He then opened her delicate hand and placed the ring inside and closed her hand. "Why don't you wear it for awhile?"
    "Oh...Justin," she said as she opened her hand and looked down at it. "I couldn't take this..."
    "I want you to have it," he said with a smile. "To remember me by."
    She beamed up at him and then leaned up to hug him. "Don't you dare let this one go away, Misty."
    Misty wiped away the tear that escaped her. "I'll try, Lilly," she said as she leaned down and hugged her. "I'll try."

    Ten minutes later, they were both back in the limo and silence filled the area. Misty was trying hard to fight back the tears, but a sniffle escaped her every so often. "Are you okay?" Justin asked with concern.
    She nodded. "Yeah, I'll be okay," she said as she managed to smile at him. "I'm always like this when I leave her."
    He just smiled sadly. "I understand."
    "Justin, I want to thank you for....well, for going along when I said that..well, we were dating."
    He smiled. "Not a problem. I can tell it made her happy."
    She grinned. "She already adores you. You were so good to her, thank you."
    "It was my pleasure," he said as he stretched his legs out. "She's a sweet woman."
    "Yes, she is," she said as she looked out the window, but then looked back at him. "So what's next?"
    He shrugged and then looked at his watch. "It's almost 11:30."
    She raised a brow. "You're counting the hours aren't you?" she teased.
    He grinned. "Aren't you?"
    "Not at all," she said and then looked at her own watch. "But if i was we only have...twenty-three hours, thirty minutes, and fifteen seconds left."
    Justin chuckled as he shook his head. "You surprise me, Misty."
    "I do?" she asked with a grin.
    "Sure do," he said. "How bout we catch a movie?"
    She shrugged. "Sure, that'll cut off a good 2 hours."
    "Okay, favorite kind of movie on three...one...two...three!"
    "Scary," Justin said.
    "Romance," she said.
    Justin and Misty exchanged looks and then Justin pulled out a quarter. "Heads or Tails?"
    She shook her head. "I don't do scary."
    "Heads...or Tails?" he repeated.
    "Tails," she mumbled and then crossed her arms.
    Justin flipped the quarter and caught it, before slapping it down on his arm. He grinned at her before lifting his hand and peeking in. He then held out his arm for her to see. "Don't worry, Misty," he said when she saw the head of George Washington grinning at her. "You can hold my hand the whole time."



Chapter Four