He was greeted warmly by Joey who wondered if he was ever going to get around to bringing in another painting. The last one had sold the same day and several more names had been added to the waiting list. Melissa was talking to a stranger at the back of the show room and Dave was surprised to see someone else in on a weekend. Joey explained that he had three new people anxious to have their work showcased at the Gallery and took Dave over to meet the new artist, who was setting up some display shelves under Melissa's watchful eye.

"Dave.........meet Andrew Lewis. Andrew.......this is Dave Addison.......when we can get him to actually work, he does some excellent painting." Joey laughed at the expression on Dave's face. "Oh don't worry.........I know you've been busy with this mystery lady. Anyway..........have a look at what Andrew has to offer us........I think you'll be very impressed. I've deviated a bit from the usual here but it will be worth it to see the customers go crazy over it."

After shaking Dave's hand a bit shyly, Andrew bent over several large cartons under the shelving. He took out some smaller boxes and Dave could tell from the expectant expressions on his friends' faces that this was going to be something special. Andrew carefully folded back the wrapping paper inside and lifted out a glass ball filled with glittering lights and color. As Dave watched in amazement, all sorts of glass balls, flowers, ornaments, animals and birds followed and were set lovingly on the shelves. Each one was placed on a piece of mirror that reflected the lights and allowed people to see underneath without having to pick up the objects. He looked over at Joey to find him laughing over at him.

"You weren't kidding!!! This is wonderful Andrew. I had no idea there were any glass workers in the area. Would you mind if I picked this one up?" Dave pointed to a glass rose that had caught his eye the moment it had been set out. It reminded him instantly of Molly and it would make the perfect gift for her tonight.

"No.....of course not.......go ahead."

The rose was exquisite. The petals were clear glass with a rosy blush in the cups that seemed to get darker towards the center. It sat on a bed of leaves that were also crafted of clear glass, though these had green in the centers,and the veining was drawn out faintly in gold. Dave was very impressed. He had never seen anything quite like it, and said so to Andrew. The young man seemed a little embarrassed by all the attention he was receiving.

"You're going to have to get used to people oohing and awing, Andrew. No one around here will have seen anything like this before. I think I'm going to have to consider putting a screen in front of these shelves, so that customers won't feel they can just come in and start picking things up. That reminds me, Dave. Can you set aside a night from your busy schedule for an open house here soon? Along with Andrew, here, I have two other up and coming youngsters that I want to showcase. You can put that rose back now." Joey was getting quite a chuckle at Dave's expense but he didn't mind. He was used to teasing from his best friend.

Dave looked down at the rose still cradled in his hands, and then at Andrew. "Look, Joey, I know this is probably against your rules, but I'm asking anyway. Andrew, can I buy this right now? I'm going to Molly's for dinner tonight and this is perfect for her."

Andrew looked a little confused and glanced over at Joey. "Ummm......I guess so......that is if it's Ok with Mr. Simpson .

He watched as Andrew carefully wrapped the glass rose and placed it in it's box. "Well you'll certainly be a big hit with a gift like that." said Joey with a laugh."When are we going to get to meet this lady, anyway? "

"Tell me again about the Open House." Dave replied. "When are you having it and what sort of do is it going to be? Are you advertising or just sending out invites to a select few?"

"Oh.......... way to change the subject, Dave! I thought of putting a notice in the paper for the end of June. It'll be a formal thing and there will be an entrance fee for everyone except the people who have things here for sale or show. I have to get a caterer lined up and order flowers and all that sort of thing, and I can't see getting organized before then. What do you think?"

"Sounds fine to me. If there's anything you want me to do just say so. You won't mind if I invite Molly, then I take it?"

"We'd be pretty annoyed if you didn't ask her." Jessica said. "I'm dying to meet her. I think we might ask someone from the paper to be here as well. It won't hurt to have a formal write up of our new members either and maybe a short piece on the Gallery itself."

"That's a good idea, Jess. I hadn't thought of that." Joey looked his appreciation for the idea."That's the reason I have this lady as my manager." he told Andrew , with a grin.

"Well,..............if you folks don't mind, I'm off. Write this gift up for me, Joey. I want to stop off and pick up a few real flowers as well on the way home to go with it, though they'll sort of pale in comparison I'm afraid. You know , Andrew, I wonder if you should put all your things out right away. It's still three weeks til the open house and maybe it wouldn't hurt to just whet the appetite for now. Leave some bare spaces with just the mirrors, and people will wonder what's to come. You mentioned two more new exhibitors, Joey. What sort of things do they do?"

"One you've already admired." he replied, as he wrote a receipt for the gift, and filled out the sales slip and handed it to Andrew. " She has that small grouping just outside the office, and the other is a sculptor. That's a good idea, Andrew. Use all the shelves, but space the things way out and ......just a second..........I have an idea. " Joey turned and went off to the storage room with some sort of plan in mind.

"We thought it might be a good idea to expand beyond paintings, Dave. What do you think.? " asked Jessica. "There are a lot of good people out there that just need a push to get started and it doesn't hurt to be the first to showcase their things when they are as good as Andrew here. "

"I can't agree more. After all, I'd still be a struggling artist if it hadn't been for you two. You helped me get off the ground and I haven't looked back. How did you find these folks, Andrew? "

"I didn't find them..........they found me......or rather Jessica did. She and my sister are friends and she's been keeping an eye on the things I'm trying with the glass. Once I found a way to do what I wanted with it she made me promise to show them to Mr Simpson before I went anywhere else, and here I am."

"Welcome to the family, then." Dave smiled at the young man. "Jess has a good eye and I'm glad she caught you before anyone else did."

Joey returned just then with a box full of wooden plate stands. He set two up at an angle and taking a couple of small mirrors from the pile in Andrew's box, placed them on the plate stands. He then moved one of the glass animals to the space between the standing mirrors and after a few adjustments stood back with a pleased look. The effect was amazing. Not only did the grouping take up space, it gave a clear view of the glass piece all the way around. Browsers could now see the whole thing without having to pick it up.

"That's perfect, Joey. Good idea." Dave bent forward for a closer look at the little cat. Somehow, Andrew had managed to sandwich the color layer in clear glass, giving depth and flow to the cat's fur. It was an extraordinary effect in both the animals and the flowers. He had never seen anything quite like it and he knew that the patrons of the Gallery would be very enthusiastic. He glanced at his watch. "Look.......... I have a couple of hours before I'm expected at Molly's and to tell you the truth, it's going to be a long two hours, so would you mind terribly if I helped you set up?"

Jess and Joey laughed out loud. "I never thought I'd see the day, Dave." he said. " Of all the women you've dated since Margret, this is the first time I've seen you smitten. This Molly must be quite the lady. There's no way you're going to be allowed to the Open House if you don't bring her and give us a chance to see who's finally got to you. You haven't even told us where you met her yet. I must say........the suspense is growing."

Dave laughed . "Do you remember that singles club you guys dragged me to a couple of months ago? Well.... that's where I met her and quite by chance too. We happened to leave at the same time and shared a cab and it just went on from there. I guess I never did thank you for that night, and to think that you practically had to drag me there."

"No kidding!!! We wondered where you'd gone in such a hurry and just figured you'd got tired of the noise." Joey gave him a punch in the arm. "I must have seen the girl, but for the life of me I can't remember anyone standing out that you seemed interesed in." Joey frowned, trying to remember.

Dave laughed. "Molly doesn't exactly stand out in a crowd. She's a little reserved and probably not someone you'd paticularly notice. To tell you the truth, I was just doing a good deed and didn't really think too much about her at all. It wasn't until a few days later that I realized that she seemed to be crossing my mind a little more often than she should have been. I'll let her tell you about our next meeting, though. You'll both get a chuckle out of that." He smiled to himself as he remembered falling through the garden gate, practically at Molly's feet.

Andrew, meanwhile had been quietly placing his things on the shelves and arranging them to catch the best light. In the center of the middle shelf, which was right at eye level, he had left a space. "I want to place one special thing here." he told them. It's a new idea I'm thinking of persuing and want to get some feed back on it before spending too much time on a line of products. I'm thinking it would be by consultation only, since each piece will be one of a kind. Please tell me what you think...... you especially Jessica, please. This is something you haven't seen yet."

The three of them watched with interest as he placed on the shelf, a form coverd in white satin. He took a long, narrow box from the carton under the display shelf. "If it wouldn't be too rude to ask, would you just all turn your backs til I get it set up? I realize it's a little melodramatic, but I really need to see your reactions to it when it's all arranged."

Raising his eyebrows at the others, Joey obediently turned to face the other way and Jessica and Dave followed suit. They could hear Andrew rustling about and after a bit he said he was ready and that they could turn and have a look. They turned to face the display shelf again and the silence stretched out and out until Andrew could stand it no longer.

"Say something......... please !!!! Somebody...... say ......something!!! Is it alright? I mean stictly speaking it isn't art, so it may not fit with the rest of your collection, Mr Simpson. It's alright if that's the case."

"I want it." Jessica said in an awed whisper.

"I just want you to know, Andrew, that if you ever take your things to another vendor, I'm afraid I'll have to kill you." said Joey in a soft voice.

Dave didn't say anything. He just looked and looked in silence. On the form, Andrew had arranged a necklace that was truly a work of art. Faceted glass beads, with just the barest hint of pale blue, were separated by smaller beads of clear smooth glass. About half way around, the faceted beads gave way to leaves, that graduated in length from a tiny quarter inch to the center one, which was about three quartes of an inch long. Each leaf was separated by one of the clear beads, and in the heart of each leaf was a slice of glowing mother-of-pearl that followed the shape of the leaf. The beads must have been on some sort of filament, since there was nothing to distract from the pieces of glass, or give them any other color than what they were made of or the mother-of -pearl. Dave shook his head slowly.

"I don't know what sort of things are in your head, Andrew, but it must be a truly marvelous place. Thankyou for this." He turned to the young man and held out his hand. "I'm honored be in the same company, and I mean that sincerely."

"It may be a little premature." Andrew said apologetically. "It's the only one at the moment, and really just a concept at this point."

"Well, you certainly know how to capture an audience, Andrew. Again.......welcome to the family,...... and thankyou , Jess, for grabbing this young man before he could go elsewhere." Joey held out his hand to Andrew and they shook hands solemnly.

"On this note........ I'd better get moving." Dave said , looking at his watch. "I just about have enough time to get those flowers and get home to change. See you all later and "Yes" to the open house Joey. I'd be glad to come and so will Molly. Let me know what I can do in the meantime to help with arrangements." He picked up the wrapped box with the glass rose and nodded at Andrew. "Thanks again" he said, and waved at them as he opened the door and went in search of a bouquet for Molly.

was quite satisfied with her efforts, when the chocolate bowls were cooling in the refrigerator. She changed her mind suddenly about the meal, deciding to do a couple of Cornish hens with orange and wild rice stuffing, instead of a plain chicken, and individual trifles with Irish Cream whipped on top for the chocolate bowls instead of ice cream. That meant she had to make a flying trip to the store for the hens as well as some other ingredients and the resulting flurry of activity threw all thoughts of Angela right out of her mind.

Several hours later, the meal was almost ready, the table was set, and Molly took a few minutes to have a quick shower and change before Dave should arrive. As she came back to the kitchen to check the hens, Toby came flying in through the cat flap in the door to the back yard and ran down the hall to sit staring at the front door.

"If you wanted out, Toby, you should have stayed where you were. I haven't time to watch you in the front yard now, so just forget it."

She looked down the hall at the cat who flapped his tail a couple of times and other than turning his ears in her direction paid no attention to her. She was just about to take the roaster out to have to look at the birds when the door bell rang. A quick look at the clock showed a quarter to five. Should she answer it or not? She wasn't expecting Dave til five and being a man, he wasn't likely to be on time, and she couldn't afford to be wasting time with solicitors right at the moment. Toby gave a loud yowl and began scratching at the door. "Drat that cat anyway." she thought as she hurried down the hall. Molly opened the door ready to give the caller the brush off only to find herself face to face with a huge bouquet of flowers, and Dave's smile.

"Oh my goodness." she said in surprise. "Come in....... move over Toby. Do you know, he was waiting here at the door before you even rang the bell!! I thought it was a sales person or something and was just about to tell whoever it was that I was too busy to chat. Come in...... here let me take those. Aren't they lovely. Really, though, you shouldn't have. This is supposed to be my treat for a change after the wonderful day yesterday. Here Toby....will you get out of the way!!! You're going to have us in a heap in a minute and these flowers all over the place." She smiled as Dave burst out laughing. He bent over and heaved the big cat into his arms. "You're going to be covered with cat fur in a minute." she warned.

"That's Ok." He stepped into the hall and as Molly closed the door behind him, he sniffed appreciatively. "Mmmmmm ... something smells wonderful. "

"Oh gosh.......I was just about to check the oven. Do come in.......I'll just be a minute. I think it might be done anyway and can come out."

Molly led the way into the kitchen and set the big bouquet on the table. "I'll get to these in a sec. "

"What can I do to help?" Dave asked, as he set Toby, who was making "getting down" motions, onto the floor. "Or is it better if I just keep out of the way?"

"Toby!!! Will you please get out of my way!!! Actually......you'd be doing me a great favor if you could keep him from under my feet for a few minutes. I'm not that graceful in the kitchen that I can be stepping around him all the time. You sure have made a hit with him though. He doesn't usually pay any attention to people at all but he's adopted you for sure, the traitor." She laughed as she put on the oven mitts again and turning her head from the heat, opened the oven and brought out the roaster. She had to admit that the hens did smell wonderful. She peeked under the lid and was gratified to find the small birds a lovely golden color. They were surrounded by sliced parsnips and carrots that seemed to have roasted to perfection. How lucky!!!

"Oh good. It's all ready and can wait for a minute til I get the flowers sorted. These are really lovely Dave. You know how much I love flowers." She got out one of her larger vases and filled it with water and stirred in a aspirin tablet."This will help them last longer." she explained when she noticed Dave looking on curiously. She cut a bit off the stems and popped them one by one into the vase hoping that they would arrange themselves in a pleasing way. She stepped back and looked at them, nodding. "Thanks again for these. I wonder if they would be too big for the table..... maybe if I rearrange the places and put them at the end. That way we can enjoy them with the meal. Now, Dave, if you would just open that wine bottle and fill the glasses for me, I'll get the plates sorted.I expect it would have been a little nicer if I'd planned it so we could have a bit of a chat before we ate, but my timing isn't always the best."

was happy to help out and took the corkscrew from Molly. He glanced over as he finished with the glasses to find her just pouring some kind of sauce over what looked like half a bird. Whatever it was, it smelled wonderful and he realized that he was quite hungry. He stood back a bit as Molly set two plates of food on the table and stood for a moment trying to see if there was anything missing. He held out her chair and smiled at her look of surprise as she sat down.

"This looks great, Molly. What are these....... parsnips? I've never had them roasted before." He looked at his plate full of carrots, parsnips all golden, half a game hen with wild rice stuffing, and waited until she had started to eat before taking a small bite, not sure if he'd like the parsnips and was greatly surprised to find them nothing like the boiled ones Margret had served. "Oh.......these are tremendous. And game hen...... " For a few minutes, there was silence as they tucked in and after sampling a bit of everything on his plate Dave looked over at her.

"I seem to remember that you said something about not being able to cook. This is really good Molly. I'm very impressed."

She laughed. "I didn't say I 'couldn't'........ I said I didn't like it much. If I try, and do a bit of planning, I can generally do a passable job, it's just that I'm not awfully fond of messing with food unless it's dessert and then I'm fine. I prefer to just grab something and not have to go to the bother of long preparations. Once in a while I do get the urge to do a proper meal and it always helps if I have someone in. "

"Well, I'm honored to be the recipient of this meal. I guess I can't really ask you how you spent the day, without looking like an idiot, can I !"

"Nope, but you can tell me how you spent your day."

"Well I had to go down to the Gallery for a bit and ended up meeting a young man that Joey has decided to sponsor. Actually it was Jess who found him.......he's a friend of her sister's and when she saw the things he was doing she knew she had to get him into the Gallery before he got snapped up by someone else. Also, Joey was telling me that he's having an Open House at the end of June and wondered if I'd be interested in attending. I should really go, since he'll have a couple of my things there, but I really wanted to know if you would like to come with me. There'll be a lot of people there and I think it'll be a dress-up thing....... cocktails and catered eats. What do you think?"

He looked over at her anxiously, waiting while she considered her answer, and hoping that she would say she'd come.

"That sounds interesting, Dave. Thanks...... I'd like that. I don't dress up often and this will be a nice change."

He breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, I'm glad, Molly. I was afraid you wouldn't want to since there'll be a bit of a crowd, and I know you aren't fond of a lot of strangers about."

"I'm fine if I'm not alone. It's just if there's no one there to hide behind that I get a little bent. You'd think I'd be used to talking to strangers with the Hort Club, but mostly I'm fielding phone calls there and that's not the same as talking to people face to face. If you promise not to leave me alone for too long, I'll be fine. You don't know how much I envy people who can go into a room full of people and have no trouble chatting away to perfect strangers. My conversation dries up after the first few minutes and I'm left feeling awkward and out of place."

"I won't leave you for a minute unless I'm sure you are alright with it...... I promise."

"Well, everything will be fine in that case. How "dress-up" will it be? I have a dress I'm dying to wear and haven't been anywhere appropriate yet."

"Not black tie, I don't think, but certainly suit and tie .I don't think it matters if the dress is long or short. He's going to put out some flyers and do a bit of advertising over the next three weeks, so you'll get some idea by the posters. There are three new people at the Gallery. This young man, a young painter and a sculptor. Joey is planning to expand the Gallery from just paintings to "One of a Kind" artists. It should be quite interesting and will also expand the clientele. I think it's coming just at the right time for the city as well, and to get the caliber of youngsters he's discovered is a big plus."

"Would you like seconds, Dave? Or do you want to save for dessert?"

"There's dessert as well?? No question then......... this was really good Molly, but I'll leave room for dessert. I'm a sucker for sweets. What is it?"

Instead of answering him, she just smiled and got up to clear their plates. In a moment she returned with shallow bowls with a small bowl made of a thin chocolate shell, filled with something topped with whipped cream. "Oh...... now you've really outdone yourself. You've spoiled me dreadfully with this meal, Molly. It's a banquet." He smiled over at her to find that she was blushing with pleasure at his compliments. For a brief moment he wondered why she was on her own without a partner and was thankful that she was, or he'd never have met her in the first place. He dug his spoon into the dessert to find that it was a custard and cake trifle with flavored whipped cream on top and for the next few minutes just enjoyed the rest of the meal in appreciative silence.

was relieved and very happy that Dave seemed to be enjoying the meal so much. One more hurdle over in the "getting to know a person" process. She wondered why it always had to be such an intense thing........ learning about someone. At least it seemed that way for her. There was always the fear of making a mistake and ruining something that might have turned out just fine if she hadn't tried so hard, or had maybe tried a little harder. Maybe that had been her trouble at first, but she'd long since begun to feel more content on her own, especially after moving to this little house and had given up wondering if there would be anyone in her life. Meeting Dave had been a coincidence of both of them being in the right place at the right time, so perhaps that was the way things were supposed to go. She knew she was starting to think of him as far more than a friend and that scared her a bit. There were things she needed to tell him before it was too late, but she didn't want to spoil this perfect weekend. There was a long time between this weekend and the proposed Open House at the gallery, where she would have to meet his friends and she wanted to spend some time with him between now and then. Then she had a thought, and looked across the table to find him leaning back in his chair with a very satisfied look on his face, and couldn't help laughing.

"Dave...... you look like the cat who ate the canary!! Let me clear away the things and make a pot of tea and we can get more comfortable in the living room, and chat." She got up and was surprised when he picked up his own things and brought them to the sink.

"If I help, we can get these all done up while the kettle boils and then you won't have to worry about them again."

"Well, thanks, but it isn't necessary."

"I know, but let's do them anyway. I'll wash and you can dry because you know where everything goes and anyway.......... I hate that part." He laughed as he started to fill the sink with water.

Molly plugged in the kettle while he was doing that and got out the mugs and teapot. "Well,!!" she thought with a bit of pleased surprise." This is certainly alright."

The dishes got done and the tea made and Molly led him into the next room.

"I'm planning to go out to visit my parents next weekend,Dave. Do you think you might like to come and meet them?"

"That sounds interesting. Tell me about your family. It's nice to know a bit before meeting them and then I won't be so inclined to put my foot in my mouth. You never know what's off limits with parents these days." he grinned at her and thought that if they were anything like their daughter , then it would be an interesting and comfortable meeting.

"Well....... they still live on a bit of a hobby farm about an hour away where we all grew up. Mom does a bit of canning with the orchard fruit and she has a few hens that she collects eggs from for neighbors and even a few customers in town. Dad looks after the other animals. They have a couple of cows and goats,and a cute little donkey called Buddy, and a really big garden. Dad used to work here in town at the factory but gave it up when he had a stroke about ten years ago. They got the idea that developing the little farm and opening it up to kids, would help him recover and it's done wonders. They manage to do quite well with the jams and eggs and they have a veggie and fruit stand in the summer and fall. It suits them to a "T" and I've never seen them so happy."

"What about brothers and sisters? I don't have any of my own and always thought it would be nice."

Molly laughed. "Well.....they're quite the bunch!!! I have an older brother.... Callum....... he's married to Sarah and they have three kids. Then there's Fiona.........her husband is Art and they have twin girls....... I think they're about ten now. Then there's me and then my little brother Liam. He and his wife Nancy have a little boy and a child on the way. They all live here in town and with the kids in their various activities we don't get together as often as we should because they are all so busy. We manage to do the Christmas thing out at the farm, though it isn't always on Christmas Day but that doesn't matter. We always have a good time when we get together. " she paused and thought about her family. She felt very lucky to have them all and was glad that they were all close.

"What about you Molly? Didn't you want any kids?"

She froze for an instant......"Oh Lord.......... not tonight, please. I don't want to go into this tonight.I should have known not to talk about the kids!" "Let me get you another cup of tea, Dave. I'd like another." and she got up, almost grabbing the mugs, and hurried into the kitchen.

saw Molly go all still at his question. He found that he was learning to read the little signs she sent out and wondered if she even knew that she did that. It seemed that whenever she felt stress, she went very still.......almost like a small animal that was trying to decide whether it should run and hide or stay and fight. He watched as she gathered up their mugs and hurried into the kitchen. He heard her run water into the kettle and waited for her to come back. Toby jumped down from the couch where he had been curled up beside Molly and walked over to the door of the kitchen and sat down; looking through towards Molly and then back at Dave.

He got up quietly and went to peek through to the other room. Molly was standing at the sink looking out over the garden. Her arms were folded across her chest and she was rocking back and forth slightly. The kettle clicked off , and either she didn't hear it or she ignored it and Dave wondered what to do. She was obviously in distress and it had all started at his questioning her about children of her own. Should he go in to her or let her recover from whatever it was and come back and pretend nothing was wrong. He felt an overwhelming urge to comfort her and before he knew it he had taken a couple of steps into the room. She heard him and turned around and he saw tears in her eyes, before she turned to face the window again.

"Molly? What is it, Love? I've stepped out of line somehow here, I know." he stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, and laid his cheek against her hair. She stood so still, like a statue and he was afraid he's made another mistake, but he was in now and couldn't back off without feeling as though he was abandoning her. He felt her shake her head a bit and could feel her trembling in his arms.

"Molly....... whatever it is that's upsetting you ...... you needn't tell me about it unless you want to. I don't know where this thing with us is going. I know where I want it to go, but I'm afraid of rushing you and spoiling it all. There are all kinds of things to learn about each other, but we have time. We don't have to do it all in a couple of months. I'm bound to make mistakes....... I don't have sisters to set me straight about dealing with women and all I'm going to ask is that when I step out of line.......you let me know and tell me what I should have done or said.......... or not said. I wouldn't hurt you for the world......... you have to believe that. " He felt her relax a bit and thought that maybe if he kept talking it would help, but his mind was blank. He had no idea what to say next to make her feel better.

"Molly......do you want me to go? The dinner was wonderful and I love spending time with you, but I've upset you and I don't know how to fix it. Would it be better if I just went?"

jumped as she heard a noise behind her and when she saw Dave standing there, she felt awful that he should see her crying, and turned back to the window, hoping that he's just go back and sit down. When he came up behind her and wrapped his arms about her, she almost felt like breaking away and running, but when he started to talk, she could feel his voice rumbling through his chest against her back and it felt so calming and comforting that she stopped to feel and listen. It was almost like Toby purring and that had always been a comfort sound to her. She could hear the distress in his voice and knew it was genuine and that her reactions to a perfectly innocent question were causing him grief. When he offered to go, she knew that if she let that happen then there would be a break that she would never fix. Better to get it all over with tonight and know for sure what he would think, than spend the next few days wondering.

She turned in his arms and looked up. "I'm sorry. Dave. This is very stupid of me...... but there are things.......... listen.......let me get that tea and then I'll explain and you can decide what you want to do."

He looked down into her face and for a second she thought he might kiss her, but he just looked into her eyes and gently let her go. He didn't go back to the livingroom however....... but stood in the doorway and watched as she filled the mugs again and then came and took them both and carried them back to the other room. He set both down on the little table she had used before and went over to bring another of the chairs over and set it on the other side of the table. Closer than he had been before, but still giving her space. She appreciated the gesture and wondered if he had always been this kind and thoughtful. What sort of person had that Margret been to throw away something like this! She thanked him and waited til he was settled before taking a tiny sip of the hot tea.

"I have to appologize for going a bit strange. The question of kids always throws me a bit and I really should have expected it since it was me who brought up the subject in the first place, talking about my neices and nephews. I'm just going to say it flat out. I can't have kids, Dave. I don't know how you feel about that........it seems to make an awful difference to most men. I also have to tell you that I really don't want them anyway. I don't have much in the way of a maternal instinct, I don't think, and I really don't have the patience or the time to take care of children properly." She held his eyes as she said it all in a rush and watched to see what he would do. He frowned slightly and settled back a bit in his chair. He looked at her, for a few minutes without saying anything, and then sat forward in his chair with his elbows on his knees, and hands clasped in front of him.

" There are all sorts of questions running about in my mind, Molly, but let me ask this one first. I'm a little curious to know why you feel you need to tell me about it all? I mean......... perhaps it isn't any of my business."

"It's because there's something here between us , Dave. I know we both feel it and while you tell me that we have all kinds of time,and I know that's true, I don't want to wait until I find that I really really care about you and then find out that it makes a difference. It's happened before........ I didn't say anything and it turned out that the guy got all bent out of shape over it and things got a little strange and we broke up over it. I don't want that to happen again and so I'm telling you now while things are still new."

"Oh..... well I can understand that, then. ....... OK........ here's the thing from my point of view. I'm fourty five years old, Molly and I have a life style that doesn't exactly include children. You're right about one thing......... there is something between us that could be wonderful and I'm willing to wait until you are ready to go forward, but if the thing that's holding you back is worrying over whether or not I want children, you can set your mind at ease. I like kids, but I don't particularly want them myself. We hardly know anything about each other, do we........ and it's going to be a great adventure finding out, but I don't want to start off with secrets on either side. I'd rather you came out and told me anything you think I should know and we'll deal with it as it comes. "

Molly breathed a little sigh of relief. Maybe it was going to be alright after all. Should she tell him the rest or just let things lie as they were. No.......... better to get it all out and then she wouldn't have to always be on guard. She could feel Dave watching her and knew he was waiting for her lead, and took a deep breath. She knew there would be things said at her parents that could be explained now and she looked over at him trying to decide where to begin.

"I guess maybe I should start right at the beginning. " she said uncertainly.

could tell that the whole thing was uncomfortable for her and didn't really want her to have to go through something that may not be as important to him as it obviously was to her, but on the other hand, maybe it would be better for her to get it all over with. When all was said and done, whatever was important to Molly was important to him as well, and if he expected her to be interested in his ideas it was only fair for her to be able to talk to him openly about her own thoughts. He smiled at her and reached over to give her hand a quick squeeze of encouragement.

"I told you that I was the third child...... and Liam is only a year younger so Mom pretty much had her hands full. Fi could help out some, but I was mostly in the way and used to spend a lot of time with Gran and Grandpa here....... it was really a second home. So....... when I decided to go to college it was only natural that I come here to live instead of having to travel back and forth to the farm. Anyway.........I met Ted the second year and even though I knew Grandpa didn't like him much..... or the rest of them for that matter....... I thought he was wonderful and as usual wouldn't listen to anybody. We got married and had a little upstairs apartment it was just like playing house for a year or so, and the fact that he couldn't seem to hold down a job didn't seem like a big deal until the bills started to pile up and I was forced to get a job to help out."

"Were you still going to college after you married?"

"Yes..... for a bit..... but Ted never liked it and was always on my case to quit, so I got a job working at the fabric shop where I could use a bit of what I'd been learning in the textiles and design course in college. Ted wanted to have kids and I wasn't sure, but didn't want to rock the boat, so a year or so after that I got pregnant and he was pretty happy and things were nice. Being pregnant wasn't very pleasant and I was sick a lot and Ted wasn't too happy about that and then when I was about four months along, I lost it. No one knew why and for a bit I was sort of relieved. It wasn't as easy being married as I had thought it would be. Mom and Dad never quarrelled or even seemed to disagree and I didn't know how to stand up for the things I wanted or thought, and I guess Ted sort of ran things the way he wanted them. Anyway........ after I lost the baby he started drinking a bit and started staying out with the guys. He said I hadn't wanted the baby in the first place and perhaps he was right, but back then I didn't think so. We didn't seem to have much in common after all and with his drinking it just got worse and it got so that I didn't even want to go home much."

"He didn't hit you or anything, did he?" Dave didn't want to think that she had been abused, but all the signs were there.

"No....... not then..... he ranted a bit when he was drinking, but he didn't hit me. He said that if I'd have another baby he'd quit drinking and we could be a proper family, but by that time I was pretty sure that a baby wasn't going to be the right thing to do and told him I wasn't ready for another. I liked my job and was even thinking about going back to college and finishing the textiles course. That didn't go over so well, but I had some encouragement from Grandpa and started back on a part time basis so I could keep my job. Things sort of got a bit better for a bit, but Ted was out a lot and I was busy with studies and work and thought that maybe it was going to be alright . I guess we got careless and I ended up pregnant again but he wasn't so happy about it this time after all."

"I thought it was what he wanted. Did he stop drinking?"

Molly gave a snort...... "No...... in fact it got worse. I was sick again and missed time at work, and things got a little tight. I was desparate to keep up with college, 'cause I was almost done and I figured I could get a better job if I completed the course. Well....... Ted got the idea that there was someone at school that I was seeing and started hanging around outside the building. That was embarrassing. I asked him to stop and then he got the idea that the baby wasn't even his and things started getting really bad."

"Did you think about leaving him? Did your family know all this?"

"I thought of leaving, and even told him that I would. He got all sorry and for a bit sorted himself out and I thought it would be alright. No, I didn't tell anyone, though I think Grandpa suspected that things were pretty bad. Well actually........ that isn't true. There was Angela......... I've been forgetting about her."

"You knew her that long ago?"

"Oh yes........ I've know Ange since we were kids. It was 'cause of Grandpa that I met Ange. Her Dad had gone and her Mom was pretty much into the drug scene and Ange mostly lived on the streets. Grandpa found her one night and brought her home and she stayed here off and on when things at home got really bad. She sort of grew up here too and we were more like sisters than friends. For some reason she figured that she had to look out for me as a way of thanking Grandpa for taking her in and she's always been there for me.She's a whole lot more street smart than I was."

"Well......... I guess that explains a few things then." thought Dave. "So she knew that Ted was being ......... difficult?"

"Oh yes .....and a few times she had words with him about it until I told her to stop because it just made things worse. Anyway......Ted got into drinking again and staying out with his buddies, and that's when he started shoving me about a bit. He was pretty careful not to leave bruises where anyone could see them and I was too stupid or afraid to tell anyone. A couple of times, Ange got between us and he backed off. She can be pretty fierce and I think Ted was a bit afraid of her. One night I'd had to stay late at school to finish up a final assignment and when I came home he was there and very drunk and when told him I was tired and just wanted to go to bed, he accused me of all kinds of things. That's when I knew I had to go and told him so. He flew into a rage and as I started to go downstairs to leave, he gave me a shove and that's about all I remember til I woke up in the hospital."

Dave got up and went over to the window. His hands were clenched and he wanted to hit someone very badly. He wasn't a violent man, but the thought of his Molly being pushed down a flight of stairs and being pregnant as well was almost more than he could manage. He turned to face her after a bit and found her playing with her empty tea mug. He went over and knelt down in front of her, and putting the mug onto the table took her hands in his own. They were cold....... not surprising..... and he wrapped his about them and looked up at her.

"Molly....... you don't have to go on with this. I just want to know if that man is still around here."

She gave him a thin smile, but didn't try to pull away......... a good sign...... he thought.

"No........ long gone and never returning. Grandpa made sure of that."

"How did he manage that?"

"Well........ I'll get to that. I guess the fall tore something and I started bleeding and Ted panicked and called Ange and told her that I'd fallen. She came tearing over and found me there at the bottom of the stairs, and him gone......door open and all. She called the ambulance and then called Grandpa and they got me to the hospital but it was too late for the baby and something was wrong inside and they had to do an emergency hysterrectomy. I was out for a couple of days and didn't find out all this til later when I woke up. Mom and Dad were there with Grandpa and Ange, and curiously silent about everything and not asking the sort of questions I thought they would. For some reason they seemed to think that I had just fallen and had some sort of concussion. It was all very strange."

"Didn't they ask about the baby?"

"They didn't know I was pregnant. I hadn't told them this time. They pretty much hated Ted by now and I'd been scared to tell them I was pregnant again. I hadn't seen them for awhile and figured there was time. "

"Didn't they ask where Ted was?"

"No, and that was odd too, but after they left, Grandpa told me he hadn't said anything about the baby and that he'd just told them I tripped and fell down the stairs and that Ted had left me a couple of months before that and I was scared to tell them."

"So........ how did he make Ted disappear? Your Grandpa seems to have had some clout."

Molly laughed and drawing her hands out of his got up , went to a shelf of pictures and chose one from the back. She brought it back and handed it to Dave.

"That's me and Grandpa." she told him and he could hear the pride in her voice. Dave gazed at the picture in astonishment. There was his Molly standing arm in arm with a burly man in a policeman's uniform whom he remembered vividly from his own childhood.

"But this is .... Piper McCabe!! He's your Grandpa?? Gees......... he got me out of a jam when I was just a kid!!! I remember him well. He was quite a guy."

"Yep....... he sure was....... you'll have to tell me about that sometime. Anyway....... Grandpa put some private detectives on Ted and when they found him they made it quite clear that he would be charged with attempted murder if he ever showed his face here again. Ted was smart enough to believe him and has never come back. All the legal stuff was done through the detectives and I haven't had to worry about him again.

"What's stopping him from coming back now, though? I mean, if your Grandpa is gone and all?"

"Somehow Grandpa put the detectives on him for life. He gets a notice handed to him once a year with a brief outline of where he's been and some of the things he's done so he knows that he's being watched. I have no idea how much that must cost, but I'm grateful. It means I can go ahead with my life without having any worries."

"You know, Molly. Ange has rubbed me the wrong way almost since we met. Perhaps I've been wrong about her."

Molly laughed. "I think she'll always try to protect me from myself. I got caught up with another man a few years after the thing with Ted and she warned me that he was no good. Of course I didn't believe her, but he wanted to marry me and I thought everything would be fine and then I told him I couldn't have kids. He insisted on believing that I meant I didn't want them and tried to convince me that after we were married I would change my mind. I finally had to make it quite clear that I was unable to have children and it wasn't long after that that he started making excuses for not coming around and eventually we just split up."

"So after you got out of the hospital what happened?"

"I came here to live with Grandpa and Gran. She was pretty ill by then and I helped look after her and then I stayed on with Grandpa after she died. It was my healing place and I think Grandpa knew that 'cause whenever things got bad, he'd tell me to go into the garden and dig something. It's funny how a little thing like that can help so much. Just digging in the earth and smelling it and feeling it and watching things grow and letting the sun shine on you or the rain fall. Somehow, all the bad stuff just drifts away and you only think of good things."

"Gees Molly......... no wonder you were so scared to say anything. Well......... set your mind at ease right now. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me and I'm not about to ruin things because you can't have kids. To be honest it's a bit of a relief. I think I'm a little old to have youngsters crawling about and in any case..... as I said...... the life style doesn't lend itself to kids. Listen........ This is a good time to give you something I just happened to pick up today. I thought of you the moment I saw it and just had to get it for you. It's here in my coat pocket........ it isn't....... wait here........ I hope I've left it in the car....... "

watched Dave as he rummaged about in his jacket pocket. She felt such a relief now that everything was out in the open and was glad after all that she had told him about the baby. Glad that she didn't have to worry again about it and glad that he wasn't wanting kids himself. The bit about the life-style, though........she'd have to get him to elaborate on that. Perhaps he was like herself and when he got caught up in a painting, he didn't have the patience or time to be trotting after a child. She tidied up the tea things while she waited for him to come back and thought about the visit to her parents the next weekend. She thought they would probably quite like him and hoped that he would feel as comfortable with them.

He came back in just then, carrying a small box and she recognized the wrapping paper and gold and green logo of The Gallery and wondered what he could have seen there that reminded him of her. Anything from The Gallery was expensive and she didn't feel terribly comfortable accepting gifts that cost a lot of money. It felt like an obligation to return the favor and Molly hated being obligated to anyone. She wondered if she was too independant now to get involved in a relationship. She knew that Dave was wanting this relationship to advance, but he wasn't pushing her faster than she wanted to go and that was nice. At least she didn't feel that she had to brush him off all the time and that was a change too. She was thinking, as she followed him back into the livingroom, that he seemed so much older than his years and decided it was time she found out a bit more about his life and the things he found important.

They sat in the same chairs and Dave handed the wrapped box over to her. It seemed fairly heavy for its size and Molly turned it over in her hands. She carefully unwrapped it and lifted the lid on the box inside and drew in a breath. Nestled in layers of paper was a glass rose. Very carefully, she lifted it from its nest and held it up to the light. She'd never seen anything so lovely. The petals were clear glass, but in their middles was a brush of rose that got deeper as it neared the center of the flower, until the innermost petals were solid rose. The flower rested on a bed of leaves fashioned from green glass with a fine veining of gold. The light flashed from the petals, and the little flower seemed to glow.

"Ohhhh........ this is beautiful. I've never seen anything like it before." She looked over at him with a big smile. "I'm awfully flattered that you should think of me, Dave but it must have been terribly expensive and I have nothing in return."

"I know how much you love flowers and this will last long after the bouquet is done. I don't spend my money foolishly, Molly, but if I see something that is special, I buy it. This was meant for you and I'm happy to make you happy by giving it to you. Besides...... you've given me a whole lot more than you know, not even mentioning that fantastic meal."

Molly couldn't help being delighted with the compliment about the meal. Food preparation wasn't her big thing and if she did manage to get it right from time to time it was a pretty nice feeling. The glass flower was beautiful and she set it gently on the table beside her where it could catch the light from the lamp.

"You know Dave........ you really haven't said much about your family and childhood. Now that I've told you my deepest and darkest secrets....... I want to know a bit more about you. After all...... when I call Mom to tell her I'm bringing a guest I'm going to have to answer a whole lot of questions and I really should have some answers." She laughed. "We've spent quite a bit of time together but we've never really talked about ourselves........ it's all been about our thoughts on things and even when we were on your mountain we didn't get too personal. So...... tell me about you now."

He laughed over at her. "How far back do you want me to try remembering?"

"How far back can you remember?" she asked curiously. "I can go back to when I was about five I think."

"Well I can remember my Mother getting ready to go to some kind of party with Father. I remember that she didnt' have time to read to me and she kept telling me not to touch her dress. It was blue and I can remember wondering how she got that bit of sky down, so I must have been very young. Maybe three or four. "

paused for a moment remembering. "I thought that maybe she was an angel or something, but all the angels in the stories were kind and Mother always made me feel as though I was in her way. That sounds kind of pathetic, doesn't it!! I don't remember feeling that way though. Father was always busy. He was an engineer and travelled a lot doing bridges and things all over the world and when he wasn't travelling he was busy with drawings and plans and blueprints all laid out on a long table."

"You couldn't have seen much of him then." Molly felt sad for the little boy, thinking of how close her family were.

"No, I didn't, but I thought that was the same for everyone. They had me in a boarding school from the first and I thought that everyone's parents were away. It wasn't until I was a bit older that I realized that the whole thing was a little uncommon."

"What happened at holiday time, then, if your Mom and Dad were away?"

"Most of the time I went to my Uncle Harold. He was Father's brother and I was afraid of him. He was very tall and quite stern and very old, it seemed to me then. He's the reason I have the mountain, though, but I'll come to that in a bit. Anyway...... the school was nice enough. I had friends and the teachers were good. I didn't mind being away from home since I hadn't really ever been there for long anyway. I guess school was home. There were a bunch of us that chummed together and we were our own family."

"Did your Mom go on the trips with your Dad?"

"Sometimes she went along. I think it depended on where it was he had to go. If she didn't go, she was always busy with her charities and committees. I think she must have belonged to just about everything going. Well I guess with me being at school and Father being away, she must have needed to keep busy."

" Were you at the boarding school the whole time you were in school?"

"No. About half way through ninth grade, Uncle Harold came to the school and took me out. Mother and Father had been killed in an airplane accident on their way home from one of Father's trips, and he had been named guardian and I was to go live with him. I didn't want to go but didn't have much choice. He said there wasn't enough money to keep me in the school, so I had to start regular high school here. "

" Oh, how sad for you. That must have been a bit of a culture shock ! I mean..... isn't it a bit protected at a boarding school?"

" Well..... I guess it was sad.......I don't remember feeling much of anything for them, though. You have to remember that it wasn't your usual close-knit family, and I'm not exactly sure I loved them as I should have. They seemed like strangers most of the time and I don't recall that they were terribly interested in the things I thought about. Boarding school was sheltered, and for the first time I found out about regular families and hanging about in gangs and getting into trouble. The rest of grade nine is a bit of a blur since it was all such an adjustment. I didn't like the kids and they sure didn't like me. I was just too different and I thought they were all a bunch of idiots. My attitude just fueled their fires and there were some battles I can tell you. "

"Oh Dave, it must have been horrible. You must have been miserable. What about your Uncle, though? Did he know all this was happening?"

"Nope. One of the things you had drummed into you early was that it wasn't good to rat on someone. You had to fight your own battles or at least give out the best you could. I think Uncle Harold knew though, and he put me into boxing during the summer holidays at a camp. I met Joey the next year and we somehow got to be friends. Actually, he was one of the worst bullies , but by the time I met him I'd learned to stick up for myself a bit better and after a big fight, we actually got to be friends. He let me into his gang and we've been friends ever since."

"You said you met my Grandpa. Was that when you were in school?"

" Yes. By grade eleven, I was pretty much failing everything and hanging about with a bad bunch. I guess it was only a matter of time before I got into serious trouble. I was as tall as Uncle Harold by then, and he couldn't do much with me. I'm sorry I caused so much trouble for him now, but at the time, he was just an old man who didn't know much about a kid. He'd never married and didn't have much of a clue about raising children. He got me a couple of afterschool jobs, but I never lasted long at anything. There are a lot of things I wish I could go back and change. Anyway....... one of the things the gang got into was stealing cars and selling them to a parts pirate. We all got busted one night. Piper McCabe was the officer in charge of taking down our statements and we were all sent into different rooms to wait for our turn at the interview. I was pretty scared. I think I was maybe sixteen or so at the time. We were supposed to write out what our side of the story was and then go over it with Officer McCabe.

One of the things I've always done to sort of escape or check out or whatever..... is to draw pictures, and instead of writing a statement, I took the pencil and drew all over the walls. I have no idea what I drew now. Most of the stuff was just fantasy anyway........... you know....... sort of abstract people and shapes and things....... almost a cartoon-like thing. I heard the door open and someone came in, but I was right into the drawing by then and didn't pay any attention. I often wondered what would have happened if it had been anyone else than Officer McCabe."

He looked over at Molly and found to his surprise that she was smiling. "I remember Grandpa telling this story. I'm dying to know your side of it. Go on......... what happened next?"

"Nothing for a bit. He just sat there not saying anything, and finally I couldn't stand it any longer and turned around. He was just sitting there, leaning back in the chair with his arms crossed, watching me. I was waiting for him to yell or something and all he said was 'You've still got a fair bit of wall there to fill in. Better get at it.' Can you believe that?? " Dave laughed. "I didn't know what to do. I was supposed to be rebelling and being the tough guy or something, and here I was getting encouragement and he didn't even seem angry."

"He wasn't. Just a minute....... I hate to interrupt your story, but I've really got to show you something." Dave watched curiously as Molly went over to a cabinet and rummaged around for a moment. She came back carrying a large photo album and, sitting down again, started flipping through the pages, finally stopping at one and holding it out for him to look. To his utter amazement he found himself looking at the very thing he had been telling her about. The only difference was that the bare interview room that he remembered from so long ago, had been turned into an office, but there on the wall was the drawing. He looked at Molly in confusion.

"Are you telling me he kept the drawing there?"

"Not only kept it, but moved all his things from his office to that room. He stayed in that office til his retirement and as far as I know the drawing may even still be there. He was pretty proud of it, you know. "

Dave stood up and went to look out over the darkened garden. His thoughts were all jumbled. It was funny about the people you met in your life. One person could have the power or ability to make a huge change and if someone was lucky enough to recognize an opportunity and grab it there was no telling where a life could lead. He had been lucky and blessed and he was beginning to wonder if Molly was another wonder to make his life special, and how strange that she should be so closely connected to a man who had made such a difference in his life.

watched Dave as he stood by the window. She wondered what must be going through his mind. It was strange how paths crossed and crossed again. She thought of the things her Grandpa had told her about the boy he had interviewed that day. He hadn't thought he was bad, but that he had just got himself caught up in something he didn't really know how to deal with. He had been very impressed with the drawing and had never allowed it to be painted over in all the time he had used that office. Molly wondered if he had kept track of Dave through the years and gathered that he must have to some degree. It was strange that this man, that her Grandpa had helped out of a tough situation as a kid, had been the one to come to her aid that night at the club. It was strange that they had never run into each other before that. Life was strange.

"So what happened after the interview?"

Dave turned from the window and came back to sit beside her on the couch this time.

"We talked for a bit and I guess I must have told him a bit about my family or lack of. Anyway........ he suggested that I seriously think of art classes. He also suggested that I get involved with Juniour Achievement at school. I said I had no idea what he was talking about and he said I'd better make a few inquiries, and that he expected me to come in the next week and tell him about the decisions I'd made. Well........it turned out that I really enjoyed the Juniour Achievement group and I got Joey interested in it. He's a whiz at sales and it got him out of that gang. We've sort of been in partnership ever since. I reported from time to time to your Grandpa and then just went on with things and we lost touch. Uncle Harold sorted out the finances so I could go to college and learn how to be a proper artist and with Joey's help I've managed to make a good living. You know the rest about Margret and the cabin."

"You said it was because of your Uncle that you had the mountain."

"Oh yes. Well once I got sorted out, we both made the effort to be on better terms. Afterall...... we were the only ones left in the family. He was keen on hunting and the outdoors stuff and while I hated the thought of the hunt, I did love being out in the wilds. That's where I found a lot of my material for my pictures. I finished college and had met Margret and life just sort of went along. I tried painting for a living but we couldn't seem to make ends meet and Margret persuaded me to get a regular job, so I became a photographer and sold to various outdoors magazines. It didn't pay much more than the paintings did but we managed. I'd been married for a bit, and Uncle Harold was in a chronic care home and I tried to visit as often as possible. He passed away after a few years in the home, and left me some money. Margret was avid to spend it, but I wanted to hold off. Things weren't that good between us anymore and I didn't know how long we were going to hold things together. I had to clear up Uncle Harold's affairs, and it was when I was looking through a magazine of his that hadn't been cancelled, that I came upon the" For Sale" notice . I went out to have a look at the property and just fell in love with it. And the rest , as they say, is history."