Isla felt less comfortable on weekends with the entire family home. On Saturday morning, she sat down and wrote out a grocery list. When Leo appeared disheveled looking for coffee, she looked away. She fell asleep with the flowery scent he brought home stuck inside her nose. The same scent had filled the kitchen on Sunday. His meeting hadn't been about work at all. She felt disappointed in him, but it was none of her business. Except Riley had brought her friend Lucy to meet Isla and shared her dislike for Ryan's mom. Isla's bigger worry was becoming homeless again. The longer she was away from the shelter, the less willing she was to go back. Maybe Marcia would take her in?

Leo no longer smelled of flowers, but fresh soap. Isla liked it much better. She cleared her throat. "I'm making a shopping list. If it's okay with you, I'll take the car this morning."

He nodded. "I have a delivery coming. Lilli and Zach will be here all day tomorrow. Lilli usually cooks. I'll text her to see what her plans are, but you deserve a day off."

She had Thursday night off, but he reminded her she prepared a meal. "Will you add to my list?"

He looked over her shoulder. "After breakfast I'm starving. I'll make pancakes." She turned to protest. He held up a hand. "I enjoy doing it, and they aren't half bad."

She nodded. Her mouth felt dry. He stood close, and when she turned around, he was in her space. She turned back so she could breathe. "I'll clean up the mess."

"We make a good team. I think this first week has gone well. Do you agree?"

She swallowed. "Yes, much better than where I was."

His soft voice caused her to turn to see his brown eyes focused on her. "I'm very glad."

He measured out a dry mixture and then held up the box. "Add this to your list."

She wrote and looked up. "What would you like for dinner tonight?"

"It's movie night. Something easy and fun."

"Fun?"

"Something we can do together, like make your own pizza or a taco bar."

"Those aren't my specialties."

He laughed. "They're mine. I'll write out what we need and show you how. I vote for tacos."

Isla nodded, but she hadn't had a taco since her foster home days. She remembered days of food running out before she served herself. Her place in life was last in line. Someone had to be and Jesus said, 'the first will be last and the last will be first'.

A plate appeared in front of her. "You get the first batch." He turned to the refrigerator and took out the syrup. She used the side of her fork to cut off a bite. When she tasted it, her eyes sought his. "Mmm."

He smiled brightly. "Glad you like them. As much as I enjoy some quiet adult time, it's time to wake the troops."

His remark sent her firmly back to reality. Discussing the menu had lured her into feeling comfortable. She remembered the real adult time was the kind he had the previous evening. It wasn't her business who he spent time with. She sighed and focused on the children when they appeared looking sleepy.

The day flowed first she shopped and later he went out. He spent time fixing Cody's bike. Once it was done, the three went on a bike ride. Leo insisted they work side by side preparing dinner. His presence unnerved her. She felt uneven and wobbly inside. Somehow for movie night, neither of the children sat between her and Leo. Feeling distracted by the seating arrangements and not overly interested in the Lego people on the screen, she went into the kitchen and made herself a cup of tea.

When the movie finished Cody and Riley found her in the kitchen with her word search. As Riley flung her arms around her and hugged her, she felt a warmth in her heart. Had she ever felt affection like she had for Riley and Cody. Once the children went upstairs for bed, she slipped downstairs to the safety of her room. The upstairs was a risk to her equilibrium.

It surprised Isla when Lilli and Zach joined them in the pew at church. The children moved to sit next to the new arrivals, leaving Isla next to Leo again. Focusing on the readings didn't distract her from his clean scent. She prayed to cease the uncharitable thought she had when she remembered the flowery scent. At Communion, Zach sat while Lilli joined them. Isla felt confused again; Lilli was unmarried but lived with Zach. The world had become more confusing, and Isla missed the security she left behind.

After Mass, Helen waved her over. "Are we still walking tomorrow?" Isla nodded, still unsure about the plan. "Wear sneakers. Those shoes will give you blisters."

Sneakers. Isla didn't have any other shoes. She hadn't worn sneakers in years. "I can't shop. It's Sunday. Rest."

Helen laughed. "I'm dedicated, but things have changed."

Isla said, "I haven't."

Helen frowned. "Come over later. I have a bin of old shoes. We should be able to find something for you."

Afraid to insult her new friends, she nodded just as Cody pulled on her hand. "Come on."

Helen said, "After lunch. I'll be home." She waved and turned back to Johnny.

As Lilli helped prepare lunch, she asked about Isla's week. "Are you happier staying here?"

Her cheeks burned. She wished he kept her previous living arrangements secret. Did the children know?

Lilli touched her arm. "Don't worry. He only told us. He needed reassurance that he made the right decision."

"Did he?" Her tummy felt sour.

Lilli chuckled. "Definitely." She gazed out the kitchen window. "It's going to take them all day. It should be fun to watch."

Taking on a big job on Sunday didn't bother anyone except her. "I was surprised to see you at church."

Lilli smiled. "Leo mentioned it, and I offered. My family is not as religious as some. Our neighbors across the street go every weekend no matter what."

Growing up, Isla never had a family to teach her about faith. "I became a member of the Church in high school when I received a scholarship to the all-girls high school. I went to religion class and realized what I had been missing."

"So you chose to be Catholic. I was just born into it." The view captured Lilli's focus. "He's so hot."

Isla shouldn't want to look but curiosity won. Zach's muscles flexed as he held a panel to the structure they were building. Leo had removed his long sleeve shirt and wore only a black tee shirt. It was a chilly day, but the physical work must have overheated him. Watching his body bend and use his muscles, she didn't turn away. Everything about men interested and scared her at the same time.

Eventually turning away from the window, she said, "I need to go out for a while."

"Um, okay. I brought dinner."

She nodded. "He said you would."

There was nothing for Isla to do. The children wanted to help their father with the project in the backyard. Wasn't Sunday her day off?

Helen's house was down the street and around the corner. It looked similar to every other home in the neighborhood. When Isla rang the doorbell, Helen opened the door. She dressed in a sweatshirt and sweatpants.

The older woman smiled. "Come in. I was just catching up on laundry."

"On Sunday?" Surely as a former nun, she respected the third commandment.

"Bah. The week is too short to get it all done. Raising five kids, I never had a day off. Now with my responsibilities at the Church and my house and Johnny, I'm busy."

Helen helped run the religious education program and taught on Sunday morning. Isla felt uncomfortable knowing about her friend's past.

She looked around the kitchen her friend ushered her into. The counters were cluttered with small kitchen appliances, but also cereal boxes. Isla wouldn't be able to work with the limited space. Helen disappeared and returned with a large plastic bin.

"I'm not sure how we accumulated so many shoes." As she opened the box, Helen asked Isla's shoe size.

Isla told Helen who dug through the box. "These look new. They might fit."

Isla took the white shoes with a black zigzag on the side and looked at the tag. They were a half a size too big. She put her foot in.

"Wait! You need socks." Helen disappeared.

Isla sat and looked inside the box of shoes. Some were old, but others newer, so it seemed wasteful for them to be in a bin. She looked up when someone entered the kitchen.

"Ah. Hello. You aren't my mother."

She shook her head, as she looked at the man about her age. "No. You aren't her either."

"I'm Paul. Youngest of the brood. You are?"

"Isla. Your mother will be back."

Helen appeared. "Oh Paul, you're here."

He kissed his mother's cheek. "You offered a free meal."

Helen turned to Isla. "You met my son? Here."

She held out a ball of white. Isla separated the socks and put one on over her stockings. Then she slipped into the shoe. Too big.

"Stand up, your foot gets bigger." Helen hovered next to her.

The shoe felt cushy unlike the hard sole of her nondescript black leather shoes. Her toes could wiggle.

Helen said, "Paul, bend over and check the size for me."

Isla wanted to protest but couldn't be rude. He looked up with blue eyes. "There's some room. There must be something smaller."

She waited as the man dug through the box. He had a bald spot on the top of his head. Neither Zach nor Leo had that problem. His face looked kind.

"Here, try these."

He held up a similar pair, but they were bright blue. She took the shoes from him and put one on her foot. Once again she stood and he tested them.

"Better." He looked up and smiled.

Helen clapped her hands. "Try the other one on." Isla did and stood with two cushioned shoes. "Now walk to see how they feel."

She took a few steps in the kitchen. "They feel... good." Like she wouldn't have tired feet after a day of cleaning. They were not new, but in good enough shape to still be useful.

Helen smiled proudly. "Did you know my son teaches religion at BC High?"

The man blushed. "It was the next best choice after I left the seminary."

The seminary! "You wanted to be a priest?"

He shrugged. "I thought I did. I enjoy teaching the boys."

"My first religion teacher changed my life." In so many ways, Sister Agnes had protected her. She missed the old nun who had passed going on six months.

"You have so much in common." Helen kept smiling.

Isla thought more than she knew. Feeling uncomfortable, she said, "I need to get back."

Helen frowned. "Paul, walk her home for me."

Isla protested. "Don't bother."

Paul said, "I don't mind." He followed her out the door.

"I live around the corner. It's fine."

He smiled. "I hate to disappoint my mother, so I'll walk you to the corner."

She didn't protest as they fell in step. Her new shoes felt nice walking. He was not as tall as Leo, but she felt the same oddness inside.

He spoke first. "She was never very discrete."

Isla stopped walking. "What?"

"She obviously invited us both over for a reason."

"Oh." Isla couldn't speak if she wanted to.

He smiled, and his eyes looked very kind. She imagined he was a good teacher. "What do you say? Would you like to have dinner with me sometime?" Isla froze. Did she? "No pressure. Just dinner."

He was almost a priest. He loved his mother. She should have stayed in Philly if she wanted to give into her fear.

"Okay." She felt sick inside.

He laughed. "Don't look so happy. Give me your phone."

At least she had one. After a goodbye and his promise to call her, she walked home. Lilli was in the backyard but saw her. The beautiful girl followed her inside.

"Isla, you don't look too good. Are you okay?"

She shrugged and covered her face with her hands. "I think I have a date!"

Lilli smiled. "That's good news."

😊 isla's turn. Please press🌟