Isla laid awake wondering how long before he found out the truth. Then she wondered how long it would take to save up so she could have a safe roof over her head. At least he had stopped commenting about dropping her at the diner.

She tried to focus on the purpose of her job, the children. God didn't want them to be without their mother nearby. They were sweet and kind, and she felt the need to help them.

She tried not to think about the life she left behind. The reasons seemed more important. Her work was similar, but instead of caring for the elderly, she cared for children. She also didn't work as hard. Every afternoon, she took a nap to make up for the sleep that didn't come to her at night.

After the first day, she only had to be with him for the car ride between the diner and the train. When he had touched her in the kitchen, it felt strange. In the morning, she felt similar. Did all men smell so good? She pressed her hands into her stomach hoping the funny feeling would go away.

On Friday morning, he smiled when she slid into the passenger seat. His scent captured her again, as she focused on greeting the children.

"You don't need to pick me up. We're having company for dinner."

Cody said, "Lilli?"

He laughed. "Yes, Lilli."

She bit her lip. "Should I make something special?"

He frowned. "We usually just get takeout, but we had pizza this week for lunch. You can cook. Anything is fine, but nothing fancy."

Isla felt pressure to prepare something special for their special guest. She felt uneasy about things she didn't understand starting with divorce. In school, the nuns had taught her divorce was wrong. She didn't want to meet a worldly woman who Cody loved and suddenly became very aware of her appearance.

She let out a long breath after she dropped the children at school. As she had every day, she attended daily Mass before stopping at the supermarket. She gave the downstairs a thorough cleaning before lunch. After lunch she set her alarm for a nap but nervous energy prevented her from sleeping.

She took out her rosary and prayed. The pale blue translucent beads felt comforting in her hand. Isla remembered the day Sister Agnes handed them to her in religion class at Saint Clare High School. She had felt lucky to be a student at the private school and found comfort and peace in the old building. Those were not feelings she felt in any of the many foster homes she had growing up. Her enrollment to the private school was courtesy of a nameless benefactor.

Lost in prayer, she jumped when the alarm buzzed. Stowing it in her backpack, she set out on foot for the children. Isla enjoyed the walk on nice days, and it gave them time to tell her about their day on the way home.

"What are we making today?" Cody asked.

"Meatballs for spaghetti."

Riley scrunched her nose. "Meatballs?"

She looked at the young girl. "Surely, you've had meatballs before?"

"I don't think so."

Cody said, "Do we mush?"

She laughed. "Yes, we mush." She hadn't realized spending time with children led to laughter. "Do you have homework?"

"No, it's Friday." Riley added a hop to her step.

"Good. We can have some fun after we finish our work."

"Why do we have to work when it's your job?" Riley pouted.

"Because it's your family."

The tween walked silently for a few minutes. She said, "But we don't really have a mother like most families."

Isla gave a half-smile. "She's just not here with you."

Cody said, "Lilli's coming. I drew a picture for her. She likes that."

Isla nodded. "I look forward to meeting your father's friend, Lilli." She instantly felt guilty for fibbing.

The kitchen was a mess after they set the rolled balls of meat to cook. She told the children to play while she cleaned up. Cody sat down with crayons and paper.

"Here." He handed her a paper.

She looked at a drawing of Cody holding her hand. She looked old. Was that what he saw?

She slipped into the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. Her green eyes stared back at her. Her face lacked the lines of an old person. She was almost thirty, still young, but too old to run away. Taking the pins out of her hair, it tumbled down her back. On the toilet tank was a cup of hair elastics. Did the father help with Riley's hair or did she do it on her own? Isla picked one up and tied her brown hair back. Looking in the mirror, she wondered if she looked younger.

She was preparing a salad of fresh greens when the back door opened. Leo appeared and smiled at her, causing her to touch the ponytail. Behind him was a woman his height and a taller man.

The kids rushed in. Cody shouting. Isla kept working trying to ignore the happy fray. She looked up when she heard her name.

"Isla. This is Zach and Lilli. They are my colleagues and friends."

Zach rested his hand on Lilli's hip. She turned away. Their touch caused that troubling turmoil in her chest.

Lilli smiled. "It smells delicious."

"We made meatballs. I mushed."

Lilli smiled at Cody. "You did. My mother makes delicious meatballs. Mine never come out as well." Isla kept working, and Lilli said, "Shoo, I'll help in here."

Isla's hands froze as the men, and children obeyed. She looked at the tall dark-haired woman. She looked young and in a skirt which showed a lot of legs and a top that was the opposite of Isla's baggy sweater.

"I'll just change and be right back."

Isla busied herself filling a pot with water. She expected one guest, but there were two. The tall man looked like the models on the billboards she kept looking at. She touched her cheeks. She would cook extra pasta.

Lilli returned wearing jeans and a fitted tee shirt with the words 'The Point' on it. Isla hadn't worn jeans since she left her last foster home. It was an awful one with too many children and lazy adults. She shut her eyes to block the memory.

"Are you okay?"

"Fine. You work with Mr. Nelson?"

Lilli snickered. "Yes, we are all agents."

"What kind of agents?" She thought of FBI.

"Literary. We work with authors to get their books published. Leo specializes in children and young adult literature. Do you read?"

"No." My bible, but not since she stepped off the train. She had been too busy getting used to life.

"I love to read. If you want, I can share some books."

She shook her head. "I don't know."

Leo came through the kitchen also in jeans. "Is the mail still in the box?"

She nodded. She didn't feel comfortable touching his mail. "I'll get it. Your phone should be here."

Lilli said, "I can't believe you don't have a phone."

"I never needed one before."

He returned with some envelopes he threw aside. He held up the brown box before opening it. Then he began tapping on the device.

Lilli said, "Are you from Boston?"

"No, Philadelphia."

Lilli bounced. "My mother grew up in Philly. I used to visit as a kid. What brought you to Boston?"

"The train."

Leo looked up at her for a moment making her feel uncomfortable.

Lilli chuckled. "But why did you leave Philly?"

"To start over." She wasn't keen on personal questions.

"What did you do for work?"

"I cooked and cleaned and cared for some elderly, um, people." Questions would trip her up. "The pasta is cooked."

Lilli said, "I can drain it for you. I volunteered to help and chewed your ear off instead."

Leo said, "Your phone is ready. I put my number and the school number in for you. You can use it to keep in touch with friends and family from Philly."

Isla didn't have friends and family, and she didn't know how to use a phone. She felt embarrassed to admit the truth.

She cleared her throat. "Dinner can wait if you want to drop me off."

Leo paused. "You should stay and eat with us."

Lilli touched her arm. "Please. We need to even things off."

She felt trapped and nodded. "The children need to wash their hands."

She focused on rounding them up. They were busy playing a game with Zach.

"After we eat. Okay, dudes?"

Riley slapped his outstretched hand. Cody copied his sister, but the larger hand pulled away. "Just kidding. Codester."

Instead, he gave the small boy a hug. Everyone exhibited love. Isla had never experienced such affection in her life. When Cody and Riley hugged her, she felt uncomfortable.

She sat quietly at the table while the others talked. Riley refused to eat the meatballs, but Lilli complimented her. Leo and Zach joined in and she felt heat on her face from their attention. She couldn't remember the last time she blushed.

She stood and cleared the table. As she tried to lift the bowl of leftover meatballs, Leo's hands brushed hers. He smiled. "Let me."

She pulled back her hands. For the first time, she understood the saying a fish out of water. In four days, she had been thrusted into a life unlike the one she had been living for over ten years.

Lilli picked up plates. "You cooked. I will clean up. Right?"

Zach smiled. "I'll help, Lill."

She smiled. "Thanks, hun."

Zach kissed Lilli on the lips and Isla knew she should look away. How could Lilli carry plates to the sink without shaking after being kissed?

"Could you drop me off now?"

Leo nodded and put on a jacket while she said goodbye to the children. She wished they would be in the car too.

As he backed out of the drive, he asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yes."

"It's dark. Show me where you live."

She said, "The diner is fine. Your friends are very nice."

"Yes, they are."

She offered a silent prayer of thanks. He didn't push her about her address.

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