Agnes was shaken and tearful, but unharmed. Apparently, while she was at bridge club the house had been ransacked and someone had rifled through her things.

The police asked her the standard generic questions -making her feel like she had left a neon sign and a 'welcome to an empty house' banner installed just before leaving. It was infuriating how easily they made you question yourself about locking the doors and windows and having workers in the house? Does someone forgetting to lock the door, close a bedroom window, or get a repair done from a handyman make it okay for someone to come in and rifle through things? Sometimes the world made no sense to me.

Kyle stayed distant and fidgeted in the background. I was glad he didn't throw out the detail that I had been robbed earlier. I knew the link would be suspicious, and didn't want the police nosing around in my dad's past.

The ambulance drivers, which had been called because Agnes's ranting made the neighbors assumed she was being beaten, finally gave up up trying to get her to let them examine her when I promised to take responsibility.

Kyle paced while I held Agnes's hand waiting until the police finally finished their idea of crime solving which to me looked more like snapping some photos and asking pretty generic questions.

When everyone cleared, Kyle, Agnes, and I put her place back into some semblance of order that would have to do until I could call the 'Maid to Order' girls. Kyle took charge and ordered food which he was quick to make a breakaway to pick up, while Agnes and I put order to the kitchen.

"I'm so sorry Agnes. I know how terrifying this was. Maybe you should come live with me. The house is plenty big enough and Buster would love someone around when I start school in the fall."

She stared into her teacup, the rising steam swirling, highlighting the brimming but unshed tears held in her steel grey eyes.

"Oh, they can't run an old bird like me out of my house. I've lived alone so long I'd be a horrible roommate. Besides, looks like you may not stay alone for long!"

I couldn't help but laugh at my seventy five year old aunt playing matchmaker. Grabbing her hand, I gave it a comforting squeeze. "It's going to be a very long time until I start making life plans. I'm still getting used to planning a tomorrow."

She nodded and took a sip of tea. "Life is full of surprises Cassie. Taking it one day at a time is always the best way to go. I should have listened to them when they showed up. It sure would have saved me a lot of work."

"What? What did you say Agnes? Who? Who was here. What are you saying?" Suddenly my mouth was dry and a sense of panic washed over me.

Kyle's truck was pulling up to the curb and I watched as he balanced the large brown bag on his hip and made his way up to the porch. Agnes got up from the table and started setting plates and silverware down.

I wanted to press her for more details but I had no idea if what Kyle had told me was related to this, was it possible? It looked like whoever was after my dad's information was pulling out all the stops. Suddenly listening bugs and cameras were nothing compared to breaking and entering and scaring orphans and old ladies.

The chills returned as I followed Agnes' lead and started helping her set the table. Her failure to talk may have been about not knowing Kyle, but mine was about not stepping in traps. After dinner I had to make a phone call, and I only hoped I was on the right track.

We ate in silence and cleared the dishes with minimum interaction, resulting in making Kyle painfully uncomfortable. I was pretty sure the front of his jeans would have worn spots if he didn't stop rubbing them. I tried to engage Agnes in reminiscing about my dad and their stories of growing up, but she was too preoccupied to respond with more than a few words.

Finally, in desperation I tried to break the black cloud of worry in the room with an idea I knew would cause a reaction. "Why don't we all get in the truck and drive up to the High School and I can learn to drive? It's about time mom's car stopped being an ornament, and I can't be spending my life's saving on Uber."

Agnes laughed out loud. "That's the worst idea I've ever heard. Three people and a dog crammed in a truck does not make for a calm atmosphere. Why don't I go over and see Gladys next door with Buster and you kids go driving. You should learn, Cassie. A girl's got the call of the open road sometimes and it's high time you learned. Such a strange when I stop and think about all the life experiences you haven't had, you have so much to catch up on."

She looked at Kyle, and me, and gave a blantant matchmaking wink. I laughted and gave her a bear hug as Kyle bolted for the door.

As Buster and Agnes walked down the sidewalk Kyle opened the car door for me and visibly relaxed. "Why does she hate me? She doesn't even know me!"

I smacked myself on the forehead. Of course he thought that! Agnes and I were as stiff as statues when he came back, neither of us making eye contact with each other and silent to boot. I felt so sorry for him I kissed him and burst out laughing.

"Kyle I am so sorry. Of course she doesn't hate you. She was trying to tell me something important and didn't want to ruin our 'date' so she stopped talking. I wasn't sure if I even wanted to push it because of what you said about listening bugs. Oh my gosh, I knew you were uncomfortable, I was afraid for the life of your pants."

The frown I got made me laugh harder. He immediately stopped frowning and placed his hands on the wheel. "So, we're on a date are we?"

It was my turn to fidget which only made me crack up harder. Somehow things always seemed easier when he was around.

After an hour of driving in circles I was comfortable, but bored, and pretty sure Kyle would need new tires. I was taking it way too serious and he was loving that I wasn't a very good driver. My goal was to get around the training lot once without hitting anything and his was to distract me by being an idiot and doing things like sticking his finger in my ear and telling me I was pretty.

We switched places for the drive back to Agnes' house. I pretended I was unhappy after he quickly turned down my offer to drive there, but when he grabbed my hand I was grateful not to have two hands on the wheel. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much and when he gently kissed the back of my hand I closed my eyes happier than I'd been in a long time. I hadn't been on many dates, well, any, unless you count the park, but this one beat any RomCom moment I'd seen. The only thing that could have made it better was getting rid of the looming weight sitting in my gut since I'd found out about my dad and the baby.

"Kyle, can you stop at the corner really quick? I'm going to run in and grab Agnes some ice cream."

"Whatever makes her like me" he said as he pulled in. He started to take out the keys and I opened the door.

"No worries. I can do it. Keep my seat warm would you?"

He turned on the radio and sat back closing his eyes as I made a dash for the entrance. In the back beside the ATM I spotted exactly what I needed to make or break this night, a pay phone. I took out the crumpled piece of paper, my pocket quarters, and picked up the receiver.

Ignoring the sticky headset and the thumping in my chest, I dropped in the coins saying a silent prayer that there was a care package, and not one of the four legged variety.

****************************
Happy Monday! We're getting quite the idea of what's going on aren't we? It seems like Cassie has a plan though, and I'm betting she's smart enough to pull it off!
Thanks so much for joining me on this wild ride! Any thoughts or comments are appreciated!