Me and Caspian had just left the office after picking up paper work for Mollie and her husband to fill out, if they decided to take Caspian. Before leaving, I had to stop at Johns office. I give him a quick wink and look that says more then he was expecting. He starts to turn beat red and fidgets with his collar.

I control my facial features and tell him casually, "I'll give you a call tonight and let you know how things go with the kid."

He gives me a look like I'm in trouble later. I wave and walk out, leaving the flustered man watching me leave. I wait till we're back in the car before I chuckle. Cass Just looks at me weird before looking back out the window.

"So, Miss Sin, where are we going that is making you laugh like that?" Cass asks with a blank stare and hesitant feet.

"Oh... that's not why I'm laughing..." I quickly wipe the smirk from my face and give him a genuwine warm smile. "But I am taking you to a very good friends house for you to meet them. I think you'll like them and  I know that they will like you too." I reassured him.

"You mean I won't be staying with you anymore?" He turned and stared at me wide eyed.

'Shoot this may turn ugly, I have got to be gentle about it.'

"Well Cass, I already told you what my job is. You saw first hand what I do. I can't take care of you and do my job too. If you end up staying with my friends though, I'll get to see you every time I come back home and we can hang out then."

"So if I don't like it there and don't stay there, will I ever see you again?" He inquired staring at me intently.

"No, you probably won't Cass." I won't lie to him, what's the point. I'm touched by his desire to stay near me but man this kid has latched onto me quick.

"Well, I think I already like them." he smiles and looks back out the window as we head up to Alpine where my friends live.

It was around five in the evening when we got there and I rang the bell twice before knocking three times and opening the door.  I stop a few steps in when I realize Cass is still standing at the door. I turn and motion for him to come in. He comes in and closes the door and shock envelopes his face at the house.

You can't tell that its huge from when you first show up, it looks like a normal 2600 sq ft home due to the slope in the hillside its built into. It uses the ground as insulation on two thirds of the what would have been the out side structure and has floor to ceiling windows over looking the the San Diego area and ocean. The walls with windows curve in so the house looks like a giant C from up above. A giant canter lever patio area with an infinity pool and sunken fire pit can be seen through the windows.. Inside  in the middle is a giant waterfall like feature with blue, green, pink, and orange colored glass and crystals cascading down from a giant tree sculpture with a fireplace in between the roots.

I smile knowing that the house is a quite amazing looking and tell him to come here, he can look around in a little while. Mollie comes shortly out of the kitchen with her bright auburn hair and warm smile.

"Auntie M. Grans in 'er room, if you'd like to go and say your hellos. She's a wee bit tired from the tests today. I'm just in the kitchen making supper. Now who is this here?" She gives me a hug and looks Cass over smiling warmly. "My name is Mollie Ducade-Crain. What is yours?" She holds out her hand to shake his.

"My name is Caspian Martin, Ma'am. Your house is amazing." He shakes her hand and exclaims while he is still looking around.

Mollie laughs lightly and tells him, " Aye, My husband Mark, you'll meet him later built this house. It was a lot of work but we took our time to build it right. "

"And money, don't forget that." I add before starting to head to Sarah's room. I see Mollie shake her head at me.

"Yes, Auntie, a lot of money. Thank you again for the wedding present Auntie!" She laughs as I just raise my hand in confirmation.

Now, I didn't gift them the house, I gave them the land that I already owned and paid for the concrete.  All two million of it. TWO MILLION FLIPPING DOLLARS OF CONCRETE. Sure I didn't have to, but I wanted to see if her soon to be husband really could build the house of their dreams on this piece of land I gave to them.

They had shown me the design 15 years ago when they were finalizing wedding plans. She was 21, fresh out of college & he was 26, already a working engineer and architect for 4 years. It took them two years before they could start decorating the inside because of the concrete footings, counter weights and supporting walls that took a long time to cure.

Then they had an issue pop up and realized they needed more work on reinforcing the hill side.

Then they were having to add more weight to the front of the house for the infinity pools weight.....

Oi vey, I digress.

I'm now very careful about what I promise to anyone for anything now, I don't break a promise. I love my great niece though and the end result was worth every penny of it. Also, Mark did help me design and build my own home without charging me his fees, so I guess I feel better about it. I knock gently on Sarah's room door and open it gently.

"Sarah, It's me Mary." I say quietly in case she's resting.

She looks up at me with her weathered and wrinkled face full of laugh and smile lines. Her teeth were not in so her smile was toothless but still radiated joy from her lively twinkling eyes.

"Mary! Oh Mary! Come in n' sit doun. You're 'ere for a visit? Moll, the daft lass, did no' say a word to me." She leans over and puts in her teeth.  "Leh me look atcha you now." She pauses and fixes her teeth that were a little off. "Sorry, 'bout that. Well Mary, you seem different, you seem to be glowing. Now, wha' do ya ken would do a thing like that?" She gets an excited look in her eyes, "You mus' have a fallen in love?! Your cheeks are rosy and your eyes er' bright." she said happily and surprised, for being 100 her eyes and mind were still sharp as a tack.

"Oh Sarah, don't tell me stuff like that. You know that's when I tend to get rid of them. I've been enjoying this one too much, I guess." I smile with a slight blush, Sarah knows me all too well to spot the difference in me.

"Ach Mary Douglas, ya need ta be falling in love. No' be breaking hearts. I ken how ya feel on the matter but even Nathaniel wouldna' be wishing you to ne'er try to love again.  You 'ave gone through more pain then any one should. An' you do so willingly 'cept when it comes to ya heart and relationships." She clicked her tongue at me in mocked anger. "Funny thing is, ya ken tha' it still hurts ya in the process. I wish you'd give some man the chance. Maybe this one?" she winks at me and I see my friend Sarah how she was when we were young again for a second.

"Oh Sarah, you know I don't want anyone to waste their life loving me when I can't grow old with them, or have children." I smile sadly to remind her.

"Nathaniel ne'er felt he wasted his life, or felt his life wa' less without his own bairns. You forget, I was there in the hospital with you'in the room." She puts a hand on my face to make me look her in the eyes. "I worry bout you Mary. When I'm gone, who'll love you for you? Sure Moll loves ya, but in the way a niece does. You need someone who'll be your friend, to hold  you when you need to cry."

Why is Sarah being so serious all of the sudden?

"Sarah, what happened at the hospital today? Why are you talking so serious ?" I pull back to give her a serious look.

"Mary, ya ken I won' pull the wool o'er your eyes, I ha'e cancer." She says solemnly

.....*it's like my heart stopped beating, and I can't hear or see. I'm practically frozen in this moment.*....

"Mary, I have cancer." Nathaniel looks at me distressed, "The doctors say I can do radiation treatments and surgery. It's in my liver so it's not looking too good."

Nathaniel was only 56 when he got the diagnosis, I got to keep him for 2 more years before the cancer ate away at him and took him from me.

Now my best friend has it too.

I feel that familiar cavernous of helplessness overwhelming me and I'm lost.

Tears start flooding my eyes, spilling down over my cheeks.

"Oh Sarah. No, No, No." I hug my friend closely as tight as I can as the tears fall down with out restraint.

'You're all I have left from before. You're the only one who truly knows me... What am I going to do without you?'

"There, there, Mary. We both ken I wouldna' live fore'er, the fact I've lived as many years as I 'ave is a blessing. Now, Dry yer eyes. I 'aven't left you yet Mary Douglas."

We hear a slight tap on the door as it opens up with Moll and Cass walking in.

"Oh sorry, Auntie, Gran. We didn't realize you were having a serious talk." Moll and Cass see me holding onto Sarah and go to turn and leave.

I sat up and quickly said, "It's not a problem. Perfect timing really." I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and snagged a tissue from Sarah bed side.

"You told her then, Gran?" Mollie asked getting a nod in confirmation.

" Well, now, who do we 'ave here? Such a bonnie wee lad. I'm Granny Ducade, but you can call me Gran. What's your name?" Sarah asked while I pulled my self together quickly.

"Caspian Martin, Gran. But I prefer just Cass." Cass said quietly looking at me. Concern heavy in his eyes.

I smiled and grabbed his hand whispering, "I'm fine Cass."

I straightened up and informed them, "If you and hubby would like to get to know Cass a little more, I can leave him here to see how you'd get along. As long as it's not an inconvenience. My house isn't suitable for kids as you know and I'd rather he be with a family I know and trust, then the foster system." I rubbed Cass hair as Moll and Sarah shared a smile.

"Ya Ken, we could use a wee lad around here. I say it's worth a try." Sarah said with a knowing smile looking at Caspian.

"Of course! We'd love to give you a home here with us. You of course don't have to say yes right now. Or even a week from now. Stay as long as you like and take your time." Mollie beamed at Caspian and he shyly smiled back.