Maybe I better go and see him now,” Cid said standing up.

Jesse looked at his friend. “You’re either a throwback to another age or the most evolved male I’ve met in a long time.”

“I really don’t know what the hell I’m doing,” Cid admitted. “I’ve wrecked any and all relationships I’ve been in. This is too important. She’s important.” Cid sat back down and put his head in his hands.

“Wash up, and comb back that Superman curl. I’ll go with you as your second.”

“We’re not having a duel,” Cid said.

“Come on.”

Carl looked at his foster sister and shook his head. “You want to what?”

“I’d like to date Cid Garrett, and I don’t want you scaring him off,” Sally said.

“Cid’s a nice guy… Hey, how long has this been going on?”

“A few hours,” Sally admitted. “I thought he was gay.”

“How? Oh, we all made that mistake,” Carl realized. “He’s different. Very stable, why would I object?”

“You have objected to all of my boyfriends.”

“You were a stupid teenager,” Carl scoffed. “You’re a young woman…”

“Hardly young,” Sally said.

“Younger than me,” Carl compromised. “What I’m trying to say is that if you two want to take things slow and keep it out of work, then you have my blessing.”

Sally smiled and jumped up and down.

Carl had never seen his battle-worn foster sister act this way. He walked out of the kitchen, through the common room and down into the workroom. There Jesse and Cid stood. “I bet I know what this is about,” Carl said. “You want to date my sister.”

“Yes, sir, I do,” Cid said. “I want to be upfront that this isn’t just me passing the time. I feel that she and I have a lot in common, and I want your permission to explore this further.”

Carl couldn’t help smiling. “I’ve waited to hear any of my daughter’s boyfriends summon up the nerve to ask me. I appreciate it. Sally makes her own decisions, but she did give me a heads-up. Jesse, take a hike,” Carl said and waved Cid over to a more secluded corner.

Jesse walked out and left Cid to follow Carl.

“She would kill me, but I need to warn you. Sally faced something horrible over there, when she was in the Army, that has left her scarred physically and mentally. The doctors call it PTSD. I have no idea how this will affect things. I just want you aware.”

“Lazar Popov is a good friend of mine and has PTSD. I know it’s different with each individual, but I’m aware of what I’m getting into,” Cid said.

“She doesn’t look it, but she’s mixed race,” Carl blurted out.

“Not a problem.”

“I didn’t think it was, but I don’t want her hurt, Cid.”

“I’m not going to hurt her intentionally. I’m no prize, Carl. I know that you all look at me and snicker. If we end up in a serious relationship, I will protect, provide, and support her dreams. If she doesn’t want me, then I’ll go away peacefully and lick my wounds.”

“I appreciate this talk, Cid. My mother will be pleased to hear that Sally has found someone like you.” Carl reached a hand out.

Cid shook it.

“Why was Jesse here?” Carl asked.

“He said he was going to be my second.”

“Did you think I was going to call you out?” Carl asked.

“I didn’t, but Jesse has his own fantasy world that he lives in.”

Carl laughed.

Cid left him and walked up the stairs. He didn’t see Sally in the common room, so he stopped at the kitchen door and knocked before walking in.

Sally looked up from the pot she was stirring and smiled.

“I know we got back kind of late. Can I help you with getting supper together?” Cid asked.

“How are you at making biscuits?”

“Mia taught me a few shortcuts.”

“Then have at it,” Sally said. “I appreciate the help.”

Jesse, who had been shadowing Cid, walked away and headed back to the trailer. He breathed in the crisp cold air as he walked. He looked over at Walnut Grove House and shook his head. The owner was pumping a lot of money into a place that Jesse doubted the man would ever use. The setting sun momentarily lit up the insides of the house. Jesse saw shadows moving. He hoped that Kiki’s team had called it a day.

Faye was waiting for him when he got inside. “Well?”

“Well, what?”

“What happened?”

“I take it we’re talking about Cid and Sally.”

“Of course. I tried to hang around, but I was too nervous,” Faye admitted.

“Houston, we have lift off,” Jesse said. He realized his mistake when Faye gave him a blank look. “What I mean by that is, they have been launched as a couple.”

“Good. I had a good feeling about the two of them,” Faye said. “Now all I have to do is find you a deaf and blind wife and my work on Earth will be finished.”

“Deaf and blind but not dumb?” Jesse questioned.

“I’m going to find a nagger,” Faye teased. “The deafness and blindness is for her protection not yours.”

“You’re a horrible dead person, Faye. After all I’ve done for you,” Jesse pouted.

Faye grinned and disappeared.

Chapter Six

“I’m worried about finding tiles to replace the three cracked green tiles in the small study,” Pete said. “They are hand-dipped Edwardian. The closest I’m going to be able to find on this side of the Atlantic are coming from Mexico. It’s not that they aren’t good tiles but there is a slight difference in color. I could have them made, but it would take months before we’d receive them.”

“At lunch Carl mentioned that there were piles of tiles and cornice pieces in the southwest corner of the basement. I think

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