Daniel looked back and forth between the two of them, but neither was letting anything show.

"Uh, sure. Everything's okay, isn't it?" Now he was worried.

"Never better," coincided with, "Absolutely." Daniel breathed a sigh of relief and headed back to the kitchen.

He went straight to Boddy and asked, "Do you know what's going on with Dad and Mama Sasy? They want to talk to me and Benny after supper tonight."

Boddy nodded his head and said, "Maybe."

"Well, that's helpful." Daniel was a little put out.

"They didn't say go talk to Boddy, did they? They said they wanted to talk to you all, so you can just be patient until then. Now, take this out. Rosa just took out two more pies. Let these cool and then put them in the front."

234.

"You're right. Sorry, Boddy." Daniel grabbed the pies to take them out.

"No problem, Daniel. Just, keep an open mind, okay?"

Now Daniel was really wondering what was going on. He knew his dad had taken Mama Sasy out a couple of times since their first date, but he hadn't asked where.

He had noticed that she came back smiling, though.

Surely his dad wasn't going to ask her to marry him.

Was he? He didn't have to search his heart to know that he would be fine with it. He hurried over to tell Benny that they had a meeting to go to that night.

Franklin came over and said, "Don't look right now, but there's a guy that's been hanging around out front.

Black dude. Looks kind of hungry and scared, you know? Should we do something? I don't want to scare him away."

Daniel nodded his head and went about bussing a table, looking out the front window to see the guy that Franklin was talking about. He didn't know if Mama had any particular way she connected with these boys, so he went over to her and told her what they'd seen. She got up immediately and walked slowly to the front door.

Daniel watched her walk right up to the boy, who looked like he was about to run. She talked to him steadily, no gestures, no sudden movements. After a few minutes he trailed along behind her as she came back in.

"Daniel, this is Ba.s.s. He could use a hot meal. Will you tell Boddy to get him one? And he likes chocolate milkshakes. I think that would go fine with Thanksgiving dinner, don't you?" She stood near the boy, Ba.s.s, and talked quietly. The boy looked really young, early teens maybe. He had very short hair and light green eyes. He was pretty good looking, but he seemed really scared, a little dirty, and if the sounds Take It Slow 235.

coming from his stomach were any indication, very hungry.

Daniel answered, "Yes, ma'am. Right away.

Welcome to Mama Sasy's, Ba.s.s. You're safe here and the food is the best." Daniel went to the window to pa.s.s the message on to Boddy.

He heard Mama ask Ba.s.s to sit with her and Nick at the booth, and when Daniel got there with the plate, she asked him to join them. Benny was making the milkshake.

Mama was beside Nick, so Daniel paused at the end of the booth, waiting for Ba.s.s to scoot over and let him in. After a few seconds of hesitation, the boy moved, making room for Daniel.

"It's okay, really. Dig in! All of the boys you'll see here have been where you are, myself included. It's a long story, but, uh, this is my dad, Nick Webster. You met Mama Sasy, and here comes Benny with your shake. He and Franklin showed up here just like you...

well, sort of. We went looking for Franklin. Anyway, after you eat, we'll find you a bunk, some clean clothes, get you a kit, and let you hit the showers. I know that was one of the best things when I got here. Finally, I felt clean after such a long time." Daniel realized that Ba.s.s was watching him closely and not eating. "I'm sorry. I'll shut up and let you eat. Go on, while it's hot. I just wanted you to feel safe here and to know that it's okay to stay. No one will hurt you, or hound you with questions and so on." Daniel finally shut up.

He wanted to ask so many questions. Where did Ba.s.s hear about Mama Sasy's? How did he come to be here?

What was his story? Daniel felt such an eagerness to find out more about the kid and find ways to help him.

He understood what drove Mama Sasy all this time.

236.

He caught his dad and Mama Sasy sharing a look, and then they both looked at him. What was that? Mama began talking quietly to Ba.s.s, telling him what he could expect the next few days, the spiel Daniel had heard several times before.

Finally, his dad asked Ba.s.s what Daniel wanted to know. "How old are you, Ba.s.s?"

Ba.s.s stopped with his fork halfway to his mouth and his eyes looked like those of the proverbial deer in the headlights.

"D-does it matter? Do I have to be a certain age to get to stay here for a while?" His voice was shaking a little.

"No, baby. We just want to make sure you're okay.

We don't need to know everything about you, but we do need to know if anyone is likely to come looking for you. We'll look out for you, but we just like to make sure no one is making trouble for the boys who are here." Mama stopped talking at the scared look on his face. She just waited, clearly getting that there was a story.

"I'll be sixteen in December, on the sixth." Ba.s.s looked down, putting his fork down as if waiting to be told to leave.

"Relax, hon. Go ahead and eat. We're not going to make you leave. Like I said, we just have to make sure you're okay. You're a little young, and look even younger than that, but if you need us, we're here for you.

Your parents, they're not in the picture, I take it?" Mama asked.

"No, ma'am. My mama died, and my old man, he, well, when I left, let's just say he lost his favorite punching bag. He didn't like that I had these green eyes, and he made my mom's life h.e.l.l because of them. She told him over and over that her daddy had green eyes, but he swore she cheated on him. I think the cancer that Take It Slow 237.

took her so quickly was almost a relief to her. Well, except she was worried about me. He really went ballistic when he saw, uh, well, there was this magazine that my friend let me borrow. That was it for him. I was out on the street." Ba.s.s started eating again. Daniel figured he thought he'd given them enough.

"How long have you been on your own?" Nick asked.

"Since March. Sometimes it's okay, but I've been kind of scared lately. There's this guy that's sort of been stalking me?" The words went high at the end, making the statement a question, like he wasn't sure if the guy was really stalking him, but it was clear that Ba.s.s feared him.

"Are you from here, from Nashville?" Daniel asked, wondering if he had been living near here, and if the guy bothering him was Butch, the same one that had gone after Franklin, Jeff, and Robb.

"Yeah, I mean yes." Ba.s.s had finished his meal and was yawning widely.

Daniel slid out of the booth, saying, "Come on, let's get you settled."

Ba.s.s thanked Mama Sasy for the food and for letting him stay before he followed Daniel.

Daniel introduced him to Boddy and Mama Rosa in the kitchen, then led him back the hallway to the dorm.

He showed Ba.s.s where each of their bunks were and let him choose one for himself. Once that was done, Daniel got a kit out for him, handed it to him and showed him where the bathroom and showers were, promising to get him some clean clothes and leave them there for him. He went over the rules about no drugs or alcohol, no guests without clearing it first with Mama Sasy, and so on.

"Hey." Ba.s.s said, standing in the bathroom just before Daniel left to get him the clothes.

"Yeah?" Daniel turned back around.

238.

"How come they do all this, really?"

Daniel wasn't surprised at the question. They'd all asked it at one time or another, in one way or another. It was hard to accept that someone wanted to do something nice for you after you'd been living in h.e.l.l, alone and scared, for so long. It didn't seem real. After living on the streets you just knew that if someone tried to help you, they had an ulterior motive.

"It's a pretty neat story, but trust me, they're on the up and up here. No one will ask anything of you that you don't want to do. They don't expect anything. I know it's hard to believe, but you're safe now. We'll tell you how we all came to be here later, okay?" Daniel could tell the kid was nearly asleep on his feet. "Is there anything you need?" Daniel asked, "A doctor or anything like that?"

Ba.s.s shook his head, saying, "No, thanks though."

Ba.s.s finally turned to go to the shower, and Daniel got him some sweats and left them in the bathroom for him.

Franklin came in and headed for his bunk. Daniel was glad that someone would be there when Ba.s.s came out, but he needed to get back up front. Walking into the kitchen, he saw Boddy leaning down, talking quietly to Mama Rosa. She had her hand on his where he had it resting on the arm of her chair. His other arm was almost all the way around her back. Whoa! Was there something going on there, too?

They both looked up when he entered, and Daniel just grinned and kept walking. Something must be in the air around here. He thought about it as he went on into the diner. He really would love it if Mama Rosa and Boddy get together. They were about the same age and both were great, kind, caring people.

Benny caught his eye and raised a brow at the smile on his face. "What's up?" he asked as he joined Daniel.

239.

"I'll tell you later. Right now let's go find out what Nick and Mama Sasy want to talk to us about."

Benny followed him and they sat across from the two older people in the booth. Daniel waited expectantly for one of them to explain why they were there.

Nick and Mama Sasy looked at each other, and Nick dipped his head as if telling Mama Sasy to go first. She smiled at him and turned back to them.

"Your father and I have been talking, and we have an idea. We'd like to see what you all think about it."

"Okay." Daniel waited.

Nick took over, saying, "We've noted just how important helping others like Benny and yourself is to you. You have a gift for it, if that makes any sense. You know how these boys feel, and you have a sincere desire to help. Mama Sasy and I have an announcement that I hope you'll be happy about. It's really a double-sided one. First, Sally Ann has agreed to marry me." At the big grins on both boy's faces, Nick paused before adding the second bomb. "And I've bought Mama Sasy's."

"Huh?" Daniel wasn't sure if it was an exclamation or a question. That was about as eloquent as he could get.

Mama was leaving Mama Sasy's?

"Mama's not leaving Mama Sasy's." Nick said, and Daniel breathed again. He looked at Benny who looked just as stunned as Daniel felt.

"So, uh, that means what?" Daniel asked.

"Mama will be here every day, well mostly every day, but it will be run by the new manager. Boddy and Rosa will continue as they are. Basically, everything will run as usual, but it will just be under new ownership and management. This will take some of the load off Sally Ann, allowing her some time with me, and give the new manager a chance to get new programs in place.

There'll be a transition period, of course, but eventually, Take It Slow 240.

Sally Ann and I would like to do some traveling and enjoy being married." Nick sat back and waited, obviously waiting for a barrage of questions and exclamations.

Daniel was too freaked out to formulate a question. A new manager? Married? Well, that one wasn't too much of a surprise, though it was pretty quick. What did it mean for all of them, though?

Mama looked at them, smiled, and reached across for Daniel's hand. Surprised, he put his in hers and waited.

"Honey, I know it's a lot to take in all at once, but I hope you'll be happy for us." This was the first time Daniel had ever seen her hesitant. She seemed wary of his answer, and that made him feel like c.r.a.p, like an ungrateful little s.h.i.t who hadn't yet made her realize how important she was and how much he loved her despite the awkward beginning.

"Of course, I'm happy for you. I figured this might happen. I've known since early on that you were crazy about each other. But, you've only been dating for like, what, a week or so?" Daniel tried not to sound like he thought they didn't know what they were getting into, but it was pretty sudden.

"As you said, we've had these feelings for a long time, but all of my focus was on finding you, and all of hers was on helping her boys, and we just drifted along.

All the while, the feelings were getting stronger. We're both, uh, old enough to know we don't need to wait around and see if our feelings are real or not. We both worried about what you would think, though." As his dad spoke, Daniel could feel Mama's hand trembling a little in his. He tightened his fingers around hers and smiled at her.

"I'm fine with it, guys, really. Wait, Easy didn't say anything. Is he okay with it? Hey, he's getting a brother!

241.

I saw Mano and him leaving a while ago. He had this funny look on his face when he looked at me. Now I get it. This is weird, but kind of neat, too."

"To tell you the truth, Daniel," she glanced over at Nick, and he nodded, as if giving permission to say whatever she wanted. "Your father never felt like he deserved happiness until you were found. He never came out and said it, but I know that is what he was feeling. The day you came home was such a joy for him.

I'm so glad you have mended your hearts and your relationship. Is there room for me in there, Daniel?"

Mama was earnest in her request and Daniel could be no less honest in his answer.

Now he looked at Nick, too, letting him know that he wanted him to be part of this conversation, even if it was mainly between he and Mama Sasy. "I'm glad, too, Mama, and you and I have talked about the way I treated you at first. I admit that it was harder to get close to you because you were so tight with him and I wasn't ready to mend things with him. But, if you'll forgive me for that, I'll admit that I am thrilled that the two of you are together, officially. So, when's the wedding?"

Nick was smiling, looking back and forth between Mama Sasy and him, clearly happy with the results of their talk.

"In a week, here, with whoever is here at the time.

Your father has a judge who is willing to perform it here, and I want my guys around me. I know your father would love for you to be his best man. Rosa will be my matron of honor. Nothing fancy, but we do plan on taking a honeymoon. I can't believe I'm saying that."

Mama Sasy was blushing. Daniel thought it was sweet.

"Okay, a week. That's cool, but so, when do we meet the new manager? I take it you're going to be moving in Take It Slow 242.

with Dad, and wait, will Mama Rosa be all right in the apartment by herself?" Daniel hadn't thought about that.

From behind the booth, Boddy spoke up.

"Don't you worry about Rosa. I'll be taking care of her."

"I knew it!" Daniel said, turning, with a big smile on his face. Rosa was sitting there, smiling, blushing, too.

Boddy looked proud and bashful all at once.

Nick addressed Daniel's question then, saying, "Sally Ann will be living in my house, Boddy will move into the apartment and be there with and for Rosa. That will leave his room for the manager on the nights when he needs to be here for something. Sally Ann will be here early each day until I come to pick her up. She'll still be the driving force behind the place, and the name will stay the same. But from now on, it will be run by someone I have just as much faith in and believe will do a wonderful job for many years to come."

Daniel couldn't imagine who it could be. He didn't know of anyone who came in that seemed interested in working with them. It was a mystery to him. He turned to Benny who was looking at him and smiling. He noticed a look that pa.s.sed between his dad and Benny.

What in the world?