"WELCOME," Lacey said, taking his hand and ushering him in when Jake arrived promptly on Saturday.

Lacey didn't offer to show Jake around the house, but he could see from the hallway into the living room, with its shabby, worn furnishings and piles of books and magazines lying haphazardly on floors and surfaces.

Jana rose from her kitchen chair when they entered. "Jana, this is Jake Edmonds. Jake, my daughter, Jana."

Jake said, "What a beautiful young woman you are. You look just like your mother." He hugged her. Jana beamed.

There was a worn patch in the flooring in front of the kitchen sink. The appliances were old, a dishwasher non-existent.

Jake felt anew the desire to protect and help this woman and her family.

"Well, I'm ready," Lacey said, with a big grin. She kissed Jana and followed Jake outside to the black Dodge Spirit in the driveway.

"Ooh, a baby limo!" she said impishly. "What a pretty little car. Do you own this one?"

"Yes, I do. It would be too costly to use the limo service to run to the lake. Jake helped Lacey in and pulled out the seatbelt for her to clip. He got in his side. "Here we go, then," he said.

Baby limo, indeed! My modest car has assumed a higher status! On the drive north Jake told Lacey about his cabin. "I love the lake. The cabin's not much but I would like to build a home on the property and move there one day. You'll know why when you see it.