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"Did I? I hadn't noticed"

"Might as well be a 'kick n May I?"

"Please"

He reached into his pocket "I got this off a troublearettes" And he produced a large switchblade He reached behind her and cut off the tag

"Thank you"

Then he offered her his hand "My name is Roberto, but my friends call me Beto"

"A pleasure to meet you, Beto My naan McGill"

"Listen," said Beto, "since we're closing and all,to eat"

Mary sighed So here it was again; a young entleman Was it too much to hope that he could be sincere?

"Yes," Mary said "I would like that I would like that very much" She wiped away the last of her tears and they left--but before they reached the door, he stopped, as if perhaps he had changed his ht?"

"Yes," said Beto "I thought I had forgotten led the your car "

"Got to," he said with a chuckle "Already missed the train"

Mary wondered hoise it was to get into a stranger's car, but decided unless she wanted to walk these empty don streets alone, she had little choice

"A city can be a scary place at night," said Beto, as they stepped out into the cool night "But this neighborhood looks worse than it is" Then he added, "Besides, you have your own personal security guard"

Mary laughed at that, if only to make theher down an alley "The parking lot is in the back"

He took her hand, and she chose not to resist

"So what are you hungry for, Mary? Chinese food, er?"

"Food is food," she said "Anything is fine"

It wasn't until they were halfway down the alley that she realized, and stopped cold

She had told hiannot Mary

A distant streetlight at the end of the alley lit half of his face, but frole his eyes were in shadow, so she couldn't be sure "Milos?"

Then he sure it out!"

"Buthow long?"

"Do you remember when he stopped to check his keys?"

Milos laughed, and Mary launched herself into his arms She simply couldn't stop herself, and in return, he held on to her with ar

"You came back for me! You came back!"

"How could I not? Your children need you," he said "I need you too"

Milos went on to tell her about their est of the Mississippi The train traveled slowly, stopping at every town they caht There were dubious sightings of creatures that seemed part animal, part huinations of the younger children

"I've been thinking about what you said," Milos told her "How you ht be able to work froht work Even alive, you can give comfort to your children Of course you won't be able to see theht now?" Mary asked

Milos shook his head "No We're all alone in both worlds"

"Good!" And then she did so she never had done in Everlost She kissed hi and so hard that he had to back away to catch his breath She kneas partially the weakness of her flesh that made her do it, but she also kneas necessary to seal the bond between them He had come back for her He didn't have to, he didn't need to--he could have chosen to rule her children alone, yet he didn't Mary knehat he wanted; he wanted to take Nick's place in her heart The least she could do was oal--and who knows, maybe someday he would But for now, she would do hi him what he wanted to hear