A WEEK LATER, Yasmin perched on the edge of her desk at the women’s center and looked around at the women gathered here. Rita, Norma and Claire: they’d all become closer friends through the challenges they’d faced together.
Even Lorraine, who was technically still a client, was here because she’d said she wanted to help.
“We’re going to do whatever it takes to keep this place running smoothly,” Miss Vi said. She was already way overcommitted at the library, but when she’d realized what all had happened with Lorraine and Buck and Yasmin, she’d decided she needed to put in some hours here, as well.
Her focus was on building a small library at the center, of course. Building up one for women, in addition to the kids’ one they already had. Miss Vi was putting together a list of books that were uplifting to women who were struggling with domestic violence or abuse, and she’d already started raising the money to purchase the books, along with shelving and lighting.
She’d also suggested that Josiah teach the kids, and maybe the moms, to play chess, since his work with the kids’ chess club at the library was going so well. Even though Yasmin wanted most of the center’s activities to be organized by women, she’d make an exception for Josiah. He loved teaching chess to kids and could wax eloquent about the benefits: thinking ahead, problem solving, good sportsmanship.
The others weren’t quite so forceful as Miss Vi, but they were all helping with the center, even talking about getting it back to its roots as a live-in center. Norma was considering joining the staff part-time, as a counselor. Rita was committed to helping however she was needed; she freely admitted to being a jack-of-all-trades. And Claire wanted to do something for younger women, who tended to think of women’s centers as being for married women with kids. Claire insisted that dating violence happened at every age, and she wanted teens and twentysomethings to know about how to spot it and avoid that type of partner.
Yasmin looked around the office and sighed. “I’m sorry it’s so crowded in here,” she said. “I wish we had a bigger facility.”
“I wish it were residential,” Lorraine said. “That might have kept me away from my husband. I just never knew where I’d stay if I cut him all the way off.”
Yasmin bit her lip to stifle the critical words that wanted to come out. Lorraine had done something nearly unforgiveable in letting Rocky suffer as he had, but she was penitent, open about not having been a good mother, and supposedly, she wanted to raise him.
And Yasmin knew something she couldn’t yet tell the others: Cash was thinking about making a big donation to the center. Which might mean that they could develop a residential program in the future, by building onto the church or by finding another property that would suit.
“I need some air. Let’s go out onto the steps,” Lorraine said, and the others agreed. As they walked outside, Lorraine tugged at Yasmin’s sleeve. “Something’s been bothering me,” she said. “Are you going to report me to social services for what I did, neglecting Rocky like that?”
“I’m not sure. But I’d definitely like for you to consider staying in Safe Haven, where you can get the support you need.”
“I’m already looking for apartments,” she promised. “I want to do better, Yasmin. Honestly, I do.”
“Hey, look!” Norma said in a falsely quiet voice. “The cops are coming! Somebody’s in trouble.”
“I’m outta here,” Claire said.
“Me, too,” Rita said, and Norma followed her. “Come on, Lorraine, breakfast at the café is on me.”
Yasmin tilted her head to one side as she watched her friends hurry off. That had seemed odd.
Then she refocused her attention on the police car that had pulled up in front of the women’s center.
She and Liam had spent time together during the past week, talking through what had happened. They’d worked out their differences, she felt. They even had plans for a date tonight, so what was he doing here now?
Liam got out, in uniform. He was holding a box from the café. “I brought you breakfast,” he said, holding it out to her.
“Thank you.” He was so thoughtful, and she had hopes that one day she might regain his trust. She opened the box. “My favorites!” Jean Carol’s cinnamon rolls were to die for, and she normally limited herself to just one, but there were three here.
“Have one,” he urged. Just as he had so many times when they’d dated before, and she was touched he remembered her favorite breakfast after all this time.
“Only if you will, too.”
“Okay, if you insist.” So they sat in the morning sunshine and ate their rolls.
“Split the last one?” he suggested.
“Oh, well, if you insist.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.” He ripped it carefully and handed her half on a napkin.
She picked it up, and something sparkled underneath. “I think there’s...” She trailed off.
It was a ring. A diamond engagement ring.
She lost her breath. Slowly, she raised her eyes to his. “Liam?”
He shifted to the step below her and looked up. “Yasmin, I’ve loved you for so many years, and I’ve almost lost you twice. I can’t take a chance on losing you for real and for good.” He wiped a fine sheen of sweat from his forehead.
“Wait,” she said. “What did you just say?”
“I said I can’t take a chance—”
“No,” she interrupted, waving a hand, staring at him. “The other part. You love me? Not just for old times or because I need help with my life?”
“No.” He smiled then. “I hope I can help you with your burdens, and I’m glad I’ve known you forever. It’ll make a great basis for a marriage.” He tilted his head to one side, looking at her with eyes burning. “But only if you feel the same. If you love me, too, as more than a friend.”
All the breath she’d been holding burst out of her in a nervous laugh. “Do you think I’d kiss a friend the way I kiss you?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe you’d better show me again.”
He was kind of joking, she knew that, but she slid forward, her heart seeming to expand in her chest, her throat tight. She tangled her fingers into his dark hair and pressed her lips to his, trying to put all her love and caring into this one kiss.
It was Liam who finally broke it off, breathing hard. “Will you marry me and let me protect you and help you and take care of you?”
She bit her lip to stop the tears. Nothing could stop the swell of emotions in her heart, though. “Liam...there won’t be any kids.”
“No biological kids, but there are other ways. Adoption, foster care. I’m open to either.”
“I don’t know if I might develop what Joe has,” she said, her voice trembling, somewhere on the edge between fear and joy. “And I’ll always have him to take care of.”
“I like Joe, and that’s fine,” he said. “And as for you...we don’t ever know what the future holds. But I just know I want to spend mine with you. Will you marry me, Yasmin?”
Very slowly, looking into his eyes, she nodded.
His eyes got shiny and he pulled her into his arms.
It was a few minutes later that she heard the voices around her and realized that her friends hadn’t left at all. “It’s all recorded,” Norma said with satisfaction.
“And I took still photographs,” Rita added. They, and Miss Vi and Claire and Liam’s brothers, all gathered around Liam and Yasmin.
And Yasmin, who’d often felt lonely, knew that she had a community to care for her, and for her to care for, forever.