“Roman don’t you think we need to go grocery shopping? There is really nothing in the kitchen.” Amora said as she slowly and gently ran a comb through my mom’s hair.
“Shoot. That’s right.”
“I wish I could help out but I really don’t have any money.” Amora said giggling. I wondered what was funny about her not having any money.
“There. You look beautiful.” Amora said to my mom.
“Thank you darling.” My mom said almost in a whisper and my heart skipped. She looked so, so tired. “Amora you really need to go with him, so he can make good use of his money.” She said and I could tell she was teasing me.
“Mom.” I called out with a grin plastered on my face and my mom laughed, a throaty low laugh.
                    __________________

Remember Mrs. Harris, she was seated in her porch as usual and I waved and said good morning with a fake smile as usual.
“Good morning Roman.” Mrs. Harris replied.
“Good morning Mrs. Harris, you look rather radiant this morning.” Amora said smiling with her back bent and her hands on her knees. Radiant? Of course she didn’t look radiant. Mrs. Harris never looked radiant.
“Oh. Thank you Amora, you sweet angel.” Mrs. Harris said.
How in heaven’s name did she know Amora? Yes, she knew a lady was in my house but I had no idea that they had met. I swallowed my curiosity and opened the front door to the car for Amora and she got in. I got into the driver’s sit and reversed the car into the street. Mrs. Harris was waving vigorously which I chose to ignore but Amora waved back.
“Nice lady.” Amora finally said.
Nice lady. Oh Amora, you don’t know Mrs. Harris, if you did you would stay completely away from her, I thought.
“I didn’t know you two met.” I said acting all cool.
“Yeah. The other day when I took out the trash, I saw her sitting in her porch and I said hello to her. Then I felt I needed to introduce myself so I walked up to her porch and did.” She said smiling like she deserved a medal for introducing herself to Mrs. Harris, the town’s gossip.
“I see.”
“Roman, she is such a lonely lady and she told me that she has no friends because everyone avoids her.”
“Did she tell you why everyone avoids her?”
“Yes. She said they all think she’s a gossip.”
“Think?” I asked not able to contain the surprise in my voice. Think? No, Mrs. Harris, we are not thinking it, you really are a gossip, I said but only in my mind.
“Yes, think. Did you know? She lost her husband and four children in a car accident? Poor lady.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Yeah. She said no one does. It happened before she moved into this town.”
“And she told you?” I asked glancing at her and raising my brows.
“Yes. I told her I wanted to be her friend since she had none and she accepted. So, Mrs. Harris and I are friends now Roman.” She said as she placed her hand on my arm which was controlling the steering wheel. I glanced at her again and her innocence amazed me. She was willing to give everyone a chance. She believed everyone deserved a chance, even the most undeserving.
“You have such a good heart and it’s very big too.” I said.
“Thank you.”
“It wasn’t a compliment, it’s the truth.”
“Oh.” She smiled.

We were done shopping for groceries at the local store and we were about leaving when Derek and Sally entered. I froze as we faced each other. They froze too. I can’t deny it, they looked good together better than I did with her.
“Hello Roman.” Derek said.
“Hi Sally.” I said totally ignoring Derek. I don’t know why it was easier for me to forgive Sally that it was for me to forgive Derek.
“Hello. I’m Amora, Roman’s girlfriend. Well, I’m not really his girlfriend, I don’t even know what I am yet but we are almost there.” Amora said giggling. Jesus, Amora. Too much honesty. Way too much honesty and I didn’t want Sally to think I was trying too hard to replace her, not that I really cared what she thought. Amora, that woman never ceased to amaze me. I stood there and looked at her introduce herself and I suddenly didn’t care that Derek was in the store or that he was in the store with Sally. I’ve never met someone so honest and innocent too and all I wanted was to sweep Amora off her feet, into the car, drive her back home and make sweet love to her. It was then that I realized I was slowly losing my heart to Amora too.
“Oh,” Sally said. “I’m Sally and this is my husband to be Derek.”
I saw Amora face change instantly. Her smile disappeared and her face became devoid of any emotion.
“Sally and Derek. I have heard so much about you two.” Then she smiled again, “Nice to meet you and congratulations on your engagement.”
“Thank you.” They both said.
Derek looked at me and I could tell he was apologizing with his eyes. I looked away instantly.
“Come on Amora. We should get going.” I said softly and nodded my head at Sally. I took Amora by the hand and walked her outside the store and into the car. I put all the groceries we got in the trunk of the car and then got into the car.
“Let’s go?” I asked with a smile and she nodded worry or fear or mixture of both obvious on her face.
“I didn’t know it was them. I should have recognized the redhead from the bar but I didn’t. Roman, are you okay?”
I chuckled. “I’m fine Amora.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Really. I’m fine. Don’t I look fine?”
She smiled, “you do. Thank you for not getting into a fight with him.”
“A fight? No. There is nothing to fight for. I’ve got everything I need right next to me. I would only fight him if he hits on you. I’d kill him if he looks at you twice.”
“Why?” She asked.
“Well because I’m your boyfriend. Well, I’m not really your boyfriend. I don’t even know what I am but we are almost there.” I said and we both laughed.
“I want to take you out on a date.” Amora said abruptly.
“You want to take me out on a date.”
“Yes. Our first date but only on one condition.”
“There is a condition? Amora, why am I not surprised, there is always a condition. Let’s hear it.”
“You will pay for our food and drinks.” She said.
“You will take me out on a date but I will pay for our meal? No way.” I said with a short laugh.
“Roman?” She pleaded. “You do know I have no money.”
“Well, let’s wait till you get some money.” She pouted her lips and then made a sad face.
“It’s not working.” I said laughing and then she began fake crying really loudly.
“Fine. I’ll let you take me out on a date and it will be my utmost pleasure to pay for it, meaning that since I’m paying, I’ll be the one to take you out on a date.”
“Roman. It was my idea. You are stealing my idea.”
“Well I’m paying for it.” I said laughing. She folded her arms on her chest and I could see how hard she fought back the laughter that finally made its way out of her mouth.
“Petty thief.” She joked.
“Broke lady.” I joked back and we just laughed.