Andy scraped off the stubble of Dan Knight's face and scrutinized her work.

"All done!" she announced as she put away the razor and the other shaving implements.

Leo's father checked his reflection in the bathroom mirror and nodded appreciatively. "Thanks, Savannah."

Andy zipped up the pouch and placed it in the cabinet behind the mirror. She scowled at Dan.

"I know that you're doing it just to mess with me, so fess up, old man!"

Dan Knight let out a bark of laughter. "It's funny that no one in my family caught on, but you did."

"Well, it's obvious. Sometimes you pretend to be crazy just to get your way." Andy cringed at her choice of words. "I'm sorry, that came out wrong!"

But Dan's eyes just twinkled. "It's alright, Lavender."

Andy scoffed. "Lavender? Really?"

"Well, it's better than Andy, that's a man's name."

Andy narrowed her eyes at Dan. She had been visiting the old man regularly for a month now, he knew her well, yet he still called her whatever name took his fancy.

"Fine! I will tell you my real name, do you promise to not tell it to anyone?" Dan made a gesture of locking his lips.

"Ok, well, it's Andromeda. I was named after a fucking galaxy!"

Dan took this revelation quietly. Then he doubled over with wheezing laughter, his stomach in his hands and wiped tears off his face. "Even Lavender is better than that!"

"No, it's not!" Andy said defiantly.

"Old man, stay the hell away from my girl!" Leo appeared at the bathroom door. He grabbed Andy and placed a resounding smack on her lips.

"Well, boy-o, she would have been mine if I was ten years younger!"

"More like twenty and still you wouldn't have a snowball's chance in hell!" Leo shot back. Andy rolled her eyes at their banter. She took Dan's leave and left with Leo. They had been visiting Leo's dad in the nursing home he was staying in.

Leo grabbed her hand and pulled her to his car. "Were you giving my dad a shave?"

Andy giggled. "Yes. He told me that he found it hard with the light in the bathroom. He's a great guy, Leo! And he promised to get my name right from now on!"

Leo smiled at her exuberance as he led her to the car door.

"I have some great news for you."

Andy gave him a quick snuggle and then slid into her seat, clicking the seat belt in place. "So do I!" She took out a small package from her backpack. She sometimes stayed with Leo in his garage apartment, so it just made sense to carry one. She handed the package wrapped in red wrapping paper to Leo.

"Surprise! Go on, open it!" Leo opened it to reveal the beautifully knitted red and black scarf that she had picked up for him. "Do you like it? I went shopping and got you and all my friends something. "

Leo frowned. "You got scarves for everyone?"

"Of course not, silly! You got a scarf, the others mostly got knick-knacks. I got gloves for your dad-" Leo's phone rang. He briefly frowned at it and then cut the call. Andy pretended not to notice. It was probably Robin again. He got a few calls from her time to time. Once Andy even pretended to be jealous. "I think your other girlfriend wants to speak to you," she had pouted, but Leo had skilfully turned away the conversation. It was like a small thorn in her side, but Andy didn't want to come across as pushy.

"Umm, that's great, honey." Leo was distracted as he shoved the package in the back seat and started the car.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" 

"We have an offer on your house, a very respectable one." He quoted a price, well above the price range that Andy was expecting. "I think you should take it. The people who want to take it seemed nice folks. They are from LA, and are looking at the place as a getaway of sorts."

I think you should take it.

Andy was rendered speechless. She hadn't even given a thought to selling the place. With Leo and Washington around, she wasn't scared anymore. Even Mary seemed to like the old house. If she sold it, where the hell would she live? 

"Ok, not the reaction I was expecting," Leo said when Andy was rendered speechless. "You have a week to decide." Leo frowned at Andy. "Trust me, take the deal."

"I- well, let me think it over." Andy's plan was always to sell off her liability and move to a big city. She had had dreams of the Big Apple, but lately, LA was seeming to be most appealing. And she could even drive now!

She looked at Leo's profile. Unconcernedly, he was drumming his fingers to the new song that he was writing. He looked over and smiled at her. Andy looked out of the window. Maybe it wouldn't matter to him when she was gone. He already had a replacement ready for her, anyway.

----

Andy reached home just as Drew was driving away. She waved him over. "What's up, Drew? Did you want to see me?"

Drew pulled over his truck. To her surprise, Andy saw that he was blushing to the roots of his receding hair. "Nah, I just came to say hi to Mary."

"You and Mary?" Andy pretended to look around. "Am I being Punked? How long has this been going on?"

"Oh shut up, it's nothing like that." But he didn't meet her eyes. Andy patted his hand sympathetically. "Be careful, Drew. You know that she's still married, right?"

"Yeah of course," Drew mumbled. "But she treats me nice. She actually told me that I was smart and handsome. She makes me feel good about myself. She isn't a great talker, but she listens!"

Andy smiled and squeezed his hand.

Drew's visit had cheered Mary up considerably. She was humming and preparing dinner. She had some good days now, though she still acted flaky where the events of that fateful night were concerned. If Andy was going to be honest, Mary was well on the road to recovery. Her friend Mia, who ran the Sharon West home for Women, had invited Andy back with Mary. She promised a full psychological profile to be run on her. That kind of annoyed Andy. They treated Mary like something wasn't right with her. She was certain that in a few months, she would be just fine. She wanted Mary to be given another chance.

"Hello, Mary," Andy called out cheerily. 

Mary jumped. "A-Andy! So glad yo-you're home. I was making spaghetti for you."

"Oh thanks, but I'll be having dinner with Leo."

"W-well, that's ok. More for me and Washington." The dog's ears perked up and he sauntered over to Andy for an ear rub.

A car pulled over and Emily, Leo's sister-in-law who was quite chummy with Andy now, hopped out. She quickly went to the backseat and unsnapped her son, Zack, from the car seat in the back.

"Umm, something smells good!" she said by way of introduction. Andy received a quick hug and a peck on her cheek as Emily dumped Zack in her lap and went in search of food. Andy sighed and smiled at the grinning almost toothless infant.

"Any!" he exclaimed and Andy cooed over him, declaring that he was the smartest kid on the planet.

"So, did Leo tell you the news?" Emily shoved some spaghetti in her face as Andy cleaned up Zack's spittle.

"Yeah."

"And?"

"I said I will think about it." Andy hedged.

"What's there to think about? Take the offer, Andy! Leo was the one who got the folks interested in this house."

"Oh, did he?" Andy bit her lip. All she had wanted to do a few months back was dump the house like a hot potato and run screaming for the hills. But, as she looked at the gurgling toddler on her lap, she knew it wouldn't be easy now. She did want to leave town, one couldn't stay in Prescott forever, but she liked it now. And the people here. Especially a brown-haired, brown-eyed man who had changed her life forever.

"Yes, accept it Andy. You trust us, don't you?"

"Of course." They made small talk on various other topics. When it was time to leave, Emily squeezed Andy. "I'm so lucky Leo found you. I was worried he would fall for one of the vacuous beauties he parades around in LA."

"Oh, he still gets calls from them. Someone named Robin keeps calling him up." As soon as the words were out, Andy felt like kicking herself. So much for not being pushy and nosy.

Emily's mouth formed an incredulous O.  Then she giggled. "If you see Robin, you're in for a shock."

"Oh. Why is that?" At that time, Zack let out an ear piercing scream. "Oh no, he needs his paci." She shuffled through her diaper bag and let out a wail of dismay. "I left it at home. Sorry, I gotta go!"

Emily was out of there in a flash and Andy was left wondering what the story was about Leo and Robin.

---

Back at Leo's place, Andy stretched her wonderfully sore muscles. Leo was a wonderful and patient lover. She stepped out of the shower and saw that Leo was in the small kitchen he had in his apartment, making breakfast for her. He was shirtless and his damp hair suggested that he had recently showered.

Andy hugged him from behind. "Good morning, what's for breakfast?"

"French toast for milady!" Leo placed a quick kiss on her lips. She took two plates and filled two glasses with juice, orange for her and apple for him and they sat eating companionably.

"So, what have you decided about the offer on your house?" Andy nervously dabbed her mouth and looked up to Leo's questioning face.

"I thought I had a week to decide?" she hedged.

Leo cursed. "For God's sake Andy, you aren't going to get a better offer than this one. You know that."

"Well, yes."

"So, what's the problem?"

Andy took a deep breath. "I- I haven't yet, I mean, where will I go and where will Mary go and where will the dog go? It's just not about me anymore, you know."

Leo sighed. He walked up and placed his plate in the sink. He leaned against the counter and glared at Andy.  After some time, he said, "I'm moving back to LA."

"Oh." Andy tried to not let the hurt show on her face. She knew what they had was temporary, yet it felt like someone was stabbing her right in her heart. "For good?" she managed to ask.

Leo ran his fingers through his hair. "Look, I have a life there. I put everything on hold to come here, but the fact is I am needed back there. I arranged for a better nursing home for Paps, where we can all visit from time to time."

"Oh." Andy was deflated. "Well, good luck to you," she said with false cheeriness.

Leo scowled hard. He swore under his breath and paced the tiny kitchen. "Is that all you have to say?"

Andy dug her nails into her palm. 

Don't go! 

But she couldn't say it. A lump had formed in her throat. Tears welled up in her eyes. The thought of not seeing Leo anymore!

Leo must have seen them, so he came over and knelt in front of her. "I want you to come with me. Move in with me, will you, Andy?"

===

A/N: So, what will Andy do?

Anyways, I watched The Vow and changed the casting of Leo from Eric Bana to Channing Tatum since he looked sooooo hottttt in The Vow. And guess what he's named in that movie? Leo! :)

My plan is to finish off this book in this month, so wish me luck!

Please don't forget to vote/comment/share this book/add to your library.

Every bit counts!

Love,

S.

P.S: Just saw the news that Channing Tatum split from his wife. That's sad! :(