"A raincheck maybe?" Uh...I don't even know your name."He clutched the clipboard in his left hand closer to his chest and held out his right hand. "Ch...is." Nice to meet you." The last word was barely audible as his hand closed around mine. His grip was firm...warm...and it made strange but delicious shivers race through me. I bit back a groan when he let go. My breath was raspy when I added, "Holly." With an H, like the Christmas plant?" Yes." I refrained from rolling my eyes but lifted a. Richardson opened the door and, of course didn’t recognize me, and was very interested in my getup, like everyone who had seen me that morning. After I reminded him who I was, he was quick to invite me in. I explained most of my situation, telling him of my father’s beating, and making it sound like it was almost a daily occurrence and begged him not to call my folks. I offered to show him the marks on my back and front if he wanted, but fortunately he begged off. I apparently was. ...So there I was, freezing my bollocks off. Again. I heard footsteps coming from the other end of the small platform, obviously a female from the sound of the shoes on the concrete, and to relieve the boredom of counting along to the ticks of the station clock I glanced over. Then, for just a brief moment, time stood still. It was her! It HAD to be her! WAS it her?! It had been many years since the first time I saw her, but I instantly recognised that face.....I should explain a little bit who. Four months later I invited her to see my mother. I knew the two women wouldn't like each other but to my surprise they did seem to get along. My mother had raised me all by herself. We were not wealthy but she gave me everything I needed and took great care of me. I took care of her too. But now the time had come to leave all that behind. I was ecstatic about moving in with my girlfriend but I was terrified about what mom'd say. "You what?" she almost yelled."Mom." I goraned.My mother had.