The morning of the funeral went mute, the wintry rain was a sign of darker days ahead. Only a few people knew about it or that he even died at all. Some knew, some kept quiet. Lily was less than excited to go around telling people her father had died. What could she say when they asked how?

 There was Mr. Stalker at her side and the policeman came to give his condolences. There were around six town folk that were close with Mr. Fullin, so close that they knew his daughter. People didn’t know he had a daughter, you see… The house had been all hushed up since the incident with Lily’s mother. They don’t talk about it anymore and Fullin tried not to remember it or expose his daughter to such distant things.

 No eulogy was given, no pastor came to talk about life after death. They just dug a hole and planted him like a seed then… then it was over. It was over.

Lily seemed to be the first to walk away, she felt her heart race for the first time since her father’s death.. but she was stopped. By whom? Mr. Stalker.

   “Lily.” He called out, and her next step was halted. She dropped her feet then looked at him.

“When will you be home?” He was a generous man, letting her stay at the house for almost a week. He didn’t complain, even though he was dirt poor and had to take care of his daughter by himself. He welcomed her and he got used to an extra head at the table in the evenings.

  She shook her head, sobbing as she wiped tears from her eyes.

“I’m not going back.”

   She had overstayed her welcome, she knew that today was the day she needed to go home. She had to start crawling again; the faster she did that, the faster she would be on her feet and on her own.

  “You can always come back if you feel the need to, me dear.” He gestured to her by holding her hand. “Anytime ya’ feel the need.”

 “Thank you.” She uttered with a slight smile, fighting a gush of tears.

He nodded, biting his lower lip as he turned to leave. To his surprise, he passed a woman dressed in black. She looked like she was just widowed; black gloves, black stocking, black veil hiding her face. There was only a tint of red on her lips. She swayed her hips, holding her purse up to her chest as she marched towards Lily.

  Lily stared at the graveside from afar, rubbing her arms to comfort herself.

“Lily? Lily Fisher?” She tilted her head downward to catch a glimpse of the girl’s face.

  She looked up at her, confused with a nod that she gave in agreement. 

“I’m-“

 “I know who you are.” She stopped her.

“Oh” The woman squinted her eyes, interlocked her fingers together and sighed before saying. “Well, of course you do. Anyway, as you know, your father used to be of great help to our estate until he got in that accident…” She placed a cross on her body, quickly before kissing her hand then pointing her finger to the sky. “God rest his soul” She continued. “He said if anything’s to happen to him, you’d need a job to support yourself.”

  Lily’s response was less than silent, she gazed at her waiting for something relevant to her situation.

“Well, my dear…  We could use a helping hand around the manor. Whenever you’re ready, you know where to find me.”

She cupped her hand on the girl’s shoulder, saying softly. “ And I’m truly sorry about your dad.” 

  There was a fountain that stood in the middle of the town square. Lily found herself at it, she was there for one hour, two hours, three hours. The rain stopped.  She stared at the children playing with each other as rug haired dogs followed them around. She watched the busy women at the grocery shop as they hustled and bustled, fought and pushed each  other.  They all called out what they wanted but it all came out like a blurry vision, a not so good choir. Too many voices, the man couldn’t possibly make out what they were saying but time after time, they disappeared, took their children home… and then the men came out. Just after work, they looked forward to grabbing a drink at the ol’ brewery. 

She paced herself, got up. She could smell the baked goods, even if they were made early that morning. She passed the place and as with all things, she was hesitant. Her hands vibrated as she pushed the door open, hearing the ding of a bell that startled her. She looked around to see the place was empty. Empty; she was alone. She didn’t notice  the boy that sat in the chair behind the counter. She walked around the display glass case, pressing her finger against it. She looked at the buns, the sponge cakes and the biscuits. They were lovely that day.

  “Which one will it be, Miss?”

She touched her finger against the part of the glass where the biscuits stood, upon looking up. She backed away, covering her face with her hands.

Her father was standing behind the counter, he had a bashed in face, a broken arm but somehow, he managed to hold the biscuit up to her. She could smell and even taste something metallic on her tongue, she felt it building up in her mouth but didn’t feel it running from her nostril. 

  “Miss? Miss, are you okay?” 

    “Leave me alone.” She closed her eyes tight as she could, feeling for the door. She soon caught the grip of the handle and pulled it open. She ran out, she ran into the now beating rain. She felt it on her skin but she hadn’t realized what transpired until she opened them.

“Are you okay, miss?” 

   All Lily could do was shake her head, she grabbed hold of the kind gentleman’s hand and got up. Embarrassed and ashamed; Lily gulped and continued walking, fixing her mud filled skirt as she made her way down the road in the less than generous weather.

  By now, her hair had been stuck to her face, her feet sapped as she tried to put one foot after another in the mud.

  “Miss! Miss!” It was the same voice again.

Lily froze where she stood and to her luck, the boy could not see the tears that fell from her eyes because the heavy rain hid them. She raised her head, and her eyes met his.

   “Miss, you forgot your purse.” He waved it in front of her, he’d just noticed the emptiness in her and knew she didn't have the strength to speak or move another muscle.

  He held her and spun her around, back to the shop, took her inside and straight to the bath  intended for his sister. The rain was singing now, she could only hear the clouded television again, stopping herself from falling into the tub of water.

“She’s in there?” This woman weighed four times that of Lily, she was huge but jolly. Guests, she didn’t like guests or people in her home. She stomped through the house and headed for the room where Lily was. She changed her question, slapping a towel over her shoulder. “What’s wrong with her?” She stared into the room and turned back to her brother, who continued to make tea. 

  “She was left in the rain, Tammy. Looked like a sick dog.” He explained then walked over and held her back. “Come on then, go in.” He gave her a slight push. “All I did was drop her in, I didn’t touch her or anything, that’s why she still has clothes on.” He added. “Oh, go on.”

 She slapped his hand away playfully before getting in and on the stool. When Tammy sat down, the stool disappeared beneath her drumstick legs. The look on Lily’s face softened Tammy right up. Tammy knew this one was in shock.

“There's always a way, child, you just have to find yours.” She muttered, grabbing a cloth, dripping water on her head. She carefully undressed Lily.

Lily thought it would be easy to let go, to just go about this like it was nothing. Like his death was nothing but she couldn't. She felt herself running in an ocean of emotions and she was fighting it, fighting the water from getting in the boat. She felt lost, she felt broken but she knew it would come but why? Why did they want her father dead? He’d never hurt anyone before now, has he? 

Before she knew it, she was sitting in a nightgown, four times big for her size and she’d been wrapped in the softest blanket ever. The material of the blanket was not what made it soft but it was the love around her. Tammy’s love, even if it wasn’t love and only just nurtured feeling. When Lily ever thought about this day, she would say it was the luckiest she had ever been; to meet these people was a sure blessing and maybe it was him, the boy that sat opposite to her. He kept staring, he never stopped even when she opened her eyes… he was there, he reached her side within an instant.

 “Are you okay, Miss?” Attentively, he questioned. Maybe this time she'd answer, maybe the third time's the charm.

She blinked, then blinked.. then blinked again. 

  Who was this person? She didn’t know him but his voice, it was familiar and, and calming. His hair was like that of Isobel’s, it was dark but it had more curls in it than a judge's gray wig. His face wasn’t that of Prince Charming but it had the loveliest smile, a smile that would make any girl who noticed it faint. 

Why was he smiling? Somehow, after all that Lily has been through, she smiled and so did he. She slowly lifted her feet and placed them onto the shivering floor boards. He fell back at her movements, barely catching a glimpse of her face as her auburn hair fell back in place.

  “Jacob, would you give the girl some air? Jesus.” Tammy sucked her teeth at the boy then flipped a page from the day's paper.

He glanced down then back at her. “Would you like some tea?” As he was about to reach for her forehead, she turned away. “Oh, sorry.” He smiled again and she froze. “I was just checking your temperature.” She then took a breath and turned her head back to him. 

  “Yes, thank you.” It came out soft and unsure.

“Where do you live, darling?” Tammy asked, dropping the paper on her thighs.

  “On the hillside. I’m Mr.” She couldn’t even say his name, she lowered her head then choked out. “I’m Mr. Fullin’s daughter.”

“Fullin’s daughter!?” Her eyes seemed to be out of their sockets, astonished.  “ I never knew he had a daughter. You hear that, Jacob… Mr Fullin’s daughter.” She laughed.

  “Mr. Fullin’s daughter?” He asked himself, pouring the tea when they all heard a “Ah!”

“Jacob? You okay?” Tammy leaned forward in the two-seater she was taking up.

  “Yeah, I-I’m fine. I just got a burn, that’s all.”  He let out a weak laugh, making his way to Lily's side.

“Don’t shake the tray, she’ll know you’re not the marrying type, eh?” She chuckled, taking a cup and thanking him.

  Jacob had a laugh too before handing a cup to Lily who was silent during the whole session. She placed the cup on her lips and stared at the fireplace, tilted her head, watching flames, how they looked like they were fighting each other.

  “I’m, I’m sorry about your dad.” It came in quiet, his voice. 

Her eyes fell to the cup, she took a sip then sighed. “I am too.”