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stand.”
    “So you ran away.”
    “More like took control of my life, but as you can see that hasn’t gotten me very far.”
    “I wouldn’t say that. Saint Chris’s isn’t that easy to find. I think God may have led you here.”
    “You believe in God?”
    “I couldn’t have lived my life if I didn’t.”
    “So many men wouldn’t say that.”
    He shrugged.
    “And who is Peggy? She shares your last name.”
    “She’s my baby sister.”
    “Ha!” said Peggy coming up behind him and gently cuffing him in the ear. “I’m no baby.”
    “Ow!” Ryan wailed playfully.
    “Come on. You know it’s time to lock up.”
    “Okay, okay,” said Ryan. “Just don’t beat me anymore.”
    Peggy rolled her eyes. “You’re so abused.”
    “You’ll have to confess to Father Wilson,” said Ryan snarkily.
    “Yes, and say ten Hail Marys and ten Our Fathers for indulging your fantasies of my abuse.” Peggy turned her attention to Marisol. “I’m sorry, Ms. Morrison. You’ll have to leave, but do come in the morning, and we’ll see what we can do for you.”
    Marisol looked around the room and saw they were the only people left.
    “Thank you,” said Marisol. “You’ve been very kind.”
    “I’ll walk you out,” said Ryan.
    As they walked to the door, Ryan picked up a jacket at the counter and slung it on his shoulder. He locked the door from the inside and pulled it shut leaving both him and Marisol outside the building.
    He hesitated outside the door. “Marisol, do you have a place to stay?”
    “I’ll be fine,” she said.
    “No. I don’t think so. You obviously don’t belong on the streets.”
    “Oh, I’m obvious, am I?”
    “The Big Apple isn’t known for its gentleness, Marisol, but I have an idea.”
    “What idea?” she said with suspicion.
    “I lost my housekeeper a few days ago. I liked the way you helped Tolly. You did it without thought of return. To me, that shows you’re an honest person. So I’d like to offer you the housekeeper position, on a trial basis, you understand.”
    “I couldn’t. You don’t know me—”
    “And you don’t know me. I understand. I promise on my father’s grave you’ll come to no harm in my home.”
    “I don’t know. You’re taking an awful chance. I could be a secret axe murderer.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind, but I think I can defend myself. What do you say? It’s better than sleeping on the street.”
    Marisol had to admit he had a point.
    “A trial basis?”
    “Yes.”
    “And I can leave when I want if it doesn’t work out.”
    “Of course.”
    “Okay, Mr. Kelley. I guess you have a housekeeper.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER SIX
A New Life
    “ We’ll have to walk a couple blocks to get a street where a taxi will pick us up.”
    “That’s okay,” said Marisol. There was something fresh about the New York streets at night, as if the darkness shoved the ugly into a deep hole.
    “Where’s your knapsack?” said Ryan as they walked.
    Marisol shrugged. “I don’t have one.”
    “Wait. You literally left with the clothes on your back?”
    Marisol stifled her next response—that these clothes weren’t even hers.
    “ Comme ci comme ça ,” she said with a shrug.
    “So you have no clothes,” he said darkly. Ryan looked her over as if trying to parse her secrets.
    Marisol was touched by his concern but also felt uncomfortable with his scrutiny of her personal situation. She didn’t want him to find out who she was. He might feel like he would have to turn her into the authorities or back to her father. “Why? Were you looking to take me out on a date?”
    Immediately Marisol regretted her snarky words meant only to make him back off. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
    “And I’m sorry I’m being so nosey. I’m just concerned, that’s all.”
    “I appreciate that,” she said. “But don’t worry about me.”
    “The hell I won’t,” said Ryan. “I won’t have the other housekeepers in the