"We only have five hundred dollars left from the lawsuit settlement, Mush." Emily was looking over their monthly books.

"I know, Em. I'm tryin' ta find a job as fast as I can. It's hard ta find a job dat isn't at a factory." Mush kissed his wife on the top of the head as he got up from the table.

"Miss Callahan offered you a job at her law office. Why didn't you. . . ."

Mush interrupted her. "I can't work for her. She still has hard feelin's against ya, an' I can't woik for a woman dat don't like my wife." Mush sighed as he entered their bed room. He was unbuttoning his shirt when Emily wrapped her arms around him. She kissed the back of his neck.

"I know your tired of hearing me say how much you need to find a job, but I only want the best for us."

Mush turned in her arms. "I know, Sweetheart. An' I promise ta go out lookin' again tamorrah." He kissed her deeply. He broke the kiss a moment later. "Ya know Anya's already in bed. Whatta ya say we go ta bed a little early?" He had a crooked grin on his face.

Emily couldn't hide her grin. "I thought you'd never ask." She laughed as Mush pulled their door to. He left it cracked just enough so they could hear the baby if she woke up.

*****

Mush smoothed the sleeves of his coat. He stood in front of a little bookstore on the Lower West Side. He looked at the help wanted sign and shrugged his shoulders. "It's a long shot, but it's my last shot before I go ta Miss Callahan," he said out loud. He opened the door and a small bell rang. A little old woman entered from a room set aside from the rest of the shop.

"Good Morning, Sir." Mush nodded. He looked around the little shop for a moment. The shelves were filled of books he had never heard of, and some that his grandmother had read to him when he was little. He slowly approached the counter.

"Do ya still need help?"

The woman smiled. "Yes, I do." She opened the door to the little room. "Let's talk about the job over some tea." Mush followed her into the small room. All of this was seeming all too familiar, but this time he didn't feel uneasy.

The little old lady handed him a cup of tea. "I'm Helen Reading, and you are?"

"Derek Meyers." He had grown use to his real name again. He had been hearing it from Emily on a regular basis for the last year; although, now it was only when they fought, which wasn't often.

"How many books have you read, Mr. Meyers?"

"Derek, please?" Mush took a sip of his tea. "Um. . .ta be honest, I `aven't read any books. All I'm use ta readin' is da papes."

Mrs. Reading only looked shocked for a split second. Then realization took over. "You were once a newsboy?"

"Yes, ma'am." Mush sat down his empty tea cup. "I was a newsie for close ta seven years aftah my grandma died."

Mrs. Reading nodded. "And why did you quit selling the newspapers?"

"I got married, an' had ta get a bettah payin' job ta support us."

Mrs. Reading smiled. "That's nice, my dear boy. Aren't you a little young to be married?" She sounded concerned.

Mush shrugged. "I t'ought so at first, but I now know dat it was da best thing da ever `appened ta me."

Mrs. Reading gave a warm smile. "How long have you been married?"

Mush only though for a minute. "A little over a year. I was seventeen an Em was sixteen."

"Em?"

"My wife's name is Emily. I call her Em, so does all of my friends."

Mrs. Reading nodded. "Since you haven't been a newsboy for a year, where have you worked since?"

Mush sighed, wishing he could forget his last two jobs. Even though the last job brought him and Emily to confess that they loved each other. "I. . .uh. . .woiked for an insurance law firm, but quit when my boss kissed my wife." Mush gave a faint smile at Mrs. Reading's shock. "Den I woiked at da shoe factory before I exploded. I was one of the few to survive."

Mrs. Reading covered her mouth out of shock. "Oh, you poor dear!" She set her tea cup down. She liked hem. He was a sweet boy, and he seemed as if he was a hard worker. He had to be if he use to be a newsboy. They barely made enough to get by. "Well, Derek, I like you, and I think you will work out here." Mush couldn't help smiling. "You have already met one of criteria. You're honest. The other one comes with time. You have to have a knowledge of the books we sell here. For this to become possible, you have to read them."

Mush groaned inwardly. He had never been much of a reader. He had only been to school till the fifth grade. "Okay."

Mrs. Reading nodded as she walked over to a book shelf in the back of the small room. She pulled out a rather thick book. "This is a classic, but it's one of our most popular books." She handed it to Mush.

He took it and ran his hand over the leather binding. "The Man in the Iron Mask?"

"Yes. It has mystery, fighting, romance, deceit. . .it's great." Mrs. Reading picked up both tea cups. "I expect you to have read some of this by tomorrow when you come in." She pointed to the book. "The store opens at nine."

Mush nodded as he stood. "I'll be here, an' I'll have read some of da book." He stuck out his hand, and she gently shook his hand. "Thank you for da job, Mrs. Reading. I'll see ya in da mornin'."

"You're very welcome, Derek. I look forward to it."

Mush smiled as he walked out of the shop. He wasn't looking forward to reading the book, but he didn't want to disappoint Mrs. Reading. She reminded her of his grandmother.

It was only ten-thrity, but he headed to Tibby's anyway. He wanted to get started reading his new book----his first book. He entered the small, cozy restaurant and nodded at the owner, Bill Tibby.

"Whatcha doin' here so early, Mush?"

Mush held up the book. "I's gotta start readin' dis for my new job. I'm now woikin' for a little shop on the Lower West Side."

Bill nodded. "Dat's good. Well have fun. I gotta get to cooking." Bill the ducked into the kitchen.

Mush opened the book and began to slowly read. He wanted to make sure he got every detail right. "Most of this is legend, but this much is fact. . . ." Much to his surprise he was immediately grabbed by the book.

Two hours later he was only fifty pages into the book, but he was reading really slow, and sometimes he was reading some things twice. He was so into the book that he, now this is amazing, didn't hear the newsies begin to enter. He only looked up when Race snapped his fingers in front of his face.

Mush slowly looked up at Race. "Heya, Race." Caitlin then stepped beside race. "Hi, Alley Cat." She smiled.

"Whatcha doin', Mush?"

"Woikin'." Everybody that had gathered around looked at each other puzzled, as they looked at the thick book in Mush's hands.

"Woikin'?" Blink asked as he slid into the booth beside mush.

"Yeah. I'll explain, jus' lemme finish readin' dis part. Raoul jus' found out he's goin' back ta da front because da King wants his fiancée." Everyone gave each other more puzzled looks. Five minutes later Mush looked up from his book. The conversations that had since started came to a screeching halt.

"So what's wid da book," Jack asked as he slipped his arm around his girl of the moment.

"I's gotta read it for my new job." He closed to book as he placed a napkin in his place. "It's actually pretty good." Mush proceeded to tell them about his job and five minutes later he finished. "An' she says I hafta read dis book, `Da Man in da Iron Mask'." He held up the book, and Race took it from him.

"It's thick." He turned the pages slowly.

Mush nodded. "Yeah, but I can't wait ta see what happens next." He took the book back. The rest of lunch went the same as usual, a bunch of noise and nothing much was really said.

Mush left to tell Emily an hour later.

"That's great!" Emily picked up the book. "I've read this. It's really good." She looker Mush with a spark in her eye. "But you can read it later, but right now we have an hour to ours selves while Anya naps." She kissed him. "I say we take advantage of the time alone." Mush gave a wicked grin as he swept her into his arms and carried her to their room.

*****

Mush entered the shop right at nine the next morning. Mrs. Reading smiled when she saw him. "Good morning, Derek."

Mush looked up from the book. Oh, g'mornin', Mrs. Reading." He closed the book, since he had been reading it when he walked in, and placed his finger in his place.

Mrs. Reading looked at the book as Mush laid it on the counter. "I see you've been reading."

Mush smiled. He was pleased that the woman noticed. He so much wanted to please her, just as he had with his grandmother. "Yeah. I stayed up till close ta two dis mornin' readin'. I can't put it down." Mush's enthusiasm for the book was evident in his voice. "I nevah knew books dat could be so. . .um. . . ."

"Fascinating?" Mrs. Reading interrupted.

Mush nodded. "Yeah. Dat's it!"

Mrs. Reading gave a small laugh at Mush's excitement. "Well, let's talk about it." They walked into the small room they had spent nearly an hour in the day before.

"I gotta question. What does da man in da iron mask hafta do wid King Louis?"

Mrs. Reading smiled. "You'll have to read more to find out." They talked about the book for the next hour before they were interrupted by a customer. After the customer had been waited on, Mush spent the rest of the day learning the sections of the store, and observed Mrs. Reading make a few sales before he made a few of his own.

He left the shop at five that evening and began his walk home. He was only about a mile from the shop when he heard a woman's hysterical screams. Mush's instincts took over, and he ran in the direction of the screams. He only ran two blocks down a side street before he found the hysterical woman.

"Davy?! Davy?!" Tears were streaming down her face. Mush gently touched her arm, and she spun around to face him.

"I'm sorry if I scared ya, Miss. Is dere somethin' wrong?"

"My. . .my," she tried to say between sobs. Mush gently took her arm and led her to the steps of a tenement. He slowly set her down and placed a hand on her tear stained cheek.

"Calm down. Take a few deep breaths." She did exactly as he suggested. "Now, what's your name?"

"Saman. . .Samantha," she said with a shaky voice.

"Okay. Samantha, who's Davy?"

She took a deep, ragged breath. "He's my son. He's seven years old." She took a deep breath as Mush dropped his hand from her face. It had done what he had wanted, calmed her.

"What's he look like?"

She shook her head. She was so panicked she couldn't think. "He's. . .um. . .blond, about this high." She put her hand about four feet above the sidewalk. Mush began scanning the neighborhood for the boy. He stopped looking when he spotted a small boy coming out of an alleyway.

"Samantha, why don't ya go get dat little boy right dere, an' I'll go get your son?"

Samantha looked at the boy Mush was pointing to. "Davy!" She jumped up and ran to the little boy. She turned back to Mush after she hugged the little boy. "Thank you, Sir."

"No problem. I'm sure my wife would want some one ta help `er if our daughter was missin'." He looked at the little boy. "Don't evah do dat ta you're ma again,`kay?" The little boy nodded. Mush smiled and left the little boy to be scolded by his mother.

*****

The photographer rounded the corner in a rush because he had heard a woman screaming. He was hoping to get a scope, but instead all he saw was a couple who were only inches apart. To him it looked as if they were about to kiss. He got his camera ready and took the ideal picture. The couple didn't even notice the flash only a few feet from them. The photographer put his camera back in his pouch and walked away grinning. "The World" would love the picture. There had very few good ones lately.

*****

"Ya'd think dey'd give us a break every once an' while," Race complained as he looked over the headlines with Caitlin. She leaned against his chest and kissed his arm.

"He's not that nice," Caitlin said in reference to her estranged uncle, Joseph Pulitzer. Race laughed and kissed her head.

Jack had been sitting beside them when he noticed something that was the biggest headline of the year. "I got a good headline for ya." Everybody turned when they heard the edge to his voice. "The ever trust-worthy Mush cheats on his lovely wife, Emily." The further he got into his made up headline the angrier he sounded.

"What?!" Everyone asked at once.

"Where's dat story?" Blink's voice was very high pitched from disbelief.

"Page nine." Everyone opened their papers to page nine and saw exactly what had Jack so upset. On the bottom of the page there was a picture of Mush with a woman, a woman that wasn't Emily. The caption read, "Spring is in the air and so is love." Every closed their papers and looked as if Mush had cheated on them.

"How could. . . .Why would. . .?" Crutchy couldn't finish a single question.

"I don't know, Crutchy." Jack said as he stared at the picture. He shook his head. "We aren't ta say anythin' ta Emily." He looked at everybody. "Ya got it?"

They all nodded, except Caitlin. "She has to be told, Jack."

"You're right, Alley Cat, but Mush has ta be da one ta tell `er, not us." Jack used the strike leader tone he very rarely used. "An' dat includes not sellin' `er a pape. Got it?" He looked at everybody, but he stopped on and held Caitlin's gaze. She nodded and so did everyone else.

Caitlin stood and took her fifty papers from Race. "I'm gonna sell by myself today." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you at Tibby's."

Race looked really confused. He was still in shock about Mush, but he thought they were going to sell together. "`Kay. I'll sees ya at Tibby's." He stared after her, puzzled.

Everyone else watched her too. Jack patted Race's shoulder as he left the distribution alley. He had an uneasy feeling about Caitlin selling by herself. He shrugged it off as he stepped into the square. He had grown to know her in the last month that she had lived with them at the Lodging House. She didn't seem like she would hurt a friend, even if it was for her own good. Caitlin and Emily had grown to be good friends. Jack agreed with Caitlin that Emily needed to know what Mush was doing, or had done, but it wasn't their place to tell her. Jack did have plans of him, Blink and Race cornering him to find out why, and if he won't tell them, he had personal plans to soak him till he told and agreed to stop. Didn't he realize how great Emily was? Everyone else did.

*****

Anya giggled as her mother put her in her carriage. The little girl seemed to love going for the daily stroll as much as Emily loved taking her on it.

"We're going to buy a paper and take your Daddy lunch." Emily cooed at the baby. Anya cooed and gurgled back. Emily gave her a kiss as she pushed the carriage out of the apartment.

After five minutes of carrying the carriage down three flights of stairs, the mother and daughter dup reached the street.

Emily and Anya slowly made their way to Tibby's to meet the newsies for lunch. She was about a block from the restaurant when they met up with Bumlets. "Hey, Bumlets."

Bumlets offered her a warm smile. "Heya, Em." He looked into the baby carriage. "Hi dere, Anya." The baby didn't respond because she was sound asleep.

"Walks always do that to her." Bumlets smiled, but he couldn't help feeling sorry for her. Emily reached into her valise and pulled out a penny.

Bumlets started shaking his head. Emily handed him the penny, but he wouldn't accept it. "I ain't gonna sell ya a pape, Em."

Emily was taken aback. Bumlets was usually so sweet, and he normally didn't refuse to do anything for anybody, but he had refused to sell her a paper. Emily thought about it for a moment, and he almost sounded as if he regretted saying no. Emily decided to use her Gypsy talent of manipulating Gajos. She hated doing it, but she wanted a paper. There was no reason Bumlets should refuse to sell it to her, was there?

"Bumlets, why won't you sell me a paper?"

Bumlets couldn't lie. He never had been able to, and especially not to a girl. He knew he couldn't lie to Emily, a girl he loved like a sister. "Um. . .well. . .it jus'. . . ."

Emily interrupted his stammering. "Bumlets, you can't lie, so don't. Besides, Gajos can't lie to Gypsies. We can always tell when you are, so why don't you tell me the real reason to why you can't sell me a paper." Emily crossed her arms and waited for his answer.

Bumlets let his shoulders slump. "Jack said not ta sell ta ya." He was nearly mumbling.

Emily looked at him in shock. "What? Why would he say that?" Emily looked passed Bumlets and saw Jack entering Tibby's. She had been calm till she saw him, but now her anger flared. "Never mind. I'll find out on my own." She began to push the carriage into Tibby's. She stopped the carriage beside Race and Caitlin. She quickly scanned the crowd for Jack. It only took her a second to find Jack by the counter. She started walking toward him, and ignored the greetings she was receiving from everybody. She stopped a foot away from Jack.

"I'll have a club sandwich." Jack gave his order to the waiter.

"So, why'd you tell Bumlets not to sell to me, Jack?" The restaurant went deathly silent, and Jack's relaxed posture stiffened when he heard Emily's question.

He slowly turned around and looked passed Emily to glare at Bumlets, who only shrugged, before he locked his gaze on Emily. He sniffed and rubbed his eye as he answered the question. His shoulders relaxed, and his eyes softened to reveal what Emily thought was pity. "I told ev'rybody not ta sell ta you for your own good."

Emily looked puzzled, but no less angry. "My own good?" She shook her head. "And how can not letting me buy a paper be for my own good?" Emily was struggling to keep her voice calm. She hadn't raised her voice since before she and Mush had their second wedding.

"Jus' take my word for it, Em." Jack really wanted to tell her, but he knew it wasn't his place to.

"Fine. Don't tell me, but I will buy a paper." She started to leave the restaurant with out Mush's lunch. She turned around and brushed passed Jack. "I'd like two turkey sandwiches to go, please, Larry."

The waiter gave a weak smile as he went to fill the order. The restaurant was still extremely tense. He brought the order out several minutes later. The entire time he was gone the diner was quiet. The only noise was the occasional newsie clearing their throat, or Anya gurgling in her sleep. She took the bag and paid for the meal. She had reached the carriage when Caitlin stood up.

"Emily, wait!" Emily turned around. "I'm not going to sell you a pape, but I will give you one." She handed Emily the paper. Emily took it very hesitantly. Her Gypsy instincts told her that something in the paper would change her life.

"Caitlin, I said. . . ."

Caitlin looked at Jack. "I know what you said, Jack. And I said she should know. We're her friends, and it's our job to help her." Emily was watching the heated exchange. Caitlin finally looked from Jack back to Emily. "What we've been trying to keep from you is on page nine."

Emily quickly turned to page nine and couldn't believe what she saw. Mush was about to kiss another woman- - -an older woman. Emily dropped the paper and sank down in the nearest chair. Caitlin sat beside her and put her arm around her friend. Jack moved to kneel in front of her. Emily put her hand over her mouth slowly shook her head. Tears were filling her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

"Em?" Jack put both of his hands on each of her legs.

"How could he?" She mumbled from behind her hand. Anger was in her voice. Not hurt, but anger.

"I don't know." Jack was rubbing her legs.

Emily slowly dropped her hands from her mouth. She looked like she was about to be sick. Jack looked at his position and remembered when he had last knelt in front of her when she had been upset. He quickly moved as he remembered it took a week for his boots to smell normal again.

In all actuality she wasn't going to be sick. She had just realized something . He so-called `friends' knew about Mush's affair, and they hadn't told her. Her eyes were darting from one face to another, but they mostly stayed on Jack.

"You came to me over a year ago and told me when the factory had exploded. You were there for me during those uncertain days when no one was sure he would make it." She never broke the icy gaze she held with Jack. "How could you not tell me about this?" The tears that had been in her eyes and voice moments before were now gone, but her anger was startlingly evident. Jack didn't answer fast enough because Emily answered for him. "I know why you didn't tell me. Once a newsie, always a newsie. Am I right? You stick together like the musketeers. You would do anything for each other. And I guess that anything includes keeping Mush's affair from me." She didn't say another word. She turned on her heel and left Tibby's with Anya. The restaurant was in total shock.

The door closed and Jack found his voice. "We jus' found out dis mornin'," his answer came out as a hurt whisper.

*****

Emily stood in her and Mush's room. She looked at the picture of their second wedding and heard Mush's vow in her mind. "This time I do." He had sounded so convincing, so sincere, but it obviously had been a lie. How long had he waited before he had found this mistress? In her mind mistress wasn't the right word. Words like whore, jezebel, trollop and slut came into mind. She went to their closet and dug out one of the bags she had brought with her when she had left her band. She laid it on the bed next to a still sleeping Anya. She opened Mush's drawers and began to throw his few suits of clothes in it. Her every movement showed anger, but to look at her you would think it was part of her daily routine---fix breakfast, clean, throw her husband out. It only took her twenty minutes to pack all of his things. She set the bag by the front door. She looked around and found she had left the paper on the floor at Tibby's. She gathered Anya into her arms and held her tight as she stepped out into the cool spring afternoon.

She only walked a block before she saw Snipeshooter and Boots. She walked up to them, but didn't say a word as she handed them a penny. Boots handed her a paper, and she walked back to her apartment with out a word being said.

Emily entered the apartment and laid Anya down on the blanket in the middle of the floor. She opened the paper to page nine and laid it on the bag. She didn't want to look at the picture. She couldn't. It had hurt so much to see it. How could he say he loves her and be with someone else? She stepped into their room and picked up their wedding picture. She walked back into the living room and sat on the couch as she stared at the wedding picture. They had been so happy that day. What had made him unhappy? Emily shook the thought out of her head.

She stood up and laid the picture down. "If I don't do something, I'll go crazy," she said aloud. She walked to the kitchen and began her normal afternoon routine. It didn't work. Her mind kept reeling. She couldn't help running the last year through her mind. She was trying to find what she could have done for him to stop loving her. She couldn't find anything, not one reason.

*****

Mush opened the door to their apartment at about three-thirty that afternoon. He had left work early because Emily hadn't brought him lunch like she had said she would, and he couldn't stop worrying about what had happened to her or Anya, or both of them. He was instantly relieved to see Emily laying on the floor with Anya. He took two steps inside the apartment when he noticed the packed bag beside the couch.

Mush walked over to Emily and knelt down to kiss her, but she moved away. "Is ev'rything okay, Em?"

Emily stood up and walked across the room. "No, it's not, Derek." Mush knew something was wrong when she called him by his real name.

"What is it? Does it hafta do wid the packed bag?" He pointed to the bag.

"Actually it does." Emily took a deep breath as she tried to control her temper. "Tell me what you see on page nine of the paper." She too pointed at the bag. Mush looked at the page, but noticed nothing that would cause Emily to pack a bag.

"What about it? Da headlines are nothin' earth shatterin'."

Emily nearly choked on her own breath. "Nothing earth shattering?!" She had just lost all restraints she had on her temper. "I'd say the picture of you and that whore is something earth shattering. So, Derek, how long have you been seeing her? Or should I say sleeping with her?"

Mush looked back at the paper and saw that under his hand was a picture of him and Samantha. They hadn't even been aware that the picture had been taken. All of his energy had been on finding out what was wrong with her. He looked up from the picture, and looked as if he had just been punched in the stomach.

"Em, it ain't like dat," he sounded gaspy.

Emily looked like she didn't believe him. "Oh really?" She crossed her arms and waited for an answer. She barely waited long enough for Mush to gather his thoughts. "`It ain't like dat', huh," she asked in a perfect imitation of him. Mush nodded. "I was just wondering because it looked like what I think. I'll ask you again, Derek, how long have you been sleeping with this whore?"

"I haven't been sleepin' wid `er!" Mush's initial reaction of shock was slowly wearing off and it was being replaced with anger.

"Oh, so your affair hasn't reached that point yet?" Emily's voice grew shrill with that question.

"I ain't havin' an affair! I was jus'. . . ."

Emily interrupted him. "You were just seeing if you could still get any girl you wanted? I know what you were like before we were married."

"Dat's not it. I was jus'. . . ."

She interrupted him again. "Yes it is! God, Derek, I mean it's in the paper! You always say that if it's in the paper, especially "The World", it happened and it was true." Her voice had gone back to normal volume, except she was trying to keep it from cracking. "So, basically I know what I see is true. Don't try and lie to me, Derek. You're only half Gypsy, and you were raised like a Gajo. You can't lie to me." She took a deep breath to calm herself before she said her next statement. "I can't live with a husband I can't trust. I packed your things. I want you to get out." Her voice cracked with the last word, but she refused to let any tears fall.

"This is horse shit!" Mush had finally lost his temper. "I ain't leavin'." He sat down on the couch.

"Yes you are. I can't live with you, and Anya and I aren't leaving. That just leaves you. Now GET OUT!" She yelled the last part. Mush knew he had lost that fight, so he stood up and grabbed his bag.

"I never had an affair." He looked at the door and back at Emily. "I love ya, Gypsy." Mush left without giving Emily a chance to respond because he knew she wouldn't.

The door to the apartment closed and Emily lost all composure. She let the tears she had been fighting all afternoon fall. She didn't sob; she just let the tears fall silently as she laid on the floor with her daughter. She watched as Anya played with her feet. I was in that moment that she saw, for the first time, how much Anya looked like Mush. "Oh, Sweetie, how will I explain to you why your Daddy isn't around?" She pulled her daughter close and continued to silently cry.

*****

Mush walked up and down Duane Street for close to two hours. He knew that the only place he had to go was the Lodging House, but he didn't know if they thought the same thing Emily did. He stopped in front of the Lodging House. He figured that it was probably easier if he went in during the late afternoon when no one was there than to go in later and have to face everybody. Mush stepped into the old, inviting building. He entered to find it full of newsies. He was shocked. They normally didn't get in till late, and the fact that he had been pacing up and down the street for the last two hours made him wonder how they got in with out him noticing. He let the thought pass as he noticed all activities stop when the saw him standing in the door way. Their care free smiles faded at the sight of him. He met glares of disgust and one glare of hatred.

Mush set his bag down and walked over to Kloppman. "Is it all right if I stay `ere for a while?"

"Sure is. The rate is still da same."

Mush nodded. "From da look on ev'rybodies faces, I'd say it'd be bettah if I didn't stay in da bunk room. Can I stay in me an' Emily's old room?"

Kloppman looked passed Mush. "I think you're right." Mush nodded and walked down the hall to his old room. He closed the door and slumped against it. His mind was reeling, and he felt like the room was spinning. He closed his eyes against the spinning, wishing it would stop. He needed to talk to his friends about what had really happened, but he knew they weren't ready to listen to it just as much as Emily wasn't. He was hoping she would be ready tomorrow morning.

Everybody stared after Mush, and almost everyone of the angry expressions were gone. Everyone now looked as if they felt regrettable about their earlier glares. Everyone that is except Caitlin; she still had hatred in her eyes. She looked at the regrettable faces of the other newsies and could keep her thoughts to herself.

"I can't believe you're actually going to let him stay here!" Her voice was instantly shrill.

Race was glad he was sitting behind Caitlin so she couldn't see him roll his eyes. Jack was the one to answer her exclamation.

"He doesn't `ave any place ta go. What he did was wrong, but we can't abandoned `im."

Caitlin didn't like Jack answer, and her glare showed it. Race now decided to say something that would probably get him killed later.

"Dat's true, Cait. Plus, we don't run da Lodgin' House. No mattah as much as we like ta think we do, we don't. Kloppman has say in who we take in." Race let out the rest of the breath he had been using to spit out his death sentence. Caitlin whirled around to glare at Race. He actually squirmed under her glare. Caitlin didn't say anything to him as she got up and stomped up the stairs to the bunk room.

"Trouble in paradise?" Blink asked through gasps of laughter.

Race did a mock laugh right back at Blink. "Funny, Kid." Race looked back at Mush's room. He really felt sorry for his best friend. He then looked from the hallway back to his fellow newsies and noticed that they were thinking the same thing, but no one would voice it; not even Jack, who never had a problem voicing his opinion.

"I'm sure he had a good reason." Everyone looked at him in shock.

"A good reason?" Jack choked out.

"Yeah. Dat ain't like Mush. I'm gonna go tawlk ta `im." Race stood up and approached Mush's room.

"Hey, Race, where do ya wanna be buried? `Cause Alley Cat's gonna kill ya when she finds out," Skittery asked as he tried not to laugh.

Race shrugged as he knocked on Mush's door.

Mush opened his eyes when he heard the knock on the door. He moved far enough from the door to open it. He expected to see everybody, but instead he saw only Race. Mush opened the door enough to let Race in. He walked across the small room. Race shut the door behind him and leaned against it. His anger and pity were both evident on his face.

"So, what do ya gotta say, Mush?" Race sounded harsher than he had initially intended.

Mush didn't flinch at the question. Nothing could compare to Emily's anger. "Does everybody hare me?"

Race looked at his feet as if the tips of his boots held the answer. He looked up a moment later. "Naw, but we's all upset `bout what we saw in da pape."

Mush gave a slight laugh. "All I did was help `er find `er missin' son. I was on'y tryin' ta calm `er down when da picture was taken." Mush had started pacing the room. "Her name is Samantha. Her son's name's Davey. I don't even know deir last name." Mush stopped pacing to look at Race. "I'd nevah seen her before dat day, an' I ain't seen her since."

Mush paused to take a breath and found the shock wearing off. It was sinking in that he had just lost his wife because he had help an innocent woman. "Damn it!" He practically yelled through the tears that were choking him. His out burst shocked Race. That wasn't like Mush to yell like that. "Why do we, newsies, hafta be so damn helpful? Have ya evah noticed dat we can nevah turn down a goyl in need of help? It don't always hafta be a goyl, but it usually is." Race slightly nodded. "I on'y married Em ta help `er, an' I found ev'rything I ever wanted. She changed my life forevah. Now I helped Samantha find `er son two days ago, an' once again da goyl changed my life forevah." Mush swallowed hard as he choked back the tears that were threatening to fill his eyes. He looked at Race as realization struck him. "I don't even know if she's married. God, what if she is, an' `er husband thinks da same thing you and Em did an' do? What if he's beatin' `er?" Mush shook his head. "I gotta find `er and make sure she's okay. An' if she's married I hafta explain ev'rything ta `er husband."

Race had been doubting if Mush had been telling him the truth, but now he knew he was. Mush never got this worked up over something minor. But Emily had never been anything minor where Mush was concerned.

"So ya didn't cheat on Em," it was more of a statement than a question.

"No!" Mush ran his fingers through his curly hair. Race nodded and left the small room.

He had never said he believed Mush, but it was an understood fact that he did. Race entered the front room to find everybody still sitting there. The evening activities had resumed. They all looked up as Race sat beside Blink.

"Well?" Snoddy asked.

"He didn't do it. He was helpin' dat goyl find `er son." No one looked like they believed him. "It's true. If ya could have seen `im, ya 'd know he was tellin' da truth." Everyone still looked unsure. "He's goin' ta find her ta see if she's married, an' ta explain ta her husband what happened."

"He didn't do it," Jack said softly. Race nodded. "We've been real jerks." Race nodded again.

"How have you been jerks?" Caitlin asked as she reached the base of the stairs.

"Mush didn't cheat on Emily," Race volunteered.

"And how's you find that out, Racetrack?" Race scratched his head. He was glad Caitlin didn't know his real name because if she did, he was sure she would be using it.

"I tawlked to `im."

"You talked to him?" Race nodded. "And what did he say really happened?" The guys watched as Caitlin and Race stared at each other.

"He. . .uh. . .helped da goyl find `er son."

Caitlin's eyes grew wide. It looked as if she was believing him. She looked that way till she spoke a moment later. "And you believed him?!" Race nodded. Caitlin also nodded, but her nod showed every bit of her anger. She didn't say anything else.

"You don't believe `im?" Race asked.

"No. It's probably a story he spun the second he got caught."

Race was shaking his head. "Ya didn't see how upset he was. He hasn't been dat upset since he caught Emily kissin' his boss."

Caitlin looked puzzled for a moment, but shook the current thought out of her head. She had never heard that part of their story, but she'd worry about that later. "It's probably all an act. He's got to be good at lying. He was a newsie, and newsies are good at lying. They have to be."

"You're right, an' Mush could improve a headline wid da best of `em, but he couldn't lie to his friends. He said he was goin' ta find `er ta see if she was married an' explain everythin' ta her husband."

"Just another excuse to see her again." Caitlin couldn't believe that Race was really falling for Mush's alibis.

"Ya know I knew ya were stubborn before, but dis is ridiculous, Caitlin!" Race half yelled half barked at Caitlin.

"And Emily was right. You newsies stick together, just like the musketeers. Is he your King Louis?" Caitlin barked back.

Race couldn't believe she had said that. He didn't know what mice had to do with anything, but for some reason the insult hurt. "I hate ta tell ya, Dollface, but your newsie. Your in dat group dat sticks tagethah."

"No I'm not." She stormed up the stairs. He answer took Race and everybody else by surprise. She reappeared a moment later with a small bag under her arm.

"Where do ya think your goin'?" Race said as he stepped in front of her.

"To Emily's. She doesn't need to be alone right now, and I can't stay with a bunch of two faced phonies." She pushed Race away from her, and he tripped over Snipeshooter, falling to the ground with a thud. As soon as Caitlin was out of the Lodging House, the others burst into laughter as the looked at Race sprawled out on the floor. The fight had been funny, but the fall at the end was the best.

*****

Emily was still laying on the floor with Anya. Both were asleep. It was Anya's bed time, but Emily was exhausted from crying, anger, and the hurt she felt. She awoke when she heard someone banging on the apartment door. She slowly walked to the door. She didn't want to see anybody, especially Mush.

"Who is it?" Her voice was very soft, almost hoarse sounding.

"Caitlin." Emily opened the door a moment later.

"I'm not taking him back, Caitlin, so if you came to talk me into it, you're wasting you're time," Emily said the second she saw Caitlin.

"Hello," Caitlin said with a smile. "I came here to get away from the musketeers." Emily let Caitlin in the apartment. "They're beginning to believe Mush when he says he didn't do it."

Emily rolled her eyes. "Figures." She shut the door and moved to pick up Anya. The little girl barely moved. "Its past her bed time. I'm gonna put her to bed. I'll be right back." Caitlin nodded and sat on the couch. She looked down and noticed a piece of paper. She bent down and realized it was the picture of Mush and the woman. She picked it up and saw the tear stains on the page. She had known that news had hurt Emily, but she hadn't known how much. She then thought of how she would feel and react if she had ever caught Race with another girl. She had only known Emily a little over a month, and she had never seen her as anything but happy. Emily entered the living room a moment later. Caitlin looked from the picture to Emily.

"How are ya holding up, Em?"

Emily stopped when she saw Caitlin holding the picture. Her blood ran cold at the sight of it, and she hugged herself in an attempt to stop the feeling from washing over her if that was possible. Every time she looked at the picture, or thought of it, for that matter, she felt cold and empty inside. "All things considered. . .pretty terrible." Her answer shocked Caitlin, and at the same time it didn't. "I'm totally numb. It's almost as if it hasn't sunken in yet, but I know it has."

Caitlin nodded. "If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine."

Emily gave a weak smile. "I'd rather not. Every time I think about it I just get so mad," she gave a small laugh, "and I think about it all the time." Caitlin nodded as Emily walked over to the couch and sat down. They sat there for the rest of the evening and tried to talk about anything but the picture and Mush.

*****

Mush stepped out of his room and found all of the newsies staring at him. He scratched his head and yawned. It felt odd seeing all of the guys in the morning. He found he actually missed it, but not as much as he missed waking up next to Emily. "G'mornin'," he mumbled as he pulled his coat on.

They all mumbled their `good mornings', but it was obvious that they had other things on their minds other than saying good morning. Mush could tell they were all feeling guilty about something. They all looked like children who had gotten caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

Jack looked at everybody. They all nodded, and he stepped forward. "Uh, Mush, we want ta apologize to ya for ev'rything. We, uh, didn't know da truth." Mush was trying not to smile because he knew how hard it was for Jack to apologize for anything. Jack suddenly found they floor really interesting.

Mush was beginning to get impatient with Jack. "Jack, what evah it is, ya can tell me."

Jack looked up, and he appeared a little more confident. "We're sorry dat we didn't believe dat ya didn't cheat on Emily." Mush nodded his acceptance, but Jack wasn't finished. "An' we're sorry dat we told Emily about da picture." Mush looked at each of them. They all found the old wood floor interesting.

"You're da ones dat told Emily?" Jack nodded as he looked at his boots. "Ya mean dat she didn't find da picture on `er own?" Mush's voice was high pitched, which it did when he was in shock.

"We tried ta keep her from findin' it. We tried not ta sell `er a pape, but she insisted, so Alley Cat gave `er one." Bumlets said.

Mush looked at him. The shock still on his face. "So, my friends are da reason my marriage is failin'?" Mush shook his head as he pushed passed them. "I can't believe dat. I'm on me way ta see if I can try an' save me marriage." He left the Lodging House with everybody staring at after him.

Mush walked as fast as he could down Duane Street. He had to see Emily before he was suppose to be at work. He only had an hour and a half.

Mush started to place his key in the lock, but decided that considering their current situation it would be better if he knocked. He stood at his apartment door and waited for Emily to answer it. He only waited a moment before it was opened. Mush looked up from the floor and straight into the cold eyes of Caitlin. She cooly regarded him before she turned and called into the apartment.

"The adulterer is here, Em." Emily stepped out of Anya's room with her in her arms. Caitlin turned back to Mush. She laid her finger in the middle of his chest. "You should wear a giant `A' right there." She traced the letter A across his chest. She turned back to Emily, who had just set Anya in the floor. "I'll be back later. Okay, Em?" Emily nodded, and Caitlin pushed passed Mush. Mush watched Caitlin as she walked down the hall before he entered the apartment. He looked at Emily and saw how exhausted she was.

"Ya haven't slept, have ya?" Emily shook her head.

"I left my life a year ago to marry you just to get out of marrying Ian. I was expecting to be divorced by now, but I was told that a marriage was for life." She laughed at the irony of the situation. "I was so pissed at you when you said that, but I found that I quickly fell in love with you, and before I knew it, I was pregnant with Anya." She motioned to their daughter, who was playing quietly on the floor. "I was so happy until I saw that picture. I found out that the man I love doesn't love me. Of course I didn't sleep." Her voice had been calm till the last part. Then it became harsh.

Mush nodded and looked at Anya. "Hey, Sweetie." The little girl looked up and smiled. She reached her arms up towards mush. He took the few steps and picked up his daughter. "I've missed ya." He kissed her on the head. He looked at Emily. "I came ta talk to ya `bout dat whole speech ya jus' gave." He looked at Anya. She was playing with on of the buttons on his shirt. "Em, I love ya. I've always loved ya." He gave a small laugh as he remembered the day they met. "I honestly think I fell in love wid ya dat foist day when ya read my soul. I knew the moment we made eye contact dat you'd be able ta see my soul, an' ya did. I couldn't get ya off my mind the two days before ya came to me da night we got engaged. I guess dat's what ya can call it. Yeah, I was mad when ya said I had ta marry ya, but dat was de best t'ing dat evah happened ta me." He took a step towards her and closed the gap between them. "I didn't cheat on ya wid dat woman. I helped `er find `er missing son. Da picture was taken while I was tryin' ta calm `er down."

Emily was gnawing on her full bottom lip. She was fighting the tears that were filling her eyes. She looked at Anya, who was still contentedly playing with Mush's shirt button. She didn't say a word as she took Anya from Mush's arms. She turned on her heels and put Anya in her room. Mush stood in the center of the living room stunned. Emily shut the door to Anya's bedroom, and the little girl began to bawl. All she could do was scream `Da Da!'.

"What da hell did ya do that for?" Mush was trying to sound calm, but he failed miserably.

"I don't believe you, Derek, and I don't want someone I don't trust around my daughter."

"She's my daughter, too!"

"You're right, but for all I know, I you may take her to the brothel you met your little whore at."

"She ain't a whore!" Mush opened his mouth to say something, but closed it when another thought crossed his mind. He suddenly remembered how most of their fights ended when they were first married. He once again closed the gap between them, and without saying a word, he pulled her into a passionate kiss.

Emily couldn't believe what Mush was doing. She pushed him off of her. She really didn't want to, but she couldn't kiss him after what he had done. "I can't believe you! I hope you enjoyed that kiss because it was out last. Hell will freeze over before you feel these lips again."

Mush shrugged. "Ya 've said dat before, an' I believe I proved you wrong. Dat won't be our last kiss, Emily, an' I will see my daughter again." He walked toward the door. He turned when he reached the door. "I don't know how, but I'll find a way for ya ta believe me." He left without another word. He closed the door and leaned against it. He felt as if his world was crashing down around him, he was powerless to stop it.

Emily heard the door click, and she slid down the wall to the floor. She pulled her knees up close to her and buried her face in them. She let her tears fall. Her sobs mixed with those of Anya's. "I know, Baby. I want your Daddy back, too, but I can't believe him."

*****

Mush entered the bookstore a half an hour later. Mrs. Reading was stocking books in the children's section. "Good morning, Derek."

Mush looked at her as he took off his coat. "G'mornin', Mrs. Reading. Sorry I'm late. Dere's been some troubles at home."

Mrs. Reading stopped putting the new books away. "Oh my you dear boy, is everything all right?" Mush didn't know why, but that was the first time he had noticed the tinge of an English accent to her voice.

"T'ing have been bettah, but we're tryin' ta get through `em."

Mrs. Reading nodded. "Is the baby all right?"

"I ain't got the slightest idea. I ain't allowed ta see `er." Mush caught himself too late. He hadn't wanted to bring him family, or rather, his marital problems to work, but it was too late for that now.

Mrs. Reading walked over to Mush, who had been looking at the day's to-do list. "Derek, you can tell me personal things. I won't judge you for them." Mush looked at the dear old woman and gave a weak smile. She reminded him of his grandmother so much.

"Ya won't judge me for it?" She shook her head. "An' ya won't hate me for it?" She once again shook her head. Mush looked at the piece of paper in his hands. He had been picking at the corner, and now there wasn't one. It took him a minute to bolster his courage up. "Emily t'rew me out last night. She thins I had an affair." Mush looked up from the piece of paper very slowly and saw Mrs. Reading's shocked expression.

"Did you?"

Mush's answer was immediate. "No!"

"Then why would she think you did?"

Mush picked up his coat and pulled out at piece of newspaper. "Because a dis." He handed Mrs. Reading the picture that had turned his world upside down.

"So how do you know her?"

"I jus' met `er dat day. I haven't seen `er since, but I gotta find `er. I hafta make sure she's okay."

Mrs. Reading was watching Mush as every emotion he was feeling crossed his face. She could tell he was telling the truth, but at the same time she had a small grain of doubt. "Do you still love her?"

"Emily?" Mrs. Reading nodded. "Yes. When I caught `er kissin' my boss, I didn't throw `er out. I wanted to, but I didn't. An' dat's aftah I actually caught `er in da act. All she has is a picture. She has no idea about what really happened."

"Have you tried to tell her?"

Mush nodded. "She didn't believe me." Mush didn't want to talk about it anymore, so he walked off and finished stocking the children's section.

*****

Emily opened the door to the apartment to find Jack standing on the other side. Emily crossed her arms and looked none too pleased to see him.

"Heya, Em." She didn't respond. "Can I come in?"

"No." Her answer shocked Jack, but before he could ask her why, she asked a question of her own. "What are you doing here, Jack?"

Jack raised an eyebrow at her question. "I came ta talk to ya `bout Mush."

"You know, that's funny because I don't want to talk about him." Jack was beginning to see why Mush and Emily had fought a lot when they were first married.

"Ya see I was think' dis mornin' about you and Mush, and when you lived at the Lodgin' House. I remember when he caught you kissin' his boss. He didn't throw you out, an' he had concrete proof of your cheatin'. All you have is a picture, an' you t'row him out. Dat ain't fair is it, Em?"

She gave her answer as the door slammed in Jack's face. It clipped Jack's nose as it shut. He walked down the hall rubbing his nose.

*****

"Do you want to see if they have the book you want?" Samantha asked her son, Davey.

"Yeah." The little boy followed his mother into the shop. A small bell rang over the door. An older woman came from a small room in the back.

"Hello." Samantha nodded. "If you need anything just ask. My assistant or I can help you." Samantha nodded again.

"Where are your children's books?"

"In the back." Samantha followed Davey as he started toward the back. They found the section easily enough, and began searching the row of books for the book Davey needed when Davey noticed someone sitting in a chair only a few feet away. The man was intently reading a rather thick book. Davey pulled on his mother's skirt.

"Mommy, is dat the man dat helped us the other day?" Davey asked as he pointed at the man.

"It sure is. Keep looking for your book. I'll be right back." Samantha walked over to Mush. "How are you?"

Mush looked up from his book. "Samantha!" He closed the book and stood up. "How are ya?"

"I'm good. And you?" Mush only shrugged. "You know were famous now, don't you?"

"Yeah. I saw da picture. Dat's why I was wonderin' how ya were doin'. What'd your husband think?"

Samantha looked over at Davey. "My husband died two years ago during the war with Cuba. He was a Captain under Colonel Teddy Roosevelt."

"I'm sorry." Mush was sincerely sorry.

"It's okay. He would have laughed at the picture." She then noticed the ring on Mush's left hand. "What did your wife think?"

Mush scratched his head. "Well, she, uh, thinks we're havin' an affair, an' she kicked me out. I've been stayin' wid friends."

Samantha nodded. She looked thoughtful for a moment. "I got you into this mess, and I intend to get you out. Where do you live? I'm gonna go talk to your wife."

Mush was shaking his head. Dat wouldn't be the best thing ta do. Emily has a quick temper an' a sharp tongue. It'd be best if ya jus' remain a nameless picture. T'anks though." He watched as Davey walked up to them. "I'll figure somethin' out. Don't worry." Mush looked at Davey. "Heya, Dave. Didja find da book you were lookin' for?"

Davey smiled broadly and nodded.

"I hope everything works out." She gave a sincere smile. "Thank you again, for every thing."

Mush nodded. "You're welcome."

Samantha smiled again as she started to walk to the front of the store.

"Bye, Davey," Mush waved to the little boy. Davey waved as he walked away.

Mrs. Reading had been watching the entire conversation between Mush and Samantha. Samantha placed Davey's book on the counter

"Will this be all?" Samantha nodded. "I couldn't help noticing you talked to Derek for some time. Do you mind if I ask how you know him?"

Samantha looked back at Mush. "I didn't know his name. Derek," she said softly before she explained. "He helped me find my son a few days ago. I wish he hadn't though."

That comment took Mrs. Reading by surprise. "Why, Dear?"

"Helping me has caused him more trouble than he deserves. I wish he would let me help." Samantha handed Mrs. Reading the money for the book.

"Have a good day, Dear."

"You too, ma'am." Samantha handed to book to Davey as they left the shop.

Mrs. Reading watched the mother son duo as they left the shop. Her mind was spinning with ideas to help Mush. She turned to look at Mush, who was no longer reading. Instead he was staring after Samantha and Davey with an agonizingly sad expression on his face. Mrs. Reading then made up her mind that she would play a busy body and help him get his marriage back on track.

*****

"Awl I'm sayin' is day ya gotta listen ta `im." Blink was pleading with Emily. She was making him stand out in the hall just like she had done with Jack.

"And I'm telling you, I don't want to sit down and listen to him. I want nothing to do with him! Now, I have some things to tend to." She slammed the door in Blink's face.

"Ow!" Blink pulled his fingers to his mouth just after the door had shut on them. He pulled them back and saw a red line from the door. Blink walked away from the apartment building sucking on his injured fingers.

"Are ya real hungry, Kid?" Blink looked up at Jack.

"I tried ta talk ta Em, an' she slammed the door on my hand."

Jack smiled and touched his nose. "Yeah I tried earlier and' she nearly broke me nose wid da door."

Blink's ever present smile was visible from under his hand. "I hope dat Mush appreciates da stuff we go t'rough for `im. Even if he is mad at us." Jack nodded as they walked down the street.

*****

Mush was slipping on his cost when Mrs. Reading came up to him. "Derek, were you stopping by your apartment on your way to where you are staying?"

"Wasn't planin' on it. Why?"

"I was wanting you to give Emily this for me." She handed him an envelope. Mush turned the envelope over and over in his hand as he examined it.

"I can do that."

"Now, that is just for her." Mush nodded and smiled. He headed for the door. "Uh, Derek, take tomorrow off."

"Why?" He felt his heart drop.

"You need a day off because of your problems with Emily. Take the day to collect yourself."

"If ya say so. Well, I'll see ya in two days." He left he store and headed for the apartment.

*****

Emily started for the door as soon as she heard a knock. She was talking loud enough for whoever was on the other side to hear her. "If this is some one wanting to talk to me about Mush, I'm not going to sit down and listen to him; when he caught me kissing Mr. Thompson, we weren't happily married, and you better keep all body parts clear of the door." She opened the door to find a confused, but none too pleased Mush.

"Hey, Emily." Mush looked how close he was standing to the door and backed up a step. "What was all dat about?"

"Why don't you ask your friends Jack and Kid Blink." She crossed her arms over her chest. "What are you doing here, Derek?"

Mush glared at her. He always hated it when she called him by his real name. "Mrs. Reading asked me ta give this to ya." He handed her the envelope. She took and began to shut the door, but Mush stuck his foot in it. Emily looked at it and groaned.

"What now?"

"Can I see Anya?"

"The answer to your question is the same as it was this morning. . .No." She pushed his foot out of the door jam, and shut the door with out another word. Mush stared at the door for a moment before he began to walk down the hallway.

He was walking down the stairs when he saw Caitlin. "Hey, Alley Cat."

"Where's the big `A'?"

"Look, Caitlin, I ain't in da mood for your smart ass remarks." Mush didn't stop walking as he made the comment.

Caitlin stared after Mush in shock. She shook her head as she opened the door to Emily's apartment. "Hey, Em."

Emily waved as she opened the envelope. She slowly pulled out the card and read it. Caitlin was watching as Emily read the card. Her shoulders started to slump. She lowered her head and placed her hand over her face.

"Em? What is it?"

"Mrs. Reading wants me to go to the shop for tea tomorrow."

Caitlin was totally lost. "Who's Mrs. Reading?"

"Mush's boss." Emily walked over to the kitchen table and sat down. "She's never met me, and she wants to meet me tomorrow for tea." She looked up at Caitlin. "How do I meet his boos if I'm not sure if I still want to be in this marriage?"

"You want a divorce?"

Emily just shrugged. "I don't know what I want." She placed her head in her hands. "What if Mush is there?"

Caitlin shrugged. "Then he's there. You'll go for tea and you'll go home. You don't have to talk to him."

Emily nodded. "I'll be all right. You can go back to the Lodging House tonight."

"I don't want to go back," Caitlin instantly began to protest.

"Cait, you need to go back. You need to make up with Race. He did nothing wrong. He formed his own opinion. There is nothing wrong with that. Go home and make up with him." Emily had a tone to her voice that showed she wasn't to be argued with.

"Okay. I'll be back be tomorrow to check on you." Emily nodded, and Caitlin left the apartment. Emily continued to sit at the table till Anya started to cry. Emily went into Anya's room. The little girl started to scream `Dada'. Emily bent into the crib to pick her up, and Anya rolled away. She continued to scream `Dada'.

"Honey, I want your Daddy too, but he isn't here. I don't know when he'll be coming home." Emily picked Anya up. She didn't stop crying, but she did stop screaming for Mush. Emily help her and rocked her till she fell asleep.

*****

Mush walked into the empty Lodging House and was relieved. He didn't was to talk to anybody all he wanted to do was go to his room and relax. He would talk to everybody tomorrow morning. Since he had the day off, he was going to sell with the others.

He entered his lonely room and he could see every moment he and Emily had spent in the room in his mind's eye. He crawled into the bed, and tried to read, but he couldn't keep his mind off of Emily.

*****

Emily awoke with a start. She didn't know what she had been dreaming, but she knew she could only go back to sleep in she was in Mush's arms. She rolled over and reached for him. All she felt was the empty bed. She lowered her head fro a second before she pulled his pillow close to her. She could still smell his after shave on the pillow. She buried her head in the pillow and cried.

*****

Mush woke up before Kloppman did, which wasn't hard since he hadn't slept well. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Emily. He crawled out of bed and reached the hallway just as Kloppman was leaving his office.

"Mornin', Kloppman."

Kloppman looked surprised to see Mush up. "What are ya doin' up so early?"

"I got da day off, so I thought I'd sell wid the guys." He shrugged. "Kinda like old times."

Kloppman smiled. "Well, I'm on my way ta wake `em up."

Mush got a wicked smile on his face. "Can I wake `em up?"

Kloppman shrugged. "Sure." Mush led the way up to the bunk room. Kloppman followed and leaned against the door to watch Must torment his friends. Mush took the ever handy broom stick from Kloppman's hand.

Mush started banging the stick on the ground. "Come on, ya gotta get up!" He took the stick and poked Snoddy with it. "Ya gotta get up! Carry da bannah!"

Snoddy sat straight up. "I'm up! I'm up!" He looked at Mush as he rubbed his eyes. "Mush?"

Mush laughed as he reached his next sleeping victim. He stood close to Blink's head. "BLINK!" Blink looked at him, and playfully swung at Mush. Mush then hit the bunk below Blink. Race groaned as he rolled out of bed. Mush then moved to his next victim.

"Come on, Jacky. Gotta get up! Gotta sell da papes!"

"Are ya mad, Old Man?" Jack asked as he rolled over. "Mush?"

"Yeah Mush. Now get up." By this time everybody was up. Mush left the bunk room laughing with Kloppman.

Fifteen minutes later everybody was downstairs. "So, Mush, what's wid da Kloppman act," Jack asked as he draped his arm over Mush's shoulder.

Mush shrugged. "I woke up ta dat every mornin' , an' I thought it'd be a good way ta let ya know that I'm sellin' wid ya taday."

"Really?" Blink asked as his usual smiled grew broader.

"Yeah really. I `ave the day off, an' I wanna sell wid you guys." A loud cheer went up as the boys began to file out of the Lodging House.

*****

Mrs. Reading was waiting for Emily to get to the shop. She looked out the shop window for what felt like the hundredth time and saw a beautiful young woman with curly black hair, and she was holding a baby girl that was close to a year old. The girl looked up at the sign over the door and took a few deep breaths.

The bell over the door rang as Emily entered the small and inviting shop. The little old woman that had been behind the counter came from behind it to greet her.

"Emily?" Emily nodded. "I'm Mrs. Reading, but you can call me Helen."

"I'm glad to meet you, Helen." Emily shifted Anya in her arms. "And this little angel is Anya."

"Hello, Anya." Mrs. Reading tickled Anya's foot. She giggle and wiggled her tows. Mrs. Reading looked at Emily. "Anya. That is such a lovely name. How'd you decide on that?"

"It was Mush's mother's name." Mrs. Reading noticed that Emily's voice strained when she mentioned a name that could only be her nick name for Derek.

"Mush?"

"Oh, that is the nick name everybody calls Derek." Mrs. Reading nodded.

"He's never told me that."

Emily looked puzzled. "Really? He usually hates being called Derek." Emily felt a sharp pain in her chest, but it wasn't a physical pain. It was more of an emotional one. That was the first time she had talked to about Mush in the last three days that didn't have to do with the picture.

"Would you like some tea, Dear?"

"That would be great."

"Let me lock up the shop, and I'll join you in the back in a minutes." Mrs. Reading pointed to the open door that was behind the counter. Emily went back to find an inviting parlor that was lined with books on one wall. She set Anya down on the floor. She walked over to the bookshelf and read the titles of books she hadn't read since she was a little girl. Emily found a book that had been her favorite ad started flipping through it.

"See anything you recognize?" Emily turned with a start at Mrs. Reading's question.

"I was just looked at `King Arthur'. It was one of favorite books growing up. I read it so much that the binding came apart." Emily smiled at the warm memory.

"If you would like to read it again, you can."

Emily's face lit up. "Why thank you."

Mrs. Reading nodded and smiled. "Why don't you tell me about you and Derek while I put the tea to boil."

Emily sat down in a chair close to Anya. "If it's all right with you, I'd rather not, Helen. Were having some problems right now, and I'd rather not think about it."

Mrs. Reading sat down in a chair across from Emily. "Sometimes it helps the problems if you talk them out with a non-involved party. I'm a great listener."

Emily gave a weak smile. She thought about it for several seconds. "Okay. You're right it may help." Emily told Mrs. Reading the entire story of how she and Mush met, fell in love and how he cheated on her. The only time Mrs. Reading wasn't sitting across from Emily was when she got up to fix and pour the tea. Emily sipped her tea as she continued to tell the story. She finished the story when she finished the cup of tea.

"I was so nervous in coming here today. I didn't know if you knew about our problems, and if you did, you would try to make me listen to his excuses."

Mrs. Reading looked at her tea cup. She slowly looked up at Emily. "Actually, Emily, that is why I asked you to come." Emily started shaking her head. "You have to listen to his side. He really didn't have an affair."

Emily stood up and picked Anya up. "I don't have to listen to this. It was nice meeting you, Helen." Emily started leaving the parlor. Mrs. Reading stepped in front of her.

"You're right. You don't have to listed to this, but you won't leave this shop till you do. Now, sit down." She said the last part with a tone of command. Emily stood in her spot for a minute. She was debating if she should be stubborn and leave, or if she should sit down and listen to a story she wouldn't believe. She looked at Anya. All her daughter had done the last two days was cry and scream for Mush. She decided to listen to Mrs. Reading for Anya's sake. She moved and sat back in her chair. Mrs. Reading slowly took her seat across from Emily.

When Mrs. Reading was settled she said, "Sorry to give an order, Dear, but I refuse to let stubbornness break up a marriage between two people that love each other more than life itself." Mrs. Reading didn't say anything for a minute. She was trying to calm herself down, so she wouldn't sound like a nagging old woman. When she finally spoke again, she was the calm sweet woman she had been when Emily first walked into the shop. "What Derek told you about helping the woman find he son was true. She came into the store yesterday with her son."

"He saw her again?!" Emily nearly yelled.

"Yes, he did. She came in with her son. They were here for some time before the little boy noticed Derek. She walked over to him and they talked for several minutes. When she came over to the counter, I asked her how she knew Derek, and she told me how he helped her find her son."

Emily was shaking her head. "Has Mush ever told you that he's half Gypsy?" Mrs. Reading shook her head. "He is, and that means he's got te Gypsy gift of being able to lie to and fool Gajos. He probably lied to you and convinced that who. . .woman to say that if ever questioned about it."

Mrs. Reading had been trying to keep her calm during Emily's explanation, but when she had almost called the young woman a whore, her calm flew out the window. "This young woman that you think was told to say the same thing that Derek told you actually wanted to find you and explain everything that happened that day between her and Derek. But, he wouldn't let her because he knew your quick temper and sharp tongue. I'm glad he wouldn't let her. I would have hated to see how you would have treated her, if you think she's a whore and you don't even know her. Your husband has been nothing but faithful to you, and you throw him out because of one questionable picture. He didn't throw you out when he caught you kissing his former boss. I think you need to think about and evaluated Derek's side to this situation." Mrs. Reading stood up. "Now, if you would excuse me, I have to reopen the shop. It has been closed for two hours." Emily stood up and followed Mrs. Reading to the front door. "I hope you see and choose to do what is right, and that is to not let the marriage a lot of people want slip through your fingers." All Emily could do was nod as she left the book shop.

Emily was walking home when a block a head of her a young girl around the age of thirteen turned the corner in a full run and proceeded to collide with a young boy of the same age. As soon as they both recovered from the collision, they began arguing about who ran into whom. A warm feeling of familiarity washed over Emily. She walked up to the arguing pair.

"I met my husband that way." The arguing pair stopped arguing and looked at her.

"Huh," the boy asked.

"I met my husband by running into him and knocking him down."

The girl looked Emily up and down. "You ain't much older dan us."

Emily shrugged. "Not really, but all my husband and I did at first was fight."

"What are you like now?" The girl asked.

"Madly in love, and it never would have happened if we hadn't have ran into each other." Emily left he pari standing in the street arguing over who was sorry. As she walked away, Emily replayed her meeting Mush in her mind. He had helped her hide from Ian without even knowing her. She then realized that helping people in need was just part of Mush's personality, and one of the reasons she loved him with all of her heart. She now knew he hadn't cheated on her; he had just helped that poor woman find her missing son.

Emily stopped walking and looked Anya. "We're going to your Daddy, and we're going to see if he'll take us back." She kissed Anya on the head. "I know he'll take you back, but I'm not so sure about me." Anya patted Emily on the face as giggled.

*****

Mush entered the Lodging House just as noisily as the others. He was finally back to his old jubilant self, or at least he seemed to be. But his good mood went away as soon as he saw Emily sitting of the stairs to the bunk room. He looked at Kloppman. His eyes were saying `I can't believe you let her in'.

"She's been here all afternoon."

Mush nodded. "What. . .what are ya doin' `ere , Emily?"

"Could I talk to you?" She stood up and help Anya close.

Mush crossed his arms. "Yeah. Go ahead."

She looked at everybody and then back to Mush. "Can we talk in private?"

Mush shrugged his shoulder and led her to their old room. Mush closed the door and turned to look at Emily. "Fine. We're in private. Now, say what ya gotta say. I'm late for a poker game."

Emily bit her lower lip. Mush was being unbelievably mean. Not that she blamed him, she had been horrible to him these last three days.

"Mush, I'm so sorry I didn't believe you when you said you didn't cheat on me."

"Mush? Mush? What `appened ta Derek?"

"I'm not mad at you anymore. I'm mad at myself."

Mush raised an eyebrow. "So, what changed your mind?"

Emily shrugged. She had been fighting the tears that had been trying to fill her eyes since Mush had walked in the door. She lost the battle when he asked that question. "I saw this couple of kids run into each other and they started arguing. I replayed the day we met as I walked away from them." A single tear rolled down her cheek. She wiped it away. "I remembered how you helped me because you felt you had to. You didn't know me, and you helped me. In that second I knew you really did help her find her son." Emily's voice kept cracking, and Mush was having problems hearing her.

Mush was having problems with her crying and not pulling her into his arms. "I'm glad ya know dat now." Mush made no move to hold her.

"I was made to see it. I met Mrs. Reading for tea. She made me hear the truth. I so wanted to believe her, but I couldn't. It took the pair of kids to make me see the truth."

"You wanted ta believe me?" Emily nodded as she wiped another tear away. "Ya sure as hell have a funny way of showin' it. Ya throw me out. Ya forbid me ta see my daughter, an' I'm s'ppose ta believe ya wanted ta believe me?"

"Mush, I was angry, but I still wanted to believe you."

"I'm havin' trouble believe ya, Em." Even though he didn't believe her, Mush still wanted to hold her and kiss her tears away.

"I don't blame you for not believing me. I was horrible to you. I just came to tell you I know the truth, and now that I've told you this, I'll leave." Emily started for the door. She turned to look at Mush before she left. "Not that this will help, but you might like to know I cried myself to sleep every night. I would pull your pillow to me and smell your aftershave as I fell back to sleep."

Mush just stared at her as he left the room. The door closed and he slumped against the foot board to the bed. He buried his face in his hands. Why hadn't he puller her into his arms? All he wanted to do was believe she had forgiven him. That was what he had wanted this entire time he had been staying at the Lodging House, but when she does, all he can do is question her. Mus was busy kicking himself for letting Emily walk out of the room without him. He looked down at his wedding band. He began twirling it around his finger. He looked up when he heard the door open. He was hoping it was Emily, but instead it was Jack, Blink, Race and Caitlin.

"So, what'd she want," Jack asked.

"Ta let me know she knows I didn't do it. She said she had always wanted ta believe me."

"An' ya let `er walk out?" Race couldn't believe what he was hearing. Mush had let Emily walk out when three days ago he couldn't think of a way to get her back fast enough. "Why?"

"I couldn't believe dat she had wanted ta believe me. I couldn't she cried every night. If dat was true she would have never t'rown me out."

Caitlin had been quietly standing in the back ground and it was about to kill her.

"God! Mush! You are so stubborn. She was telling you the truth. I stayed with her that first night, and after she went to bed, she cried herself to sleep. She was hurt and lonely. She wouldn't admit it, but all she wanted was for you to be there to hold her and reassure her that everything would be all right."

Mush sat on the floor for several minutes without saying anything. Caitlin knew what he was thinking. "I know I was mean to you, and I'm sorry. I was sure you had cheated on her because my father did the same to my mother. I now know you didn't. I'm telling you Em has been sick over this, and all she wants now is for you to take her back."

Mush still didn't say anything for several moments. "Oh, God! What have I done?!" He stood up and began packing his bacg. "I jus' let `er walk outta `ere. I gotta ger `er back." Caitlin smiled at him a she left the room. The others weren't far behind her. They were all pleased to see their friends were going to work their problems out.

*****

Emily wiped her tears as she opened the door. She nearly couldn't speak as she saw Mush standing on the other side. "Mush?"

Mush took one step in the door and dropped his bag. He never said a word as he pilled her to him and kissed her. Emily wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. Mush reluctantly broke the kiss a moment later.

"I'm sorry, Em. I'm so sorry. I shoulda done dat when ya came to da Lodgin' House. All I wanted ta do was hold ya, but my pride got in da way." He kissed her again, but this time it was a soft peck. "I love ya, Em."

Emily swallowed hard as a lump formed in her throat. She was gnawing at her lower lip. "I love you too." It came out as a whisper. She felt as if she had just said it for the first time.

Mush pulled her close. "It'll be okay. We'll be okay," he whispered in her ear.

All Emily could manage to say was, "Uh huh." He pulled away and kissed her on the forehead. He moved and picked up Anya.

Anya flailed her arms as Mush picked her up. "Dada."

Mush's jaw dropped. He looked from Anya to Emily and back again. "Ya jus' called me Dada." He looked at Emily. "Did she just call me Dada?" Emily nodded. "When did she start tawlkin'?"

Emily gave a small laugh. "The day I said you couldn't see her."

Mush gave a quiet laugh. He tickled his daughter. He looked at Emily. "Oh, Em, from now on, don't believe ev'rythin' ya read." With Anya still in his arms, he leaned over to her and ran a hand down Emily's cheek. "Em, da caption undah da picture was right. Love is in da air. It has been since da day we met." Mush pulled her close and kissed her deeply.