Sarah

"Well... I'm 99.9% sure she will agree to this."

"What about the last .1%?"

"I believe she's waiting for kiss..."

"Tell her anytime she wants to, I'm ready. I gotta leave soon, this place is closing ya know."

"One last thing... Sarah has no way to get to Chicago. I've heard she's been evicted and is out of money."

Mike wordlessly turned on his phone and found the screen he was looking for. He showed it across the table. "This is her ticket, it's already paid for."

Mike stood up and brushed the crumbs off of his shirt. He threw a $100 on the table, leaving Laverne a big tip. He watched as Sarah ate the last fry, then she stood up too. "I have a rental out front and a motel room for the night... maybe Sarah should stop by."

"I think she might need a ride. Would you take her?"

"Anywhere she wants to go."

Sarah stood up, a single tear running from her eye. "I've missed you, Mikey. I've missed you so much...."

"Let's go, Sarah... let's go see your new home."

They left together and got in his car. She had a large purse stuffed full and a second bag that was also stuffed. When Mike looked, she said "This is all I could carry out of the place. I sold the furniture..."

Mike smiled at her. "Don't worry about it... I have stuff. We can always get stuff."

They went to his hotel. It was a Holiday Inn Express, so it was just a basic room. She put her purse down, Mike put down her bag. "We don't leave until late tomorrow... whatcha want to do now?"

"Prolly not what you want to hear... but can I get some food? The fries are all I had today."

"Sarah, as long as it's your voice, say what you want. I couldn't take not hearing you again. I'll order a pizza and we can talk."

They sat up just talking, letting any tension between them dissipate. When the pizza arrived, she began to devour it until it was half gone. When she sat back, she let out a very unladylike belch and giggled. "Sorry, I was starving. I've been running on a thin string for a while."

"I thought you had enough money."

"I quit my... second job... after we... y'know. It just didn't seem right. I never want to go back to that life, but I was getting close. My phone was turned off or I would've tried to call. Everything fell apart after you left, me included. I... I'm really sorry, Mike. I didn't let you talk. I'm just used to being used and thrown away, y'know? I almost fell down when I saw you sitting in the restaurant. I just figured you were like everyone else, like Mom and Dad, throwing people away when you're done with them. But you came back... you came back for me. Why?"

"You already said it. I came back for you. I don't want to be without you Sarah. I... went back home for a visit. I told Mom I found you, but she didn't want to see you, Dad just said he was glad the whore was gone. I left that day. I know if they could let you go like that, they could do it to anyone. I told them I was done too, I told them that if they wanted one child gone then they wanted them both gone. Dad just pointed at the door and told me if I wanted to go then go... so I did. I've thought about you every single hour every day... I had to come find you. I... I love you, Sarah."

"Love you too, Mikey..."

"Hey, work says that if I have a relative living with me, they can be on my health insurance too. That's something good. I make pretty decent money. I really want help you get through school. I think where I work has a program that might help too, if you want to get into business."

"Mikey... you forgot something."

"What?"

"That last one tenth of one percent..."

Mike leaned over and got very close. "I didn't forget... I just don't know if I can stop if I start."

"Who says I want you to stop?"

He leaned the rest of the way in and kissed her, with her wrapping her arms around him. She finally pulled back, breathing hard. "I think it's 100% now." She said with a smile.