Chapter 2 - Bea & Paulie

"What are ya doin' out here eaten by yourself," asked a man.

Bea looked up from her book. Standing a couple of meters away was a man who was taller than herself, yet he couldn't be called tall. He was a centimeter or two short of being average height. His dark brown hair was receding. He had a stocky solid build. His blue eyes were sharp with intelligence in his rather bland face. There didn't immediately seem to be anything remarkable about him as he stood there with his hands in his slack's pockets. Bea certainly didn't feel threatened by him. Then he smiled at her and his whole face lit up.

"I'm sorry," Bea had finally said, "were you speaking to me?"

His smile widened with amusement, "There ain't no other gorgeous women sittin' round here eaten by themselves."

Bea had laughed, "Gorgeous! You can't be serious. Me? Gorgeous?"

He took the liberty of sitting on the grass about a meter from her, "I'm definitely serious. You're a very beautiful woman. And you're sitting there doing it without any make-up. I bet you're not enhanced in any way. By the way, I'm Paulson McNally. Friends call me Paulie." He put his hand out.

Bea shook his hand, "I'm Beatrice Baxter. You may call me Bea. It's nice to make your acquaintance, Mr. McNally."

"Please, call me Paulie."

"Okay, Paulie, if you don't mind me asking, what brings you to our campus on this fine spring day? Visiting a relative?"

"Just dropping off a package." It wasn't a lie. He just left out that the package was drugs for a frat party.

"You don't look like a delivery person."

He shrugged, "I do all sorts of odd jobs. I'm kind of a Jack of All Trades or whatever you need guy. So, whatcha doin' out here by yurself? Where's yur man or partner?"

"I don't have a man or a partner. I'm just eating lunch. I have two more classes to teach today and then I'm done for the day. Do you have more packages to deliver?"

"Yeah," Paulie shared not excited, "I've got some more errands left to do today, none of it fun. It's just work, keeps me fed and clothed. What are you eaten anyway," he asked making a face at her food.

"My lunch is perfectly healthy," responded Bea with a furrowed brow and a slight pout. "I'm a bit thick for my height and I don't plan on getting any thicker."

"Nonsense," Paulie told her, "women should have curves, not be skinny like young boys. You gonna be out here eaten 'bout this time tomorrow?"

Bea shrugged, "Maybe..."

"Well, how about I bring ya somethin'," asked Paulie. "I'm not a bad cook."

Bea shrugged again as if she didn't care, "Sure, I'll be here. But I'm warning you, I know how to defend myself."

"Don't worry, Professor. I'll be a good boy." He winked at her.

Bea hadn't really expected him to come back and was pleasantly surprised when he did. And he kept coming to have lunch with her, bringing her very delicious food. Paulie seemed to be something of a whiz in the kitchen, telling her it wasn't necessary to sacrifice taste in order to eat healthy. Paulie found her easy to be around. She didn't talk down to him. She spoke to him as if he was every bit as intelligent as herself. She never dumbed down her language for him. He didn't want her to know he was basically a two bit thug and hustler, a simple bag-man. Yet, he felt he could tell her anything and she wouldn't judge him. After over a month of meeting her for lunch, he finally asked her to get together with him.

"So, you want to get together this weekend with me," asked Paulie. "I'll bring us a picnic lunch."

Bea had looked at him a little suspicious and amused.

"You're not afraid for me to know where ya live, are ya," he asked with a sly smile.

"No," Bea answered honestly, "I'm just not sure I should be alone with you."

"You're alone with me right now."

"We're out in the open on the campus surrounded by students and staff. We're hardly alone."

"So what are you afraid of," asked Paulie.

Bea shrugged, "Something everyone is afraid of I suppose, the great unknown. Plus, a couple of my students asked me if you were bothering me. Said they'd heard you were bad news."

Paulie looked frustrated, "What exactly did they say?"

"Nothing really. I asked them what they meant and how they meant it. They weren't willing to give me specifics. I think they were afraid of incriminating themselves. I told them it wasn't nice to say things like that without any basis in fact.

So, what time would you like me to be ready? Do you want to pick me up or do you want me to meet you someplace?"

Paulie had been pleasantly surprised. He had thought some dumb kids had ruined his shot with Bea. He was awed and amazed a woman like Bea would ever even speak to him. He kept expecting her to tell him to get lost. She was beautiful, smart and classy. He wasn't much to look at anymore and he only had a GED and was currently surviving by being a dealer's bag-man. When she discovered he was a nothing, a no body with nothing to offer her, he knew it would be over. But he had decided to enjoy it while it lasted.

Paulie picked her up at her home in his late model Tesla X hard top convertible. He was very impressed with her grand old house in the neat tidy neighborhood where it was safe for the children to play outside. He could smell that the grass had been cut that morning. He knocked on the screen door and she hollered, "It's open."

He stepped inside and looked around. There were several generations of family pictures displayed. The furniture wasn't new, but very comfortable and sturdy.

"Sorry," she apologized as she came down the stairs wearing a sundress with sensible flat shoes and a sweater tied around her waist, "I mowed the lawn and then I needed a shower." Her hair was still very damp.

"Not a problem," Paulie had responded, "This is sum house. You buy this yurself?"

"No," admitted Bea with a shake of her head. "I inherited it. It actually belongs to me and my sister, Brook. It's been in my family for a few generations. Suburban sprawl had caused the neighborhood to go to hell. My great, great, great grandparents bought it for a hundred bucks and rebuilt it from the inside out. It nearly has a zero carbon foot print now. Homes don't get much greener than this one."

Paulie didn't know much about carbon foot prints or green buildings. He just knew that meant it was environmentally friendly and she probably had very small or even nonexistent utility bills. The utility company may even be reimbursing her if she was producing more than she was using.

Then Bea took his hand, kissed his cheek and asked, "What do you have planned for us?"

It had been a much unexpected show of affection that Paulie, a man who hadn't known true affection from a woman as an adult, truly appreciated. He was no virgin. After going through puberty he had sex with hood rats and skanks. So many that he lost count a long time ago. For a while, he even made a very good living catering to the needs of much older women. But he always used protection. He didn't want some skank coming after him for child support. He was sure he'd make a horrible father anyway. Plus, he didn't want to risk an STD. There was a strain of syphilis that would kill you within a month if it wasn't diagnosed and treated promptly. People died from it every day. But they were usually street people. People the world didn't value and believed to be worthless like himself. Bea was the first person in a very long time to treat him like he mattered.

He put a hand to her lovely round tan face and kissed her beautiful full lips. She blushed prettily for him. He led her to his car, opened the passenger door for her and helped her in. He did learn to treat a woman like a lady during his time as a gigolo. Bea was a woman that deserved to be treated like a lady. But now he wished he had been more careful with his money, that he hadn't squandered it all on booze, expensive clothes and loose women. All he really had left from that time of good fortune was his old Tesla X convertible that had been a gift from one of the rich old witches he was servicing at sixteen.

He had thought he was really living life. He finally figured out he wasn't. As he got older and his hair started to thin, the rich old witches wanted a young man to service them. And he was tired of loose women and meaningless sex. He had still wasted money on booze and the occasional whore for a blow job before he met Bea, but he didn't know what to do to change his life to make it better. But when he was with Bea, he felt good, he felt like maybe there was hope for him after all.

He drove her through town, through the seedier part of town, past the rundown hotel slash apartment building where he lived in a small one room apartment. Only, he didn't point it out and say he lived there. He was busy looking at the nervous, scared look on her face as they drove through that unsavory part of the city, where the women that worked the brothels stood outside basically naked. They certainly didn't leave anything to the imagination as they stood out on the street in their hooker heels, thigh high stockings with garter belts, fluffy boas that they waved at you and nothing else but their make-up and wigs. Bea had put her hand up to shield her eyes from that pathetic sight of humanity.

Bea visibly relaxed when he parked his car by a public park that bordered on a natural land reserve. A reserve that had once been a suburb. Suburban sprawl had proven not only detrimental to the environment, but also to society as well. So, most suburbs were slowly abandoned then bulldozed and returned to a natural state. Many species that were about to become extinct have been saved.

Paulie opened her door for her and helped her out. He got the picnic basket and blanket from the backseat. Then he told the car, "Lock up and top up." The car obeyed.

Paulie took Bea by the hand and led the way. She smiled brightly at him and it made his heart pound and his stomach flip-flop. He'd never reacted like that to a woman before. His usual reactions were either an erection, mild sexual attraction, nothing at all or flat out repulsion. He was technically close to no one, not even his relatives, until he met Bea. She was the first person he really felt connected to.

When he led her into the wooded area at the back of the park, she asked where they were going.

"My special place," answered Paulie. "Most people don't really do any exploring. But I was a curious kid, got into trouble a lot. But I found this clearing one day and it became my special place. I could come here to be alone, think. And I knew I was safe from the world here."

They walked for about another fifteen, twenty minutes before the trees gave way to a lovely little clearing by a stream.

"Oh, Paulie, this is wonderful." Bea had dated a little over the years. But the men had tried to impress her with fancy restaurants where she was uncomfortable. Paulie was the first man to actually cook for her, to go out of his way to have lunch with her nearly every day, courteous enough to call the night before if he didn't think he would make it, and he was the first and only man to ever share anything this beautiful with her.

Paulie spread the blanket for them and they both sat down. He opened the picnic basket and served her.

As they ate oven fried chicken, steamed broccoli and asparagus, Bea asked, "Paulie, where'd you learn to cook like this?"

"I guess you could call it my hobby." He explained. "I've been on my own basically since I was about fourteen. Ya get sick of burgers and fries real quick. I was flippin' through the channels when I came across this cooking show. The food looked good and it didn't look too hard to do so I decided to try my hand at it. I kept watchin' the show and tryin' things. I have a couple of cookin' shows I watch now and I still like to try out new recipes. I guess it's my guilty pleasure. I like to cook. It relaxes me."

"I know it's none of my business," admitted Bea, "that I probably shouldn't ask. And you certainly don't have to answer if you don't want to. But, how did you end up on your own so young?"

Paulie had taken a deep breath, "That's a valid question. My parents died when I was five. I had relatives that wanted me, grandparents, aunts and uncles. But Children Services determined them all unfit so I bounced around in the foster care system. You age out at eighteen unless you can get your diploma or GED before that. Then ya can petition to be emancipated. So, I got my GED and petitioned for emancipation. They don't make it too hard. The sooner you get out of the system, the sooner they don't have to pay for ya and don't have to be responsible for ya no more." He left out that his parents were killed in a police raid and Children Services wouldn't let any of his relatives have him because they all had criminal records.

"I'm so sorry, Paulie," Bea had been very sincere, "You've had a very hard life. It shouldn't be like that for anybody." She gave his hand a reassuring and comforting squeeze.

Paulie had looked away from her and at the stream. "That's just the way it is for some people, Bea. We come from nothing and will always be nothing.

I'm forty-two years old, Bea, and I haven't done nothin' with my life of any significance. I've just barely managed to keep myself out of jail. I'm nothing, Bea, a no body."

Bea had gently turned his face back toward her face with her petite hand. "That's not true, Paulie. You're not a no body. It's not your fault you didn't get the same opportunities that many others get. We can't all be Albert Einsteins, Maya Angelous and Dr. Kings. But we're all somebody. We're all important. You're not a no body, Paulie. You're somebody very special, Paulie...

You know, we have a culinary arts program at the college if you're interested. You haven't even lived half your life yet. There's still plenty of time to do something you feel is significant."

Paulie had never been in love before, but at that moment he knew he was in love with Bea. If a woman like Bea could believe in him, anything was possible. But... "I don't have the money for something like that."

"You don't have to," Bea informed him, "It's a public college. Anyone who meets the requirements for entrance can attend free of charge. And the requirements are citizenship and either a high school diploma or GED. You qualify. I can help you register. It can't hurt to try, right?"

She was so enthusiastic and her smile was infectious. Paulie had returned her smile and agreed, "No, it can't hurt to try."

He scooted right next to Bea. She was so beautiful. He had to touch her. He tipped her chin up and kissed her, slowly at first. His hand cupped her breast and she gasped softly. He felt her hands on his shoulders as he kissed down her neck. The sundress was strapless and so was the bra beneath it, allowing him quick access to her ample breasts. He had eagerly suckled her chocolate nipples as he slid a hand under her dress. He slid his hand beneath her panties, through her dense curls into her soft folds where he found her feminine nub and quickly had her panting.

Paulie laid Bea back on the blanket, slipping between her smooth tan thighs. He undid his pants and fumbled for the condom in his pocket. He dropped it, but didn't have the patience to look for it. He'd never been so desperate for a woman before in his life. He needed to bury himself deep inside her. He pushed forward at her opening, but she was so tight, only the head of him just barely pushed in.

"Oh, Paulie, I don't think it will fit."

"Nonsense," he told her, "I'll fit."

Paulie covered Bea's mouth with his own and began to make his cock fit inside her, made her stretch to accommodate him. One of the things that had made him popular as a gigolo was the fact that he was extremely well hung. But well hung wasn't all you needed to be a gigolo. You also needed to be young and good looking.

When he turned thirty and his hair started to thin, his clientele started to thin as well. By the time he was thirty-five, he was forced to give up his swanky apartment, pawn his good jewelry, sell his expensive clothes, move into the dive he lived in and go back to hustling, dropping drugs off that hadn't been approved for public consumption yet.

Paulie didn't understand why people had to have things they weren't supposed to. He only understood that if there was a demand, someone would supply.

But at that moment, all Paulie needed was what Bea could supply him with. He was nearly all in and hitting the end of her. Except he wasn't all in yet. And he needed to be completely inside her, but the angle wasn't quite right. Bea let out a surprised, "Oh," when he grabbed her legs and pretzeled her up beneath him. But he had the angle he needed, he was finally all in her.

Bea hadn't known she could stretch like that to accommodate a man and it be pleasure not pain. Paulie brought her pleasure instead of pain. Paulie made her feel beautiful and wanted as she clutched his shoulders with her petite hands. Sounds came from her mouth like none she had ever made before.

"Paulie," she panted softly, "Paulie, please," but she wasn't sure what she was pleading for.

"You're so beautiful, Bea," he told her as he thrusted his manhood deep inside her, pushing every millimeter inside her as he banged hard against the end of her, "Cum for me, Bea. Cum for me."

Bea knew what he was asking for, but she didn't know how. There was so much pressure building up inside her, but she didn't know what to do with it or even if she could do anything with it. Then suddenly her body seemed to shatter.

Paulie came with her. He had meant to pull out, not to spill his seed deep inside her. But the power of her orgasm took him by surprise. She seemed to suck his seed from him as he pushed himself firmly against the end of her. It was the most incredible thing he'd ever felt.

He'd held her trembling form against himself as she clung to him. He kissed her slowly as he held her and she asked him, "Did I do okay, Paulie?"

"Okay," Paulie repeated amused. "Bea, you rocked my world."

"I did alright then," she asked to make sure.

Paulie had studied her face for a moment and saw that she was truly worried about it. He caressed his thumb over her cheek. "You did much better than alright, Bea. Why would you be worried about that?"

"It's just that," Bea admitted, "I've never really done it before... I was raped when I was eighteen by my sister's prom date..."

"Your sister's prom date," questioned Paulie.

"It was my senior prom, but no one asked me to go," she explained. "Brook was a sophomore, but she had been asked. Except she got sick a couple of days before, so she had her date take me. I was having a good time. I like dancing and I had found some girlfriends to dance with."

"What was your date doing," asked Paulie.

"Hanging out with his friends, drinking lots of punch, watching me dance. Then he suddenly came up, grabbed my wrist and said, 'Let's get out of here.' I said 'But I'm having a good time.' But he dragged me out to the limo and told the driver to drive us to Southside Park. He took a flask from inside his jacket pocket, offered me some, but I shook my head. Whatever he was drinking, I didn't want any. At the park he pulled me out of the limo."

Bea recalled: "Maybe you should take me home, Blake," Bea had said.

"You're just as pretty as your sister. You could be just as much fun if you'ld only try."

"I'm fun," Bea had countered, "It's just Brook and I have different ideas of fun."

"I was watching you dance. You can really move. You could be a lot more fun if you wanted."

Her date had reached out and touched her hair. Bea pushed his hand away, "Don't."

"This has been a real drag for me. You could at least try a little."

"Try what," she had asked irritated.

"How about a kiss," he asked.

"No way."

"Just a little kiss wouldn't hurt."

"No. I'm not going to kiss someone my sister's been kissing."

Her date had then grabbed her by her hair and slammed his mouth down over hers. Bea had screamed and fought hard. But the limo driver was watching and listening to his Pod-Max and didn't hear her. She had tried to run, but he had long legs and was much faster. She bit, clawed, kicked and scratched. He blacked her eye and busted her lips. She found herself slammed face down onto a picnic table, her date had pinned her down as he rammed himself into her from behind. When he was through, he yanked her up by her hair, called her a "little bitch," and threw her to the ground like a piece of trash. He went back to the limo and left her there.

Bea clutching her shoes to her chest and not knowing where her purse containing her phone was, began to limp her way home. Yet the driver of the limo knew something was wrong when the young man got back in the limo without the young lady and told him to drive. The driver could see the young man was scratched up. He put the privacy window up between him and the young man and called the police.

Prior to this, Bea's experience with the police had consisted of them bringing her sister home after curfew a few times. But that night Bea had been quite relieved when the cruiser had pulled up to the curb by her and a female officer had gotten out.

"Honey, are you alright," asked the female officer as she approach Bea. It was very dark and she couldn't see how badly Bea was hurt until she was right in front of her.

"Please," Bea had said to the officer, "I'ld like to go home now." Tears streaked her cheeks and she sniffled, "I lost my purse and, and my phone was in it."

"Honey, you're pretty beat up," the officer had said gently, "Maybe we should take you to the hospital first. We can call your parents from there, let a doctor take a look at you while we wait for your parents, okay?"

"Okay," Bea had agreed meekly. "After that, then may I go home, please?"

"Of course," the officer said gently as she guided Bea toward the cruiser. "What's your name?"

"Beatrice."

She put Bea in the front passenger side seat. She asked Bea all the questions she needed as she drove her to the hospital. Bea answered all her questions. She radioed ahead to the hospital so there was a nurse waiting with a wheelchair. A female doctor performed Bea's exam for the rape kit, documented all of Bea's injuries for the police report, noting that Bea had been a virgin.

Paulie had been very aware that bad things happened to good people every day. But it hurt his heart that someone had hurt his sweet Bea like that. He hadn't known her very long yet. Spring had just begun when he met her and summer was still nearly a month away, but he felt so much love for her already.

"I'm sorry that happened to you, Bea," he said sincerely as it dawned on him that Bea had technically given him her virginity. It caused him to hug her tighter to him.

"It was a long time ago now," Bea had said as she snuggled with him.

"So you've been alone all this time," Paulie had stated more than asked.

"Yep," Bea had confirmed.

"Have you ever had a boyfriend," asked Paulie.

"No," answered Bea. "I've dated a little. Well-meaning friends and relatives like to introduce me to men they think are appropriate for me, set me up with blind dates, that sort of thing."

"But none of them tried to get serious with you," asked Paulie.

"A couple of them tried, I suppose," answered Bea. "But I just wasn't interested in them. A couple of them just gave me the creeps. And there always seemed to be this expectation. The one guy after meeting him for dinner twice a month for three months, showed up at my door with flowers, a bottle of wine and two wine glasses and said something about taking our relationship to the next level. As if suddenly he was entitled to some favor from me. As if I suddenly owed him, what is it called... a booty call?" Bea had paused in thought then and Paulie watched as scared concern moved over her face. "Paulie, will I see you again after today? Did you expect this to happen? Am I one of those booty call things for you?"

"No, Bea, I didn't expect this to happen. I wanted it to, I hoped it would, but what I keep expecting is for you to look at me, see me for the worthless piece of trash I am, and tell me to go to hell," he admitted. "I'ld like to keep seeing you and keep spending time with you if you'll let me."

"Of course I want to keep seeing you, Paulie. You're not worthless trash... I was so lonely before I met you, Paulie," Bea admitted.

"I was lonely too, Bea," admitted Paulie. He had tried to drown his loneliness in booze along with the occasional whore, but it didn't work. "In the eyes of the world, Bea, I'm scum. Only your eyes see something different. Only your eyes see a human being when they look at me."

Bea's eyes had welled up with sadness for Paulie and for all those people they had driven past in the run down part of the city. She hadn't looked away because she was shocked and appalled. She had looked away because she saw desperate human beings struggling to survive in an unfair world. The world was moving forward, things were improving all over the world, but the world was still slow to bring the poor, under privileged and under educated forward with it.

"Why are you crying, Bea," Paulie asked as he swiped tears from her face. "I don't want you to cry."

Bea tried to think of how to explain her tears to Paulie. "You and all those people we drove past, it's just so unfair. Where's your life, liberty and pursuit of happiness? It's a trap. They're all trapped there with very few ways out. It's just dark tunnel after dark tunnel."

Paulie understood what she was saying. He understood that just like when she looked at him, when she looked at all those men, women and children they drove by, she saw human beings. Human beings who hadn't had the opportunities to use their true potential or who's potential had been stolen away by drugs, alcohol and abuse from other human beings.

"Society likes to tell itself that it's some personal failing of the individual," Bea told Paulie. "But it's not a personal failing of yours or theirs, Paulie. Society has failed you, failed to reach out and help you lift yourselves up. And unfortunately, there are people that like it that way."

Paulie knew which people liked it that way. He knew because he was the guy that dropped off the illegal drugs they wanted, or the prostitutes for their private parties. Prostitution was legal and for the most part well supervised. The ones that worked in brothels always used condoms and were checked every month by a doctor. The unlucky ones worked under the radar and often died young from an STD they had contracted from a John that had paid extra not to use a condom.

Paulie had technically been one of those who worked under the radar as a gigolo. As a teenager he was too young to work legally in a brothel. Plus, a cut of your pay went to the brothel and the pimp or madam running it. Additionally, brothels usually cater to men. Paulie hated being touched by a man like that. Women made better clients anyway. Women never tried to pay you not to use a condom and they were more generous than men. Paulie's clients liked having regular appointments which meant his cash flow was steady during that time. Paulie had only ever had one regular male client he saw twice a month.

Paulie's typical fee was five hundred dollars for two hours of his time, and that basically included any type of sex the female client wanted. Fifty dollars extra if she wanted oral from him. But for a man, it was a thousand for two hours of Paulie's time and that only included Paulie doing him anally, an extra five hundred was required if he wanted to do Paulie anally, and another five hundred on top of that if he wanted Paulie to give him oral. And once a month, that old man paid Paulie a thousand dollars to drill him in his ass. And once a month he paid Paulie two thousand dollars to drill Paulie in his ass and get a blow job from Paulie.

The peppermint flavored condoms didn't make Paulie feel any better about it. He would always drink heavily after the second appointment with the old man. At least the old man hadn't dropped him because he was getting older. The old man had simply died in his sleep when Paulie was thirty-four. Brothels were cheaper than Paulie, and if you could find someone really strung-out on drugs, that was even cheaper than a brothel. But Paulie's clients didn't want to be seen going into a brothel. They had wanted something classier and more confidential.

Paulie would never tell Bea all of this. He couldn't stand the thought of how sad she would look for him. And Bea sensing he didn't like to talk about his work or his past, never asked.

Bea had sat up and looked down into Paulie's blue eyes. "Paulie, I'm new to all this kind of thing. So, I'm going to ask some stupid questions, okay?"

Paulie smiled amused. He couldn't imagine Bea asking a stupid question. She wasn't stupid and never said anything stupid. "You can ask me anything you want and I'll try not to give you a stupid answer."

Bea knew he was teasing her. She narrowed her eyes at him for a moment before she asked her first question. She took a deep breath and exhaled. She asked, "Paulie, are we a couple now?"

Paulie tucked a long lock of her hair behind her ear, "Yes, Bea, we're a couple now."

Bea's face had lit up with happiness. She smiled that beatific smile that Paulie loved. He hadn't expected that little piece of information to make her so happy. And her happiness made him happy.

Bea kissed him thrilled to be a couple with him. "So, how often are couples allowed to have sex? Is there a weekly or monthly minimum or maximum?"

These questions made Paulie chuckle. "No, my Beautiful Bea, there are no minimums or maximums. We can do it as often as we feel like and have time for."

Bea's face went serious, "Will you teach me everything I need to know to please you?"

Paulie caressed her cheek with his finger. "Why would you be worried about being able to please me?"

"Because I want you to be happy, Paulie. I want us to be happy together. I don't want us to be one of those couples that break up because we're not satisfying one another or something stupid like that. And I don't want you to seek out someone else to satisfy you. I'll do whatever you want or need."

Paulie could hardly believe she had already thought so much about it. And she wanted him, she really wanted him. And she just may have been more worried about losing him than he was about losing her. She could certainly do a lot better than him. He was the one getting to have his cake and eat it too. "Don't worry, Bea. I'll teach you anything you need to know."

Bea nodded her understanding to Paulie. "So, are there any daily limitations I need to be aware of?"

"Nope," he answered with a contented smile.

"Soo," she said slowly. "When can we do it again?"

Paulie chuckled softly. "First thing you need to know is men need to rest for a while right after sex, most roll over and go to sleep afterward. The average guy is usually pleased just to get laid. And most aren't concerned with pleasing their woman. Luckily for you, I'm not the average man." Then he pulled her down to him for a deep kiss.

When Paulie took her home, he spent the night with her. He woke up spooning her. Not only was it Bea's first time to spend the night with a man, it was also Paulie's first time to spend the whole night with a woman. It was nice to wake up in her big soft comfortable bed under the big soft comforter. But the best part was waking up next to her. He wanted to wake up next to Bea every day for the rest of his life.

His phone vibrated on the night stand. He wasn't surprised when he picked it up and saw who it was.

"Do you have to work today," asked Bea.

"Yeah," Paulie answered unenthusiastically. He let his voice mail get the call. "But I don't have to rush." He kissed her deeply and led her to the shower. Bea hadn't known it was possible to make love in the shower.

Paulie made them brunch. And as they sat together in her kitchen and ate, he asked "So, what are your plans for later?"

"Brook and I always have Sunday dinner together," explained Bea. "It's kind of a family tradition. Our parents loved for us to make it home for Sunday dinner. It's her turn to provide dinner at her place which means we'll probably eat take out. Brook doesn't enjoy cooking."

"What about church," asked Paulie. "Do you ever go to church?"

"Yes, actually," admitted Bea. "I usually attend at the neighborhood chapel. It's a lovely walk most Sunday mornings. But I didn't get much sleep last night and over slept this morning." She smiled at Paulie.

"We should go together next Sunday," suggested Paulie. "I used to go every Sunday with my parents before they died. Now I only make it once in a great while. Usually for a baby blessing. Both set of my grandparents, my aunts, uncles and cousins seem to like it when I come around... I don't know. I just always feel like an outsider."

Bea was very familiar with feeling like an outsider. But she was thrilled by the possibility that Paulie may be willing to go to church with her. "Would you really like to go to church with me, Paulie," she asked as she squeezed his larger hands with her own small hands. Her eyes even welled up with tears.

Paulie kissed her knuckles and pulled her onto his lap. "I would love to go to church with you. I'll spend the night next Saturday night and we'll go to church together Sunday morning."

"And if you don't have to work, you can stay for dinner and meet my sister, Brook," Bea had said hopefully. "Or is it too soon for something like that?"

"No, it's not too soon," at least Paulie didn't think it was too soon. He'ld never actually had a real girlfriend before Bea. He only had a slightly clearer picture than Bea of what it was like to be in a real relationship. Besides, it wasn't like he had to meet her parents. It was just her younger sister. "Even if I have to run out for work, I can still be back in plenty of time for dinner. Don't worry about it. I'll be here."

"In a couple of weeks when the spring semester ends, I'll have a lot of extra time on my hands," Bea informed Paulie. "I'll only be teaching three days a week for summer semester. I'll have plenty of time to help you look into our culinary arts program if you're really interested."

"Of course I'm interested," Paulie was very interested. He was tired of being a bag-man, tired of living in the streets. Besides, there was no retirement plan for bag-men. A real job would provide for retirement. And since he had survived longer than he had expected, he had begun thinking about his future. And he wanted a future with Bea. Plus, it would be nice to have a schedule and not be on-call twenty-four hours a day. "The first full day during the week you have off, we'll go and get things started. Once we have all that situated and lined up, then we'll find some fun summer stuff to do together."

Bea was looking forward to summer for the first time in a very long time. Brook would get a two week vacation where she usually took a cruise and tried to get Bea to tag along. But Bea didn't really have very much fun on the cruises. She wasn't sure how much time Paulie would find for her, but she knew he would make time for her.

After brunch, she gave him a kiss good-bye. Then she busied herself with chores until it was time to go to Brook's apartment for dinner. Brook lived and worked in the next town over, so Bea drove.

It wasn't unusual for Bea to listen while Brook did most of the talking during their dinners together. But Brook couldn't help noticing that there was something different about her older sister. There was a contentment that hadn't been there before.

"What's going on with you," Brook had asked curious.

"Me? Nothing. Why," asked Bea.

"You just look so, so ...so pleased," answered Brook. "Like you're genuinely happy. Are you still seeing that guy you met at the beginning of the spring semester?"

"Paulie, his name is Paulie. And yes, I'm still seeing him. We had brunch today." She left out that he had spent the night.

"That's nice," Brook responded. "So things are going well between you and Paulie so far?"

"Very well," answered Bea. "In fact, he'll be joining us for dinner next Sunday."

Brook was pleasantly surprised, "Really? So I'm finally going to meet this mystery man."

"Yes, you are," Bea had confirmed with a nod and a pleased smile on her face.

Brook had been extremely curious. What man had finally caught her older prudish sister's eye? She and Bea had gotten along well since Brook decided Bea wasn't her enemy and that she was wasting time and energy hating her older sister for being herself. Brook enjoyed dating and had no plans for marriage and children for herself. But she knew Bea always wanted and planned on a family. Yet finding a possible husband seemed impossible for Bea. Besides Brook: an aunt, uncle and many associates had set Bea up on many blind dates. But there were no love connections. The only thing Brook was sure of was the problem wasn't her sister. Although a little shy, Bea was highly intelligent, kind, considerate and beautiful. Her sister had been the perfect student and daughter. Plus, she was a loving older sister.

Brook and Bea had gotten along very well as very young children. Then puberty came along. Bea didn't have any problems with the new body puberty gave her. She has some mild PMS, but nothing serious. But Brook developed severe PMS. Plus, Brook got a growth spurt that left her long and gangly, lacking the curviness that Bea had gotten from their mother. Then their younger brother, Bastian was born. Bea, who was naturally maternal took to Bastian like a duck to water. Brook only felt more like an outsider and began to act out negatively.

And while Brook had been going through men like water, Bea had never had a serious boyfriend. Brook had long ago given up living wildly like nothing mattered. Almost dying herself from a drug over dose wasn't what did it, but losing her parents and little brother because of her own selfishness had done it. Bea was nothing but loving and supportive. But Brook knew her selfish way of life had inadvertently caused the death of her parents and younger brother.

Brook didn't have serious relationships by choice. She maintained a few friends with benefits. Brook needed to get her freak on regularly. Bea's life of celibacy and waiting for the right guy to come along would have driven her crazy. So, Brook was very interested in knowing who Bea was seeing, because Bea always lit up when she talked about him. All Brook knew at that point was the man's name, he could cook according to Bea, he'd been bringing her lunch nearly every day since the beginning of the spring semester, and Bea really enjoyed his company.

Brook had a long list of men that had failed to impress her sister, Bea. Robert Duncan, a supervisor at the recycling factory, was habitually late. He was three hours late for his third date with Bea, and didn't call to let her know what was going on. So, Bea was in her nightgown when he finally showed up. He had actually expected Bea to let him in. Needless to say, Bea wouldn't have anything to do with him after that. Mike Shelley was a pilot. On his second date with Bea, Bea was returning from the restroom and saw him aggressively hitting on the waitress. Bea walked right past him and called a cab. The date was over. Then there was Dr. Mitchel Nelson, an optometrist. Brook had known he was arrogant when it came to his profession. But apparently his arrogance extended beyond his profession. He apparently talked down to Bea and after three months and six dates, expected Bea to have sex with him. So, this guy, Paulie, must have been something if Bea was serious enough about him that she had invited him to one of their dinner nights for her to meet.

Brook arrived shortly before five p.m. for Sunday dinner with her older sister and to meet this man that had captured her sister's interest. She walked in without knocking. No one knocks before they enter their parents' home. So Brook just walked in as usual. After all, even if Bea was technically in charge of their inheritance, it was still her home too.

Brook heard voices coming from the kitchen. She couldn't make out what they were saying, if they were actually saying anything at all. It didn't sound exactly like talking, or at least not like conversational talk. So, she headed for the kitchen.

Brook stepped into the kitchen just as her sister was saying very breathily, "Paulie, Brook will be here any minute." The man had his hands all over her sister. Including, one under Bea's shirt.

"Actually," Brook had said loudly with a bit of an attitude, "I'm here now."

Bea had let out a surprised, "Oh," and blushed deeply with embarrassment. The guy wasn't embarrassed at all.

"Brook," Bea had smiled her face still deeply flushed with embarrassment, "this is Paulie... Paulie, this is my baby sister, Brook."

Paulie had put out his hand to greet Brook with a jovial smile on his face, "It's nice to meet ya." The younger sister was a tall super model version of Bea and Paulie could instantly see she didn't have Bea's sweet disposition.

Brook refused to shake his hand. Instead, she folded her long arms under her small breasts and said, "Is that the hand you were feeling my sister up with?" Brook instantly disliked Paulie. The man was not good enough for her sister. She didn't like the look of him. He was about a head taller than Bea, but Bea was super short like their mother. Brook took after their father's side of the family and was a few centimeters taller than this man that had captured her sister's interest and apparently much more than that. And it wasn't just that her sister could get someone much better looking. He wasn't ugly, but he was far from the perfect male specimen. But there was something else about him that Brook couldn't put her finger on at first.

Paulie had shrugged off Brooks' refusal to shake his hand. "Doesn't matter which hand I give ya, both have felt up your sister."

"Pig," Brook had sneered.

"Brook, why are you being rude," asked Bea as she held Paulie's hand.

Brook had tried to reign herself in. She knew she had a tendency to speak without thinking. And no matter what she thought about this man, her sister was obviously very into him, "I'm sorry," she apologized to Bea. "I was just caught totally off-guard. I've never seen you kissing a man deeply before."

"Get used to it," Paulie told Brook.

Brook held her tongue for Bea's sake, "So, what's for dinner?"

"I'll let Paulie explain," said Bea, "He did most of the cooking today."

Paulie started describing the food as he helped Bea set the table and put out the food. He even gladly said the blessing over the meal before they began to eat. Brook was unusually quiet through most of the meal. She had to admit to herself that the food was excellent. Bea wasn't a bad cook, but this meal was five star restaurant quality. But mostly Brook just listened as Bea and Paulie talked.

Paulie seemed genuinely interested in anything Bea had to say. And Brook had never seen her sister so animated during a conversation before. Most of their conversation centered round the culinary arts program at Bea's college where she was a professor and head of the math department.

Brook had taken a bite of her very delicious dessert when she finally broke her untypical silence with a question for Paulie, "So, what do you do?"

Paulie was obviously uncomfortable with the question and not anxious to answer.

"What do you do for a living, Paulie," Brook asked firmly, "Where do you work? Do you work?"

"I work," Paulie had finally responded. "But it's not a regular nine to five deal. I'm basically on call twenty-four seven."

"Doing what," Brook asked Paulie shrewdly.

"Brook, that's enough," Bea told her sister.

"It's not a complicated question," Brook responded to Bea. Then turned back to Paulie, "Well?"

"Odd jobs," answered Paulie. "Depends on what needs to be done. Mostly I make deliveries."

"Deliveries," Brook questioned in disbelief.

"Yeah," confirmed Paulie, "you know. I drop off packages."

"What kind of packages," asked Brook. "What's in them?"

"What's in them is none of my business," responded Paulie. "I just deliver them and collect payment."

Brook's face twisted with disgust and disapproval, "You're a bag-man for some dealer."

"Brook that's enough," insisted Bea.

"I do what I have to, to survive," Paulie told Brook. "I'm not proud of it. But you sure know a lot about what I do. How do you know so much? Something tells me you've received some deliveries yourself..."

Brook suddenly got quiet again.

Paulie sat back and smiled knowingly, "You used to use. Boy, I bet you put your family through hell before you finally hit bottom."

"That's none of your damn business," Brook told Paulie angrily.

Paulie laughed at Brook, "You brought it up."

"So let me bring something else up," Brook sneered, "You are not good enough for my sister you piece of shit."

"Brook!" Bea shouted upset, "Stop it!"

"I'm not going to argue with you there," Paulie told Brook honestly. "I'm very aware of that. Every day she doesn't tell me to go to hell, I'm amazed."

Bea exhaled exasperated, "There is no such thing as one human being not being good enough for another human being. None of us are perfect. We all have flaws. Now both of you stop, please."

Bea was clearly distressed. Paulie didn't like seeing her distressed. He took her hand and kissed it. He would do his best not to argue with Brook. And he would do his best to make himself worthy of Bea; even though, Bea didn't require it. As for Brook, he knew she would never approve of him.

Brook stared across the table at her sister, "We will be discussing this when he is not around."

Bea narrowed her eyes at her sister, "There is nothing to discuss. I'm an adult. And I expect you to give me the same respect I give you and the way you live your life. I don't question you on your decision to remain single or your many friends with benefits. You're a child psychologist and I am no child."

Despite the deliciousness of her dessert, Brook didn't finish it. She got up and left.

"I'm sorry," Bea had apologized to Paulie. "I didn't ..."

"You don't need to apologize," Paulie told Bea. "That wasn't your fault. When you look at people, you see them. You see the real people, all their true potential and the best that's inside them. Your sister only sees what's on the surface."

"It still wasn't necessary for her to be so nasty," responded Bea. "I don't like all her friends, but I'm never rude to them, bunch of snobs."

Bea and Paulie continued to see each other despite Brook's protests.

"Bea," Brook had insisted, "I'm trying to understand, but I just don't get your fascination with him. He's short."

"I'm short," Bea responded. "He's at least a head taller than me. Everybody can't be super model tall like you and your so called friends."

"His hair line is receding," Brook pointed out.

"So," Bea had responded, "Some of the world's sexiest men have been bald. And he has the most amazing blue eyes."

Brook didn't have an argument against his eyes. He did have a pair of striking blue eyes. "But other than his eyes, there really isn't anything remarkable about his looks."

"Everything isn't about someone's outsides," replied Bea. "It's what's inside that counts most. And inside Paulie is the most beautiful person I have ever met. He makes me feel beautiful. And when did you become such a shallow stuck up snob?"

"Shallow snob," Brook repeated shocked. "I'm not a shallow snob."

"Yes," Bea insisted, "you've become a shallow stuck up snob and all you hang out with is other shallow stuck up snobs. You're terrified your so called friends will find out your sister's fallen in love with... How would one of them put it? An uneducated street rat. Well, you don't have to worry about me being an even bigger embarrassment to you than I already am. They no longer must tolerate my presence on that karaoke night you like to drag me along on."

"Oh, Bea," Brook pleaded, "You can't be in love with that man. A man like that doesn't love anything but money. He's not capable of loving you."

"And what makes you such an expert on love," Bea asked Brook, "Your degree in child psychology? When have you ever been in love?"

"Bea, I just don't want you to get hurt," Brook was truly concerned for her older sister, "... Just please be careful. Don't give him or lend him money, okay?"

"Paulie doesn't ask me for money," Bea informed Brook. "He always pays when we go out or when we do something that requires money. Why would he ask me for money?"

"He may have gambling debts," Brook suggested, "He may have a drinking or drug problem."

"He doesn't gamble, drink or do drugs," Bea informed Brook. "He did drink a little socially when we started going out. But when he learned I didn't drink at all the first time he took me dancing, he had his last drink right then and there." And it had been true. Shortly after their first official outing, he took her dancing. It wasn't a fancy place. It was a place where upper class people often came to slum it. He stopped at the bar to order them drinks. He ordered himself a drink and asked her what she wanted. She told him she didn't consume alcoholic beverages and asked for a diet Dr. Pepper. He had managed to avoid many of the pitfalls people often fall into, drug abuse, gambling and addiction. And though not an alcoholic, he had drank frequently and when he did it was often excessive. But knowing that he didn't need it, learning that Bea didn't drink at all and wanting to be a man worthy of the wonderful woman he'd found, that was his last alcoholic beverage.

Brook didn't quite buy it, but her argument wasn't changing her sister's mind. "Just be careful. I know he's really hot for you. So, if you do anything with him, make him wear a condom. There's no telling where he's been or who he's been with."

Bea wasn't about to tell Brook they were already having sex and protecting herself hadn't come across her mind. She would make an appointment to have herself checked out just in case. She knew Paulie wouldn't give her anything on purpose. But people usually weren't aware they had an STD when they gave it to someone else. Brook did know more than her when it came to this sort of thing. "Fine, fine," she had told Brook.

"You might be right about the snob thing," admitted Brook.

Bea shrugged, "You were always good at being popular. There's nothing wrong with that. But you should really listen to your conversations with them sometimes."

"Pretty shallow, huh," admitted Brook.

Bea had nodded. Brook did truly appreciate how grounded her older sister was. But she wasn't sure that when it came to men, that Bea was thinking clearly. Bea was the one who was good at not only seeing what was good in people, recognizing their untapped potential, she also had a way of tapping into them and drawing it out. It made her an excellent professor because she never met a student that couldn't do it.

Paulie going back to school and it wasn't going to cost him a thing. There were a few refresher courses he needed to take, but he was enrolled in the culinary arts program. He took a part-time job as a short order cook at a mom and pop restaurant. It wasn't great money, but it would be enough to pay his rent and other household expenses while he went back to school. He wasn't any worse off financially than he was as a bag-man. He gave Crazy Carl back the phone he'd given him, thanked the dealer for keeping him around for so long, but that he was going back to school to try and better himself.

"It's that woman," Crazy Carl had accused, "She's filled your head with fancy ideas. You can't do better than this, Paulie."

Paulie shrugged, "Don't know until ya try. Thanks for everything, Carl."

Carl had been ranting a little bit when Paulie walked out, but Paulie knew he could be easily replaced. His family was a bit surprise and concerned about the change they saw in him. But then Paulie brought Bea to family dinner. First to his father's parents' home. The McNally family liked Bea instantly. The change in Paulie made sense and they were supportive. Then he took her to family dinner at his mother's parents' home.

The Cordova family was a large boisterous Italian family. Bea was entirely over whelmed by them at first. And when a male cousin slapped Bea on her bottom as he shouted, "She's got a big behind, she must be a friend of mine," Bea had run to Paulie in tears. He hadn't hurt her physically, but he had scared her. Plus, she was very aware she had a generous bottom and she was sensitive about it.

Angry Italian women had run the male cousin off to another part of the nearly mansion sized house as Bea told Paulie through her tears, "I told you I need to be on a diet."

Paulie had hushed her as he held her and told her, "Nonsense, you have a beautiful bottom. It's beautiful."

"It's too big," Bea had replied looking over her shoulder.

Paulie gave her bottom a gentle squeeze as he held her. "Nonsense," he whispered in her ear, "every millimeter of you is beautiful. I can't hardly wait to be alone with you later." He kissed her deeply.

"Bea, come with us," his grandmother requested. "Paulie's poppa needs to talk with him."

Bea went with his grandmother and the other women. Paulie sat down with his grandfather.

"She's the one, isn't she, Paulie," his grandfather asked with a knowing smile.

"Poppa, if she isn't the one for me, then there's no such thing," answered Paulie.

"Your parents wanted a better life for you," his grandfather shared with him. "That's why neither we nor the McNally's ever pulled you into the family business. Yeah, we could have helped you live well, but there are other ways to live well that are less dangerous and more respectable. I know you see that now. Your parents wanted you to go to college and all of that. And because you found the one for you, a whole world of possibilities has opened up for you. Take this. It's the engagement ring your father gave your mother. And we have their wedding rings for you too." He hugged Paulie tightly and kissed his cheek, "Congratulations, Paulie."

Paulie knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Bea. "Poppa, I can't give her a proper wedding."

His grandfather shrugged, "Define proper wedding. She doesn't strike me as a high maintenance woman that needs big fancy things. I think she'll be fine with a small intimate wedding."

His grandfather had sized up his Bea very well. She wouldn't want a big fancy wedding. "So, when do you think I should propose?"

"You better go do it now before your Momma proposes for you," his grandfather told him with a grin.

Paulie nodded and sought Bea out. He found her sitting with the Cordova women holding a cousin's baby on her lap.

"Oh, Paulie, isn't she a beautiful baby," asked Bea.

Paulie had never thought he would want children, but at that moment he realized he wanted them with Bea. And he wanted them all to have her big brown eyes. He got down on one knee by her, held up the ring and asked, "Will you marry me, Bea and make a few of these with me?"

Bea's eyes welled up as someone took the baby from her lap. "Yes," she threw her arms around his neck, "and I'll make a hundred babies with you if that's what you want."

There was a cheer as Paulie slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her. Engaged women didn't get much happier than Bea. Brook didn't approve, but she held her tongue. She didn't want to burst her sister's bubble.

Fall classes began and Paulie moved in with Bea, even though, he was afraid it might look like he was taking advantage of her. They set a date that was around when he would be half way through the culinary arts program, and began to plan a small intimate wedding.

Paulie stepped into the house carrying a grocery bag. He had aced his first finals and had a celebration dinner planned. "Bea, I'm home."

"Sorry about this, Paulie," said a man's voice. "But Bea's not home. Crazy Carl wanted to meet her and invited her for a visit. He'ld like you to visit too."

Paulie slowly looked over at the man and recognized him, "Sam?"

"Come on, Paulie," said Sam, who was a large muscular man. "Crazy Carl is waiting for you."

Paulie had no choice but to go with Sam, who was also known as Sure Shot on the streets. They had his Bea, and there wasn't any way for him to call the police or anyone else for help. Sam would either blow the phone out of his hand or just blow his head off. So, he went with Sam.

"I'm really sorry about this Paulie," Sam apologized as he drove. "None of this is my idea and I don't agree with it. I'm just doing my job, nothing personal."

"I know," responded Paulie. "It would be different if he had your woman. But she's not your woman... I don't know what Carl's malfunction is. I was only a bag-man."

"You were his best bag-man," Sam informed him. "You always delivered on time, you never tampered with the package and you never short changed him."

"If he was so pleased with my work, he should of paid me better," responded Paulie.

"Do ya think better pay would of kept ya around," asked Sam.

Paulie shook his head, "No, once I met Bea, it was over. All I want is a nice quiet life with her."

"I understand, Paulie," said Sam sympathetically, "But Carl is crazy. He don't get it. He's trying to figure out what's so special about this one woman."

"What can I say, Sam," asked Paulie. "It was love at first sight. She's simply the one."

Crazy Carl had a fascination with clowns. So, it wasn't unusual for him to be dressed like one. And despite his intelligence, leadership skills and a good head for business, the man was crazy. Paulie had seen him kill people simply because they were breathing too loud in his opinion.

So, when Sam escorted Paulie into Crazy Carl's clown motif office, it wasn't a surprise to see Carl dressed like a clown. But Sam turned his eyes away from the sight of Paulie's woman gagged and tied bent over Carl's desk, her legs tied apart, her dress pushed up over her hips, her panties ripped off, as Carl, wearing a florescent orange condom, leaned over her, banging away at her.

"Here's Paulie like you requested, Carl," Sam refusing to look.

Carl looked up and slowed his pace, "What's wrong, Sam?"

Sam shook his head, "May I please be excused, Carl. I don't want to watch you abuse Paulie's woman."

"Everyone is suddenly so sensitive today," said Carl perplexed. "Just be close by in case I need you."

"Thank you, Carl," and Sam stepped out of the office, closing the door behind himself.

"I hope you don't mind," Carl said to Paulie, "I just thought I'ld try her out, see if I could figure out what's so special about her that you would leave my employ... She's remarkably tight and for a guy as well hung as you that must make her twice the pleasure. Other than that, I don't really see why she's so important to you, one hole isn't more special than another."

"I don't expect you to understand Carl," responded Paulie. "Just like I don't understand why you like clowns so much. You just like 'em and I just accept that. I don't question it. Now, could you please just accept that this woman is special to me and let us go home?"

"Special enough to marry," asked Carl.

"Yes, special enough to marry," answered Paulie. "That's my engagement ring on her finger."

"I hadn't noticed that," said Carl, "Nice rock, where'd you get the money for that?"

"It's the engagement ring my father gave my mother," explained Paulie.

Bea couldn't understand how Paulie could stand there and be so calm. She wanted to scream, but she was gagged, so a lot of good that would do her. Then she got a good look at Paulie's eyes and could see he was boiling with anger. She'd never seen Paulie angry before, and for the first time she got a sense of how dangerous he may be.

"Oh, but she does feel good," said Carl as he picked back up his previous rhythm. He grunted, "Bet she feels even more incredible without the condom... I'm gonna cum..." He pushed hard and deep as he did with a satisfied grunt.

Carl dropped his used condom into the circus trash can by his desk. "Don't worry, Paulie. I would never try her without a condom. And I had thought that you would never go swimming without a wetsuit, but it seems you have.

When my men picked her up, she was coming out of the pharmacy." He picked up the small bag with Bea's purchase in it, reached inside and pulled out a white box. "She bought a pregnancy test. Seems somebody's monthly friend hasn't arrived for a visit. Possibly because you haven't been wearing your wetsuit. Well, inquiring minds want to know."

Crazy Carl pulled his gun out of the back of his pants. Paulie had known it was there. It was Carl's favorite place to keep his gun. Then he pulled a switch blade from his pocket and opened it. He showed the weapons to Bea. "I'm going to cut you lose. But I expect you to behave. You don't want me to have to shoot you or Paulie, do you?"

Bea shook her head no.

"She's a smart one," said Carl. He cut her ankles free first, then her wrist.

Bea straightened up slowly afraid to make any sudden moves. She reached for the gag, then froze, not sure she should remove it without permission. But how do you ask permission when you're gagged?

Paulie asked for her, "Carl, may my fiancée remove the gag, please?"

"Sure," answered Carl with a shrug.

Then Crazy Carl told her, "You may take the pregnancy test into my bathroom right there. But leave the door open, nothing but us girls here."

Bea looked over at Paulie as she picked up the pregnancy test. He gave her a nod and she stepped into the bathroom with the pregnancy test.

"She's a quiet one," commented Carl.

"She has a tendency to be quiet when she's scared because she was kidnapped and raped by a crazed lunatic," responded Paulie matter of factly.

Carl laughed hysterically, "That's so funny!"

Bea stepped out of the bathroom with the pregnancy test in hand. Carl waved her over to him with the gun. If the gun hadn't been in his hand, it would have been a friendly come on over gesture as he was grinning merrily at her. Her bare feet made no noise as she walked slowly back over to him. He slung the arm with the gun in his hand around her and pulled her back against him. He sat the knife down on the corner of the desk to free his other hand so he could feel Bea up with it.

"Uh, Carl," called Paulie, "my fiancée, please."

Carl pouted, "A little possessive aren't we." He took the pregnancy test from Bea and gave her a little shove in Paulie's direction. Bea rushed to Paulie. He hugged her tightly and quickly checked her over. Except for being terrified and having rope burn and bruising on her wrists and ankles, she was relatively unharmed.

Crazy Carl looked at the pregnancy test. He turned it over in his hands with a puzzled look. "How does it work," he asked.

"It has a self-timer," answered Bea softly. "It'll beep when it's ready and the results will appear in the little window."

Carl sat the pregnancy test on his desk and picked the knife back up. "How did you two meet?"

"It was on the university campus," answered Paulie. "I made a drop, but didn't need to rush back. So I was walking around trying to imagine what it was like to have the opportunity to go there. Wondering if I was even smart enough to do such a thing. When I spotted an incredibly lush beautiful woman sitting by herself under a tree eating her lunch. I stood there staring at her for a couple of minutes and I was just gonna walk on. But then I thought, what could it hurt to talk to her? The worst thing that could happen was she told me she was already in a relationship or for me to just go to hell. But she didn't tell me to go to hell and she wasn't in a relationship. Things just progressed quickly from there."

"So this is all my own fault," said Carl. "If I had sent someone else to make that drop, you wouldn't have met her and remained my happy little bag-man."

"I wasn't happy," admitted Paulie. "I was miserable and looking for a way out. Bea has just been my guide, my bright shining star, my center ring," trying to put it into terms Carl could comprehend.

The timer on the pregnancy test beeped. Carl put the knife back down and picked the test back up. He looked into the little window and read out loud, "Congratulations, you are pregnant." Then he said with a pout, "Damn... if I kill her, I kill an innocent baby. I never killed a baby before. You don't really want to be a father, do you Paulie?"

"Yes, Carl, I do," answered Paulie.

Carl stomped his foot frustrated, "But I wanted you to come back and work for me. You were my best bag-man. Everyone else is such a screw up. It's not fair."

"I'm sorry, Carl," apologized Paulie, "but I'm happy with Bea and the life we're building together. I thank you for being such a good employer, but there's just no retirement benefits in being a bag-man."

"No retirement benefits," repeated Carl. "I guess I see your point there." Carl sighed, "I really liked you, Paulie," and he began to swing the gun in Paulie and Bea's direction.

Paulie tackled Carl. The gun went off. Bea ducked, ran to a wall and crouched down into a ball. The men rolled around on the floor. Paulie managed to knock the gun from Carl's hand and it clatter in Bea's direction. Carl kneed Paulie in the groin. And while Paulie was holding tight to his groin, Carl grabbed the knife from his desk because it was closest.

Then the most curious thing happened. The gun went off and a hole appeared in Carl's chest. He looked curiously as it blossomed bright red blood. The gun went off two more times. Two more holes appeared and blossomed bright red blood.

"Damn sound proof room," complained Carl as he realized the room he had made sound proof so the police weren't called every time he dispatched someone was also keeping his own men from hearing he was being shot with his own gun.

Paulie watched in shock as the gun went off again. This time a hole appeared in Crazy Carl's forehead and Carl slumped down in a heap to the floor. Paulie turned his head and saw Bea on her knees with the gun in her hands pointed at where Carl had been standing. He crawled over to her and took the gun from her hands. He wiped the tears from her face.

"It's alright," he told her as he walked her to the bathroom. He washed her hands and forearms all the way up to her elbows. He wiped down the gun thoroughly. He didn't want Bea's finger prints on it. Even a man like Crazy Carl had crazy family that loved him.

"Okay, Bea, I need you to listen to me. Are you listening?"

Bea nodded yes to Paulie.

"I'm going to take you to a hospital and have you checked out. They are going to ask you a lot of questions. And I want you to tell the truth about everything except one thing: I shot Crazy Carl."

"But, Paulie..."

"I shot Crazy Carl. You never ever tell anyone else that it was you, understand?"

Bea nodded, "But, Paulie..."

"Please, Bea please. This is important. Normally, I would never ask you to lie. But on this one thing, I need you to lie. I shot Crazy Carl, not you, understand?"

"But why, Paulie?"

"It's for your own protection. Okay, Bea?"

Bea nodded yes.

Paulie used the clown phone on Crazy Carl's desk to call for a cab. He promised a hundred dollar bonus to the driver that arrived within the next five minutes. He picked up the positive pregnancy test. "Do you know where your shoes and purse are?"

Bea shook her head no.

Paulie led Bea from the room not sure if the guards would give them trouble.

Surprised to see Paulie and Bea exit Crazy Carl's office, Sam and another guard rushed into Carl's office. "Shit," exclaimed Sam.

The other guard pulled his gun to go after Paulie and Bea, but Sam stopped him.

"Let 'em go," Sam told the other guard. "Besides, who's going to pay you for it?"

The other guard looked at Crazy Carl's body, shrugged and put his gun away.

The cab pulled up as Paulie got to the front doors. Paulie carried Bea to the cab and had the driver take them to the hospital. And like Paulie had said, they asked a lot of questions. The police were called and Detective Gage came and introduced himself to Bea and Paulie. Paulie was not surprised when Gage arrested him, but Bea cried inconsolably.

"Did you have to arrest me in front of her," Paulie had asked Gage. "You didn't think she had suffered enough today. You could of at least let me take her home first."

"And then you just disappear, right McNally," responded Gage.

"I'm not going anywhere," Paulie told Gage, "Bea's my woman. She's pregnant. We're having a baby and getting married."

"You expect me to believe you're not pulling some kind of snow job on that poor woman," stated Gage.

"You believe whatever makes you happy," replied Paulie, "But it don't change the truth."

"Well, since you're so worried about her," said Gage, "I'll drive her home myself."

"You will," said Paulie surprised, "Thank you, I really appreciate that."

Gage was curious because Paulie did really seem to be sincere with his appreciation. He handed Paulie off to an officer to take in for him. Then Gage pulled the doctor aside to discuss the woman, Beatrice Baxter.

"You know the patient confidentiality rules," the doctor told Gage.

"I just want the gist of what happened," said Gage. "It's a murder investigation. What was that guy doing with her?"

"Mr. McNally is her fiancée," answered the doctor, "They pulled up in a cab around six p.m. He said she'd been kidnapped and raped and that she was pregnant. He was very concerned about her wellbeing and the wellbeing of their unborn child."

"Is she pregnant," asked Gage.

"Yes, she is," confirmed the doctor. "This is the test he handed us. But we ran our own to confirm it. She's about four weeks pregnant."

"Is she mentally stable," asked Gage.

"She's traumatized," answered the doctor, "And you traumatized her further by arresting her fiancée in front of her."

"That guy is nothing but an old gigolo and two-bit thug," responded Gage. "He's been skirting the law for years."

"All I know is what I saw today," said the Doctor, "and if that man isn't totally in love with her, then there's no such thing and no hope for the world."

"Ma'am, I'll give ya a ride home," Gage said to Bea.

Bea glared at him, "I'ld rather walk."

"That's not necessary, Ms. Baxter," said Gage respectfully, "Besides, I have more questions for you."

"Fine," Bea answered unhappily. She had on a pair of disposable flip-flops a nurse had given her and she had slipped her dress back on.

Gage walked her to his unmarked vehicle outside. He opened the door for her and she got in. When he slid in behind the steering wheel, she asked him, "How does this work? When can Paulie come home?"

"He'll be arraigned on Monday," Gage started to explain.

"Monday," exclaimed Bea. "He has to sit in the city jail until Monday."

"If it gets too crowded, he could be moved to the county jail," explained Gage. "But at the arraignment, the judge will determine if he's a flight risk and set bail. Assign him a court appointed attorney if he can't afford one."

"Oh, I'll get him an attorney," responded Bea. "But I still don't understand why you arrested him. All he's doing is protecting me. That crazy clown man was going to kill us both. Well, all three of us rather."

"May I come inside," asked Gage. "I have more questions."

"Fine," answered Bea getting out of the car. And she didn't make an attempt to be a good host.

Gage's eyes glanced around the quiet cozy neighborhood before stepping into the warm inviting house. "I'll need your dress for evidence," he informed Bea.

Bea jogged upstairs, changed into a comfortable pair of sweats and came back down. She handed him the dress. "I don't know what good it'll do you. There's no semen on it. That man was crazy, not stupid. He used a condom."

"Nice house," complimented Gage. "Do you live here alone?"

"No, I live here with my fiancée, Paulie."

Detective Gage asked Bea many nosy questions. He wanted to know how she met Paulie, when did they get engaged, when did he move in with her. Bea answered all his questions and told him how Paulie had aced his first finals, how Paulie had went to the store because they were going to have a celebration dinner together. And how when he left for the store, she ran to the pharmacy to purchase a pregnancy test. She hadn't told Paulie she suspected she was pregnant. She should have had time to take the test before he got back from the store and if the test was positive, she planned to tell him over dinner. But she didn't get to because she was grabbed from behind when she came out of the pharmacy. A hand clamped down over her mouth as she was lifted off her feet and dragged into the back of a van where she was blind folded, gagged and tied up. She had never felt so helpless before in her entire life.

Bea's shoes were found near the pharmacy entrance where she had kicked them off when she was grabbed. Her purse was found inside a delivery van owned by Crazy Carl. Everyone that worked for Crazy Carl had cleared out before the police arrived to investigate. But they found the bag with the receipt for the pregnancy test inside Carl's office along with Carl's body. They found Carl's gun in the bathroom off of his office, but it had been wiped clean and didn't have any finger prints on it, not even Carl's. Carl's finger prints and a little clown make up were on the couple of bullets left in the clip and his fingerprints and some clown make up were on the pregnancy test.

Gage would talk to Bea's neighbors, to Paulie's professors, to Bea's sister and others. The only one with a low opinion of Paulie was Bea's sister, Brook, and that was simply a case of: He's not good enough for my sister. Paulie's professors liked him and praised him. Bea's neighbors liked him and praised him too, told Gage how Paulie came to church with Bea every Sunday and always had time to give you a hand.

Gage was confused. What he had known about the old gigolo didn't fit with what all these other people, good upstanding citizens, thought about Paulie. The Paulie they knew was a loving attentive fiancée, a hard worker, a good student and a good friend. And everything about Paulie and Bea's story fit except there was something off about the part where Carl got shot.

Paulie couldn't or rather wouldn't explain why he had wiped the gun clean of fingerprints. The angle seemed a little off for where Paulie said he was on his knees when he shot Carl. The angle required someone a bit smaller than Paulie. Then there was the gunshot residue. The residue on Paulie's clothes seemed to be transfer. The pattern wasn't right for someone who had shot the gun while the pattern on Bea's clothes were as if she had fired the gun. Except, Paulie had confessed. Paulie insisted it had been him that shot Crazy Carl.

Gage was confused. Why would Paulie cop to shooting Crazy Carl when he hadn't? Beatrice Baxter had been a law abiding citizen her whole life. She had been kidnapped and raped. The life of herself, her unborn child and fiancée were all in danger. The district attorney wouldn't even bother to charge her with anything. While even though most of Paulie's crimes were petty, Paulie had evaded the law for so long, they were itching to throw the book at him for something.

Bea had shown up with an excellent lawyer for Paulie's arraignment. He was released on bond. And Gage had watched Paulie hold Bea, assure her that no matter what, everything would be alright.

Between the court dates, Paulie continued to go to school, work and do well at both. He and Bea didn't wait to get married, but got married a month after the arraignment, before her belly began to swell from the growth of their unborn child. At the university, Bea continued to be Professor Baxter, but every place else she was Mrs. McNally and delighted to say so as her belly grew.

When Bea gave birth, Gage stopped by the house with a gift. He pulled Paulie aside and said, "I know you didn't shoot Carl. I know it was Bea. Why are you saying you did it? The DA would never charge her."

"Don't you ever tell anyone that," Paulie told Gage firmly, "Are you trying to put a bulls-eye on Bea's back? Crazy Carl is a Kingston. And most of the Kingston clan is just as crazy and loony toons as he was. They've been known to wait years before they take their revenge. I shot Carl, you hear me?"

Gage finally understood. Paulie wasn't some heartless, soulless old gigolo and two-bit thug. He wasn't scamming Bea in any way, shape or form. Paulie was in love with Bea. So deeply in love, there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for her or do in order to keep her safe. Gage also realized if he did anything that endangered Paulie's precious family, Paulie would find a way to have his ass for it.

"Paulie," Gage had said, "They're trying to put you away for first degree murder."

"I don't care if they lock me up for the rest of my life or if they even give me the needle, as long as my Bea and our precious little Paullina are safe."

Gage changed his tune in the court room. He recommended that the charges be dropped or in the very least be reduced. He said Paulie had done what most anyone would have done to protect their-self and their family. They found a ginormous stash of illegal drugs in Carl's place along with kiddy porn involving Carl himself. Carl's office was sound proof. They would never be able to prove how many people Carl had killed, but they knew some people walked into Carl's place and were never seen again.

The DA wouldn't drop the charges, and when Paullina was eight weeks old, Paulie was sentenced. It was a greatly reduced charge with a greatly reduced sentence. He would be eligible for parole in two years. Bea had cried. Gage had asked for them to give Paulie a minute to console his wife.

Gage had felt like crap as he watched Paulie hug and kiss his wife and their baby girl. He listened as Paulie told Bea. "It's alright. As long as you and Paullina are safe, that's all I care about. She's so little right now, she won't really miss me. And it'll go by quick."

You're supposed to feel good when you catch a bad guy, but Gage didn't. He visited Paulie a couple of times and apologized for arresting him and getting the ball rolling on his prosecution. But Paulie wasn't mad. It was a minimum security facility, quite nice actually. Bea came every visiting day with Paullina and other members of his family to see him. They also spoke twice a week on the phone. Plus he got a conjugal visit with his Bea once a month, he had told Gage with a happy wink. He worked in the kitchen and was getting to continue his studies in the culinary arts. His old boss would rehire him when he got out and some more upscale restaurants were expressing interest in him. There had been a lot of media attention and most people believed the case should have been dismissed. But Paulie just wanted to do his time and go home. Except, Paulie never got to go home.

Bea came for their once monthly conjugal visit. Paulie was scheduled for his parole board meeting the following month. Gage had written a letter recommending his release and he was a well liked model prisoner. There were several small trailers that were used for conjugal visits. Paulie and Bea picked up their sheets and received the trailer number they were assigned to use. They were greeted by guards and other prisoners as they entered the trailer for their two hour private visit.

It was kind of like visiting a motel. There was a double bed at one end of the trailer and a bathroom at the other. They went inside, had their intimate visit and came out with the sheets that needed to be laundered. They hadn't gotten very far from the trailer when another inmate stabbed Paulie and yelled, "That's for Carl!"

Bea screamed. Guards came running. An ambulance was called and the doctor and the nurse were summoned from the infirmary. But Paulie bled out too fast.

Bea had held him and cried as he died in her arms.

"My beautiful Bea," he had told her, "Don't cry. I'm a lucky, lucky man. I met, fell in love with and married the most wonderful woman. She even made a beautiful baby girl with me, and then I was unconditionally loved by two beautiful women. Thank you for loving me, Bea... I love you." Those were his last words to her.

Bea didn't sleep for days afterward. Her doctor prescribed a sleep aide, but it didn't help. The Cordova's and McNally's held a family meeting that Brook was invited too. They didn't think Bea should live alone anymore. She had begun hearing voices, specifically, Paulie's voice. They wanted to know if it was possible for Brook to move back in with Bea and Paullina. Or if not, did Brook mind if someone from one of their families moved in with Bea and little Paullina. It would only be a twenty minute drive to work for Brook. And although these people obviously cared greatly for their family member's widow and only child, Brook knew they didn't make their livings honestly. So, she moved back into the home she had grown up in, the home her niece would grow up in.

Brook watched her sister dote on her daughter as she mourned the loss of her husband. As long as Bea was busy with Paullina, she was fine. But at night was when it was bad. Bea couldn't sleep and she was hearing Paulie calling her. The medications the doctor prescribed didn't help.

After putting Paullina to bed, Bea was pacing like she did every night since Paulie died.

"Bea, try to sleep," Brook told her.

"But I can hear him," said Bea. "I just don't know where to find him."

Brook pulled back the covers on Bea's bed and guided her into bed and tucked her in, "Honey, he's dead. I'm sorry he's dead. I know you love him and he loved you. You need to sleep. You're sleep deprived. It's causing auditory hallucinations."

"I know that," Bea told Brook. "I held him while he died. I picked out his casket and resting place. He died because of me."

"Oh, Bea, that's not true," said Brook.

"Yes, it is," Bea told her, "They killed him because they think he killed the crazy clown man. But he didn't. I did. I picked up the gun and shot the crazy clown man. Paulie had me lie about it and said he did it. But he didn't. He said he did it to protect me. He told me never to tell anyone it was me, but I don't think you'll tell on me."

Brook wasn't sure how reliable Bea was at that moment. She couldn't imagine her sister shooting anyone. "Just sleep, Bea, sleep."

Bea finally dozed off and Brook went to bed herself, but Bea didn't sleep very long.

"Paulie," Bea said as she startled awake. But of course, she was in bed alone. Yet she heard him, and it finally occurred to her where she might find him. So she got dressed. She grabbed the cap Nana made him because it was very cold out and she started walking.

Bea walked for hours in the freezing cold biting wind. Her feet should have been throbbing, but they were so cold she couldn't feel them. Then finally it came into view, the building Paulie had lived in for years prior to living with her. She had paid the manager once to let her into his small apartment where she waited for him to get home. Paulie had initially been upset with her because he hadn't felt like his apartment was nice enough for her to visit. But when she dropped her coat revealing she was naked accept for her wedge heels, his upset instantly evaporated. Then of course she had come with members of his family to help him move into her home.

"Bea..."

Bea turned in the direction of Paulie's voice and there he was, smiling at her.

"Paulie," she rushed to him.

He kissed her deeply and hugged her tightly.

"Paulie, I've missed you so much."

"I know, Bea, I know. But you won't have to miss me anymore. I'm here to take you home with me. My parents can't wait to meet you. And your parents and kid brother are waiting too."

"Really, Paulie?"

"Really, Bea."

"That bright light..."

"That's the doorway home, Bea. We'll never be apart again. And all sins are forgiven. And those hundred babies you said you'ld make with, we have plenty of time to make them all and then some."

"Is the crazy clown man in there?"

"No, a different door opens for evil people."

She glanced back at her body in the snow, "But... I'll be leaving Paullina, won't I?"

"There's no need to worry about Paullina. Brook will never have any children of her own. She's going to take excellent care of Paullina. Paullina is going to have a long and happy life. And at the end of her long and happy life, she'll come home to us... Ready?"

Bea smiled at him, "Yes, I'm ready. I belong where you are."

Paulie kissed Bea again and led her into the light.