The flash of headlights beaming through the rain caught her eye, and she turned to see a police cruiser pulling to the curb outside, its wipers trying in vain to chase the rain from the windshield.

She watched as the police officer turned off the engine, the wipers stopping in mid-air, the sound of their squeaking silenced. He switched off the headlights and stepped from the car, the rain dancing off the plastic that covered his hat. His black shoes, polished to a gleaming shine, sloshed through the puddles as he dashed to the door.

Jackie stood frozen in fear. She wanted to run back to the safety of the apartment but felt trapped, and her feet refused to move.

By the time the police officer opened the door, the bell overhead ringing merrily to announce his arrival, her legs had grown too weak to hold her, and she slipped into the nearest booth.

"Good morning, Officer Rodriguez." Kelly's voice boomed through the empty diner as he strode through the swinging doors from the kitchen, a fresh pot of coffee in his hand.

"Kelly, you must have read my mind." The police officer planted his bulk onto a stool at the counter, the crisp leather of his holster crackling against the backrest of the vinyl seat. He removed his hat and shook the rain from it onto the diner floor, then placed it on the counter next to the steaming cup of coffee Kelly placed before him.

Jackie heard the loud clink of the cup on the countertop, smelled the freshly brewed coffee as Kelly poured the hot liquid, heard the change ring on the counter.

"The first one's on me," Kelly pushed the change back across the counter. "I gotta keep you guys awake. All that rain is bound to make you tired."

"Nah," Officer Rodriguez laughed. "Pulled the graveyard shift last night. I just need this to make it home."

Kelly's chuckled as he took his usual stool at the end of the counter, and, opening the morning paper, he offered Rodriguez the sports section.

The diner grew quiet except for the steady beat of rain, the rustle of the newspaper, and the faint drone of the men's conversation.

Jackie's fear abated as she listened to the rain and the drone of conversation at the counter. Her thoughts wandered, and she started to think about her journey to find Kelly Joseph.

 * * *

The bus ride took five days and nights. She could afford to eat decently but chose not to, afraid of spending any money if her plan failed. She was clueless about what to do if that happened but knew it would be wise to have some cash on hand.

She survived on water and crackers from the rest stops and sometimes a candy bar or Coke from a kind stranger. Her sleep was fitful due to her hunger and her fear.

It started to rain as she left the terminal. She already had directions to Kelly's Diner from the clerk at the window. Her clothes were soaked through by the time she reached it, and she was scared, tired, and so hungry.

She stepped hesitantly into the diner, the bell over the door announcing her arrival. She cringed unconsciously at the loud ring, her eyes darting quickly around the room. The restaurant had been almost empty. One lone customer sat at the counter, a chessboard in front of him. He turned at the sound of the bell and smiled at her, his gaze lingering.

The diner was warm. Jackie could smell the aroma of fresh coffee, grilled onions, cheeseburgers, and french fries. Her mouth watered. Sudden nausea washed over her. She breathed deeper and waited for it to pass.

Slipping quietly into the booth nearest the door, she shoved her suitcase under the table between her feet and, breathing a weary sigh, grabbed a menu from the napkin holder and pretended to look it over. It only made her nausea worse. She was so hungry.

She pulled the old photograph from her jacket pocket and gazed again at the two men. A long time ago, one of them had been her father, her protector, her namesake. The other she never met but was about to. The thought made her feel faint. Did she really just travel 2000 miles on a bus?

A man pushed through the swinging kitchen doors with a whistle on his lips. The whistle slowly died when he saw her huddled in the booth.

"Can I help you?" he asked as he slowly approached her, his voice light and raspy.

Jackie glanced up, her eyes studying him from where she sat. Kelly Joseph had changed from the picture. He was older. He was heavier, his dark wavy hair sprinkled with gray. The brown eyes that sparkled with humor in the photo were now filled with concern. The crease in his forehead grew deeper as he looked down at her, his eyes questioning.

Jackie opened her mouth to tell him who she was and why she was there. His face swam before her eyes. She started to rise from the booth. The picture clutched tightly in her fist. She took two hesitant steps toward him, but the room grew dark and whirled around her. She shook her head to clear the buzzing in her ears. Then the floor rose to meet her, and the blackness engulfed her.

She woke up on a rolled-out sofa bed, tucked into warm blankets, and a man's overly large t-shirt covered her where her wet clothes had once been. A small lamp on the table beside her softly lit the room. She had no idea where she was. It took a moment or two for her to remember what had happened.

Jackie crawled from beneath the warm covers and stared at the large white socks that covered her feet. She smiled inwardly. It was a nice gesture from him to keep her warm and safe, a total stranger. She found Kelly sitting at the counter, a cup of coffee at his elbow and a large cigar between his lips. A closed sign hung on the door. He was staring at the picture.

He lifted his eyes when he felt her beside him. His smile was warm but full of curiosity. "You're Jack Woods' little girl?"

She nodded.

"Sit," he said softly, waving to the stool beside him. "Want coffee? Or maybe you want a soda?"

Jackie sat down on the stool next to him and shook her head. "No, thank you," she whispered politely, even though she was very thirsty and hungry.

"You're hungry, though, I'll bet." He didn't wait for an answer this time and moved around the counter to retrieve the plate sitting under the warming lights. He set the plate in front of her and poured a large glass of cold milk. Then he took a seat beside her.

"Eat," he urged. "Then we'll talk."

She ate until she thought she might burst. The burger was hot and juicy and spiced with just enough salt, pepper, and garlic to make her moan softly with each bite. She demolished the basket of french fries and drank the milk thirstily. Kelly handed her a napkin and pointed to the milk mustache on her upper lip when she finished.

Jackie loudly belched as she wiped her mouth and her face flamed a bright red.

"When was the last time you had anything to eat?" he asked after his laughter died down.

"I don't remember," she answered truthfully. "It's been a little while, though."

"You come in on the Greyhound?"

Jackie nodded and took another drink of milk, belched again, softer this time, and wiped the white mustache from her upper lip. "I'm sorry, Mr. Joseph."

He nodded as he studied his cup of coffee, the hint of a smile on his lips. "I'm not Mr. Joseph." he finally said. He held up a hand as she started to protest and laughed heartily. Jackie saw the sparkle in his eyes. 

"Call me Kelly, Sweetheart," he chuckled, patting her arm. "Just like everyone else does. Now, I guess you need to tell me your name and how you came to be here."

Jackie nodded and smiled shyly. "My name's Jackie," she said quietly. "Just like my dad's."

"And where do you come from, Jackie Woods?" he asked.

"From Ohio," she said. "My parents were killed when our house caught fire. I had to live with her, but she was terrible. I had to get away from Her. I was so afraid of her. Afraid of what she might do."

"Do," he echoed. "To you?"

She nodded.

"And who is this 'Her' you're so afraid of?"

Jackie drew a deep breath. "Ma'am," she spat out the name.

"And Ma'am is?" 

"My aunt."

Kelly rubbed at the stubble of beard on his face and sighed heavily. "Why me?" he asked curiously.

Jackie's hair covered her face as she bowed her head. "I didn't have anywhere else to go."

"And how did you find me?"

"The letters," she said. "You wrote to my father after the war. I found them in my aunt's attic. They were in my father's trunk with his other things."

Kelly sat back, stunned. "Jack kept all those?"

"He did." She opened her hand. Inside her palm were three letters, very crumpled, that Jackie had pulled from her suitcase when she had slipped from the sofa bed.

Kelly lifted them gingerly from her hand as if they were made of crepe and would blow away at his touch. "But he never came to any of the reunions," he whispered more to himself. "I never knew if he received any of them."

"He kept them all," she said. "I could only bring these."

Kelly shook his head in amazement. "I'll be," he muttered. "Jack Woods. We called him Jackie, you know? You look just like him."

"I know," she smiled. 

Kelly rubbed his hands vigorously over his face and yawned sleepily. "Well, Jackie Woods, it's very late. I open at six o'clock, so I have to be up before five. The only place I have for you to sleep is the sofa bed because I live in the apartment at the diner’s back. It's not much, but it will do for tonight. A little more sleep wouldn't hurt you, either." He held out a hand to her. "Come on. I'll tuck you back in. We'll talk some more tomorrow. Tonight, let's sleep on this."

Kelly made sure Jackie was settled cozily in the sofa bed before retiring to his room.

She couldn't sleep.  She wondered if she was naive. Suppose she would be asking too much of a man that didn't know her.

She said her prayers in earnest that night. She prayed that Kelly would let her stay. She prayed that Ma'am would never find her. And she prayed that she could find a little happiness in her life. And that maybe a savior would come in the guise of Kelly Joseph.

* * *

The clink of the gun holster brought Jackie back to the present as Officer Rodriguez rose to leave. He thanked Kelly, nodded at Jackie as he passed her, and left the diner without so much as a backward glance. Jackie breathed a sigh of relief and almost dissolved into the padded vinyl of the seat.

"I don't think he was looking for you." Kelly left his place at the counter and eased into the seat across from her. His thick eyebrows furrowed with concern; the thin lips drawn into a frown under the prominent nose.

"Maybe not yet.”

"But you think they will be."

"Yes."

"Hmph," Kelly grunted. "I guess we'll solve that problem if and when it comes. In the meantime, I could use some help in the kitchen."

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