Sabrina looked nervously around the shoddy neighborhood. It looked like the outer parts of Brooklyn where she'd been sent on one of her earliest scouting trips. But she'd had a driver to take her when she visited New York. They dropped her off and waited for her outside after shows.

Now it was just the two of them out on the streets after a long Tube ride. And the light was starting to fade.

"Where are we, Nick?"

"The East End. Getting tired?"

"A little. Can we find someplace to sit for a little while?"

"Just a little bit further, love."

Sabrina had stopped correcting him when he called her that. Mostly because it was fruitless, but also because she was starting to like it. Too much.

Don’t get used to it, Brina. Hold onto your heart.

Finally, he stopped in front of an ordinary looking row house. Well, not exactly. She glanced around. This spot was fixed up more than the others they'd passed. Actually, the whole block was fixed up. Spiffy. New windows and doors and the brick work all repaired. Flowers and trees planted out front of each.

"Where are we, Nick?”

He turned to her and kissed her hand. It was incredible the way the man could give her butterflies with the lightest touch.

"Home."

Just then the door opened and a funny looking woman came to the door. She was dressed as a maid would be in the finest establishment. But her hair was pink.

"Mrs. Falcon! Come quick, it's Nick!"

Sabrina turned to Nick in astonishment.

"Wait, your real name is Falcon?"

“You thought I’d made it up?”

“I thought it was a stage name!”

“No, dear. It’s not.”

He shrugged sheepishly. Then another odd looking woman came to the door. This one was dressed like an ordinary housewife. Except for the sparkle.

Sabrina squinted, realizing the woman was covered in diamonds.

The woman was swimming in them. Her ears, neck, wrists, fingers. Sabrina glanced down, half expecting to see diamonds on her feet.

No gems, but she was wearing Chanel ballet flats.

"Nicky! My boy!"

He grinned at her and threw his arms open.

"Mum!"

She was squeezing him with all her might as he bussed her cheeks with kisses.

"You are not eating enough!"

"Mum, I want you to meet someone."

She perked up at that, finally noticing Sabrina.

"A young lady now? What's this?"

"Mum, I'd like you to meet Sabrina Newton."

Sabrina was quickly enfolded in a warm hug. Mrs. Falcon smelled like sugar cookies. No, not cookies. She smelled like scones.

Definitely Nick’s mom.

"Well, it is very nice to meet you. What a lovely girl. Come in, come in. You are just in time for tea."

"That's what I was hoping for."

Nick winked at Sabrina as he ushered her into the modest little row house. She was still absorbing the fact that he'd taken her home to meet his mother. A warm feeling was in her chest, spreading outward in all directions.

But once inside, all she could do was stare around her in wonder. It wasn't a simple row house at all. It was three or four row houses all remodeled to be one giant, opulent, over-the-top city mansion.

"Make yourself at home now. I've got to call the girls! Jasmine, get the tea ready- we have guests!"

The little maid bopped her bright fuchsia head and scurried off on Mrs. Falcon's heels. Sabrina felt like she was in an old movie all the sudden.

A comedy. No- a farce.

"I don't understand- what is this place?"

Nick guided her to a soft chair in what could only be called a 'front parlor'. It was so opulent that it was almost too much. Just a little bit tacky… The sort of thing that a woman with a sudden influx of money might do.

"She refused to move out of the neighborhood or away from all her friends. So I bought the block."

"You what?"

"This was a couple of houses before we combined them. The next few houses are Sadie's. On the other side is Gertrude. Around the corner are my aunts on both sides. And my mum's hairdresser. She needed a house too."

"You bought houses for all your mom's friends?"

He shrugged sheepishly.

"She deserved it. She did everything for me coming up.”

Sabrina's heart did a crazy little flip-flop. Who would have thought it? Nick Falcon was a mama's boy.

"He means that I put up with him, dear girl. I started going gray when he was ten! Not that you'd know."

Mrs. Falcon patted her well-coiffed head as she sailed back into the living room with her maid at her heels. Nick beamed as the maid set down a teakettle and a heaping tray of tiny sandwiches.

"Don't forget the scones please, Jasmine!"

Mrs. Falcon started serving tea. Nick bussed her cheek.

"Be right back, mum. Have to use the loo."

She leaned in conspiratorially as soon as he was gone.

"He'll be stuffing his face back there, just watch. Now my dear, how do you take your tea?"

"Lemon and just a half spoon of sugar."

Mrs. Falcon handed her a cup of tea and made one for herself. Then she leaned back and leveled a piercing stare at Sabrina.

"So what's your story, young miss? Are you after my Nicky for his money?"

Sabrina choked on her tea.

"No- I'm- I'm not after anything."

Mrs. Falcon narrowed her eyes and stared at her for what seemed like an eternity. Then she nodded.

"Right. I can see that you're not. I read the papers too, love. Just had to be sure."

Sabrina had no clue what to say to that. She took another sip of her tea. It was delicious.

"Try one of the sandwiches dear. Go on."

Her mouth was full of cucumber and salmon on toast when Mrs. Falcon dropped the bomb.

“This is a big day. He's never brought a girl home before. Not even any of his wives."

Sabrina nearly choked. She tried to chew and swallow as quickly as she could. She gulped some tea, even though it was still piping hot.

"Really?"

Mrs. Falcon nodded sagely.

"Oh, I went to one of the weddings. The one that wasn't in Vegas. But that was the only time I met the gel. It was over before the year was up anyway. He's always been like that. Women throw themselves at him you see. And he's always been obliging."

"Yes, I've noticed that."

"But you're different. He likes you. You aren't just a pretty face."

"I- thank you?"

Mrs. Falcon was peppering her with questions about her life and growing up when the doorbell rang. Sabrina nearly collapsed with relief when Nick's mother suddenly changed focus and clapped her hands together with glee.

"Oooh! They're here!"

Nick dashed by in the hallway, tell-tale crumbs on his face. His mother was right, he'd been sneaking scones.

"I'll get it!"

The sound of the door opening was shortly followed by the high-pitched squeals of several women.

For the next hour Sabrina was surrounded by all of Nick's aunts, cousins, and his mother’s best friends. Even the hairdresser showed up. The whole block was a Falcon compound. It was incredible.

It was a disaster.

With every moment, she was getting pulled deeper into his world. She could feel all the cracks in her heart being filled up with the sense of belonging, of being wanted.

Filling up with love.

Sabrina tried to enjoy it. She did her best. But she knew better than anyone how quickly things could change. How what you thought was safe, was yours to treasure, would inevitably be snatched away.

Life had taught her that time and time again, starting with the day her mother had left. No, not left. She’d died.

Leaving Sabrina with nothing.