I brought my head up quickly.

“I DO trust her.”

“You didn't seem so trusting when you first came home."

I sighed.

“I was confused and concerned. I wanted to give her the benefit of doubt but... I..."

"You were jealous."

“Obviously.”

“Because you love her and the thought of her being with another man hurt you more than you realized could be possible.”

"I... I think?"

“Have you ever told her this?"

"I just realized it myself like twenty minutes ago."

Mother reached forward and touched my knee.

“Don't do anything rash like race out of the house, bang down her door, and scream your undying love at her bedroom window from the front Lawn."

I stared at Mother as if she'd sprouted horns. "What?"

She Laughed. "Permit me a moment of levity. I'm pretty sure I saw that in a movie at least once. But short of doing anything so dramatic, you may consider telling her the strength of your feelings for her the next time you see her.”

“I don't need to run off and tell Sam I love her or anything. I'm dating Neevie. SHE'S my girlfriend." I blinked, sensing an ulterior motive. "Wait a minute... You WANT me to tell Sam I love her.”

Mother smiled. "I like her. I like her a LOT. I imagine all mothers wish for their sons to find a wife they can respect, although from the number of daughter-in-law jokes I hear, I imagine the success rate is rather low."

My eyes got BIG.

“Did you just suggest that I might MARRY Sam?"

“Allow an old woman her dreams."

I shook my head, thinking of that night when Sam and I came downstairs after she'd taken my virginity, only to discover mother reading a book and drinking wine with Sam's panties atop the counter.

My how far we'd come.

Alice was waiting for me and Belle at the parking lot Monday morning.

She came over to us as soon as we stepped onto the curb, and the first words out of her mouth were, “Hope you're hydrated. Neevie's gonna seriously make a run at Death By Fucking today. The girls and I are putting down bets on whether or not she'll even wait for the end of school."

“Put me down for five bucks on Neevie NOT waiting until the end of school,” Belle added helpfully.