“We're not a couple."

“Now you're just picking at word choices." Robin rolled her blue eyes.

“Should I say pair? I decided because of past experiences here as well as my own terrible first marriage, I would only rent to a mother and son."

"That's your right. Just not sure why that," she paused and winked.

"Pairing".

Robin laughed and as Emma drained her own glass was already picking up the bottle so the second she lowered her glass she was refilling it.

“Mostly because of what I said. Reminds me of me. After that piece of shit left it was just me and my son and it was so peaceful."

"Oh, I didn't know you had a son. Is he local?"

“Local,” she repeated, then frowned.

"No, he moved away a few years back. But for several years it was just the two of us and it was so nice."

Emma took several long swallows of the wine. She'd meant to sip it, but it was so damn good! It was sweet and a little on thicker side, reminded her in a way of apricot juice in its texture. When she put the glass down she noticed how warm she was feeling.

Warm and very relaxed. The sensation was a welcome one after the stress of the last few months, but she needed to be careful. She wanted to a lot done before she went to bed tonight. Eric was working away upstairs and she didn't want to slack on her end.

"See, Emma. Moms and daughters? Yes, there's a great bond there, but also there's also teenage drama and conflict too. But a mom and her son? Especially when the father is out of the picture for whatever reason? There's no closer bond."

"Could have fooled me." Emma grunted.

"Kid barely talks to me sometimes."

“He lost his father and its partly his age. But trust me, Emma a boy in Eric's situation, if he's a good boy, knows his new place."

"Place?"

"Yes, he's now not only your son, but the man of the house who needs to look after his mother. You were both heartbroken after your husband's death, I'm sure. But the aftermath is different for each of you."

“How so?" Emma was asking out of genuine curiosity now. Robin's situation with her husband couldn't have been more different than hers, but life afterwards was something she had not only dealt with, but seeing she was remarried and happy, had done it the right way.

“You lost a life partner, a lover, a best friend, half your world.

Eric lost his father and that is traumatic, but he still has his mother. You on the other hand, have nothing to replace your loss.”

"I have Eric and he is part of Steven."

"That's good you see it that way." Robin nodded in approval.

“But friendship, companionship and of course a lover? Society says he could never fill those roles."

"Society says?" More odd word choices.