Janine was never a so-welcomed face the next day. Even the tight bun in her hair gave Elise a much-needed grin. The office hummed with busy people. Everyone was there to work. Something Elise needed to do to keep her mind busy from the patient she left at home and the lover she left in Kentucky. She just hoped the nurse was going to make it to Darren’s for the day. He made her leave without seeing that the lady was actually going to show up to help him.

“Janine, I didn’t get a chance to pick up anything for you in Kentucky. I had to leave in kind of a hurry.”

“That’s all right, Miss Newton. How is Dr. Masterson? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“He is home, in a cast, and finding it difficult to be the patient. But he will be fine.”

“That’s good. I put your messages on your desk and I’ll go and get your coffee now.”

“Sounds like heaven.”

Elise opened her office door and breathed in the smell of office supplies, commercial carpet, and radiation from her computer screen. It was great to be home. This was the place where she knew exactly what to do. No questions here except what code unlocked the variable needed to get the screen to look exactly like she wanted.

The day went by without a hitch. She called to check on Darren a few times. The nurse still hadn’t arrived at ten o’clock, but when she called at twelve, he was unable to talk for long. He was just sitting down for lunch. She was relieved the lady had finally arrived. Now, the third meal was all she was responsible for.

Dinner at the Mexican Cantina was waiting when Elise darted inside to pick it up. She was running late and hadn’t called to let Darren know, yet. She figured he’d be starving and she didn’t want to have to make up excuses until she got back to his place with dinner in her hand.

When she arrived, she noticed an unfamiliar car in the driveway. Maybe the nurse was still there. And she was driving a convertible Audi? What were they paying these homecare angels lately? She grabbed her attaché case and bag of dinner from the front passenger seat. The smell had kept her salivating the entire way to his house. She managed to skip lunch with her backlog of work.

The front door was left unlocked as she tried her key. Voices were loud coming from the atrium area. She set the bags down and walked to where they were coming from.

To her surprise it was Stacy Chadwick, still reigning model of County General Hospital. And beside her was a woman she had no clue as to her identity.

Darren looked up and stopped laughing. “Honey, this is my mom, Jane Masterson.”

Where was the lemon juice and razor blades when you needed them? Oh, yes, they were right there. Sitting beside her boyfriend. One on each side of him. Lemon juice smiled a coy smile at her and razor blades stood up to shake her hand.

“And you must be Elise.”

Elise took her hand. It was of the utmost moisturized and felt like a pillow as it gently squeezed hers. Wax lately or just every other hour?

“Yes, I must be. It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Masterson.”

“Call me Jane.” She sat down and patted Darren on the shoulder. “I’ve been so worried about my boy. I had to catch the next flight out of Tuscany and come home for him.”

“Mom,” Darren said. A teenage ghost of him cowered under her wing.

“Where were you today, dear?” Something evil lurked from behind her innocent question. Perhaps an accusation. After all, Jane Masterson knew the answer to the question. She just had to ask to make sure that Elise felt bad about it.

“I was at work. Did I miss your nurse, Darren? Did she already leave?”

Stacy raised her hand. “I’m still here.”

“What?” Did Elise miss something else? Was Stacy moonlighting as a man stealer on work hours and time off?

“There was a glitch in the hospital’s itinerary today, so I volunteered to come take care of him.”

“I could have killed her. She has patients. I could have taken care of myself,” Darren said.

His mother intervened. “Honey, you can’t even get up from the bed without help. I’m glad Stacy had the common courtesy to take off work to help you.”

Bam! In Elise’s poor-excuse-for-a-girlfriend face. After all, computer programming was so much more important than saving lives. Was there an emergency hatch door to release? Some kind of hole in the ground that would open up and graciously take her out of the snake pit of Nurse Covergirl and Mommy Dearest?

“Mom, it’s all good now. I’m fine. You didn’t even have to come. I told you that on the phone last night. And you certainly didn’t have to leave Italy.”

Elise stepped back inconspicuously toward the large opening toward the living room.

Stacy stood up. “Well, Darren, I have to go. I told the hospital I’d be in to do final rounds.” She extended her hand to Jane. “It was nice to meet you, Jane. I hope I get to see you before you return home.”

“It was my pleasure, dear. And thank you for taking care of my son today.”

Elise took the hint and walked to get the bag of dinner. She was starving and the more she stayed in the company of these ladies the more her appetite was wavering on nausea.

Stacy passed her going to the front door. “I’ll see you later, Elise.”

“Yeah, see ya later,” she said, muttering something after that.

Darren came into the living room. His mother, by his side, helping him on his crutches. He hopped to Elise and stood beside her, waiting for her to stop pulling to-go cartons from the paper bag. She turned to him, giving a look that she hoped he could read loud and clear.

“I missed you today.”

Elise looked at his mother, who lingered around them like pollution. “I missed you, too. I’m sorry about the nurse mix-up. But it looks like you were well taken care of.” Jealousy nibbled at her. Not as much as before her time with Ben, though. How could such a venomous emotion mix with a guilty one? He was probably ignorant of Stacy’s obvious infatuation, anyway.

“I didn’t know Stacy was going to come.” He knew the look she had given.

“Thank goodness she did. I can’t believe you were here alone today.” Jane joined in the conversation.

Oh, the joys of mothers of guys you dated. You either got lucky and they minded their own business, or you got Jane Masterson. And to think she had the good fortune to avoid her for the past year. What a blessing.

“Mom, I’m not an invalid. I could have managed. It’s not like Elise never came back.”

“I’ll help you to the couch. I got you your favorite dish from the Cantina.”

Elise looked at the unwelcome guest who was winning points from the icy stares she was freezing her with. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were here. Would you like to eat my entree? It’s two soft shelled tacos with everything.”

“Heavens no!” she said, over the top. “Do you ever cook anything? I opened the trashcan and saw nothing but takeaway packages. Are there any groceries in this house?”

“Mom, we have careers. It’s hard to cook a meal after working a nine- to twelve-hour day. Now, say what you want to eat, and I can call for delivery.”

“I’m fine. I ate on the plane. I’ll wait to eat breakfast tomorrow morning. That is if you have anything. If not, I’ll just call a car to take me to the nearest place that serves crepes and fresh fruit.”

Elise guarded Darren as he made his way to the sofa. She took his crutches and lowered him on the sofa, tucking a few pillows underneath him. She continued helping, by preparing his plate of take-out misery, according to Jane Masterson. Yeah, sure she looked full from the plane food. Drool was pooling at the sides of her puckered lips, as Elise transferred the fajita to the plate for Darren.

“Honey, I’m going to retire for the night. I’m tired from the flight. I’ll see you in the morning.” She kissed the top of his head and looked at Elise. “I don’t know if you leave before I wake up or not. But goodnight, Elise. I’ll see you when I see you.”

Microscopic daggers flashed in Jane’s eyes. Elise was certain she had seen her somewhere before. Yes, that was it! It was on the Discovery Channel. The episode titled, “How Mothers Hover over their Grown Men Sons and Devour their Potential Mates.” She was sure it was not going to be a happy time with her staying in the same house.

“Don’t say it.” Darren seemed to know what was on Elise’s mind as she picked at the cheese and beef combination on her plate. “I didn’t know she was coming, I promise. And I’ll see that she leaves just as soon as she’s convinced I’m all right.” He kept his voice low, just in case she rode her broomstick out to the living room, again.

“That will be when I quit my job to stay with you for twenty-four-hour shifts. Is she that old-fashioned?”

“I’m afraid so. She is in charge of a staff at home that waits on Dad left and right.”

“It’s nice to know she’s a good delegator. I’d hate for her to break a sweat and do something for him herself.” She stopped prematurely at what she really wanted to say about his mother. Knowing that was the woman she would have to look at during the next years of her life was a major game changer for Elise. The list for cons about her relationship with Darren were beginning to stack up. Jane Masterson counted for, at least, a hundred of them.

They finished their meal with the unsavory taste of the new house guest just steps away. Elise cleaned up the dishes and retired to the bedroom for her shower. Darren finished watching a movie before she came out to take him back to the room.

“I wouldn’t mind taking another shower, if you’re up to it,” he said to her.

She adjusted her robe and went to close the door to the room. Darren balanced on one leg as he took his shirt off. Elise pulled his shorts off and helped him to the shower. He sensuously kissed her as they waited for the water to get warm.

“Any chance we could—”

“None.” She cut him off before the image could make it to his mind. There was no way anything was going down with his mother under the same roof. Maybe even while she was on the same continent. Elise felt some guilt over last night’s session with him. And it wasn’t just the acrobatics she had to perform, either. Ben’s face tried to squeeze into every open moment she had at work that day. Their time together was obviously not as finished as she figured it to be.

Darren finished his shower and was settled in bed. A glass of tea was calling Elise’s name from the refrigerator. The salty tacos had managed to strip her mouth dry. She slipped on her robe and walked to the door to leave.

“I’ll be right back. I’m thirsty. Can I bring you something?”

“No, I’m fine. The less I drink, the less I have to get up and go to the bathroom.” Darren tried to situate himself. That cast was getting in everyone’s way.

Elise turned on the kitchen light and went to get out her tea. She stopped short when she heard Jane run into the barstool.

“Damn stool. Who puts a stool in the middle of the floor, anyway?” She bent over, holding her bruised toe. Elise noted the red robe she was wearing. Didn’t the devil wear red, too?

“Hello. I was just getting something to drink. Would you like anything?”

“It depends. Is there any bottled spring water in there? I’ll drink domestic if he has nothing else.”

Elise wasn’t sure the woman could be nice even if she tried. Maybe she missed the entire two years in her childhood it took to fully develop tact.

“Sure.” She grabbed a bottle of plain distilled water and handed it to her.

“Sit down with me. I’d like to talk a moment.” The ill-mannered woman hopped on a stool and patted the one beside her.

The very last thing, next to root canals and eye splinters, that Elise wanted to do in life. She forced a tiny smile and took a seat next to the human vulture.

“So, I understand you’ve been dating Darren for a year?”

“Almost. I think it’s more like nine months.” And eight days, four hours, and twenty-three minutes. But who’s counting? Elise gulped her tea.

Jane’s smile dropped back to a solid stare without any fangs showing. “Well, are you living here with him? He never tells me anything anymore.”

Elise wondered why. The woman was the portrait of all things maternal and disturbing. Maybe she would get along famously with Lyla Newton. They could stand over the cauldron together and conjure up spells to make Elise spontaneously feel fork prongs in her torso.

“I’m not living here. I’m just staying with him to help him until he gets better.”

Relief softened the woman’s starched lips. “That’s good. I don’t believe in co-habitation. Are you looking for him to ask you to marry him? Is that something you want?” Beating around what bush? Were there no bushes in this lady’s yard? Forward, direct, and right through to Elise’s hyperventilating heart.

“I’m not ready to get married.”

“What? How old are you, anyway? Isn’t that what every girl wants? Find a handsome young doctor, get married, and have children? What’s wrong with you? Surely he’s a catch on so many levels.”

All right, polite and polished gloves off. This woman was going to be taught a lesson in how to behave like a human being.

“There is nothing wrong with me, Mrs. Masterson. I don’t particularly subscribe to the notion of marriage. And I’m certainly not ready for any children.”

They both stopped as they saw a large shadow on the wall behind the kitchen partition. Darren had managed to make it out to the kitchen by himself.

“Mother, what are you doing to Elise?”

“I’m not doing anything to her. I’m simply asking about her intentions toward my only son.” Defense shield up. Mama bear mode engaged.

“I think you’re finished. I don’t need any help in communicating with my girlfriend. And when there’s any noteworthy news, I will call and tell you. Until then, stop with the interrogation.”

Jane got up, refused to look at Elise, and disappeared back to her room. Elise sat with the notion of feeling what a patient looked like right after a lobotomy. If that wasn’t her conscience speaking louder than the small voice in her brain, she didn’t know what was. How much did Darren hear?

“Come on, Elise. Let’s go to bed.”

She quietly got up and walked behind him. He dropped his crutches to the ground and hopped to the edge of the bed, lowering himself until he bounced from the springs of the mattress. Elise put her shoulder under him, pulling him higher to the headboard.

“I’m sorry about that. Are you going to be leaving in the morning and never returning?” Sympathy followed his rhetorical question.

“She’s just your mother asking, what I suppose, mothers ask.”

“Or maybe what the son is too chicken to ask. For real.” Her lip should have had a hole in it by now, seeing how many times her teeth sunk down into it. She moved to her side of the bed, wanting nothing more than hours of unconsciousness to overtake her...and him.

“Elise, I heard what you told Mom.”

Was it too soon to fall over in bed and start snoring? Too unbelievable? She didn’t take the bait and ask what he had heard.

“Are you ever going to want to get married and have children? With me? I know you know how I feel about you, how that’s my plan for us, but I want you to commit to me. I need to hear you say that’s what you want. Before you left for Kentucky, I felt we were on our way toward matrimony, or at the very least, living together. You told me you loved me. Hell, you even hinted that we’d do something wild in Vegas. What’s changed? Did me getting hurt scare you?”

Turning around and looking at him was not something that was going to be easy. Sign language through a tinted glass wouldn’t have done, either. Whatever way she looked at it, the fact that she wasn’t ready to marry him would have to be conveyed. And children were not people she had ever imagined in the back seat of their car. Going home had changed her. It convinced her she was not in love with Darren. Not the love someone should feel when they say vows to one another.

“Darren, it did scare me when they called and said you were hurt. I never want anything bad to happen to you. You are someone very special to me.” She stood up from the bed. Flight was easier when the wings were in gear. “I don’t see children in my future. I guess it has something to do with how I was un-maternally raised, myself. Naturally, some might try to correct the mistake of feeling unwanted and have a child to smother with love. But I’m not one of them. I don’t want the responsibility of someone depending on me for life. I can’t even manage to make you dinner during your recovery.”

“Don’t let my mother’s comments get to you, Elise. You are a wonderful caregiver. A child would be lucky to have you for its mother.”

The smell of ammonia tickled her nose, signaling a melt-down. Was she PMS-ing? What was with all the tears? Couldn’t she just have a breakup moment without crying?

“I wouldn’t be too sure of that, Darren.” She went back around to his side and sat down next to him. “I think I need to leave.”

“I don’t want you to leave.” He held tight to her hand. “I can’t keep dragging this out. I thought I was ready to commit to you, but I’m not. And you deserve to be with someone who sees forever with you. All I see is tomorrow. I’m genetically challenged to see any farther. And I won’t bring my dysfunction to your future. It’s not fair to you. Besides, I think Stacy’s waiting for me to dissolve with water.”

“What?” he asked, genuinely clueless.

“Darren, you must know she has the extreme hots for you. Why else would she volunteer to take care of you today? There was no mix-up. The girl’s crazy about you. More importantly, your mother seemed not to devour her today when they sat nestled together before I arrived.”

“Elise.” She knew he wanted to say more. But there was nothing more to say. He couldn’t make her change the fingerprint of non-committal printed inside her. It would never grow to be any more than what it was. And for him, it just wasn’t enough.

She kissed him on the lips and held back the sadness that was coming at warp speed to the surface. “I do love you, Darren Masterson. You’ve been too good to me. And it’s my wish that someone is better to you.”

He watched as she gathered her clothes and zipped her case. She went in the bathroom to change. Looking around for the last time, she touched his cologne on the vanity. He would have made a wonderful husband if her heart wasn’t already spoken for.