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ETHAN: I miss you, Mommy.

JILLIEN: I miss you too, Bear.

ETHAN: Don’t call me that.

JILLIEN: Too bad, it’s my right as the one who gave birth to you.

ETHAN: I hate it. Mama Bear.

JILLIEN: I don’t hate it at all. I’ll take it all day, Bear.

ETHAN: MOOOOM. Stop.

JILLIEN: Go. Be polite, and tell your dad I said hello, but not in front of the new girlfriend. She already has too much to live up to.

ETHAN: DEAD.

ETHAN: You should go out and have fun. Take more pictures of that dope decorated house.

JILLIEN: OK. I will. The owner hates what I did and it’s glorious.

ETHAN: I love you, Mom.

JILLIEN: Love you too, sweetie.

I hear the back door open and let him know where I am. “I’m in here.” A woman shrieks. I stand and panic. What if it’s his boring New Year’s Eve hookup? Well, I’m putting a stop to this. I’m planting my flag. Jesus, I’m insane. I’ll just claim him like he’s an undiscovered country. I claim Liam in the name of The Jillybear Crackpot Nation. I’m losing it. It must be all the orgasms.

“Who is that, and what the hell has happened to my house?” Oh shit. My heart and stomach drop. I try to look presentable. I have zero way to explain why I’m here. And I certainly don’t have an explanation for the holiday ho red bra shining through my white blouse.

“Um. Hi, Bev. It’s Jillien. Jillien Meier—I mean, Thompson.” She enters the room quickly. Oh shit. I have no idea what to say to her.

“Jillien, dear? What on earth are you doing here?” She hugs me as she speaks.

I force out the answer. “I’m back.” I see her staring at my bra. It’s like a beacon screaming I fucked your son an hour ago. Can she smell it on me?

“Where’s Liam?” She grins, her lips curling up like the Grinch.

“I actually don’t know. He ran out and should be back any second. He needs to be back before six.”

“Did he do all these gaudy things?” She looks around the room, judging. A bit like Liam tried to do. Let it go, people, it’s just tinsel.

“No. He had no idea. I did it to make him laugh.”

She smirks and says, “Well done. The boy could use a little more frivolity in his life.” She pours herself a glass of white wine, then pours one for me. “Sit down, Jill.”

I do as I’m told. She sits across from me and Other Cat leaps in her lap instantly. Fucking traitor. She looks a little like a Bond villain as she sips and strokes the cat. She’s always been a no-nonsense woman.

“Well, it’s lovely to see you again,” I chirp.

“Jillien. I’ve known you most of your life.” She leans her head a little to the right. I don’t know where she’s going with this, but I’m nervous, and I wish Liam was here. “I’m going to be quite blunt with you.”

Oh shit. “I’d expect nothing less.” I brace for some kind of disapproval.

“And in return, I expect the same candor.” I shift in my seat and cross my ankles. I’d cross my legs, but I don’t know how much will be seen. I do not need to give this woman a reason to be looking at my thigh highs.

“Of course.” My stomach is in knots.

“Why can I see your cherry red bra? And furthermore, why are you sitting in my son’s house with it on display?”