Mikey arrives at Roscoe's at around 12:30. He spots Jonathon at a table off to the side.

"Yo, Johny ma boy!"

"Mikey my man!" Jonathon stands up to greet his best friend in a hug.

As they sit, a waitress stops by to ask what they would like to have off the menu. They order a platter of ribs and glasses of sprite. The waitress looks oddly familiar to Mikey but he shrugs it off. Just one of those faces.

"So Raquel tells me that Chrissy came to see you last night" Jonathon begins.

"Uh... um... she did" Mikey says looking intensely at the menu even though they just ordered. "Did you know they have chicken wings?"

"What happened?"

"Hmmm must be a new item, quesadillas too? Wow!"

"Alright cut the crap, I know you guys had sex" Jonathon says snatching the menu from him.

"Lord help me! How did you know?!"

"Chrissy called Raquel crying this morning. She told Raquel, Raquel told me and now I need to talk to you. What happened? Why did you do it? Remember no vagina till your married."

"Ok father. I messed up. Sins of the flesh. Trust me it won't be happening again."

"It better not! What were you thinking? She broke your heart remember? Cheated remember?"

"I remember. It was a shock to me too, her coming over. And then she was crying, and then I just felt, stuff, for her that I thought I was over"

"Well clearly you aren't"

The waitress returns with their food. She places the platter between them and says she will be right back with their drinks but turns to attend to the table directly behind them. Her face, she's so familiar, but where have I seen her before? School? Church? No. Mikey ponders.

" Michael!" Jonathon shouts a little too loudly.

" Yes! Sorry, I was just thinking..."

" Tell me what happened after the forbidden fruit was eaten."

" Do you have to put it like that?" Mikey asks feeling guilty about his mistakes. " After she and I had sex... I don't know. I love her... She just..."

Behind them, glass shatters. He turns to see their waitress, picking up what would have been someone's order. She looks at him. Her expression saying she knows him and wasn't happy about it. What happened to her? She turns and runs in the direction of the kitchen. Poor girl must have been embarrassed.

Mikey turns to look at Jonathon who was devouring a piece of rib, meanwhile Mikey has barely but touched it. Who could have an appetite with all that has happened?

" She and Matt, are still together. They had a fight. She was just using me for the night. Claimed that she loved me."

" I'm sorry man. But that girl means no good. I'm just looking out for you. Making sure you don't end up breaking down again."

" I know. I appreciate it. But, there's more."

"Oh no."

Mikey fills Jonathan in on the situation with Cheyenne. He told him about how they are working together but still in competition and about the kiss. Then about how he avoided her all day today and the stares he has been getting.

"Well aren't you in some pile of shit." Jonathan says when Mikey finally finished. Jonathan looks at him with a mixture of confusion and pride on his face.

"It's a mess I know"

"I am just surprised how you went from mopey and no women, to two women in what, four days."

"I didn't ask for this."

"Well you're in it, so what's the plan?"

"I am gonna need God and some mission impossible type stuff to get me out. Plus I am eating with Caroline tonight"

" Ha ha! God go with you my brother." Mikey rolls his eyes at his friend.

...

OK Mikey, this is the plan. You go in, you smile. Make eye contact. Don't give anything away. Compliment her on her clothes and hair. Keep the conversation about work, nothing else. Mikey walks up the marble steps to the grand entrance double door entrance. He rings the doorbell. The door opens a minute later.

" Hello Michael! Give Momma a kiss"

" Hello mother" Mikey greets his mother and places a kiss on her jaw. He hands her the bouquet of flowers he bought spur of the moment before getting into the taxi. "You look beautiful as always, did you cut your hair".

" I did thanks for noticing." She sets the flowers in a ceramic vase in the foyer. "Come dinner will be ready at 7. I want to give you a tour".

She interlocks her arm in his and the walk towards the den as she describes every piece of new art work she purchased. The house is beautiful. It was very modern yet had a rustic charm to it with wooden floors, and bone white paint. She tells Mikey that the house has 6 bedrooms, 4 baths and a 3 car garage. Wow is that like 5000 square feet? It was surely a step up from the three bedroom he lived in. Only 1500 square feet. They walk up the stairs to view the bedrooms.

"This is beautiful." Mikey says but cannot help the sting of betrayal he feels walking through this new home of hers. It will never be my home.

" Isn't it? My realtor got it for a steal!"

" I bet he did" Mikey scowls.

" Come on Michael. I know you are upset that I sold the house. But I couldn't stay there by myself. Every inch of it reminded me of your father. I simply couldn't bare it." She says looking into her son's eyes. Mikey sighs.

" I suppose we all grieve in different ways". She nods and leads him back down the stairs, through the kitchen and onto the patio.

" This is where we will be eating". They take a seat at the table that was set up.

" Anna!" She calls out. A tiny lady with dark curly hair dressed in a black and white maid outfit walks out.

" Yes Mrs. Brooks?"

"Tell the chef, we are ready for the first course"

" Yes Mrs. Brooks."

A maid? A chef? I know dad left a few dollars for her as life insurance but it wasn't that much to afford all this? This house cost at least 8 million. Our house couldn't have sold for more than 3. Mikey knows this because of the payout he received after it was sold. She hasn't been working. Could it be her pension plan?

"Mother? Forgive me but how could you afford all of this?" Mikey inquires.

"Afford what darling?"

" This! The house, the maid and the chef? Plus I noticed the Audi R8 in the drive way."

She looks down at her hands. Her nervous habit that he inherited. She sighs and squares her shoulders.

"Michael darling, sometimes a woman does what she needs to do and.."

Anna returns with their first course. "May I present grilled chicken breast, yams kebab with a honey glaze".

"Thank you Anna." Mikey nods his head at her to show his gratitude as the plate is placed before him. She then pops the bottle of white wine and pours it for his mother. He refused his share.

"So, how was work?" She asks steering the conversation. Michael shakes his head. Fine. Remember the mission. Stay on track.

He describes all aspects of the job to her, leaving out the details about Cheyenne. Lord knows I cannot deal with that conversation. She pretends to be interested by nodding her head ever so often and adding a Mhmm here and there. But Mikey knows what she really wants to ask about. Chrissy.

"So, how are you?" she asks, almost seeming concerned about him.

"Me? I am ok. I only have work. That's it"

"Michael. I want you to know that I care about you. You are my son and though we don't see eye to eye most of the time, I still love you. I want you to be happy".

His breath hitches. Usually he doesn't sense this much sincerity from his mother. He knows she loves him but it's not always displayed... effectively. Maybe I should tell her what is happening, about Chrissy and Cheyenne. Maybe she could guide me? She's the only parent I have left. Okay, here goes nothing. Mikey inhales.

"Mother I have something to-"

"Caroline sweetheart" Mikey hears as a man walks onto the patio. He is dressed in a dapper black and white suit, his hair beginning to fade from dark brown to gray. Who is this guy? Caroline gets up to greet him. He kisses her on the cheek. What is going on here? Mikey thinks as he watches the man put an arm around his mother's waste. He looks at them incredulously. He then clears his throat. This cannot be happening.

"Michael, I would like you to meet Simon. Simon, this is my son Michael". Simon holds out his hand. Mikey stands and shakes it firmly looking the man dead in his eyes.

"Nice to meet you" the impostor says. Mikey does nothing more than look from Caroline to him. His hatred for the man already growing as he musters up the courage to ask...

"Caroline, who is this?"

The man looks down then looks at her, as if she holds all his hope. She clears her throat. " Well Michael, this is my boyfriend".

Mikey is shocked, his newest and worst fear coming through. How could she? Dad just died, not even a year ago. And here she is with this man! Her boyfriend?! His heart rate starts to increase. He is angry. How could she do this to my father to me?!

"Michael say something" she pleads.

"Um okay, how long have you known each other?"

"Only A month" The man says "I was her realtor, helped her sell that old creaky house, upgraded her to this one. Its great isn't it?"

Mikey couldn't help it anymore. How dare he insult my home! My father's home! How could she let him! Before he knew it, or could even stop himself. The fists that were balled up at his side connected with Simon's jaw in one swift motion.

"Michael!" he heard his mother call out. But it was too late. Simon stumbled backward, his face a look of shock. Caroline rushed to his side.

"Michael why did you do that? Simon honey are you ok?" Mikey looked at his mother crouched down beside this man. His face started to redden, his breathing was ragged. She looked at him and started to scold him. "Michael what is your problem?!" He had no answer. He looked from her to the man who was now standing with a bleeding lip, then back at his mother. Then he turned and walked out. That woman is no longer my mother.