Terry yawned as she walked into the kitchen where her mother was drinking coffee.
" Morning Mom," she greeted.
" Good morning."
" How was work last night? Tiring?," Terry asked as she grabbed a mug and a teabag.
" It usually is," her mother replied dryly. She sat up straight and looked at Terry for a minute as she poured hot water into her mug. " So how was your date?"
Terry stopped for a moment, then slowly stirred the teabag around. " It went fine. It was a lot of fun." Please don't say any more, she silently prayed.
" I see." She paused for a moment, then continued. " Terry, didn't I tell you that I didn't want you dating Isaac?"
Terry dropped the spoon in the sink. " Oh come on, Mom! For goodness sake, it was dinner and a movie!"
" I don't care what it was, I told you I didn't want you seeing him."
" I'm getting sick of you paranoia! You have no problem with me hanging out with him. What's wrong with a date? And I want a real answer!, " Terry demanded, angrily.
Her mother averted her eyes, as she said, " Because it will give that boy ideas. If you tell him you're just friends, then he'll know not to push his luck. The last thing either of us need is to find out you're pregnant or have some gross disease." Mrs. Mason drank the last of her coffee and stood up. " I don't want to hear anymore of this. I do not want you seeing him anymore. Is that understood?"
" But Isaac isn't like that," Terry pleaded."
" Teresa, no, you are not to date him anymore. I will not hesitate to press charges for stachitory rape if I feel it is necessary, is that understood?"
" Mom, you're being so stupid!"
" Teresa Joan Mason, don't you dare talk to me that way. Now is that understood?," her mother said sternly.
Terry cringed at her full name and sighed unhappily. " Yes," she muttered.
Satisfied, her mother picked up her car keys and walked out the front door.
" About as understood as if you had lapsed into Japanese," Terry said out loud.
She sat down at the table, sulking, knowing it was going to be even more difficult to see Isaac now, but she certainly wasn't going to stop. Then she recalled the way her mom had avoided looking at her and sipped her tea thoughtfully. What was her mother hiding?
" So Isaac, how did your date with Terry go last night?," Taylor asked as he climbed on the top bunk.
" It would have been great if it hadn't been for that stupid Andrea," Isaac muttered.
" Huh?"
" You remember that flirty chick from McDonalds that I told you about?"
" Oh yeah, her."
" Well she showed up at the restaurant I took Terry to."
" Ouch. I bet that went well with Terry."
" I think she understood, she usually does. But I feel so bad that Andrea had to spoil part of the evening."
" Sorry, Isaac, but at least in the end Terry had a good time."
" Yeah, I think she did. I know I did. She's just so wonderful to be around," Isaac smiled happily. Then he brightened. " Hey, I have an idea! I'll do something special for her tonight."
" What is it?"
Isaac jumped down from the bunk without answering. " I have to go to the store. Want to come?"
" No thanks, I'm waiting for Maddy to come over."
Isaac shrugged. " Suit yourself."
" Hey Maddy, are you okay?"
" What?," she said, looking up at Taylor.
" You didn't seem to be watching the movie. If you want to watch something else we can."
" Oh, no, the movie's fine," Maddy said, looking at her hands.
Taylor put his arm around her and pulled her close. " Then what's wrong? You seem so out of it today."
Maddy leaned into him and shook her head. " I'm sorry, I've just been thinking."
" Is there a problem? You can always talk to me."
She gave a small smile. " I know I can. It's just that I have something to tell you and it's not good."
Taylor pulled away from her with a feeling dread. " Are you breaking up with me?"
Maddy shook her head emphatically. " No Taylor, it's not like that. Breaking up is the last thing I want to do."
" Then what? You're starting to make me a little nervous."
" Well, it's my dad's job. He got a promotion. In Phoenix."
Taylor sat back as the realization sank in. " You mean you're moving?"
" In two weeks," Maddy said, a tear falling from her eye.
" Oh Maddy, don't cry," Taylor said, pulling her into his embrace as she began to sob. " Hey, we'll work something out, all right? I love you, we'll be okay."
But he knew in his heart that they wouldn't be.
