2
He stood on the back porch fiddling with his tie.
"Stop that, Richard," his mother said as she approached. She reached for the offending slip of silk. "Let me."
"I can do it myself, mother," he said.
"Let her," Esposito said. "You haven't done any better."
"Hey!" he said, frowning, his nerves making him edgy.
She fussed for a moment, then lay her hand on his cheek, meeting his gaze. "She loves you. She won't care what your tie looks like."
"But the tie…"
"Looks better now," Ryan said, smirking.
He looked at them all, grateful for their support. "Thanks.
~&O&~