"Can I see the ring, mother?" Grace asks as she comes back over to her mother. May extends her hand, with elegantly curved fingers, towards her daughter. "Oh, mother, it's stunning! Leo has very good taste! I never would have guessed!" Grace squeals as she looks at the ring.
"Oh, Grace, don't tease Leo so, though I have to say that he surprised me, too. He did a lovely job picking out my ring. I better go tuck the kids in." May says as she heaves herself out of her chair and winces as she puts weight on her bad ankle. Ever since her ankle had been broken during a mining accident it had never been the same. Her ankle has never healed properly and she's been walking with a cane since she was 35. May leaves the room and bumps in Robert who's sitting at the bottom of the stairs. "I'm surprised the children didn't run you over going up the stairs."
"They almost did." Robert says quietly. He reaches out to hold his mother's hand and gives it a tug. May sits down next to her youngest son and smoothes his hair back. Robert runs his hands over his face. "I'm sorry about my outburst, mother. I'm being selfish; if Mr McGinty makes you happy then I support you. I was thinking of father and I wasn't considering that not having my support could crush you. Maybe I'm just not being considerate enough overall. Toppy's so angry with me and I thought I'd alienated you too after what I said tonight. Mother, please forgive me for what I said earlier."
"You don't have to apologize, Robert. I know that you don't like to see someone replace your father, but that's not what's happening. I just want to be with someone who truly loves me. Please get to know Leo better. I know that you'll like him." May says as she pats Robert's back. May stands up.