Reflections Chapter 58- The Mother Load, a castle fanfic

Authors Note: Sorry for the delay with this chapter; as many of you know, I took a whole month just to focus on reworking, editing and reposting Redemption and then real life has been in the way as well. It also doesn't help when the words won't cooperate when you do have the time! Ugh. For those asking about The Visitors; I'm working on it, it's started but it's being stubborn and I just have to get that chapter right as it's an important visitor that Jo is having. I'll get there, don't worry. As always, thanks for your reviews.

Chapter 58- The Mother Load-Part 1

"I don't know why you can't stay with me as planned," Jim complained Friday night as he followed Johanna into her apartment.

"I told you why," she replied as she kicked her shoes off. "My mother is coming over in the morning."

"What does that have to do with tonight?"

Johanna sighed. "My mother gets up early; chances are, she'll be here at eight and it would probably be nice if I'm home when she gets here."

"I can have you back here at six," he remarked.

"I don't want to have to get up at five and shower and get ready to come home, are you crazy?"

"Apparently so," Jim replied as he kicked off his shoes under the coffee table and flopped down on her couch. "Why can't she just meet you at my place?"

Johanna glanced at him as she sat down next to him. "I didn't think that would be such a good idea."

"Why not?"

She gave a half hearted shrug. "She doesn't know that I stay at your place every other weekend."

"It's not like we're doing something wrong," he replied.

"I know…but she's…old fashioned, I guess. I don't think she'd like meeting me at my boyfriend's apartment."

"Why? It's not a big deal."

"Jim; have you ever met a mother before?" she asked, a note of exasperation in her voice.

He gave a short laugh. "I've met mine."

"Yeah; so have I…and I can just imagine the stroke she'd have if she had to meet you here at my place."

"Yeah but my mother is…different, to say the least," Jim said. "I don't want you to feel like you can't have people around when you're at my place. Your mother is welcome to meet you there, she can call you there…I don't want you to feel like you have to hide something just because my mother blew a gasket."

"It's not that I'm hiding us…it's just awkward."

"Why?"

"Why do you have so many questions?" Johanna asked. "Are your nieces and nephews rubbing off on you?"

"Probably…and really, I probably wouldn't be asking so many questions if we were at my place…I'm sure we would've found other things to do."

"Is that your thinly veiled hint that I'm taking too long to move into the bedroom?"

"Not at all, sweetheart; I can wait," he said as he propped his feet on the coffee table and grabbed the remote from the stand. "The question is still on the table though."

"It's awkward because…it is," she replied, her hands fluttering in agitation.

Jim smiled, he loved to watch her hands, sometimes they told more about her than her expression or tone of voice. She could mask her expressions, she could neutralize her tone, but she couldn't control the way her hands sometimes conveyed her inner feelings. Awkwardness brought about a fluttering of her hands; nerves brought shaking, he could tell when she was angry just by the way she gripped a glass or the way she held a knife or pen. When she was calm and relaxed, her hands were still; when they were lost in a moment, her hands could move with a mixture of gentleness, teasing, and seduction.

"Because it is, isn't much of an answer," he stated, shaking off his thoughts of her hands; too much thinking about any part of her could send him down a road where conversation would be put on hold or forgotten.

"Well it's the one I have at the moment. It was bad enough when my father knew you were in my bedroom that night he came here after I confronted him at the Blue Moon Club."

"That was probably awkward because you were hiding me; you told me to stay put," Jim reminded her.

"It wasn't a good time for introductions, Jim."

He nodded. "You're right; the timing was bad."

"Anyway," she said, hoping to stay off the topic of her father; "I just think it would be best if I meet my mother here. It's nothing personal; I'm not hiding you…I just don't want to make certain things obvious."

He laughed a little. "Do you really think she doesn't know that we sleep together?"

Johanna glared at him. "I'm sure she suspects it but I don't have to put the proof in front of her either, now do I?"

"So I guess this means I can't spend the night with you?"

A soft sigh crossed her lips as she moved close to him and curled up against his side. "You can stay."

"But?" he chuckled.

"But nothing; I said you could stay."

He brushed a kiss against her head. "I'll be gone by seven."

Johanna took his hand, a feeling of remorse filling her. "You don't have to leave early…it would feel awkward meeting her in your apartment but seeing you in mine might not be as awkward."

"I'll still go early," he assured; not wanting her to feel ill ease about him still being there when her mother arrived, he had a feeling the idea probably gave her flashbacks of when his mother had walked in on her and he couldn't blame her for wanting to exercise caution where mothers were concerned.

"You don't have to do that," she replied. "I don't want you to feel like I'm hiding you because I'm not; I…I'm…well, I guess I'm weird," she finally managed to say.

He smiled and gave her a squeeze. "You're not weird, sweetheart; you're just not ready for some things and I'm sure you have your reasons."

Johanna squirmed slightly; she didn't want Jim to think she didn't want him there, she did and he could stay; it might be odd for a few moments but she could deal with it. "I don't want you to go; stay," she said quietly. "It's just my mother; you've met her several times."

"You probably shouldn't let her hear you calling her 'just your mother'," he said lightly.

"Probably not," she agreed. "But still; I feel like I somehow gave you the wrong idea and I don't want that."

"You didn't; don't worry about it; you don't want your mother to think we're living together, which we're not…we just stay together on the weekends."

"And Wednesday nights," Johanna added. "And sometimes other random days of the week."

"We're still not living together; we both have our own place…we just have some of our own things at each one."

"I know that," she remarked.

"Then what's the problem?"

Johanna sighed. "I don't have a problem; I just feel stupid."

"You're not stupid."

She wasn't sure how to handle this topic; she wasn't even sure why it felt like it had become a big deal. Silence felt like the best option to her and she shifted a bit to curl up against him more snugly and focused her attention on the television.

Jim stayed quiet as he pondered the situation they currently found themselves in…if it could be considered a situation that was…but he supposed in some small way it was as he felt like Johanna sometimes held back where her family was concerned. She had no problem talking about them with him…and if thrust into an unplanned situation where they had to share air space with a member of her family, she did fine…as long as no one said anything to make her cringe. She didn't make much effort to physically include him in that part of her life…but then again, he'd never pressed her to or given her a hint that the idea might be appreciated. He didn't believe for a moment that she was ashamed of him or their relationship; there was too much evidence to the contrary for that. He didn't think that she was worried about him embarrassing her. Her reluctance always seemed to carry the air of protectiveness…she was trying to shield and protect him from something, what it was, he didn't know…although he had a few ideas. Whatever it was, he had a feeling it wasn't as bad as she anticipated but clearly it worried her…and maybe he hadn't been making the right kind of effort in that area to encourage her and ease her fears.

Maybe he needed to make a gesture; show her that he was more interested than he probably led her to believe. If he wanted her to be comfortable including him in her family life, then he had to show that he could include her family in his life. An idea formed in his mind and held her a little tighter as he broke the silence. "What do you and your mother have planned for tomorrow?"

Johanna shrugged. "I don't know really; I figure we'll go out to lunch, go to a few stores…I know she wants me to drive her to the airport to pick up Dad but his plane doesn't get in until five."

"How about I take you and your mom to lunch tomorrow," Jim suggested.

"Why?" she asked; the question catching her off guard.

He laughed a little. "I thought it might be nice."

Her brow rose as she shifted a little to see him better. "Are you sure about that?"

He nodded. "You have a nice mother; she doesn't call me names…unlike my mother when it comes to you…at least to my knowledge."

"She doesn't call you names or make false assumptions about you," Johanna remarked.

"Good; I don't want her thinking poorly of me," he quipped.

"She doesn't."

"Well then we should take her to lunch tomorrow…she should know me better."

A teasing glint lit up her eyes. "Why's that?"

He smiled a little. "Because you're her favorite child and she should know that you're in good hands."

"I've already assured her of that."

"There's no harm in driving home the point," he answered. "Besides, we've had lunch with her before…and she held back on the 'what are your intentions with my daughter' speech."

"So you want to have lunch so she can delve into that?" Johanna asked.

He grinned. "It might score me some points with her."

"I didn't realize that you were worried about scoring points with my mother."

"It's not that I was worried…it just never hurts to win over the mother."

Johanna gave a short laugh. "I guess I failed in that assignment."

Jim pressed a kiss to her head. "I think it's different for women; but anyway, I think we should have lunch together, with your mother, so she can get used to being around us as a couple…maybe that would help take away that awkward feeling if she sees us here together or if she'd need to meet you or call you at my place."

She smiled a little. "You're willing to go through the trouble to try to make the awkwardness go away?"

"It's for you, it's no trouble," he replied sincerely. "I'll be very happy to treat you both to lunch; to make it easier and less awkward feeling, the two of you can meet me at the restaurant…what do you say?"

There was really only one answer she could give, Johanna thought to herself; it was such a sweet gesture that he was willing to spend time with her and her mother…and really the idea didn't bother her. Maybe it would be nice…maybe her mother should know Jim better, after all, they were in a very serious relationship. It would be fine…maybe even nice and she was sure her mother would think it was sweet as well.

"You're thinking awfully hard," Jim commented lightly.

"I am not," she replied; "But in answer to your question; I think it sounds very nice."

"Do you think your mother will be okay with it?"

Johanna nodded. "I'm sure she'll be fine with it; we were going to go out anyway."

"Where should we go?" he asked. "Pick a place she likes a lot."

"She's always loved Dominic's for lunch."

"Then we'll go there…and oddly enough, that's always been a favorite of my mother too," Jim commented.

"That's not a bad omen is it?"

He shook his head. "Of course not, sweetheart; this lunch is going to be perfectly nice, you'll see; I'll make your mother love me, I promise."

Johanna laughed. "I don't think that's going to be hard to do."

"You don't think so?"

"No, not at all."

"Why are you so sure?"

She smiled as she shifted and situated herself on his lap. "Because you're very loveable…I should know, I love you…and adore you."

Jim caught her lips in a sweet kiss. "Are you sweet talking me?" he teased.

"I meant every word," she answered.

Amusement lit up his eyes. "I think I'm going to need you to prove it to me."

A smirk touched her lips. "Somehow I had a feeling you were going to go there."

"Occupational hazard," he replied. "You know you want to prove your case to me, sweetheart."

She laughed softly as she got off his lap and stood, holding her hand out to him. "Shall we take this case into chambers where we can have an in-depth discussion about it?"

"You read my mind, Miss McKenzie," Jim said as he rose and brought her hand to his lips for a kiss. "I admire your professionalism."

"I do pride myself on it," she teased as they headed for her bedroom. "We'll have to see how you fare during the mediation."

"I have no doubt that you'll be impressed with my professionalism in the matter," he told her.

Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "I guess we'll see about that."

"Johanna, what are these?" Naomi asked late the next morning as she picked up a slim pack of pills that had been lying on the kitchen counter.

Johanna blanched slightly, cursing herself for forgetting to shove her birth control pills into a drawer that morning.

"It's nothing, Mom," she said as she snatched the pack from her mother's hand and shoved it into the drawer where she kept first aid items for kitchen accidents.

"It's not nothing," her mother replied as she opened the drawer and took the pack back out. "This is a prescription," she said in concern. "Is something wrong? Are you sick?"

"No, I'm not sick. I'm perfectly fine."

"Were you sick recently?"

"No, Mom."

"Then why do you have a prescription?" Naomi asked as she looked at the label on the pack. "It was just filled a few days ago."

Johanna sighed, she didn't want her mother to know this story and she felt like her back was against the wall. "Mom, I swear to you that I'm fine."

"Then tell me what these are," Naomi said with a touch of worry and agitation coloring her tone.

Johanna breathed deeply, her eyes squeezing shut as she dreaded saying the words that formed on her tongue…and bracing for the inevitable argument. "They're birth control pills, Mom."

Naomi's eyes widened and she dropped the pack back into the drawer as if it was carrying the plague. "Johanna Elizabeth, why on earth would you be using those things! We're Catholic, we don't believe in that!"

"You don't believe in it," she replied. "I do."

"You're going against the Church!"

"The church doesn't have anything to do with it; they don't get to dictate the medical decisions I make. It's my body and my choice."

"You're playing God with those pills!" Naomi proclaimed.

She rolled her eyes. "No I'm not…and I don't believe for one moment that God has a problem with these pills; after all, he had to be the one to give the idea to some scientist, right?"

Naomi's lips pursed in unhappiness. "It doesn't make it right."

"Mom, they do a little more than just prevent conception."

"I don't care what they do, I want to know what a daughter of mine is doing taking them? You're messing with the natural function of your body…going against what the church taught you."

"Quite frankly, Mom, I don't agree with some of the church's teachings. Some things are none of their damn business. Like I said, they do more than prevent pregnancy; they also help stabilize your period. I have a stressful job and sometimes it makes me late and I'm miserable…of course I'm miserable when I'm not late too but there is a slight elevation in the misery when I'm late."

"Monthlies are supposed to be miserable, Johanna. It's your body's way of housecleaning and it's the one time a month when you have an excuse to be less than your best and say things you wouldn't normally say!"

She laughed a little. "Are you having a monthly; you seem a little hormonal at the moment."

Naomi narrowed her eyes at her. "You know very well that I no longer have monthlies. As for your excuse for those pills, you've never had trouble with your periods before…has something changed?"

"No, nothing's changed."

"Then why would you, a girl who hates going to the doctor, pop into a doctor's office and ask to be put on birth control pills?"

"What does it matter?"

"Because, I want to understand what would make you do this."

Johanna sighed. "I haven't committed a crime, Mom."

"I don't like knowing you're on these things, Johanna. I don't think you should be taking them."

"Well I think I should be."

"Why?" her mother asked in desperation. "It's not natural."

Johanna leaned back against the counter, her arms crossed over her chest. "I'm taking the pills because I don't want to get pregnant right now."

Her mother looked at her with wide eyes, surprise coloring her face. Johanna blew out a breath, her head dipping slightly, thinking about the comment she had made to Jim the night before about not putting the evidence in front of her mother's face even though she was sure she suspected the exact nature of her relationship. But maybe she was wrong; maybe her mother didn't suspect it…or wouldn't fully allow herself to believe it. "Surely it shouldn't surprise you."

"What shouldn't surprise me?"

She met her mother's eye reluctantly. "Mom…I'm in a very serious relationship… I love him and he loves me…and it probably shouldn't surprise you that I'm sleeping with him."

Naomi cringed. "Do you have to say it like that?!"

Johanna threw her hands up in exasperation. "It could've been worse; I could've said it shouldn't surprise you that I'm having sex with my boyfriend."

"Don't say that word!" her mother admonished.

She couldn't help but laugh. "Why not; you've said it…but there was a bottle of Jack Daniels on the table at the time so…"

"Oh hush!" Naomi said, a blush staining her cheeks. "I don't want to know these things."

"Then you shouldn't have kept insisting," Johanna replied. "Believe me; I didn't want you to know that I'm on the pill. I know how you feel about it but I don't want any surprises I'm not ready for at the moment."

Her mother scrubbed her hands over her face. "There are other ways, dear."

"Yes I know, we have condoms."

"I don't want to hear this!" Naomi cried.

"You're the one who brought it up; trust me, I never would have."

Her mother looked at the pack of pills in the drawer and sighed in disgust. "I guess if you're taking such drastic measures it only means one thing."

"What's that?"

"You don't intend to give me grandchildren," her mother said sadly.

"That's not true," Johanna said as she pushed away from the counter. "I'm not going to take those pills forever, one day I'll go off of them and have a baby…when I'm ready."

Her mother scoffed. "People who talk like that are never ready; they never find that magical moment they're looking for. Babies aren't supposed to be planned; they're supposed to happen spontaneously. None of my children were planned."

"That may be," Johanna replied; "But I doubt you were…you know…before you were married."

"Well of course not!" Naomi exclaimed. "If Frank McKenzie wanted something from me, he had to marry me to get it!"

It was Johanna's turn to cringe. "Well, Mom; things are different now; this isn't the 1940s anymore."

"Well maybe it should be; maybe some of those so called old fashioned morals should've been kept in place."

The comment stung a little as she smoothed her skirt. "So what are you saying, you don't think I have morals because I'm on birth control and I have an intimate relationship with the man I love and hope to spend my life with?"

Naomi shook her head. "No; of course not; I know you have morals; I raised you…I just don't believe in using those pills, Johanna. What if they do something to you that prevents you from having children one day?"

Johanna shook her head. "That's not going to happen; if they thought there was a chance of that happening they wouldn't put them on the market. They've been around for several years now, Mom; they're not going to hurt me…and I promise to do everything I can to provide you with a grandchild one day but that day isn't going to be today…or next week."

"Does Jim know you take those things?"

"Yes he does," she said with a nod. "We had a very serious talk about it, because I wasn't on them when we first started dating. We were doing our best to be careful but I felt it best if we had that extra…protection. He told me I didn't have to take them, that we'd try to be more careful than we already were; he knows I'm Catholic and he would've understood but I told him I was okay with it and I wanted to do this for us…I didn't want us to have to worry."

"Why would you be worrying anyway?" her mother asked as she dropped into a kitchen chair. "You're young; I thought in this day and age young people were spontaneous and didn't worry much about those things."

Johanna crossed the kitchen and sat down at the table. "I worry because I want to keep him…we've had a few bumps along the way but we get through them and we get stronger and better…and I feel like we're in a really good place right now, like we've somehow gotten even closer, that our relationship has deepened in some way. I don't want an unplanned pregnancy to derail that; we're not married…some of those old fashioned ideals you speak of are still out there you know, I'd be judged harshly by a lot of people and I think it would be a strain on my relationship. It just felt like the best decision for us right now."

Naomi gave a nod. "If you feel it's the right thing for you to do, then I suppose I have to accept that."

"Yeah, I guess you do," Johanna remarked. "I didn't want to tell you…I didn't want you to know."

"I know; that'll teach me to be nosy."

She smiled a little. "I'm sorry, Mom."

"For what?"

"I don't know," she said with a shrug. "I guess if I've disappointed you somehow."

"You haven't disappointed me…it's just that…you're my little girl," Naomi said softly. "I know you're grown up; I know you're in a relationship…I know that when people are in a relationship they want to express their love…would I prefer you to be married, yes; but I know that in these modern times that your relationship is completely normal and that a lot of young women probably use the pill now…it's just…you're my little girl…and there are some things I don't like to know…and those other young women aren't my daughter."

"I understand that," Johanna replied. "I didn't want to know about Grandma and 'Uncle' Giovanni either but you told me."

"Believe me, I didn't want to know about your grandmother and Giovanni either…I feel like she's cheating on my father."

"I get that," her daughter answered. "When that mess with Dad was going on, I was going to punch him myself if it was what we thought."

Naomi shifted in her seat. "Sometimes I still want to punch him when I think about that stunt he was pulling."

"I don't blame you."

Naomi sighed. "I guess it's just hard for mothers to accept some things."

"I know," Johanna replied. "It's not any easier for daughters either apparently…let's not forget that you mentioned details of your sex life before…when that bottle of Jack was on the table."

"I apologize; normally I wouldn't have."

"I know…but there was a problem and you needed to talk about it. You always said we could tell each other anything."

"You're a lawyer, you should've read the fine print," Naomi quipped. "I'm sure some things were on a need to know basis only."

Johanna laughed. "Well now we both know."

"Yes we do," her mother replied; "And it makes me wish I was drunk."

"Me too," she admitted. "But we can have wine with lunch; maybe that will ease the pain."

"I don't know if lunch is such a good idea now," Naomi remarked. "I don't know if I can look at him now knowing what's going on in your relationship."

"Mom!" she exclaimed; "You look at Paul and he's sleeping with Colleen."

"That's different; they're married."

"I hate to tell you this but they were sleeping together before they were married…and Colleen's been around the block more than I have in the big scheme of things."

Naomi sighed. "Why doesn't that surprise me?" she muttered. "I don't want to know but at the same time it doesn't surprise me and that sounds terrible."

"No it doesn't," she assured; "But we should get going, Jim's waiting for us…we can't bail on him; it was his idea, you know."

"So you've mentioned," Naomi replied. "You just haven't told me why."

She shrugged. "I think he wants you to like him."

Naomi's brow rose. "Do you think he's thinking of proposing?"

"No!"

"Then why should he worry if I like him or not?"

"Because you're my mother and I love you and you're important to me…and if you're important to me, then you're important to him."

"Sounds like he's thinking of proposing."

"He's not; believe me, there will be no proposal at lunch or anytime in the near future."

"You don't know that."

"I'm pretty sure I do but that's beside the point. Jim knows I like to spend more time with you when Dad is out of town but he asked me to lunch and I told him I had planned to spend the day with you until it was time to pick Dad up at the airport. He said he'd like to take us both to lunch."

"He'd probably much rather take just you; and you can go on without me, I don't mind. I don't want to be tagging along on your date."

Johanna frowned. "We didn't have a date; it was his idea to take both of us. I just figured he wanted to show that he cares about my family because I sometimes spend time with him and his family. What's with you today? Why are you being prickly?"

Naomi sighed. "I had words with my sister and I miss my husband."

"Dad will be home tonight," she replied. "He's gone out of town before and it didn't seem to bother you."

Her mother glanced at her. "That doesn't mean I didn't miss him," she said tartly. "You'll understand one day when your husband goes on a business trip and leaves you home alone."

"I'm sorry," Johanna replied. "I didn't mean to imply that you never miss him. I've tried to come over as much as I could this week to keep you from being lonely; Colleen and Frankie have been by too."

"It's not the same; you don't understand."

"Okay; I don't like the thought of the 'you're not married so you don't understand anything' lecture that seems to be rearing its head from that statement so let's go with the other one. What are you and Aunt Rita fighting about now?"

"Same thing as always."

She sighed. "Not Nona's sapphire ring again."

Naomi nodded as she glanced at the ring on her hand. "She just can't get over that it was left to me and not her."

"Then it must really piss her off that I got the diamond."

"Oh it does; at the time, she was livid saying a teenage girl had no need for that kind of jewelry."

"Is she not aware that Dad only allowed me to wear it on my 16th birthday and that other than that it was locked in the safe and he didn't give it to me until I was living here in my own place?"

"She knows but she doesn't care. She wanted the sapphire ring; in her mind, I should've gotten the diamond and she should've gotten the sapphire because it's her birthstone, and just between us, probably because she knows that ring is worth money and she wants to flash it around Brooklyn and act like a queen. She was asking to borrow it again…and as always, I said no; because I know if I let her borrow it, I'll never see it again."

"It's your ring, you have the right to say no," Johanna remarked. "I probably should've guessed that the issue had come up again when I saw the ring on your finger; you don't usually wear it as every day jewelry unless you've been fighting with Rita about it, but really, you have every right to tell her no. If Colleen asked to borrow the diamond I'd tell her no."

"I know…it's just that your aunt Rita drives me crazy sometimes."

"I know the feeling; you did bless me with a sister after all."

"Not on purpose," Naomi replied. "Colleen was a surprise"

"If you'd had birth control pills you wouldn't have been surprised like that."

"I'd rather have the surprise. I wouldn't trade your sister for anything and neither would you."

"That depends on what day it is and I'm sure Grandma wouldn't trade Aunt Rita either…and neither would you."

Naomi frowned at her daughter. "Don't be a smart ass."

"I'm not; just stating facts."

"Well stop it."

"Okay," Johanna sighed. "If you're not feeling up to lunch you can bail; I'll call and see if I can catch Jim before he leaves; if not, I'll call the restaurant and leave him a message."

Naomi glanced at her daughter, noting the slight tinge of disappointment in her voice as she had spoken. "Would it bother you if I didn't go?"

Johanna pasted a smile on her face. "Of course not," she lied. "I highly doubt having lunch with us is high on your list of things you want to do."

The warning bells went off in Naomi's head; to decline the lunch invitation that had been issued by her daughter's young man would be an affront to her child. She couldn't shun the invitation just because she was having a small bout of the blues; after all she'd had lunch with Colleen and Paul before…Frankie and Valerie too if memory served. Jim was important to Johanna; he was the man she loved, the one she admitted that she hoped to spend her life with. She had to go; perhaps wedding bells were starting to form in the young man's mind and if that was the case then she should get to know him better if he wanted to be her future son-in-law…and besides, she could already see the shift in Johanna's demeanor, the mild look of hurt forming in her eyes and the furrow of her brow suggesting that she was mentally reviewing all the times that her mother had shared a meal with her siblings and their significant others. No, she couldn't decline; she couldn't hurt her daughter's feeling or offend the man who so graciously offered to spend time with both of them. She had no good reason to say no anyway.

"There's no need to call Jim," Naomi remarked as Johanna rose from her chair to go place her calls. "I'll go."

"You don't have to if you don't want to," Johanna replied. "I don't know why he thought up this idea anyway, it's probably silly. It's not like we're engaged or anything. We can go do something else or if you want some time to yourself before Dad gets home, I get that and I won't be offended."

Naomi smiled a little; her eldest girl had inherited her habit of rambling during uncomfortable situations. "It's not a silly thing at all…maybe he wants to get to know the family better…it isn't like you bring him around much. Maybe he is thinking of a proposal in the future."

"Mom, if you go, please don't mention anything about marriage proposals. Jim gets a little uptight if he thinks he's being pressured about something."

"I won't mention it, dear…and it isn't the first time we've all had lunch together; you did bring him to the house that one time."

"I know."

"So why do you look so worried all of a sudden?"

Johanna sighed. "Your reluctance probably made me nervous."

"I'm sorry, dear," Naomi said sincerely. "Everything will be fine, I promise."

"No embarrassing childhood stories."

"Word of honor, Bambina."

Johanna gave a nod. "Okay…I'm ready if you are."

"I'm ready," her mother replied as she got up from the table; let's go have lunch with your young man."

Johanna suppressed a sigh, why did she suddenly wish that her 'young man' hadn't suggested this?

Jim was biding his time as he sat at a table at the restaurant, waiting on Johanna and her mother; his gaze shifting between the window by their table and the door at the front of the restaurant. Maybe he should've picked them up…it might've made a better impression…but Johanna had mentioned that they were going to shop and roam the city so maybe it was best that they meet him. He blew out a breath and gave a slight shake of his head. Why was something so trivial bothering him? More to the point, why was he feeling slightly nervous? He'd met Naomi several times before; this wasn't any big deal. So why did it feel like a slightly big deal? He wasn't sure he wanted to ponder that question so he pushed it to the back of his mind…or at least he tried to.

He couldn't deny it, but he did want this lunch to go well; not only to show Johanna that he was open to including her family in their life as a couple, but also to show Naomi that he was taking care of her daughter, making an effort to be in every part of her life…that he was a good guy, worthy of her daughter…that he intended to stick around. Jim wasn't sure why this simple idea of lunch had suddenly come to mean so much, but it did, and he had to accept that to be able to get past that slight feeling of nerves. Everything was going to be fine; there was no reason to worry.

Jim's gaze flicked back to the window; searching for his lunch date, wishing that Johanna would appear soon and spare him the company of his thoughts. He heard the squeak of the restaurant door opening and he looked toward it, finally rewarded with the sight of Johanna stepping across the threshold. He smiled, watching as she pulled off her sunglasses and shoved them into her purse before fussing with her hair; smoothing back a few windblown strands as her mother stepped into place beside her. He rose from his seat as Johanna scanned the restaurant for him, his heart quickening as a smile broke across her lips as her eyes met his. She turned to speak to her mother and then took hold of Naomi's coat sleeve and dragged her along with her. Puzzlement flicked across Jim's features as he sensed something was off between the two women as they made their way toward him.

"Sorry we're a little late," Johanna said as she reached him. "There something going on a few blocks away that had the roads blocked."

"That's alright, sweetheart," he told her, giving her a quick kiss. "You're here now."

"Finally," she said with a sigh as she began to unbutton her coat.

An alarm bell went off in his head but he ignored it as he turned his attention to her mother. "Hello, Naomi."

Naomi's gaze flicked to his for only a moment, a small smile touching her lips. "Hello, Jim; it's nice to see you again."

Another alarm bell went off in his head…she didn't sound like it was all that good and from the way she and Johanna seemed to be avoiding chit chat with each other, he wondered if perhaps they had an argument…and if they had, had it been about joining him for lunch?

"I'm glad Johanna could talk you into coming," Jim said, a feeling of awkwardness taking over as he pulled out a chair for Johanna and then repeated the gesture for Naomi.

Another small smile appeared on Naomi's lips but she didn't meet his gaze as she took her coat off and hung it on the back of the chair. "She didn't have to do much talking," she replied. "Thank you for inviting me, although I'm sure you'd much rather have her to yourself."

He wasn't sure how to respond to that but he figured that he better make an attempt anyway. "Johanna and I have lunch together all the time; it's nice to have company sometimes…I know how to share."

"That's good to know," Naomi replied as she picked up a menu.

Jim glanced at Johanna, hoping to find an answer in her eyes but she only smiled…a tense smile, one he'd seen before. Before he could open his mouth to ask what was wrong, the waitress appeared at the table to take their order for drinks.

"Should we have wine?" Johanna asked her mother.

"No; you'll be driving again after lunch," Naomi answered. "I won't have any either. I'll just have iced tea."

Johanna nodded. "I'll have the same."

Jim ordered a soda and watched as the waitress scurried away, promising to be back in a minute with their drinks and to take their order for their food. He glanced at the quiet women across from him and felt his nervousness return…quiet women were never a good sign. "Jo; where's your father at, I don't think you mentioned it," he asked, trying to make small talk.

"He's in Boston on business," she answered. "He's been there all week but he'll be home this evening."

Jim gave Naomi a smile as he looked toward her. "I'm sure you'll be glad to see him."

She nodded. "I always am."

"The real question is, will he be happy to see me standing at the gate with you at the airport," Johanna remarked, her fingers toying with a napkin.

"Your father is always happy to see you, Johanna. I'm sure he assumes you'll be with me; he knows I don't like driving in that area, especially in the evening."

"What are you going to get for lunch, Jo?" Jim asked as he picked up the menu and opened it.

"I'm going to get a salad and a sandwich," she replied.

"No fires?" he chuckled.

Johanna smiled. "I'm saving those for dinner. What are you getting?"

"Steak," he answered. "I saw the waitress taking a steak to someone a few tables behind us and it made me want one."

"Naomi; what would you like?"

"I'll probably just have a salad," she replied.

"You can have more than that; it's my treat," Jim said lightly.

"I appreciate that but I won't take advantage of your generosity," Naomi replied.

Johanna glanced at her. "I thought you said you were going to get soup to warm you up because you've been chilly all morning."

"I changed my mind," she answered. "A salad will be fine…I might get a sandwich too; we'll see what comes out of my mouth when the waitress comes back."

Jim noticed that tension was beginning to form in Johanna's jaw line but before he could bite the bullet and ask what was wrong, the waitress arrived with their drinks and was ready to take their order.

Once the waitress finished taking their order and had hurried on her way, Jim decided he may as well dive in and sort out whatever was wrong between his lunch dates.

"Is something wrong?" he asked as he met Johanna's gaze.

"No more than usual," she replied with a sigh and a wry half smile.

"Meaning what?"

Her gaze dipped to the glossy surface of the table as she picked up the glass of iced tea she had ordered. "You don't want to know."

"Jo," he prodded; noting that her mother was avoiding his gaze as well.

"She found my pills," she muttered quietly.

Confusion flicked across his features. "What pills?"

Johanna gave him a pointed look. "You know what pills."

Understanding dawned in his eyes. "Oh, those."

"Yeah; the only ones I have."

Jim reached for his glass of soda, wishing it was something stronger as he suddenly felt uneasy. "That's nice," he said with a hint of sarcasm. "That doesn't make this awkward at all."

"Shut up," Johanna muttered, bumping his foot under the table.

"You left them on the kitchen counter again, didn't you?" he asked as he studiously avoided looking at Naomi.

"Yes," she replied with an air of exasperation.

"I told you to put them away."

"If I put them away then I forget to take it," she retorted. "It's still new to my routine."

"Put them away, I'll remind you."

"You should," Naomi remarked. "You're the reason she's taking them."

Johanna wasn't sure whose face burned with shame more, hers or Jim's.

"I'm sorry," Jim said; feeling like it was the only thing he could say.

"Oh I'm sure you are sorry that we're having this discussion," Naomi replied. "But I doubt you're sorry for the rest."

Jim squirmed slightly. "It's put me off the idea for awhile if that's any consolation."

"Good," Naomi said; "Then she won't have to worry about missing one while she learns to remember them without them being in plain sight."

"Mom!" Johanna hissed quietly.

"Well, I'm not thrilled to know what I know, Johanna Elizabeth," her mother retorted.

"Then don't be nosy about what's on my kitchen counter," Johanna shot back. "It's not like I wanted you to know."

"Ladies," Jim said; hoping he could head of what he figured was round two of their argument. "Let's just pretend that we didn't have these discussions, okay?"

"I wish I could forget," Johanna muttered.

"That makes two of us," Naomi stated as she picked up her glass of tea.

"Let's just call it unanimous all around," Jim remarked. "Is there anything else I need to know about today?"

"Not unless you want me to tell you that I think we picked the wrong day for this," Johanna said regretfully.

"That figures," he replied, a weighted breath crossing his lips. "That seems to be how our luck runs when we delve into family stuff."

"Isn't that the truth?" his girlfriend replied.

"I guess that's why you like to avoid it," Jim remarked without meaning to.

"I don't avoid it! I thought we already had this conversation," she retorted.

"Children," Naomi interrupted; cutting off whatever it was that Jim was going to say.

"Sorry," they both muttered.

"Is there trouble in paradise?" Naomi couldn't keep herself from asking. "Is that the reason for this lunch? Does someone have something to prove?"

"No, no and no," Johanna answered.

Naomi's gaze flicked to Jim. "And what's your answer, young man?"

He gave a tense smile. "No trouble, no special reason, nothing to prove."

Naomi sighed, her gaze darting between her daughter and the man she had a feeling would some day be her son-in-law. "I'm sorry," she said gently. "I didn't mean to upset the plans the two of you made or to cause an argument between you. This was a lovely idea and I appreciate it. I admit, I'm having an off day and I'm sorry for that. Let's just start over."

Johanna glanced at Jim. "My mother had a fight with her sister," she explained.

Jim nodded. "I should've guessed; you usually wear the same expression when you're miffed at Colleen."

Naomi smiled a little at the comment. "Are you and Colleen having troubles that I don't know about, dear?" she asked.

"No," Johanna answered. "I believe Jim's referring to Colleen's year long wedding planning bonanza."

Her mother nodded. "Let's not talk about that."

"Definitely not," she agreed. "It's best we leave that year in the past."

Naomi gave a nod as she turned her gaze to Jim. "I believe you told me the last time we all had lunch together that you have a sister," she stated.

"I do," Jim confirmed. "Her name is Madelyn."

"She's younger than you?"

"Yes, she's the same age as Jo."

"And what is the age difference between the two of you?" Naomi asked. "I don't believe Johanna has ever told me."

"Two years…do I look that much older that it was cause for concern?" Jim couldn't help but tease.

"No, of course not," Naomi laughed.

He noted that Naomi's laughter seemed to relax both McKenzie women and he decided to make it his goal to keep things light. "I could understand if you thought so," he went on lightly. "Jo doesn't look a day over sixteen after all,"

"You lie," Johanna said, a smile slowly spreading across her lips.

"It's not a lie to me; and after all, it doesn't matter what age you are, you're always going to be the most beautiful girl in the world to me," he replied, holding her gaze as his fingers brushed against hers, inspiring a soft blush to stain her cheeks as they held eye contact.

"You're so sweet," she murmured, the atmosphere around them becoming charged as her fingers curled around his.

Naomi cleared her throat, hoping to tone down their sparks before they set the restaurant ablaze.

"Sorry," Johanna said shyly, her gaze dropping from Jim's, the blush on her cheeks deepening.

Her mother shook her head. "Don't be; it's nice to see you in love; I can see why he turned your head."

"I am quite a catch," Jim quipped.

Amusement colored the older woman's features. "So is my daughter."

"I know, that's why I caught her."

Naomi's brow rose, reminding him of the many times Johanna had worn the same expression. "Rumor has it that you didn't want to be caught for awhile," her mother remarked.

Jim shifted in his seat as his gaze flicked to Johanna's and saw the hint of smug amusement in her eyes. "I was having an off week," he replied. "I apologize for it wholeheartedly."

"Three weeks," Johanna remarked. "It was three weeks."

He gave a nod. "I've blocked some of it from my memory."

"What do you have to say for yourself about those three weeks?" Naomi asked. "I was a bit miffed at you for upsetting my girl so much."

He squirmed a little. "I was a fool and I'm sorry; it won't happen again."

"Make sure it doesn't," Naomi replied with a smile; a teasing gleam in her eyes. "Now we were talking about your sister."

"Sisters are a pain," Jim remarked.

"Hey," Johanna laughed. "I'm a sister."

"You're the exception, sweetheart; you'd never be a pain. I'm sure everything I've heard Frankie say about you is a wild exaggeration."

"It is," she managed to say with a straight face as her mother scoffed.

Jim chuckled. "Of course Frankie has told me the same thing about your stories about him."

"Frankie's a liar," Johanna remarked. "There's no need to exaggerate with him; he hated me when we were kids…sometimes he still does if the planets don't align just right."

"He does not," Naomi stated. "Frankie loves you very much…and you love him; so don't even try to deny it. When you learned to walk, you followed your brother all over the house…your first steps were to him."

"That's because he had a cookie," Johanna replied. "If you had given me a cookie, my first steps would've been to you."

Jim grinned at her. "I would've thought that it would've taken French fries to get you moving."

She kicked his foot under the table. "You better stop that," she laughed.

"You better stop; you shouldn't be trying to play footsies with your mother at the table; what will she think of us?"

Johanna smirked at him. "It can't possibly be any less than she already does."

Naomi swatted her daughter with the linen napkin. "You stop that; I don't think poorly of either one of you and you know it."

"I have a few doubts today but let's not get into that either," she replied.

Naomi took the hint to bring the topic back around. "So, Jim; do you get along with your sister?"

"It seems to depend on what day it is," he answered. "Some days I like her…other days I'm almost certain that she has that multiple personalities disorder."

"Jim!" Johanna exclaimed.

"What?" he said. "You've met her; think about the first time you met and then think about the last time you saw her, during our vacation; tell me there wasn't a difference."

Johanna thought about it for a moment. "You do have a point…I might have to agree about the multiple personality thing…she did seem like the opposite of the first time I met her."

"I rest my case," he replied.

"What about your brothers?" Naomi asked. "Do you get along with them?"

"Two out of three," Jim told her; "But that isn't bad, right?"

"No; I suppose not," she said with a smile.

"Do you have any brothers?" he inquired.

"Yes, I have one brother; Anthony Jr."

"I don't think Jo's ever mentioned him."

"I haven't seen him in years," Johanna replied. "In fact I can't even remember the last time I saw him."

"My brother stays busy," Naomi remarked. "But he comes around once in awhile to check in. My sister-in-law stays in contact; they spend a few months in Florida every year."

"We'd probably all like to be in Florida at this time of year," Jim stated. "I know Johanna would prefer to be somewhere warm."

"That's the truth," Johanna replied. "I hate cold weather."

"I wonder if that's because you were born during a blizzard?" Naomi mused.

"I wouldn't doubt it."

Naomi took a sip of her drink and looked across the table at Jim. "Are you sure there's no reason for this sudden lunch invitation?"

He chuckled. "That was a quick turn of topics."

"She's good for that," Johanna stated. "As for the reason for our lunch, Mom; Jim feels like he cheated you out of the 'what are your intentions with my daughter' conversation the last time we all ate together so he decided to give you another chance."

Naomi grinned. "Is that right?"

Jim shook his head. "I never said that."

"I'm pretty sure he did," Johanna remarked. "He said you held back last time."

"Well then, I probably shouldn't disappoint him this time," Naomi replied as she eyed Jim.

He suppressed the urge to squirm. "I won't be disappointed at all if you want to bypass it."

"I wouldn't want to disappoint you," the older woman said, a look of amusement on her face.

"Believe me, I can take the very mild form of disappointment that I would feel he quipped."

"We can't have that," Naomi said with a shake of her head as Johanna enjoyed watching Jim squirm. "What are your intentions with my daughter, young man?"

"To make her happy," he answered without missing a beat.

"That's good to hear," she replied with an approving nod. "What else?"

"There's more?" Jim asked; his gaze flicking to Johanna.

"You didn't think she'd let you off that easy, did you?" Johanna laughed.

"One could hope," he answered. "Do you want to help me out here?"

She glanced at her mother. "Should I or would you rather he fend for himself?"

"I'll leave it up to you," Naomi replied.

Johanna smiled as she met Jim's gaze. 'Maybe you should mention something more than happiness…like something from the heart."

Jim nodded; an understanding grin touching his lips. "I also intend to make sure that she always feels loved and cherished."

"Very good," her mother said with an approving smile. "Anything else?"

He glanced at Johanna once more but she only smiled, clearly letting him fend for himself this time. "I also intend to make sure she always knows that she's special and beautiful…and that she'll be treated like a queen."

"I like the sound of that," Johanna teased.

Her mother gave a soft laugh. "You'll have to let me know if he keeps his word about that."

"He's very good to me," Johanna said sincerely as she gave Jim a warm smile. "He makes me happy."

"You make me happy too," he told her. "You take good care of me."

"I try," she quipped.

Jim gave a laugh. "I don't always make it easy; do I?"

"No; but I just tell myself that it's part of your charm."

"That's good of you."

"Anything for you," she told him.

Naomi met his eye. "I don't think I have anything to worry about so I'm not going to dig any further into your intentions."

"Does that mean I passed the test?"

"Yes, for now."

"For now?" he asked.

The older woman smiled. "Well, dear; I have to see if you're going to live up to the claims you made. If she stays happy; you continue to pass; if you hurt her…well…you don't want to know the consequences for that."

"I'm sure that whatever it is would be painful," Jim remarked.

"It would be," Naomi confirmed. "But I'm sure you're going to do your best to avoid such circumstances, aren't you?"

"Absolutely."

Johanna bumped his leg with her foot. "Do you feel better now getting that out of the way?" she teased.

He grinned. "Yes, I'll sleep easy tonight."

"If you were so worried," Naomi said; "You could've just come to the house with Johanna and asked me."

"That's alright," Jim told her. "I'm patient; right, Jo?"

"Outside of work, yes; at work; no, not always," she told him. "But now that we've got all of that out of the way; maybe we can all relax."

"Have the two of you made plans for the holidays?" Naomi asked.

Johanna glanced at her mother. "What do you mean?"

"Meaning, do you have plans to spend them together now that you're a couple?"

Johanna looked to Jim who shrugged in response. The upcoming holidays hadn't been on either of their minds. "We haven't talked about it," she told her mother. "Thanksgiving is still a few weeks away."

"I know, dear; but I thought maybe the two of you might have planned to spend it together."

Jim felt slightly tongue tied; he hadn't even considered that the holidays might need dealt with. He figured she would go see her family and he would see his and they'd see each other after their visits had concluded. He looked to Johanna and saw that she was struggling with the question as well.

"I wasn't trying to pressure either one of you to make plans," Naomi commented.

"We know," Jim managed to say without sticking his foot in his mouth.

"I guess I figured that where Christmas is concerned, we'd do what we did last year," Johanna said, a hint of hesitation in her voice.

The option sounded appealing to Jim and he gave her a reassuring smile. "That sounds good to me."

Naomi's brow rose. "I wasn't aware that you two did anything last Christmas."

Johanna shifted in her seat. 'Well, we went to the office Christmas party together and then I spent Christmas with you and Jim spent Christmas with his family and he met me at my place Christmas evening and we spent some time together…it was very nice."

Her mother smiled. "Sounds cozy."

"It was," Jim agreed. "I enjoyed it…it gave me something to look forward to when the family Christmas was wearing thin on the nerves."

"Same here," Johanna murmured; hoping her mother wouldn't take offense.

Her mother laughed, seeing the slightly worried look in her eyes. "Don't worry, Bambina; I'm not offended. As much as I love having everyone in and out on Christmas, by the end of the evening, I'm happy when it's just me and your father again; no offense to you and your siblings."

"None taken," she assured. "I'd be glad too if I was you."

"I am hoping we have a better New Years Eve this year," Jim commented.

"Yeah; me too…we really blew that one last year."

"We sure did."

"I think I may recall a comment or two about that," Naomi remarked. "Hopefully this year will be better."

"We're going to make sure it's better," Johanna declared. "Right?"

"Right," Jim promised. "We're going to make this one so much better that we'll be able to completely forget about last year."

"Sounds good to me," she replied. "I guess it won't be long before we have to think of Christmas shopping, Mom."

"Oh I know," Naomi replied. "I can't wait for our trek through Macys…and how many subtle hints you drop as you walk me past certain racks several times."

Jim chuckled. "And you thought she wasn't on to your tricks, sweetheart."

"She's slick like that," Johanna stated. "I have to drop hints or you'll by the stuff I want for Colleen and I can't have that."

"We definitely wouldn't want that," Naomi agreed. "I still remember when the two of you found out you had to share the record player…has she told you about that, Jim?"

"Yes, she's mentioned that," he answered. "It's rumored that Colleen's records got misplaced after awhile."

"Mhmm; and she claims to know nothing about it."

"You know Colleen is absentminded," Johanna said, her tone betraying nothing.

Jim met Naomi's eye. "Maybe when she's out dropping hints in the store, you should take notes and send a few my way…call my office, let me know."

"And deprive you of the joy of shopping?" Naomi asked. "Never."

He laughed. "I thought you were nicer than that, Naomi."

"My dear; you need the joy of trying to figure it out."

"Sounds a little like torture," he quipped as Johanna laughed softly.

"Well isn't this a nice little gathering," a snide voice said, causing trepidation to slide down Johanna's spine as they all glanced up at Elizabeth Beckett.

"Mother," Jim said trying to keep his tone somewhere between neutral and happy to see her…because he wasn't all that happy to see her at the moment. "What are you doing here?"

"The garden club is having lunch here today," Elizabeth answered. "What are you doing here?"

"Having lunch with Johanna and her mother," he replied.

"How nice that you have time for other people's mothers when you so rarely have time for your own," she remarked haughtily.

Jim could feel the weight of three sets of eyes upon him and he felt like crawling under the table. "Mother, you know that's not true. I see you every Sunday; I talk to you at least once through the week and I've invited you to lunch at least three times and you've said no for one reason or another."

"That's because I know it's most likely your girlfriend's idea and not your own," she replied with a sneer.

"It is not," Johanna objected. "I don't spend as much time thinking about you as you seem to believe. I don't tell Jim what to do or who to spend his time with."

Elizabeth glared at her. "I know a woman's influence when I see it. After all, it was mentioned that the last time he had lunch with me it was at your suggestion."

Johanna pinned her with a glare of her own. "Believe me, Elizabeth; I regret it knowing that it bothers you so much. I had no idea that Jim would mention such a minor detail…what possessed him is beyond me."

"Oh I think we all know what possesses him," his mother retorted. "And I told you, it's Mrs. Beckett."

Johanna rolled her eyes as she shook her head, turning her focus back to her glass. Naomi could feel the anxiety rising in her daughter at the accusations and she felt the need to defend her as she was sure that Johanna hadn't had any nefarious intentions by suggesting that Jim have lunch with his mother at some point in time. "I'm sure that Johanna didn't mean to cause any offense when she suggested that Jim have lunch with you," she stated. "I'm sure she was just trying to be nice."

Elizabeth's gaze flicked over Naomi as if she was sizing her up and then she re-directed her gaze to her son. "Aren't you going to introduce me, Jimmy? I know that I raised you better."

Jim cursed internally, wondering why it ever possessed him to do something nice and wishing that if he had to carry out this deed, that they'd picked a different restaurant. "This is Johanna's mother, Naomi McKenzie," he stated reluctantly, sensing the effort Johanna was giving to keep from squirming. "Naomi, this is my mother, Elizabeth Beckett."

Elizabeth threw him a sharp look. "You don't address her so informally; I didn't raise you that way."

"I gave Jim permission to call me by my first name," Naomi replied. "I saw no reason for formalities."

"That must be why your daughter is so lax with her manners," Elizabeth remarked. "That's why she likes to be flippant and call me by my given name when I've told her not to."

Johanna opened her mouth to speak but Naomi laid a hand on her wrist and silenced her. "Johanna would never purposely offend anyone, she's just used to being allowed to call her elders by their given name; she's grown up calling my best friend Aunt Sandy."

"My children were raised to know better," the other woman replied coldly.

Naomi smiled but Johanna could see the hint of daggers in her eyes. "It's nice to meet you, Elizabeth."

"Sure it is," she retorted; "And it's Mrs. Beckett."

"Really, Mother?" Jim asked as he eyed her.

"That's alright, Jim," Naomi said with a smile. "Why don't you join us, Mrs. Beckett; that is if your club can spare you?"

Johanna gave her mother a look of horror, her eyes silently asking her "are you crazy?" Naomi ignored the look, keeping her blue eyes trained on the steely grey eyes of the woman standing by the table.

"I believe I'd like that," Elizabeth remarked. "I do have a few things I'd like to discuss with you now that we've met."

"We've already ordered our food," Jim said; hoping the excuse would somehow run his mother off because he sensed impending doom.

"That's not a problem," his mother replied. "I'll make my excuses to the club, order my food and have it sent over here."

Jim pasted a smile on his face. "Wonderful; we'll be glad to have you here."

Elizabeth eyed Johanna. "Not all of you will be happy about it," she said before turning on her heel and walking away.

Naomi saw Johanna and Jim share a worried gaze and she smiled to put them at ease. "Don't worry, kids; it'll be alright."

Johanna met her gaze. "Mom; she hates me...this isn't going to be pleasant."

"I'll take care of anything that arises," Naomi assured.

Jim released a heavy breath as he watched his mother as she spoke to her friends across the room. "My mother can be a bit…abrasive," he stated. "She can sometimes come off as being somewhat cold."

"I'm not worried," Naomi told him. "I'm sure I can handle whatever mischief she wants to bring to the table."

"Mischief makes it sound like the cute things Greg does," her daughter replied. "It's not going to be cute at all."

"Relax, dear; it'll be fine. You're a big girl; you handle difficult things at work every day; look at this as being no different."

Johanna turned her head to glance out the window, a feeling of frustration building within her. "I guess it's too late to order a bottle of wine, isn't it?" she asked Jim.

"Probably," he nodded; "Especially since you're driving later. I understand the feeling though…personally I'd like to order a bottle of whiskey but they don't serve that here."

"If they did, I'd help you drink it."

"Come now, it won't be that bad," Naomi said with a soft laugh.

"With all due respect, Naomi; you don't know my mother."

"I'll get to know her then."

Johanna took a drink of her iced tea. "I'd rather have this morning's awkward conversation all over again."

"Well I wouldn't," Naomi said firmly. "I still don't like the thought of it."

"We all agreed to forget it," Jim reminded them.

Johanna sighed. "I really wish I had something stronger."

"I'll buy us something for later," Jim told her. "We'll probably need it."

"Hush you two," Naomi chastened mildly. "Everything will be fine."

Johanna smiled at Jim. "Mothers…they're just so convinced that we never know anything."

He nodded. "I know, it must be something they teach them prior to giving birth."

Naomi narrowed her eyes at both of them and they fell silent but held each others gaze, speaking without words as they both acknowledged that the day wasn't going to go as intended.

Johanna braced herself and said a silent prayer for mercy as she saw Elizabeth sweeping across the restaurant to rejoin them. Why had she ever agreed to this lunch date? She sighed softly, having a feeling that Jim was probably feeling the same way as he rose from his seat to pull out the chair next to him for his mother. Elizabeth sat down gracefully but the stern look on her face detracted from the pleasantness of her features. It was a shame, Johanna mused; because she was sure that if the woman just softened her expressions a little and smiled a little more that she'd really be quite pretty…but that sternness marred her image, making her look as cold and uninviting as an iceberg.

"Did you order your lunch?" Jim asked his mother.

"Yes," Elizabeth replied. "I went ahead and paid for it too."

"Why? I intended to pay for your meal along with ours," he told her.

"I didn't want you to have to put out more than you already are," she responded as a waitress delivered the hot cup of tea that she had ordered.

"It's lunch, Mom; not an island in the Caribbean. I can afford to buy you lunch."

"I don't expect handouts," Elizabeth said while stirring her tea to cool it.

Jim gave a slight shake of his head. "I'm not arguing with you."

"Good, you'd lose anyway," his mother replied before shifting her gaze to Johanna. "I guess I've ruined your day, haven't I, Princess?"

Johanna gave her a sardonic smile. "Not at all; I'm always delighted to see you."

"Liar."

She shrugged. "You can't say I didn't try to be nice."

"I don't need your false pleasantries," Elizabeth remarked. "I believe we know exactly where each other stands when it comes to the matter of you."

Johanna's chin jutted up a notch in what Naomi privately termed 'McKenzie arrogance' as her husband often held the same look on his face…as had her father-in-law.

"Yes," Johanna responded. "I'm well versed in your opinions of me."

"And you think I'm not informed about what you think of me?" Elizabeth asked.

"I don't believe I've been as blunt as you have."

Elizabeth eyed her coolly. "Some things don't need to be spoken bluntly to be felt."

"I agree," she replied. "It's just a shame you don't practice what you preach."

"Don't take that tone with me, missy."

Johanna's brow rose. "Then maybe you should mind your own tone."

"Mother," Jim warned. "Please."

Elizabeth favored her son with a sour expression. "I don't hear you warning your princess."

"That's probably because I know you're goading her; which makes you the one who needs a warning."

His mother regarded him with an air of disdain. "You're not the parent here, I am."

Jim smiled. "I'm aware of that; I just don't want you to get your feathers ruffled when there's no call for it. It hides your natural charm."

"You spend too much time with your father," Elizabeth replied. "You're picking up his story telling habit."

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

"Well you do have enough bad habits," she retorted; "Like the one sitting across from you."

Naomi decided that she had been silent enough during her observation of the situation with Elizabeth Beckett. She didn't like what she saw, or what she was hearing and sensing. "Do you have a problem with my daughter?" she asked; schooling herself to keep her tone neutral although it held a clipped quality. "If you do, feel free to bring the matter to me."

Elizabeth smiled coldly. "Yes; I do have a problem with your daughter…I have many problems with her; chiefly that my son is wasting his time on a flashy little piece of baggage when he could do better if he'd just take the time to look instead of being so easily swayed by a short skirt."

"Then perhaps your problem is with your son," Naomi remarked, leveling her opponent with an icy look of her own.

"No; I'm sure my problem lies with your girl…I'm glad to finally meet you; there are some things I think you need to be made aware of about her."

"Oh?" Naomi asked. "And what would those things be?"

"For starters; she's got trouble written all over her," Elizabeth stated. "She's got a smart mouth and a flippant attitude. She has no respect for her elders and she doesn't know her place."

Johanna was about to defend herself but Naomi laid her hand on her wrist and she closed her mouth, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip in frustration as she forced herself to allow her mother to do whatever it was she intended to do.

"Being that I know my child better than you do," Naomi began; "I can assure you that trouble isn't written on any part of her. I also have to disagree with your assessment that she's disrespectful to her elders because that's a complaint that I have never heard about her nor have I witnessed it. If she's disrespected you, it's because you disrespected her first. I'm not sure what you're getting at about knowing her place…I figure a woman's place is anywhere she chooses to make it as long as she isn't hurting anyone and I don't have any evidence that she's causing harm somewhere. As for having a smart mouth and a flippant attitude; she does possess those things but she keeps them in check…unless provoked, and I have a feeling that just maybe you've provoked her with your own less than stellar attitude about her…which you've already made obvious."

Elizabeth looked down her nose at Naomi. "She also has a bad temper."

Naomi smiled. "I'm afraid that's genetics; she's Italian on my side of the family; Irish on her father's. We have enough temper between our two families to blaze for days on end; but I know for a fact that my daughter doesn't unleash her temper unless she has a reason for it."

"Italians," Elizabeth sniffed.

Naomi's gaze narrowed, her brow arching as she kept her eyes pinned on the other woman. "Do you have a problem with Italians?"

"No; I wouldn't say that…I just find some of them to be a bit high strung."

"I see," she replied, her tone sounding clipped. "Where do your ancestors come from?"

"England and Scotland," Elizabeth answered.

Naomi gave a short laugh. "Scottish? And you think you have room to talk about my heritage? You better look through your own family tree before you throw acorns at mine."

"And don't even say something about the Irish next," Jim interrupted as he glanced at his mother. "Dad's side of the family has Irish in it which makes me and the rest of your kids part Irish too."

"I'm aware of our genetics, Jimmy," his mother said sharply.

"Just making sure you hadn't forgotten," he replied.

"Now that we've gotten that out of the way," Naomi stated; "Are there any more gripes about my daughter that you'd like to tell me about?"

"Oh I have plenty more," Elizabeth said snidely. "It's just so hard to figure out where to begin."

Johanna scoffed. "I just bet it is…when you're done, do I get to give a list about you? Because I've been forming one."

"You hush," Jim's mother said as she glared at her. "I wasn't addressing you."

"Don't take it upon yourself to chasten my daughter," Naomi remarked. "I'm her mother, if she does something that needs to be called out, I'll be the one to do it, not you."

"I have a feeling it won't be getting done in that case," Elizabeth replied; "Which explains a lot about her character, but I digress."

"Let's get on with this list of complaints," Naomi said. "I have other things to do today; I don't have all day to wait for you to get your show on the road."

"She's been worming her way into my family," the woman stated coolly.

"How has she been doing that?"

"By invitation," Jim answered. "My mother likes to ignore facts when they don't suit her."

"Hush, James Robert; this is my conversation," Elizabeth said sternly before giving her attention back to Naomi. "She's constantly in places she doesn't belong, like birthday parties and picnics that involve my family. Once she even tagged along with Jimmy when he was dropping off something to my husband; she came right into my house with him."

Naomi glanced at her daughter. "Johanna, did you invite yourself to these gatherings?"

"No," she answered. "Jim's sister-in-law invited me to the kids birthday parties and the picnic, and for the record, Mrs. Beckett wasn't at the picnic. As for being with Jim on his errand, he's the one that insisted I come in with him that evening; he doesn't like to leave me in the car by myself at night."

"That's all true," Jim confirmed. "Natalie issued the invitations and I delivered them and I did nag her into coming in the house with me that night. I'm not leaving her outside by herself at night."

Naomi shifted her gaze back to Elizabeth. "It sounds as though Johanna was properly invited to the events you mentioned and that your son was just being a gentleman by making her go in the house with him during his errand."

"My daughter-in-law had no right inviting her to anything in my opinion; she's not family!"

"Then take it up with your daughter-in-law; the problem you have lies with her, not Johanna," Naomi replied. "Next?"

Elizabeth's lips pursed in a slight hint of disdain. "She's spoiling my grandchildren; buying them gifts, taking them trick or treating, babysitting them. She's all my oldest granddaughter talks about for days after seeing her, like she's some kind Barbie doll that came to life. She even gave her some kind of ridiculous pink rock and some spiel about it giving her bravery and my granddaughter believes that claptrap and acts like the damn thing is a gold nugget. She acts like she's their aunt and she's not!"

Johanna rolled her eyes. "I know I'm not their aunt but I'm around them and I enjoy them; there's nothing wrong with that."

"Your grandchildren are adorable and delightful children," Naomi remarked.

"How do you know?" Elizabeth asked tartly.

"I met them on Halloween; Johanna and Jim took them trick or treating in my neighborhood and they stopped in to take a little break. I believe they mentioned a baby at home though."

"Alicia," Johanna commented.

"I'm sure she's as lovely as her siblings," Naomi remarked. "Johanna has always loved children; she dotes on her own nephew, but she has room in her heart for other children. I don't find it unnatural for her to give the children gifts, considering that she's gone to their birthday parties. As for the pink stone, those are a tradition in my family; my mother and grandmother collected those stones and brought them with them when they immigrated from Italy. My mother has always handed those stones out to her grandchildren when she felt they needed a little extra encouragement to be brave. There's no harm in it, and in Angie's case, I'd say it worked out quite well and that it's good for a little girl to have someone besides her parents and grandparents to go to for advice or encouragement. Johanna has always found extra comfort and support in her aunt Bridget…that's who she learned to be such a good aunt from. You sound as though you're considering her generosity, compassion and willingness to love as faults or flaws to her character and if that's so, I must say there's something wrong with your line of thinking. Not only that, but you'd think you'd be happy that your grandchildren are so easily loved by people outside of their usual family circle."

Elizabeth snorted a little and dismissed the comments. "So your family heirlooms are pink rocks pulled from the dirt?" she asked snidely.

Naomi's gaze was as cold as ice as she held up her right hand for Elizabeth to view the two carat sapphire solitaire ring on her finger. "No, our family heirlooms are more along the lines of these rocks. Perhaps one day Johanna will show you the diamond she inherited from my grandmother; the same grandmother who left this ring and its matching necklace to me."

Elizabeth sniffed; not enjoying the feeling of having her snide remark backfire on her. "As the granddaughter, shouldn't you have inherited the diamond?" she asked. "Seems odd that it went to the great-granddaughter instead."

"There's a simple explanation for that," Naomi replied. "My grandmother gave the diamond to Johanna because I have a diamond," she said, holding up her left hand to show off the 1.5 carat princess cut diamond that was set on a rose gold band. "This is the ring my husband proposed to me with. My grandmother had a special fondness for Johanna and wanted her to have her diamond ring since I had my own."

Elizabeth eyed the ring on Naomi's hand, her nose wrinkling slightly. "Rose gold? That's an…unusual choice for an engagement ring," she remarked.

Naomi smiled. "I'm sure you're aware that rose gold was quite popular in the 40s; and while it might be a bit of an unusual choice by some standards, it isn't unheard of. My husband said that he chose this ring because it was a rare find…just like me."

Johanna couldn't help but smile. "That's so sweet," she said; "Dad really said something like that?"

"He did," Naomi confirmed, a soft smile clinging to her lips as she looked at her daughter. "He says sweet things when we're alone."

"Wow; it's a little hard to imagine," she said with a soft laugh, her gaze still on her mother's ring. "But I've always loved your engagement ring, I think it's beautiful."

Naomi found Johanna's hand and gave it a squeeze. "One day it will be yours, darling; I promise you that."

"I don't want to think about what that statement means," Johanna replied as she held on to her mother's hand for a moment.

"Don't worry; I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon," Naomi assured.

"Good."

"If you're through with your Waltons style love fest," Elizabeth remarked. "I don't believe we were finished with the topic at hand."

Naomi sighed and released Johanna's hand. "By all means; please move on to the next item on your list."

"I think you should be aware that you raised a harlot," Elizabeth remarked.

"Mother," Jim said; anger in his tone.

"I call it as I see it," his mother remarked.

"I suggest you see it in different terms," Naomi said; anger snapping in her eyes. "Or I might just reach across this table and connect with you."

Elizabeth's brow rose but she didn't flinch. "Are you aware that your daughter went away with my son on a two week vacation...just the two of them?"

"Yes; I am aware of it," Naomi replied. "That's old news; what of it?"

"It isn't proper," she replied. "I can just imagine what they were doing while gallivanting up and down the east coast; stopping in at my sister's home uninvited, I might add."

Jim cut a sharp look at his mother. "We stopped at aunt Vivien's intending only to take a short break; she asked us to stay on to go to a festival with her. She didn't mind us visiting; she was alone, she welcomed the company."

"It still wasn't proper," his mother retorted. "I almost forgot that prior to the vacation escapade; they also had diner with my mother-in-law."

"How scandalous," Naomi said sarcastically. "I'm surprised they're allowed to roam around free."

Johanna chuckled softly as she reached for her drink. "Just so you know, Mom; Jim's grandmother invited us for dinner."

"I didn't doubt it for a minute," her mother replied.

"You approve of her going away on vacation with a man she's not married to?"

"Johanna's an adult; she doesn't have to consult me about what she does on her vacation; just like your son doesn't need your approval for his vacation plans."

"You side stepped the question."

"No I didn't; Johanna is a grown woman, what she does is her business. If she was a teenager, of course I wouldn't approve."

"Well I don't approve," Elizabeth stated. "Just like I don't approve of them going up to our family home in the mountains for another vacation; did you know about that?"

Naomi nodded. "I knew she was going on vacation with Jim this summer."

"Did you know they were going to my home?"

"She said they were spending a week in the mountains and a week at the beach; I didn't press for specific details."

"And Dad told me we could go up there," Jim reminded her. "You're the one who sent in Michael, Natalie and the kids to ruin our week."

"It's probably a good thing I did," she retorted. "I can only imagine what the two of you were doing in my house before they got there!"

"You really sent one of your other children to crash their vacation?" Naomi asked. "What would possess you to do that?"

"They didn't consult me about using my home as their personal shacking up getaway; not that I would've allowed it if they had. My husband should've asked me before he gave permission."

"He didn't ask you because it's not your house," Jim said. "It was Dad's before he married you."

"Once he married me everything he owned became mine and you're not taking your girlfriends to my home to sleep with in my bed," Elizabeth said tartly.

"Believe me, Mother; we regret going there, seeing as how you conspired to ruin our vacation," Jim told her. "We got to be Michael and Natalie's built in babysitters and put up with Madelyn's sulking and attitude problem."

"Serves you right."

"Once again; your issue seems to lie with someone else," Naomi stated. "I imagine it was Jim's idea to go to the mountains, he had the permission of his father to use the property. There's nothing there to blame on Johanna. Take the issue up with your son and husband. What's your next complaint?"

"How do you feel about her living with him?" Elizabeth said; a malicious gleam in her eyes.

"Johanna doesn't live with Jim; she has her own apartment, all of her belongings are there and nine times out of ten, when I call, she answers; so don't even try that," Naomi warned.

"If she's not living with him at least part of the time, then why does she have clothes in his apartment?"

"How do you know she has clothes there?"

"I saw them," Elizabeth said tartly. "I saw her taking them out of a drawer."

"It's none of your business," Naomi replied. "It's none of mine either."

"Oh I think it is," his mother replied. "She's got a drawer of lingerie and a drawer of casual clothes; I saw shoes in the closet…"

Johanna rolled her eyes. "Hey; let's not forget that in the bathroom I have a drawer with a toothbrush, pads, makeup and a hair dryer in it."

Elizabeth glared at her. "You think you're cute and you're far from it."

"I think she's adorable," Jim said with a grin.

"No one asked you," his mother retorted.

"Are you through with this complaint?" Naomi asked. "Do you have another one to move on to?"

"No I'm not finished with this one; I haven't even told you half of the story of how I came to know that she's living there part time."

"I am not living there part time!" Johanna exclaimed.

"She is," Elizabeth said firmly; "That's why her stuff is there; but anyway; I have a whole lovely little story to tell you about that and I assure you that I have plenty more where that comes from. You think you have an innocent little saint sitting there next to you; well I'm here to tell you what kind of sinner she is."

"I can't hardly wait to hear all of this," Johanna remarked.

Naomi ignored her daughter's comment and kept her attention on Elizabeth. "Maybe you should include your son in that assessment," she stated. "After all, if my daughter is a sinner, he must be too…he doesn't look like an innocent little lamb being lead astray."

"I never said he was innocent," Elizabeth snapped. "But I don't doubt that he's being lead astray."

"Oh please," Naomi scoffed. "If anybody does any leading it's probably the other way around!"

"Can we just stop this?!" Johanna exclaimed. "I'm getting a headache and we haven't even eaten yet."

"Where is the food?" Jim asked. "It should've been here by now."

Johanna pinned him with a look. "Really? The food is the concern here?"

He nodded. "Yeah; if everyone's eating, no one's talking."

"You clearly haven't spent enough time with my mother," she replied.

Naomi swatted her with the linen napkin. "Just what is that supposed to mean?"

"That in our family we talk a lot while eating," Johanna answered.

"See, she's even a smart ass to her own mother," Elizabeth remarked.

"I told you that if my daughter needs called out on something, I'll be the one to do it," Naomi retorted.

"I'm going to go see where the food is," Jim commented.

"Don't you dare leave me here," Johanna said; her tone soft but sharp.

"I'll only be a minute."

"I'll go with you."

"I don't think both of us need to go," Jim replied.

"If we both go, we can sneak out the door," she told him.

"I don't think that would be wise," he answered. "They probably shouldn't be left alone. I'll be back."

Johanna glared at him. "If you're not back in two minutes, there's nowhere on this earth where you can hide that I won't find you…and when I do find you, you will pay."

Jim smiled. "Can't be any worse than being here at the moment."

She kept her gaze pinned on him. "Don't underestimate me."

"I'll be back in under two minutes," he promised as he got up from his chair. "Hold down the fort."

Johanna blew out a frustrated breath as Jim hurried away from the table; leaving her behind with her mother…and the wicked self proclaimed queen that had given birth to him. She felt the urge to smack her head off the table but refrained…she better hold onto that card for later on; she figured things could only get worse from here.

…to be continued

Authors Note: Part 2 is almost finished!