Outside Fran leaned against the wall. It was over. Lost in her thoughts, she was walking through the living room when Niles got suddenly in her way. "My God Niles! Do you want me to have a heart attack?" Niles glared at her with anger. "Not a bad idea! Otherwise, I'll go to jail for murder if I strangle you with my bare hands." Fran gave him a disapproving look. He had been eavesdropping again. "That's none of your business at all! It's my life and my decision!" She stormed up the stairs to her room, Niles on her feet. "I beg your pardon. What are you saying? For years my only goal and purpose in life has been to get you and Mr. Sheffield marching down the aisle and now just right before the finale you want to leave? I won't allo..." Baam! Fran slammed the door in his face. "Take care of your life! I love Gideon and I'm going to move in with him!" Niles tried to enter her room, but Fran had locked the door and turned the music to full volume.
Niles turned around and decided to talk to Mr. Sheffield. He had to stop this nightmare. Without knocking he rushed into the study and stopped, horrified. His boss looked disastrous. He was crying and sobbing like never in his life. "Sir! You've got to do something! You can't just let Miss Fine leave the house, the children and you?" "It's not that easy, Niles! I don't want her to go either. Of course, I've tried everything to convince her. I've begged her to stay, I've explained her how much the children and I need her. I even tried to make her realize that the children need her as their mother! She did not respond! Do you want me to tie her up and gag her to keep her with us?" Both men stared at each other helplessly. Neither of them knew any advice or solution. Meanwhile, Fran laid on her bed. Her fingers tenderly stroked a picture of Maxwell. "Forgive me!" she whispered. Then she let her tears flow freely.
The Sheffield children sat with Fran and their father at dinner. They sensed mischief in the air. Both Fran and Maxwell were poking at their food, not looking at each other with one glance and they barely responded to the children's comments. Maxwell had only shrugged his shoulders when Brighton confessed, he got a D in his last French test. Gracie told them about the fashion show her class was going to organize for the school carnival and all reaction Fran showed, was a mumbled "Nice! You'll have some fun there!" Gracie had the intention to feel Fran's forehead to check if she had a fever. Niles was grumpier than ever and was literally throwing the items on the table. In addition, the meal was also inedible. The potatoes were far too salty, the steaks tough and the vegetables overcooked. Such an offense almost never occurred in the Sheffield household. Finally, Maggie couldn't stand it any longer. "Okay dish! I want to know what's going on here. Even in a monastery it's more entertaining!" "Margaret behave yourself right now! Shut up and keep eating!" "Daddy! Unresolved conflict situations lead to enormous mental stress and physical discomfort..." Maxwell could not bear the situation any longer, he rose and left the room without another word. "Bravo Mrs. Freud! Great performance!" "Oh, shut up Brighton! You didn't say anything" Fran now intervened, "Be peaceful kids! It's nothing at all. Just a little disagreement!" (Krawumm! Niles had dropped a bowl from the sideboard) "Finish your meal or go to your rooms." As if on cue, the three jumped up and made their way upstairs. Brighton turned to his sisters. "If that was just a little disagreement, you may call me a jerk for the rest of my life." Gracie and Maggie just gazed at their brother dumbly. They had to admit, for once he wasn't the jerk.