Maxine Gray is a force to be reckoned with.

So is Dr. Lily.

On this particular occasion, Lily's mood was worse, and she didn't want to stay, and so Maxine was unable to add to her dinner guest collection and Kyle stayed only a few more minutes before getting up and excusing himself. Lily had told him where she was staying and that she wanted to talk with him, and that was all. Everyone knew where Kyle was going.

Not long after that, Shelby began to yawn slightly and Peter offered to drive her home. Vincent disappeared up the stairs and Sean waited for Amy and Lauren to finish eating before helping Maxine clean up. Lauren ran upstairs to her homework and Amy was sitting outside with the remains of her wine.

Sean picked up a dishtowel.

"Leave it, Sean," Maxine said without looking. "Peter or Vincent can get them later."

"You know, Maxine," he said, folding the rag back up. "I didn't decide to break up with Courtney just because you're fighting with Ignacio."

"I am not fighting with him. I am not speaking with him."

"She was just too—girly, I don't know, with the giggling and those sound effects she put on my computer... she didn't even think twice about it when her father started dating you and was still married to her mother."

"And you didn't think twice about whether I would be seeing a man who was still married, did you Sean?" Maxine was standing on the other side of the room, her back to him. "You two deserve each other."

"Maxine..." Sean said, going toward her, but she turned and offered him her tightest smile.

"Go home, Sean." She said. "I will see you Monday."

Sean hesitated, then barged right ahead. "Look, I know you're not mad at me because if you were really and truly angry I'd probably be shriveled up in a corner somewhere. So? I made a mistake. You, of all people, should understand how that could happen occasionally." Maxine turned to face him and he stammered. "You—people other than—yourself."

"Sean," she said, walking toward him. "You have been a good friend to me. You even became a good boss once you learned to stop talking in percentages. But—"

"I need to butt out," Sean finished.

"You know, Sean, it is truly remarkable how you continually think you know what I'm going to say and then are continually wrong," Maxine said. "I understand that you are trying to take care of me, and I appreciate that, more than you can imagine. But when you hurt yourself..." she moved closer to him. "When you hurt yourself, you hurt me." Sean looked like he didn't know what to say. "Just think about it. Maybe Courtney ISN'T right for you. But decide without bringing me into that particular equation, please."

"Maxine, it's not something I can just ignore..."

"Please try."

Sean looked at her for a few seconds and shook his head, leaving. Maxine picked up a glass, drained the last of the wine into it, and went out the back door.

"Did Sean go home?" Amy asked. Maxine offered no answer as she sank into the porch swing with her drink. "You know, mom, he's just trying to help."

"So, I presume, is Mr. Van Exel." Maxine said, looking out at the garden. Amy sighed and held her glass out for Maxine to touch hers against.

"Touché."