Cully was accidently/on purpose was still asleep when Tom left, preventing any morning interrogation.
She came down around 10 with a face full of sleep and pjs still on.
"Morning" she said, reaching for the coffee Joyce kept warming in the pot.
"Morning dear." Joyce said, sitting at the island with her sketches spread out, trying to reconcile what her friend wanted in a garden vs what she could actually keep looking nice.
There was companionable silence as Joyce worked and Cully fixed her coffee.
Cully was about to speak when the phone rang, she answered it and handed it to Joyce after a few moments.
"Dad" she mouthed.
"Tom." Joyce said, placing the receiver to her ear.
"Joyce, I wanted to know what sounded good. I was planning on picking up Chinese for dinner." There was some machinery noise in the background. "That is if we ever make it home!"
"What?" Joyce asked, amused.
"That empty headed Sargent has been going on silly scenic drives and forgotten to fill the tank. We learned we are out of gas in the middle of nowhere." Tom was very decidedly not amused. His temper more often than not was the polar opposite of his wife's. "The wrecker just arrived to gas us up enough to get to a town."
Joyce was about to speak when Tom pulled the phone away from his ear to speak to someone, presumably Troy.
"Didn't you just fill up when we were in Upper Folding yesterday. Where on earth are you going on your off hours to put us in such a mess?"
"Didn't matter where I went if the gas gage is broken does it?" Troy asked, a little grumpiness in his own voice. "Only a matter of time."
There was some other indistinct shouting as a large truck passed by.
"Tom." Joyce said loudly, trying to keep her husband on track.
"Sorry Joyce, yes. Dinner." Tom said, stepping away from the noise so it grew fainter in Joyce's ear.
Joyce spoke "Some lo mein for me and some, mushu" Looking at Cully nod to her mother's words Joyce continued, "mushu for Cully."
"Alright" Tom said. "I should be back by 5." Joyce swears Tom also mumbled "or in jail for murder" but the line cut off before she could check.
Joyce just laughed as she relayed the story to Cully. Cully pretended to be amused but Joyce knew her daughter well enough to know when she was acting. Cully knew full well where Gavin had been to run down his gas tank.
"Mom." Cully began, placing her coffee cup on the counter and turning to her mother. "There's something I wanted to tell you, about last night."
"Ok" Joyce said, laying down her pencil to give her undivided attention to Cully.
"I had dinner with Gavin last night. I think you might have guessed that." She said, looking down shyly.
Joyce smiled, "I had a feeling."
"It went well." Cully said, her facing starting to beam. "Really well. I care about Gavin. More than just a friend to see when I come home. And I wanted to know how you felt about that." Cully seemed to steel herself for a response.
Joyce turned her head and considered her words. "I'm happy that he makes you happy, Cully. I know he has his faults, but he is a good cop, and a nice young man."
Cully seemed to become lighter with her mother's words.
"He is great." She said, bubbly again. "And I think I'll start seeing him more when I move back. But."
She paused, looking around before looking at her mother.
"I don't know what to do about…"
Joyce knew what she was going to say, "about your father."
Cully nodded, the weight settling over her shoulders again. "I'm an adult and can make my own choices. But I don't want to cause problems for Dad or Gavin. If it means I have to live elsewhere I will, but I don't want Dad to do anything rash like demote Gavin or send him to another departments."
Joyce considered this. "I have been working on your father and he is receptive to the idea of you living here but being an adult with autonomy and a love life. The only sticking point is who that man is."
Cully nodded silently.
"I think we will be in a better position once the Spring musical is here." Joyce said. "I will keep working on getting him used to the idea of you having a serious boyfriend. But I don't think we can do anything to prepare him for the reveal of who it is."
Cully agreed, "I don't think we will be eloping between then and now." Joyce looked at her with wide eyes. Cully paused, "that was a joke Mom."
"I know." Joyce said, "but be easy on the jokes around your father. You know that is always something he seriously considers."
Cully grabbed her coffee and sloshed some more in, adding a spoon of sugar. Joyce could hear her rolling her eyes as she said, "I might have to consider it if Dad isn't careful."
Joyce just gave Cully that 'mom look' when she turned back around. Cully waived her hand while sipping coffee to acquiesce the point.
"I'm going to be wall to wall busy for the musical. I won't be seeing anyone for a while. But I just wanted to let you know…how last night went."
Joyce smiled at her daughter, seeing the signs in her that she felt herself decades ago with Tom.
"I'm glad you could share with me." Joyce said, "and with any luck after a wildly successful musical your father will be as easily receptive".
Cully and Joyce shared a look that acknowledged they both knew this was only wishful thinking.