Chapter 3

Niles opened the door to greet his employer's mother. Elizabeth was a few minutes early. Thankfully, the trusted butler had things well under control. The house was spotless and dinner was warming in the kitchen. He had prepared many of Mrs. Sheffield's favorite dishes but he knew that she was difficult almost impossible to please. "So wonderful to see you again, madam."

"Hello, Mother. I am sure you remember Fran, my wife," Max said as he greeted his mother.

Elizabeth looked at the young woman standing by her son's side. Her outfit tonight was different from the one she had worn earlier. The current Mrs. Sheffield was wearing a tasteful navy blue maternity dress. "Hello, my dear. I see that congratulations are in order."

"Thank you, Elizabeth. Maxwell and I are expecting twins in May," Fran said happily.

Before Elizabeth had a chance to respond, she was greeted by two of her grandchildren. Brighton had grown into an attractive, young man while Grace seemed to be more outgoing and secure. "Well, Mother. Let's go into the dining room. Niles has prepared all of your favorites in honor of your visit." Max was determined to show his mother that he was not intimidated by her presence. Fran stroked her husband's arm to give him moral support. Maxwell's mother did not approve of their marriage and would try to drive a wedge between them if the opportunity arose.

ZZZ

Dinner went along smoother than Maxwell expected. Brighton and Grace made an effort to get along with their grandmother for their father's sake. Fran was a charming and gracious hostess. Sylvia had decided that she would rather have dinner at home than with Elizabeth, for a change...

"Maxwell, I see that you have a hit on your hands, for a change," Elizabeth responded.

"Yes, Mother. The Widower has gotten excellent reviews," Maxwell ignored his mother's critical remarks.

"It has been sold out for months," Grace was proud of her father and was not afraid to let her grandmother know it. Fran smiled at her daughter warmly.

"That's true, Grandmother. It's already been nominated for several Tony awards," Brighton chimed in.

"The only thing that matters is a win and your father has not exactly been successful in that area."

"Mother! That's quite enough!" Maxwell was incensed by his mother's remarks...

"Maxwell...How...How dare you speak to me that way? I am your mother!"

"I will always be a disappointment to you because I didn't go to law school like you wanted. I came to America to fulfill my dreams not yours!"

"Maxwell. I demand that you stop at once! This is beneath you!"

"I have a right to say whatever I wish in my home. Good night, Mother," Maxwell said as he left the table.

'Wait a minute there, Ma," Fran grabbed her mother-in-law's arm to get her attention, "You have no right to demand anything of Maxwell. You have insulted him and hurt him deeply. I won't stand by and watch you hurt him anymore. Max was worried about how you would react tonight and he was right. You're nothing more than a cold, unfeeling woman who will be alone for the rest of her life. I feel sorry for you. I am going to tend to my husband. Niles, will you see Mrs. Sheffield to the door?"

"Yes, Madam, gladly."

ZZZ

Fran barely made out her husband's form in the darkness. Maxwell lay on the bed staring at the ceiling. She knew her husband was hurting and was sorry that Elizabeth had even come to dinner. "Honey, I'm so sorry."

"Nanny Mueller was more of a mother to me than my mother ever was and she was paid to do it. Even Niles paid more attention to me than my parents."

Fran listened as the hurt and anger poured out of her husband. Her family had always been close in their own unconventional way. Morty and Sylvia loved her and Nadine. Sure, her mother went on and on about Fran marrying well and gaining a family of her own but she knew that her mother's primary motive was love. Her mother sincerely wanted Fran to be happy...

"I don't understand…Why does she hate me so much, Fran?" Max said in a soft voice, "when I was a child...all I wanted was a mother that loved me…I had every advantage but would have gladly traded them for a family like yours."

"Max, I wish I had all the answers, sweetie but I do know this…my family is crazy about you. Elizabeth is the one who's missed out and in my book, she's the biggest loser." Her unorthodox family had given Maxwell the laughter, fun and affection that he longed for. Fran laid her head on her husband's chest letting him know with her words and her actions that she loved him. Max gently embraced his wife and placed a loving kiss on her forehead.

"I don't know what I did to deserve you but I'm glad that you didn't give up on me years ago."

"It was worth the wait."

"I hope so, Fran. I certainly came with a lot of baggage…"

"Sweetie, we're bashert. Meant to be, for the rest of our lives."

ZZZ

Sylvia reached for a blintz as her daughter related last nights' events. To say that last night had gone wrong was understatement...

"Ma, I don't understand how any mother could do that to her own child," Fran sighed.

"That man is a prince. Any woman would be glad to have a son like Max. What's wrong with that woman?"

"She is his mother unfortunately," Fran took another bite out of her blintz.

"It's not natural, I tell you. I may be a little pushy..."

"A little pushy, Ma," Fran stated as she rolled her eyes.

"Just a little bit but I love you and your sister Nadine. I wouldn't trade the two of you for anything in the world and neither would Morty."

"I know that, Ma. We're so lucky to have you and Daddy. I wish that Max..."

"Max and the children are a part of our family now. If that woman hurts my son-in-law again, then they'll be scrapping her blue blood off the walls and I mean that in the nicest possible way."

"Thanks, Mom," Max said as he entered the kitchen.

"I mean that, son."

"That means a lot to me, Mom."

ZZZ

"Elizabeth Sheffield's room, please," Sylvia began determined to make the woman see reason, "Aha, thanks for the tip." The maid nodded as she proceeded down the hallway to another room.

Max's mother answered the knock on her hotel room door. It would only be a matter of time before her son came to apologize for his rude behavior. The elegant Englishwoman was surprised to see Fran's mother on the other side of the door. "Look who's here..If it isn't Fran's mother."

"You remember me, Honey...The last time I smeared you but this time I have more important things to discuss."

"You may as well come in since you're here, Sylvia. Are you here for your daughter, Mrs. Fine?"

"Not exactly. I'm here because of your son."

"What goes on between my son and me is none of your business!"

"It is my business when it affects my family. We're mishpocha! Even though it took him awhile to admit his feelings for Fran that man is a prince! Your son makes my daughter happy and that makes him number on in my book."

"I don't need you to tell me about my own son!"

"It's about time someone did. Elizabeth! Someday, you'll realize that you're all alone in this world and you will have no one to blame but yourself."

"How dare you! Of all the nerve! I won't stand by and let you insult me!"

"Don't say I didn't try to warn you!" Sylvia grabbed a Danish as she headed out the door, "What? My blood sugar drops when I'm stressed."