LISA

At first, I can't quite place the dark-haired girl sitting on the terrace of The Oyster Bar. There's a familiarity about her and she's sitting by herself, seemingly waiting for someone. I pick up Lily and quickly make my way to the door, juggling the bag of groceries and my keys in the process.

"Lisa?"

I realize then that it's Jennie's daughter. The girl who walked in on me and her mother in the kitchen. "Hi," I say hesitantly, putting Lily down again. "Ella, right?" When she gets up and comes my way, my mind scrambles for something to say. "What brings you here?"

"I came to see you, actually. I rang your door, but you weren't home, so I figured I'd just try my luck and wait for a bit." She gives me an awkward smile. "Do you remember me?"

"Yes, of course." I suddenly feel worried because I can only think of two reasons why she's here. Either something happened to Jennie, or she's going to tell me to back off and leave her alone. "Is your mother okay?"

Ella smiles and nods. "Yes, she's fine. She doesn't know I'm here." She gets on her knees in front of Lily to greet her in a cute voice. "Hey there. You're Lily, right?"

Lily giggles when she gives her a high five. Ella's smile is so much like her mother's and she's clearly just as good with kids.

"She doesn't know you're here, huh?" I repeat, pointing to my door. "Do you want to come up?"

Ella shakes her head and points to her table. "I don't want to bug you for too long. But can I buy you a drink?" She turns her attention to Lily again. "And maybe a juice for this little princess?"

"Can I have ice cream?" Lily asks, putting on her cutest squeaky voice.

"I think they have ice cream, but you'll have to ask your mom."

Despite the uncertainty and discomfort I feel at Ella's impromptu visit, I can't help but laugh when Lily jumps up and down in excitement and throws her little arms around me.

"Please, Mommy?"

"Sure. You can have an ice cream," I say, and give Ella a smile. She seems like a nice girl and I can hardly believe she's only seventeen. Her manners are impeccable as she kindly asks the waiter for an extra chair and a dessert menu. I order a coffee, Ella a ginger ale and Lily chooses an ice cream sundae. There's some small talk between us about the village and Lily and the weather, while Lily munches on a strawberry-vanilla dessert covered in an assortment of sprinkles and toppings, and I'm getting more nervous by the minute, wishing she would just get to the point.

"So, about my mom…" Ella begins when Lily's distracted by a couple with a poodle arriving at the table next to us. "God, I don't know where to start." She pauses, searching for words. "My dad left my mom for our interior designer. You may or may not know that."

"I know. She told me." I brace myself for the moment she's going to tell me I've confused her mother to the point that she believes she's gay, then urges me to stay away from Jennie in a civilized yet pressing manner.

"Okay. Good," Ella continues. "Anyway, she's only ever been with my dad and naturally, she was very upset by the divorce. She moved here permanently after they sold their New York apartment and I think she underestimated how quiet this part of the Hamptons is off-season, so it's been hard for her."

"Yes, that's understandable. But she seemed to be doing well."

"Not really. You've only seen her that way because…" She takes a deep breath and pauses. "Because you're the reason she's smiling again."

"I don't think that's true," I say with a frown.

"It is true." Ella takes a sip of her drink. "I drove all the way to the Hamptons every weekend because I knew that was the only thing that cheered her up, but then one Friday, I came home and there was a shift in her. She had this glow about her, and she just seemed so much better. It was the week you started working for her."

"But that's not just down to me," I say, relieved that at least so far the conversation is heading in a positive direction.

"No, seriously, Lisa. It's like your presence has rejuvenated her. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you, for helping her find herself. I don't know what you did but she's a different person and you need to know that she's totally into you."

"Thank you. I appreciate you saying that, and if you hadn't already gathered, I'm totally into your mom too. I wouldn't be dating her if I wasn't serious." I sit back and study her. "I thought you came here to tell me to stay away from her. I imagine it must have been quite a shock when you walked in on us."

Ella throws her head back and laughs. "I won't deny it was a shock but I'm long over that. I was just having a bad day to begin with and when I needed my mother and found her like that it… I don't know, it was just very, very unexpected and it seemed so out of character. But I've come to realize that she's her own person too, not just my mother and I'm super happy for her. Anyway, I came here to tell you how much I appreciate you being there for Mom. And because I'm throwing her a surprise birthday party and I want you to come. I don't have your number, hence the surprise visit."

"Oh… That's very sweet of you but I'm not sure she'd be comfortable with me being there."

Ella shakes her head. "Nah-ah. If she knew I was organizing this, she'd insist that I invite you. Besides, it's not like you guys have to make an announcement or anything like that. You can just be there for her as a friend."

"That's true." I suddenly have an idea, so I open my website on my phone and hand it to her. "If you need anything for the party, feel free to pick whatever you like, and I'll bring it over and set it up for you."

Ella gasps and eagerly scrolls through my site. "Lisa, this is incredible. Are you sure?"

"Of course. Anything I can do to help."

"Thank you so much, I'll let you know." Ella puts a twenty-dollar bill on the table and gets up. She takes a pen out of her purse and scribbles something on Lily's napkin. "Here's my number. Text me yours and I'll be in touch."