I had to disappear again for a little while to get mid-term grades submitted, but they are finished so here you go!

I've never been one to encourage drama but I think I'm getting ready to start some. You see, I'm having a hard time feeling settled since getting off the phone with Vic. It doesn't help that there's not much going on around the station. I have an appointment with Branch this afternoon to discuss the terms of his suspension and future reinstatement but that's it. With Vic out for the day and Ferg being on a call most of the morning, there haven't been enough distractions to keep me from obsessing about Lena Moretti. It's not that I care all that much about what she thinks of me in and of itself, but she is Vic's mother and a direct tie to the rest of her family. Whatever she tells them about me is what they'll believe. I cannot have her going back to Philadelphia with the idea that I'm some lecherous old man who committed adultery with my deputy and ruined her marriage. I understand why Vic wants to keep me away from her mother for now, but I'm concerned that it will just make me look worse, like I have something to hide.

Vic and I both know that we haven't been involved with one another and that we certainly weren't having an affair. At the same time, I have been a little less than noble since learning about the divorce. I haven't kept my thoughts and feelings in check like I should have, not that I did all that great with it before. I also haven't completely kept my hands to myself. In reality, from the first moment Vic stood in Henry's office and told me her marriage was on its way out, everything changed for me. Sure, I want to take things slowly, but I am completely secure in what direction I want that slow roll to go and it's right into the arms of Victoria Moretti.

I'm not a naive person. I know Vic and I have our fair share of challenges ahead of us, but Shaun has presented a new wrinkle I hadn't anticipated. He openly blames me for the disintegration of his marriage to Vic. Because of that, I'm concerned about how Mrs. Moretti will react once Vic and I finally move into a dating relationship. I know her reaction is something over which I have no control. What I can control is myself and how I choose to interact with Vic and her mother right now. I can follow Vic's lead on this, stay away, and not deal with any of it until later. Or, I can meet the challenge head on and talk to Mrs. Moretti face to face. I know which action would elicit the most respect from me: being upfront and honest. If Cady and Branch had made that choice from the beginning instead of keeping their relationship a secret from me, I don't think I would have felt so betrayed by the two of them.

It's becoming pretty clear to me what I need to do, whether or not Vic thinks it's a good idea. My left knee begins to bounce and I check my watch. If I leave now, I can probably catch them. I stand and grab my coat and hat.

"Ruby, I'm heading out. I'll be back before Branch gets here."

"Where will I be able to find you in case I can't get you on the radio?"

"You can call Vic's cell phone if you need me."

"I thought she was spending the day with her mother."

"She is."

I head out the door before Ruby can ask me any more questions. The walk to the Busy Bee is a short one. I glance through the window to try to take note of where Vic and her mother might be sitting. I don't want to have to search for them once I enter the cafe. I clear my throat, and step inside. They are sitting in a booth toward the back. I take my hat in my hands and make my way purposefully toward their table. Vic, who is facing the door, looks up and sees me coming. Her eyes grow bigger before she quickly looks back down. I stop at the edge of the table and wait. Vic's mother looks up at me but doesn't say anything. She directs her attention back to her daughter who appears unusually interested in the chicken fried steak sandwich she's holding.

"Vic...I think there's someone here to see you."

Vic slowly sets her sandwich back onto the plate and wipes her hands on her napkin as she glances up at me, "Hey Walt. What are you doing here? I thought you were busy working a case and couldn't make it for lunch."

"Well, I, uh, found some time. You said your mother wanted to meet me, so I thought it was important to follow through."

"Isn't that nice, Vic. Please, won't you join us."

"Sure" I feel apish as I stand looking from one woman to the other. Mrs. Moretti has her eyebrows raised as she studies her daughter. Neither she nor Vic is scooting over to make room for me. I look back behind me and pull an empty chair over to sit at the edge of the table. A coffee cup is set in front of me and filled.

"Hello Walt. Would you like the usual?"

I'm not sure my stomach can handle food right now. Besides, I may need to head to the Red Pony after this conversation to debrief with Henry. I can eat there if I feel up to it, "No thanks, Dorothy, I'll just stick with coffee today."

Dorothy leaves us to our awkwardness. I wait for Vic to speak, to say anything, but it's glaringly obvious she's going to say as little as possible right now. I'll have to do this myself.

"Mrs. Moretti, It's nice to meet you."

She nods her head, "It's nice to meet you Sheriff Longmire."

"Is this your first visit to Wyoming?"

"Yes it is. I've been meaning to come before now but something has always seemed to come up and prevented me from making the trip."

"Well, it's, uh, good you finally made it."

"Yes, it is."

She leans against the back of the booth and folds her arms, keeping her eyes on my face. It's uncanny and unnerving how much she and her daughter resemble one another. They both have a way of looking at you that strips you bare, like they can crawl inside your head and wander around poking into every nook and cranny to see what they can find. No wonder Vic didn't want me to meet her and her mother for lunch. She was trying to spare me the scrutiny she knew her mother would give. Vic continues to hold her tongue, but I notice she hasn't resumed eating. I take a sip of my coffee to buy myself some time. This isn't going to be as easy as I had hoped it would be. But, it's worth any discomfort I have to deal with now in order for Vic's family to be willing to accept our relationship in the future.

"So, uh, what was it that brought you out for a visit this time around?"

Vic's head snaps up just as I feel the toe of her boot connect with my shin under the table. Good thing I have a high pain tolerance.

"Well, this time around it seemed a little more pressing to see my daughter and talk to her directly, don't you agree?"

'I, uh..."

"Sheriff, I know my daughter and I am quite certain she's told you why I'm here. So, why don't you just cut to the chase and say what you came to say."

"Well Ma'am, I"

She stops me before I can really get started, "How old are you Sheriff?"

"Mom!" Vic has finally found her voice.

"It's okay, Vic. Mrs. Moretti..."

"I think you can drop the formalities Sheriff, I can't be that much older than you are. We're practically peers."

I can detect Vic's ongoing discomfort by the way she shifts in her seat.

"While that may be true in some ways, the fact is we aren't peers. Nor are we friends, though I would like to think we could be cordial with one another."

"And why wouldn't we be cordial?"

"Well I, uh...I know you heard that Vic and I...that I had something to do with her divorce from Shaun. I'm here to tell you that Vic and I haven't been...involved with one another. I would never interfere in anyone's marriage. Now, I've never considered Vic's troubles with Shaun to be my business. But, I've supported her in her marriage. I've given her time off to spend time with Shaun. I've encouraged her to work on their relationship. In the end, she and Shaun decided to end things. That was their choice to make, on their own. "

"Vic said basically the same things to me last night but considering her past indiscretions, you can surely understand why I may have been concerned. I had no idea Victoria and Shaun were having trouble until I ran into Shaun's mother and she filled me in on the divorce proceedings. Shaun told her and me that he believes you were a major factor in their breakup."

I nod, "Shaun has come to me himself and expressed his thoughts on the matter."

"I see."

"I assured him I was not having nor would I have an inappropriate relationship with his wife. I recognize the importance of marriage vows."

I glance at Vic before continuing. I'm having flashbacks to being 18 again.

"I do want to tell you however, that once the divorce is final, when Vic and Shaun are no longer married...I would like to date your daughter. That's only when and if she decides that's something she wants as well. I came here today because I don't want you to head back to Philadelphia with any misinformation about me, my past actions, or my intentions toward Vic. I don't want you to make assumptions based on incomplete information and I would like to have the chance to earn your respect. I hope you're willing to give me that opportunity."

Man, these characters just keep doing their own thing! Once again, one of them has gone rogue. What was Walt thinking? How will Vic react to his declaration to her mother? I guess I'll have to wait until they tell me what happens next to know for sure. Thanks for hanging in there with me!