Lisa patiently explained, "I'm happy when I'm with him. It'll be better for the boys to have their father back. They need a male influence..."

"A good male influence, Mom, and he isn't one." Shelby realized she was squeezing the phone, and relaxed her hand.

"Shelby, I'm trying to include you in the family decisions, but you aren't making it easy. You aren't the one trying to raise two boys alone and make ends meet."

Pursing her lips, Shelby spoke in a very controlled voice, "I give you money every month, Mom, so don't lay that on me. I could give you more..."

"No, honey. I feel bad enough about taking your money. When Jonathan moves in, I won't need it any more. We'll have two incomes. He's trying to get his record expunged. Isn't that great?"

Kris watched the myriad of emotions flickering across Shelby's face with concern. She had to restrain herself from taking the phone and telling Lisa to go to hell. Instead, she walked over to her partner, and laid a supportive hand on Shelby's shoulder.

Shelby reached up with her free hand, making contact with Kris' fingers. "I'll stop over after work and we can talk about it then."

"Honey, I've already made up my mind. I just want you to be okay with it."

"Mom, I'm not okay with it. I'm against it. At least hear me out tonight."

Lisa sighed, but then brightened. Maybe she would have better luck in person when Shelby saw how excited Jason and Jimmy were. "Okay, honey. What time are you planning on coming over?"

Shelby turned her head and looked up at Kris mouthing, '5:30?'

Kris nodded. Whatever Shelby wanted to do was fine with her. They would just grab something to eat on the way to their surveillance site.

"5:30."

"Okay, dear, see you then." Lisa hung up the phone and started preparing the arguments she knew she'd need to convince Shelby.

Shelby turned tormented eyes to Kris. "She wants Jonathan to move back in. What's wrong with her?"

Kris just shook her head. It didn't make any sense to her, but she knew it was a common pattern with battered wives. She also knew Shelby knew that.

Standing up, the blonde smiled wanly. "I'm going to get some cranberry juice. Want anything?"

"A Coke would be great." She watched her partner walk out the door and sighed. Shelby wasn't getting any breaks, and she was just as much responsible for her partner's stress as Lisa was.

"Hey, Shelby. I was just getting ready to come down to your office. Some of us are getting together after work and going to The Pub. How about you and your new partner coming along. It'll be fun."

Glancing away from the pop machine, Shelby looked at Maggie, surprise evident on her face. "Is this a first or something?"

"Sorta. Just thought it would be fun. Are you game?"

"Sorry, I can't. I'm going to my mother's right after work. Maybe some other time?"

Maggie grinned. "Sure, if we ever do it again."

Laughing, Shelby commented, "True. Have fun."

"But of course!" Maggie watched Shelby return to her office as she inserted her money into the vending machine, selecting a bag of trail mix.



*  *  *

"Hi, babe. Did you talk to Shelby?"

"Yeah, but she's totally against the idea. She's going to stop over at 5:30. I think she's going to try and convince me not to let you move in."

Pleading, Jonathan said, "Lisa, please..."

"Don't worry. I'm going to work just as hard to win her acceptance. When she sees how enthusiastic the boys are, I think she'll change her mind."

Jonathan deliberately kept his calm. "What if you can't convince her? What happens, then?"

"That shouldn't be a problem. If it is, we may want to wait just a little longer." When Lisa heard Jonathan sigh, she added, "It wouldn't be for long."

"Okay, babe. Whatever you want. I only want to make you happy."

Lisa smiled warmly. "I know you do. Love you."

"Love you, babe."

Jonathan waited for Lisa to hang up before viciously throwing his cell phone against the trailer wall. He stalked around the apartment, the familiar rage beginning to build. That fucking little bitch. She was going to ruin his life forever. He was living in this filthy trailer park, like some lowlife because of her. If he didn't get his record expunged, all he had to look forward to were more minimum wage jobs. Jonathan wanted his family back and he wasn't going to let Shelby stand in his way. He lamented the fact that the shot had missed her the previous week.

He glanced at the rifle leaning in the corner of the living room, then crossed the room and picked it up. Pressing the stock against his shoulder, he pictured Shelby standing directly in his line of fire and carefully aligned the sight between her eyes, gently squeezing the trigger. A smile covered his face as he watched her head explode.



*  *  *

Shelby looked at Kris and shook her head ruefully. "Here goes nothing." She waited for the operative to round the car, then accompanied her to the door. Knocking twice, she walked in, Kris following.

"Hi, Mom." She walked over and hugged her mother.

"Hi, honey. Would you and Kris like some spaghetti? I've got plenty left." Shelby hesitated, but decided it might ease some of the tension. She glanced at the operative and smiled. "Mom makes great spaghetti."

Kris nodded. "Thanks, Lisa. That sounds great."

Lisa quickly served her guests and sat down to join them at the table. She had warned her sons to stay in the living room, promising that Shelby's spy friend would come and visit them after they were done talking.

The conversation was trivial, with Lisa talking about her flower garden and the boys' exploits at school. Kris excused herself when she finished eating, making her way to the living room and silently wishing her partner success.

Shelby smiled at her mother. "I love you, Mom and I want you to be happy."

A warm smile covered Lisa's face. "I know you do, honey. I love you, too."

"Why do you think Jonathan has changed?"

Having been prepared for a heated debate, Lisa was encouraged by Shelby's calm demeanor. "Because he saw a psychologist. That was a big step for him. You know how proud he is. And each time he calls or visits, he makes me feel so special. He's attentive to both the boys and me. He's trying so hard to do everything right."

"You do know, seeing the psychologist was part of his sentence, right?"

"Yes, but he talks so positively about his visits to the doctor. He admits he was wrong. It's not easy for anyone to face their mistakes, yet he is."

Shelby nodded. "Does he still see a psychologist?"

"No. The doctor told him he was a success story and he didn't need to schedule any more sessions."

He is such a liar! "Have you seen him very often?"

Lisa looked away and nodded. "He's been coming around for about a month, now."

Shelby inwardly sighed. Her mother had kept her contact with him well hidden. "Mom, I want you to be totally honest with me. Has he ever done or said anything at all that reminded you of before. You know, raised his voice, clenched his fists, all the things he used to do before he lost his temper."

Lisa's thoughts returned to his visit earlier in the day. For a minute, she'd been scared, but she could understand why he was upset. He wanted them to be a family again.

"Mom? He has, hasn't he?"

"Oh, it was nothing. He just raised his voice a little. He was just a little upset you didn't want to give him a chance. I told him you just needed some time."

Shelby's worst fears were confirmed. She'd known he was incapable of changing, but her mother had just verified it. "You remember my friend, Kim?"

"How could I forget her? I can't ever remember laughing so hard as I did the last time she came over with you. Why?"

"Would you do me a favor?"

"What are you talking about? I thought we were talking about Jonathan moving in."

"We are." Shelby paused, hoping her mother wouldn't explode. "Kim counsels abused women. I'd like you to talk to her."

"That's your answer!" Lisa stood up angrily. "You think I should see a psychiatrist?"

"No, Mom. She's a counselor. You've never talked to anyone about what you went through. If you agree to talk to her, I'll promise to try to be more impartial about Jonathan."

Pacing around the kitchen, Lisa said pointedly, "I really don't think I need to talk to a counselor."

"It wouldn't hurt to talk to her just once, Mom."

Lisa wasn't the least bit happy that her daughter thought she needed to talk to a professional, but Shelby had made the deal very sweet. "And if I do, you promise to be impartial about Jonathan?"

Shelby nodded. "Only one thing."

"What else?"

"You delay Jonathan moving in until after you talk to her."

Lisa had been prepared to delay a week anyway and, wanting to keep the peace with Shelby, she capitulated. "Okay." She smiled at her daughter and held out her hand. "Deal."

Chuckling, Shelby sealed their deal with a handshake. "I'd better go rescue Kris."

All of a sudden, they heard Jimmy and Jason explode with laughter. She grinned at her mother. "I think she's holding her own."

A short time later the two women bid Lisa and the boys farewell. Kris waited until Shelby was settled in before making her way around the car to the driver's side. Settling into the seat, she asked, "How'd it go?"

"Better than I could've ever hoped for. She agreed to talk to Kim before letting Jonathan move in."