"Hi daddy. Where's the beast?"

"Lisa... your mother hates that nickname."

Lisa let out a short laugh. "She knows about it?"

"Yes and it hurts her feelings. You really should be more considerate. She did the best she could, baby." Her father motioned for her to join him. "Come here and tell me all about your life. Any prospects for marriage?"

"Um, no." She walked to the cabinet and got out a travel mug. "I'm going to head over to Ms. Martin’s. Kari wants me to take her some pastries and I guess it would be nice to visit with her a little."

"Sounds good. Will you be here tonight?"

"No, I'm going to take my things now. I'm leaving early. Something came up at the office."

"Did you reschedule your flight?"

"No, but I'll text my assistant and have her do it." She shrugged and filled up her mug with coffee. Lisa walked to the table and gave her father a quick hug. "Tell the beast that I said happy birthday."

Lisa turned and walked toward the foyer, her father's sound of disapproval nothing compared to the one she usually got for simply breathing from her mom. To get out of town without having to see the woman again would be a huge success. She hoisted her bag onto her shoulder and walked out in the early morning summer day. The heat was a bit much, but she wouldn't be out in it long, so no big deal.

"Where you headed, Miss Lisa?" Fredrick moved toward her from the small seat he reclined on the front porch in.

"I need to stop by that bakery just up the street. The one with the sinful chocolate donuts."

"I know the one well." He patted his stomach and smiled.

"Then I need a lift to Kari's house. You remember where her mother lives? In that tiny white house in the Bronx?"

"I do. Come on and I'll take you. Need me to pick you up later tonight?"

"I'll catch a cab from there to the airport."

"Nonsense. Just text me about thirty minutes before you go and I'll come get you."

"You sure?"

"That or I'll be a monkey's uncle."

She chuckled and got into the car, pressing her hand against the door to keep him from shutting it. "I haven't met your family, Fred. Anything is possible."

She waved over her shoulder toward Fredrick before walking slowly up the dilapidated steps of Ms. Martin's house. Marc's truck wasn't in the driveway, which was a good sign. Disappointment tried to rear its ugly head, but she shoved it back.

He wanted to be overtly dominant and try to teach her, HER, a lesson... he could find someone else to fuck with.

She reached up and knocked on the front door, a bit of white paint chipping off to land on the ground before her. How Kari's mom didn't make more money as a nurse was shocking. The cost of living in New York was outrageous, but the condition of her house plus the location was disturbing. The door opened and an older version of Kari reached out to pull Lisa into a hug.

"There you are. Marc texted this morning that he wasn't sure you were coming over."

"I wasn't sure I was either, but Kari wanted you to have these." Lisa lifted the small bag as Ms. Martin squealed with excitement and moved back into the house.

"Well, you're here now, so come on in."

"Is Marc here?" Lisa looked around as she moved into the small two room house. She set her bag down on the floor by the door. Joining Kari's mom at the kitchen table, Lisa reclined back and propped her feet on another chair close by.

"No. He said he wasn't feeling well. Not sure what's been up with that boy lately." She opened the bag and pulled out several of the small pastries, adverting her eyes from Lisa. "You want one?"

"No ma'am, I'm good."

"You don't look good. What's wrong with you? I'm used to seeing you filled with pee and vinegar."

"It's piss and vinegar."

"Good grief." Ms. Martin rolled her eyes, laughing softly as Lisa joined her.

"I think I'm in love and I don't want to be. It hurts all the time." Lisa touched her chest, rubbing softly above her left breast. "How can the organ that pumps blood around your body physically hurt when you can't be with the person that steals your thoughts, your breath?"

The older woman reached over and touched Lisa's arm, her face softening. Kari had a great relationship with her mom and Lisa coveted it. Her mom would laugh her out of the room should she try to have a serious conversation with her about anything.

"Because you're human. We were made to be in relationships with each other. Love is a part of who we are. It's a gift from God himself." Ms. Martin smiled and lifted a scone to her mouth, taking a small bite.

"I hate it. I'm good with lust, but love... ehhh." Lisa took another drink of her coffee before setting it down and reaching for a piece of the scone.

"Who is he? Tell me about him."

"He's this guy that I met and he's not even really my type. I mean he's crazy hot and has this body that..." Lisa stopped, looking up and laughing at the look on Kari's mother's face. She knew that the woman knew her secrets, but decided to play along. "Anyway, he's gorgeous and smart, sweet and funny, but we connected too well when we met. I decided, or really, we decided that not getting to know each other was best."

"Why on earth was that the decision you two made?"

"Because his life is very different from mine. There's an age gap between us and he's living his life here in New York. Neither one of us would be willing to give up all we've built and created to be close to each other. It's just not fair. Surely there is someone else, like someone in Maine that could make me feel as good as he does just by looking my way." She sighed loudly, brushing her hand over the top of her head and tugging hard at her ponytail. "He drives me crazy though."

"Does he feel the same?"

"I guess. I don't know. He was a total ass yesterday about the situation, which helps in some ways. I'm getting on a plane this evening and pretending that he doesn't exist."

"Do you think that's going to work?"

"Fuck no." She shrugged as Ms. Martin flinched. "Sorry. I'll try and watch my language."

"Don't bother. Just spill your heart, sweetie. I hate love too, but that's just because it's not part of my life anymore. It's the most powerful emotion we have. You need to reconsider how to deal with it."

"I guess, just not sure who that makes me. I've always run hard and fast from the idea of having to belong to anyone. I had a shitty childhood thanks to my overbearing mother and my pussified father." Lisa shook her head. "Sorry..."

"Stop apologizing. Marc curses like a sailor too. I've just learned to ignore it and pray for him all the more."

"You going to pray for me later?" Lisa's lip lifted in a soft smile.

"With sack cloth and ashes like in the Old Testament. You both need extra prayers." She laughed and got up, moving to the kitchen, which wasn't more than a stone's throw from the table.

"Because of our potty mouths?"

"Because you sound like you have the same illness."

"Explain." Lisa turned her chair to face the pretty woman as she started to cut up potatoes in the small kitchen.

"Marc hasn't been himself in a few months. He's usually so funny and full of life. He mopes around here every Sunday, his best friend Jackson calling last week to see if something was really wrong. He's just been so depressed. I'm going to talk to him about going to the doctor soon."