"Is this a challenging bravado talk, or you mean what you said?"

"When can the two of us spend 2-3 hours together with Mom not around?"

"I don't know right now, but I can check and let you know tomorrow."

...

The following day, I called Doris from work to notify her that I arranged to take the next Monday morning off.

In the same evening, I returned from work and saw Loretta and Doris laughing. They had empty glasses with a half full bottle of white wine in the center of the table. I gazed at them quizzically.

Loretta said, "I just got a promotion. They made me a...