"A lot of us want things we can never have," she admitted, her voice softening as she leveled a serious look at him. When the blush started to creep across her son's guilty face, Barbara realized she said more than she should. She never wanted him to realize she knew of his forbidden desire, but she'd suggested just enough to give it away. At least in his shame he barely noticed she was also suggesting the same thing about herself.

It wasn't fair to let her son feel all the shame over something they both felt, but she could hardly bear knowing how frustrated he must've been just then.

"Sweetie,"...