"I heard Roseline came back earlier than scheduled; have you two planned a date yet?" Jessica Watson, Mark's mother, asked as he fed her a bowl of chicken soup.

Mark let out a sigh, knowing that it was going to be another long night of discussion with his sick mother.

"We haven't," he replied calmly as he scooped another spoonful of broth.

She turned her face away from the spoon, brows furrowed in annoyance. "And why not?" She demanded.

"And don't give me the crap about you being busy ...