Flash Point. Metsy Hingle

was,” she told him, and sighed wistfully.

      “You still miss him, don’t you?”

      Mary Ellen nodded and attempted a smile. “We were married for more than forty years. I was lucky we had so long together. Not everyone is as lucky,” she pointed out, thinking of Peter’s short marriage and the death of his wife to melanoma. “When the right person comes along, waiting isn’t always the smart thing to do.”

      “Mother,” Jack began.

      Deciding to ignore that “don’t go there” note in his voice, she forged ahead. “I know that you’re too old to have your mother telling you what to do. And you certainly don’t need me to tell you how to run your love life.”

      “No, I don’t,” he said firmly.

      Taken aback by his bluntness, she said, “Fine. Then all I’m going to say is that Alicia Van Owen is a wonderful young woman who obviously cares a great deal for you. I don’t know what that little spat was the two of you had the other night, and I don’t want to know.”

      “We didn’t have a spat, and I don’t want to discuss this.”

      Irritated with him for being so stubborn, Mary Ellen poked a finger at his chest and gave him a quelling look. “We’re not discussing it. I’m simply telling you that whatever’s wrong, I suggest you fix it and fix it fast. Because if you keep dragging your feet and acting like a horse’s rear end the way you’ve been doing, some other man is going to come along and steal her right from under your nose.”

      Her son said nothing, but judging by the way his mouth had tightened, he was none too pleased with her remarks. Too bad, Mary Ellen thought. But when a rap came at the door, she was grateful for the interruption.

      “What?” Jack snapped.

      Alexander Kusak stuck his head inside the door. “What’s your problem, Callaghan?”

      “Oh Alexander, you came,” Mary Ellen cried out, genuinely pleased to see the young man who was practically a third son to her.

      “Of course I came. Did you really think I would have missed your birthday?”

      Pleasure washed through her. “You’re such a busy man these days and it’s been months since you’ve come to dinner. I was afraid you might not be able to get away tonight either.”