Sam and Bette shook hands, giving each other a strained smile.  For the next two hours, Rachel and Jesse conversed with quick hands, while Bette and Sam watched, ate, and spoke about kids and life in general.

            “We should get going,” said Sam after well over an hour.

            “Got a date?” asked Jesse.  Bette laughed, as did Rachel.

            Sam closed her eyes, “No, I have work.  Jayden said you and she were going swimming, so let’s go lil man.”

            It was a pleasure meeting you, Rachel.  Signed Jesse to Rachel, and she signed something back so quickly that Sam didn’t get it all.  Jesse simply smiled, obviously he’d understood it all.

            “Rather charming isn’t he?” asked Bette. 

            “Yeah, rambunctious brat…,” smiled Sam.  “I’ll be sure to stop by and check out the exhibit at the college,” added Sam, holding Bette’s card in her left hand. 

            “I’d like that,” agreed Bette.

            Jesse and Sam walked away, Jesse waving over his shoulder.  He was already talking to Sam, in French, about his plans for his next language adventure.  Once in the car, Sam gave him a look and he instantly knew he was in trouble.

            “Why are you giving me the ‘devil eyes’?” he asked innocently.

            “Because you know full well that I’m not interested,” said Sam steadfastly.

            “You looked interested,” smiled Jesse.  “Why can’t you have fun?”

            “Because I’m busy, to busy to start a relationship.  We have this HUGE account with Prada, and I’m going to concentrate on that, and not on… well.. other things…,” grunted Sam, slamming the car into gear and Jesse crossed his arms over his small chest, thinking his mother was the toughest woman he’d ever met.

            Twenty minutes later, they were pulling into Jayden Stone’s driveway, just six houses from Sam’s.  Jesse bounded out of the car, the door left swinging open as he ran to the door.

            “Jesse Lee Masters, I didn’t raise you in a barn!” bellowed Sam.

            Jesse turned around, dashing back to the car and shutting the door, “No, Samantha Lee Vance, I was raised in a house, just like you were, your house as a matter a fact…,” he batted his hazel eyes at Sam.