“She’s not doing good…,” sighed Jesse.  He picked at his fries, “She misses mom, she cries a lot at night when she thinks I’m asleep.”

            “We know she does, Jesse,” assured Mel.  She looked at Lindsay, who tried to keep the tears at bay.  Sam had saved Gus’s life with a life saving bone marrow transplant, yet they could do nothing to help her get out of her slump.  Even Jesse, the light in her life, sometimes made her feel sad.  He was a constant reminder of the love she’d lost.

            “How long as it been?” asked Bette, knowing that the women would know what she was talking about.

            “A few years, but she still wears her wedding ring,” said Lindsay softly, her fingers going to her own wedding ring.

            “Hey Jesse, how about we go to the bar and get some ice cream?” asked Mel.  Winking at Lindsay and Jayden.

            “Ok…  just, don’t talk about me while I’m gone,” he said playfully wagging a finger.

            “Alright, what is going on with Sam?” asked Lindsay seriously of Jayden. 

            Jayden sighed, “I’m not sure, she called me from her car earlier, said that something had happened and she couldn’t let Jesse see her like that.  I just… I’m at a loss.  It just isn’t like Sam.”

            “You’re right, that’s not like Sam,” muttered Lindsay.

            “I don’t know her all that well, but I must admit, her not wanting her son with her is not her method of operation,” said Bette, thinking of herself wanting Angelica as much as humanly possible and that not happening.

            “Munchkin alert,” said Lindsay, smiling at Jesse and Mel as they approached the table. 

            “You were talking about me, admit it,” said Jesse, wiggling his ice cream cone at Jayden.  Bette gave Lindsay grin. 

            “Yes, we were telling everyone what a wonderful young man you are becoming,” lied Jayden with a smile.

            “Can I go stay with Gus tonight?  If Sam isn’t going to be home?” asked Jesse, batting his hazel eyes.

            Jayden looked over at Lindsay, who shrugged, “If you want too, and if it’s ok with Linds an Mel,” said Jayden.