Relieved but worried

James had called his mother as soon as Lee had sped away in embarrassment. He was still somewhat shaken. Sally wasn't much different, and Aurora was so filled with panic the bathroom walls reflected her orange glow.

When Terri arrived, the three of them sat down together. She didn't waste time getting to planning.

"Okay, so Lee definitely thinks something's up. Those same guys probably talked to him, too."

James nodded. "Pretty good chance, since he ignored me and bust into the bathroom."

Terri set a hand on Sally's shoulder. "You good?"

Sally nodded, still shaking a little. "Yeah...just glad he shut the door. Aurora was peaking out from the shower...if he'd opened it more..."

"Well, he didn't but we need to keep him from looking too much."

James nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah but how the hell do we do that without looking more suspicious?"

"James, you know him better than we do. Is there a strong chance he'll be back?"

He bit his lip. Lee wasn't the sort to give up on something...and he didn't get to his current position by leaving things alone. He took a deep breath. "Definitely."

"Leave it to me, then.", Terri answered. She stepped out back, dialing Lee on the number he'd called her from a couple of days ago.

Lee's voice came through slightly panicked. <"Hello, this is Lee Zhang.">

Terri crossed an arm under her chest. "I know you know it's me, Lee. And that you know why I'm calling."

<"God, I'm so sorry about that I don't know what got into me but I swear I didn't think she was in there.">

"You know, if you wanted to know what the women in our family look like naked you just had to ask me on a date."

She could practically feel the tension in his pause. "...Excuse me?"

Terri's heart began to beat quickly. She couldn't help imagining him naked. "You heard me.", she took a deep breath to stop her voice from shaking. This was exhilarating! "How about Thursday? I've got a...thing, for Asian men...and I haven't had any romance in nearly a decade. If I remember right, you're single too?"

<"W-well yes but...this is so sudden and...it's such a strange way to bring it up.">

"Lee, if you can tell me a way that isn't awkward to say 'looking at you makes me wet, and I want to go on a date with you', I'm open for suggestions...otherwise, we're both too old for games.", she couldn't keep her voice from shaking.

<"...Okay, then. In the spirit of not playing games, why did it take seeing your daughter naked for you to say this?">

"I've been thinking about it for a while but...I wasn't ready to say it. But, if my children are concerned enough to call me over to talk about it, what better opportunity to be forward than when I have to call you anyway?"

<"They called you over? I'm sorry, again, it was truly an-">

"Accident, I know. I can guess why, those men in white suits talked to me, too."

There was a pause for several seconds. <"...So you put together what I was thinking already?">

"I got suspicious, too."

<"You did?">

"Of course I did. James called off of work for a week all of a sudden, he stops answering most of my calls, and he was anxious to leave when Sally and I came to visit."

<"And?">

"And, the hospital records at Lady of Peace back him up. A young woman he was with for most of her two days in was there for severe chest and face burns. Plus I already had Sally help me look everywhere. Just him...but I can't say I'm not hoping this friend of his turns into more."

<"Yeah, he does need someone...well. Thursday?"

Terri smiled, blushing a little. "6pm, I'll cook dinner and have Sally stay with a friend that night." Certainly Sally wouldn't object to another night over, right? It would only be one...probably.

<"I'm looking forward to it already.">

"See you then. Bye.", Terri felt her voice flutter. She felt like a teenager setting up a date again.

<"Bye.">, Lee echoed. His voice shook just like hers. She hoped that was a good sign as they hung up and she walked inside.

"Handled. He's sorry, again, Sally...and you'll need to stay over here an extra night.", Terri said while trying to force her blush into leaving.

Sally smiled, with a slightly gaping mouth. "Woah! Way to go, Mom!"

James looked back and forth between them

"Wait, what?"

"Mom turned this into a date!", Sally exclaimed.

James cocked an eyebrow. "Are you sure that's a great idea?"

Sally poked his side teasingly. "Mom's gonna bone your bo~oss.", she sang out.

Terri slapped her arm. "Shush, I'm just making dinner."

"And emptying the house?", Sally asked teasingly. Terri blushed again, and grabbed her keys.