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"Don't you dare!" I reply quickly. "Mom, if this were a date with Dad, would you be so worried?" She shakes her head. "Then enjoy the food, and hopefully my company, and let me take care of the woman who has meant the most to me throughout my life."

She sits back then and looks at me wide-eyed for a few seconds before saying, "The most… What about Tina?"

I heave a sigh before answering. "I won't deny we fool around." It feels odd talking to my mom so openly about it, but she has to know by now that we've been doing it, "but other than that, we are just friends," I said.

The waiter arrives and pours us the champagne, and then leaves the bottle with us on ice. That bottle is as much as half a paycheck for me. I take a sip of mine and smile before continuing. "You have loved and cared for me, my entire life. Even when I was a kid and screwed up, you were there for me. When I was hurt or alone, I could always count on you." I look her hard in the eyes, and smile, "So just sit there, and let me take care of you."

She meets my gaze for a few seconds, taking a sip of her drink. "And what about Nancy?"

I choke, trying to take a swallow. "Nancy?" I splutter.

"I'm sorry," her cheeks are turning red. "I shouldn't have said anything. It's just, well, she told me about what you all did. Oh, could you not give me that look? I'm not so innocent, myself." I look at her curiously, still trying to clear my throat, but to no avail, "At first, I admit I was shocked, but when Nancy explained how close it had made Tina and her… Well, I couldn't deny the temptation. I know who tucked me in that first night, and I remember what I did."

Thankfully, I don't have anything in my mouth at that moment, because I would have likely spewed it all over the table. My mother remembers kissing me. And by the sound of it, it had been no accident.

I'm saved from having to say anything immediately by the waiter bringing our food. He gives Mom a little more attention than is necessary. I start to get a bit annoyed by him, but he finally leaves us to eat. It smells great, but I'm a bit disappointed by how little there is on the plate.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you that," Mom says, after a few seconds of uncomfortable silence. "You probably think less of me now, and I've ruined our date." She looks down at her plate, and suddenly, I feel terrible for her.

I reach across the table and grip her hand in mine, but she continues to look down at her open cleavage. "Mom, you are a beautiful woman. I would have to be a fool to be upset by a kiss from someone as hot as you." She finally looks back up at me, and I can still see some worry in her eyes.

"I'm not, son. You don't have to lie to me. I'm old and used. That's why your dad did what he did." Her voice is soft, but I can still hear her. I can feel her 'happy' switch dropping lower, and curse myself for this date not going so well. I'd be tempted to adjust the switch if I could without Loveth, but as I think it over more, that would be a temporary fix. I need to cheer her up the old-fashioned way.

"No!" I exclaim indignantly. "Haven't you noticed how the waiter stares at you? He can't stop staring. Look, he's even staring now," I wave to where our waiter stands, looking at our table, before turning back to mom. I can't claim she is young, not with the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes, but I can't stand to hear her get down on herself for what Dad did, especially when her self-image is so far off from reality.

I know I promised not to use my abilities on her, but I figure this will be forgivable. I make two quick switches, one for the elasticity of her skin and one for her aging. I turn up the former, and slow down the latter. I can't touch her 'happy' switch, and the two new switches won't take effect immediately, but it should help in the long run.

"Dad is an idiot for what he did to you," I go on.

"You look absolutely stunning tonight. Any man would be lucky to sit in my seat right now, across from you. But it just so happens to be that I'm the lucky one and I WILL NOT complain." I try to sound forceful, willing her to understand what I'm telling her.

She smiles tremulously at me, her 'happy' switch shuddering, before dropping her gaze to her plate. "Let's eat," she says, and I figure she wants to change the subject.

The food tastes as good as it smells, and thankfully, it's a little more filling than it looks. Mom fills up her glass of champagne one more time, but otherwise refrains from drinking more. Since I'm driving, I only drink one glass.

"Did you really mean what you said," Mom asks as she finishes up her plate, "about you being the lucky one?"

I look at her, across from me, at the way the dress hugs her curves, and her beautiful cleavage, the shape of her lovely face that I have known my entire life, and answer honestly and with all sincerity.

"Do you want to know what my first thought was when I saw you come to the door? I thought you looked like a sex goddess. You're smart, beautiful, and sexy. I absolutely meant what I said about me being lucky enough to be here with you tonight."

As I speak, I watch her face for signs of anger, but only notice her cheeks reddening slightly.

The waiter returns, asking if we want anything for dessert.

"No," mom says, keeping eye contact with me and her tone level, "I think we're fine, if we can have the bill, please?" The waiter nods and walks away.

"Son, hand me the keys, please. I will go wait in the car," my mom said blandly.

I've overdone it, I thought, with a little bit of trepidation. I nod as I reach into my pocket to draw out my keys and hand them to her. She stands, walks over to me, and leans over to kiss the top of my head. I've a great view of her cleavage, but right then, I can't think of anything but that I've somehow hurt her.

Her following words only confuse me. "Thank you, son, for a wonderful date."

I pay as soon as the waiter brings the bill, and he gives me a dirty look when he sees that Mom is gone. The meal wasn't cheap, but then again, I'd known it wouldn't be. The tip is probably worse than he deserved, but he HAD annoyed me. I grab the bottle of champagne as I leave.

When I walk out, I'm surprised to see Mom in the driver's seat, and waiting for me with the engine running. I get into the passenger seat, and Mom puts the car in drive. I don't know what to say to her, and she doesn't try talking to me either. It takes me a bit to notice that she isn't driving home. When she finally does stop, my heart is racing, and even my hands feel sweaty.

We are in a motel parking lot. The same motel I'd found dad cheating on mom in, and later that afternoon, I fooled around with Loveth.

The silence drags on for a while, but I don't know what to say, or even think. Mom is the one to break the silence.

She is looking back and forth between the steering wheel and the motel office as her voice comes out, cracked and hesitant.

"This was a mistake. . . We should go," Mom said.

I don't know what makes me do it, but I reach over, and before she can put my car in reverse, I pull out the keys.

"I'm going to go pay for a room," I tell her, wondering what she might say or do. "I'll leave you the keys to my car, and you can either come in or go home. I won't think any less of you, no matter what you decide."

Without looking back, I walk to the office and pay for a room for the night. When I walk back out, Mom is still waiting in the car, and I can feel her eyes on me as I walk to my room and unlock the door. I look back at her one last time, before I walk in and turn on the lights.

I sit on the queen-sized bed, as I wait. Have I overstepped my bounds? I start to worry, after all, she had all but said she'd intentionally kissed me that first night. After a few minutes pass, I turn on the TV. Have I made another mistake? Did I misunderstand what she had in mind? As the minutes wear on, I wonder if my and my mom's relationship is forever damaged. Or did I read the signs wrong, and I'm just some demented pervert?

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