"I don't care that she's your mother Jared! She is a snake! I am so tired of her snarky comments towards me. Insinuating that I am a good digger, that I am just a nurse. Well, excuse me that we can’t all be doctors. " She pulled her scarf from around her neck and threw it to the floor. Kicking it, she rounded on him. "And how rude! That sex comment was uncalled for. How does she know that you we are not doing that? Bringing it up that I must be somehow dragging you to stay with me because clearly, I cannot entice you into bed. What!?" Jared’s mother, Camille, had turned out to be more than just an angry woman—she was mean, loud, and sarcastic.

He ran his hands through his hair in frustration. In all honesty, he wanted to pull his hair out. That's the kind of emotions his parents brought out of him. Being on the constant verge of verbal assault was another reason he had moved states just to not be close to them. The holidays had always been the worst, and somehow, he ended up being the tactless son who hurt others, when, it was usually self-defense. Yeah, but no one saw that.

"My parents took me to see a doctor when I turned twenty-one and still had not brought a girl home. I mean, I brought girl friends home, but no girlfriend, you know?" He blurted out before he could stop himself. She stopped trying to kick the scarf on the floor.

She turned to him, looking aghast. "They took their twenty-one-year-old son to a doctor because he hadn't brought home a girlfriend...?"

"The doctor tried to find a reason as to why I wasn't physically showing interest in people of the opposite sex. They did a series of CTs, MRIs, all the works.” He really needed to shut his trap. “I guess my parents were hopeful that they'd come back positive for a tumor that was somehow pressing against my brain and hindering my emotional and sexual development."

"That is horrible. What did they say when there was no tumor?"

"They got a second opinion and finally sent me to a shrink. This shrink decided that perhaps there was some tragic sexual event in my past that was making it hard for me to be interested in girls." She stared at him. "There is no such thing in my past, Dahlia. I just... have a hard time finding a person that I am attracted to. When I do find them attractive, they want more from me, and it’s usually not the physical aspect of a relationship. They see the title after my name and latch on, but by then I can't give them more because the emotional connection isn't there anymore, especially not the sexual attraction. Their attachment to the idea that I can provide for them is a turn off. It's not for lack of trying that I haven't been getting laid, believe me."

She sighed. "I know what you are saying. I don't care that you have or haven't. This..."she pointed between them, "...whatever we have going on between us, wasn't intended for that. I am just tired of your mother throwing indirect comments in my direction regarding our lack of sex and my "inability" to sexually please her son."

He pulled off his tie and threw it at a chair. Kicking off his shoes, he shrugged. "I stopped caring or listening to what she told me years ago. I'm just sorry that you got caught in the middle of all of this." He began to unbutton his shirt. "My concern now is that she'll start asking for a grandchild. This relationship wasn't intended to result in that." He paused, “Although it really doesn’t matter what she wants since this is something between my grandfather and I. As bad as it sounds, I could care less what she wanted right now.”

She snorted at the idea of a child. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she toed off her heels, wiggling her toes with a contented sigh. Not being used to wearing heels for hours at a time, her feet were killing her. She went to pull out one of his t-shirts from the closet, pulled her dress over her head, remaining in her bra and underwear. Pulling on the t-shirt, she felt ready for bed and boy was she mentally and physically exhausted!

He turned around and caught her reflection in the mirror.

She was tiny. Only 5'1" to his 6’0” stature. She wasn't slender or overly heavy, but curvy, and he had to admit she looked good— although he wouldn’t say that aloud. She wasn’t even wearing anything remotely “sexy”, but then again, he didn’t have a clue as to what could be considered “sexy” nowadays. She could be wearing boxers for all he cared. He forced himself to look away when he realized he was staring.

She had stated from the beginning she had no plans to be birthing kids out any time soon, that she wasn’t interested in any men. At least he hadn't heard any of the nurses talking about it, and that place was a beehive of news, but he knew better than they did. He now knew about Mark who’d broken her heart and tossed it aside for someone else. He’d recently overheard her talking to one of the nurses about dating and she’d laughed, stating that she had no time for people who would only break her heart again. Strong, stubborn, efficient, and smart, yet soft and caring, she was the perfect coworker and teammate—and now a good friend as well.

Despite telling himself not to do it, he caught himself staring again as his t-shirt dropped over her body, falling to her thighs. Her legs were on the shorter side, but built strong, result of being on her feet for long periods of times, especially when she had to cover someone who had called in for the day. She was a beautiful woman. Beautiful young woman, barely twenty-six to his thirty-seven…

Too bad that he didn’t want her that way. Besides, it wasn’t as if this was a real marriage either way. She’d probably punch him in the face if he tried anything remotely suspicious. He laughed to himself and continued to change into his pajamas. He was exhausted, his brain hurting from dealing with his mother all day. The pillows on his bed were calling his name.

He was still deep in thought when she said, “Jared?”

“What?” he looked up to see her standing on the other side of the bed.

“I said, I went ahead and used a new toothbrush from your cabinet. I left mine in my room and I don’t want to go back to get it. It would probably add more fire to your mother’s suspicions. I don’t mean to be rude, but I really don’t want to see her face for the rest of the night.”

“Oh. That’s fine. Also, go ahead and take the bed, I can sleep on the floor or next door.” He’d settled his mother into the furthest room down the hallway from his. He could use one of the three remaining rooms after he was sure she wouldn’t come out of her room again.

“Okay. I don’t want to be a burden, but since you’re offering...”

He waved her off. “Yeah, yeah. No burden.”

She gave him a smile and disappeared back into the bathroom, leaving him wondering how he could make his mother leave quicker.

……

It had been a grueling two week since his mother had arrived.

Dahlia was tired of his mother's comments, tired of listening to their arguments, tired of pretending to be the fly on the wall while Camille bombarded Jared with demands and “concerns” and today was no different. He hadn’t even been home for five minutes when she’d come downstairs to talk to him.

In what appeared to be a friendly and casual tone, she said, “Hi honey. Did you have a good day at work?”

Jared pulled a water bottle out of the fridge, turning to her with a small shrug. “It was okay. We did see a couple of sick kids and one pregnant woman.”

“Did you meet any interesting ladies?”

Jared frowned, “Yeah, there's always interesting people at work, mother. Just get to the point, will you?”

“What do you mean?” she asked in a gasp as she pressed a hand to her chest.

“I mean that you’re asking me if I met any woman I might be interested in. If you're going to insinuate that I am checking out my patients for possible wives, just come out and say it.”

“Why do you think I want to ask you that?” Camille raised her blonde eyebrows at him and he knew that she was feigning surprise.

“Because you always do, Mom. You always do. I’m not stupid and it’s getting old.” He walked out of the kitchen to go sit in the living room, Camille at his heels.

“I just don’t understand why you think it’s a bad thing that I worry for you? I am your mother after all.” She was beginning to sound exasperated.

“Yeah, but being my mother doesn’t mean that you must impose women on me. Especially when I already have a perfectly good wife at home. Why would I be seeking another one? I can barely handle one as it is.”

Dahlia came downstairs quietly, trying to keep to herself and not get involved in whatever argument they had going on now. Whenever this happened, she always tried to keep out of the way, but when she heard the word “wife”, it piqued her curiosity, and she went to stand by the doorway to listen to what his mother was saying.

“Bah! That's not your wife. Have you seen the way she dresses? If she was your wife, she'd make herself up a little more. She'd dressed up for you.”

“I don’t care about how she dresses! If you haven’t noticed, we’re at home not work. Why would she be all dressed up? She's a nurse and we met at work, we wear scrubs all the time—and let me tell you, they are not so fashionable. It’s not about how good we looked when we met. We don’t have time or energy to be stuffy. Would you like for me to bring out the marriage certificate?”

Camille huffed and crossed her arms. “Anybody can be anything on paper. A wife in name doesn’t mean she's a wife in other ways.”

“Excuse me?”

They both turned around to find Dahlia standing in the doorway to the room.

“Dahlia…” Jared groaned softly, immediately catching the look on her eyes and knowing that this was going to get ugly.

“What is your obsession with Jared’s personal life?” she asked Camille who was looking at her haughtily.

“This is a conversation between Jared and I.” Camille huffed, looking down at her. “I don’t see how it is any of your business, girl,” she finished as she turned away, intent on ignoring the younger woman.

“Clearly when you start making comments about me, then it makes it also my business. And my name is Dahlia not girl, ma'am, so you can also use that.”

“Are you going to let her talk to me like that, Jared!” Camille asked Jared shrilly.

“You started this mother…” Jared covered his face with one hand. She was giving him a headache. His mother was being purposely obnoxious and Dahlia, he knew, would not give up so easily.

“Ridiculous! Surely, you can see why she is not the one for you!”

“Clearly, I can see why I am perfect for him! Since he must deal with the likes of you, I am glad that he has me. Also, I know you don’t care, but I will say it anyways: his personal life is none of your business. He is an adult and it is rude that you want to come to his house and pester him about our personal business. What happens between us shouldn’t interest you.”

“Well, I’ve never!” Camille rounded on Jared, “This is your wife? This girl who speaks like that, no respect— money sniffing woman!”

“Mother…” Jared warned in a low tone as he stood…

“No! No, let her talk Jared. I want to hear what she thinks of me.” Dahlia crossed her arms across her chest, chin raised as she glared at the older woman.

“Why do you keep insisting about being his wife. We both know that you are NOT. Maybe in paper, but not otherwise.”

Dahlia wanted to scream. “What. Is. Your. Issue? Why does that matter? You push and push, but I’m sure you have never asked him about how he feels, what he likes, what his dreams are. He chose me. We chose each other, we decided to make this work. Why are you so inclined to make him unhappy?” Jared moved to stand between both women because he was afraid someone would get hurt. Dahlia was starting to resemble an angry tomato and his mother a hissing cat.

“I am his mother—” Camille started to be cut off by Dahlia.

“And as his mother you should care for him, not about your own desires to control his life!” She countered back at his mother who glared at her.

Camille was fuming, her hair looking wilder than usual, her face red. “I am his mother and as so, I deserve respect! I don’t have to explain myself to you. All I want is the best for my son, which you are not—"

“Why? Because I’m not a doctor?” Dahlia had heard that before many times.

“No, because you are outspoken and disrespectful and I know you are seeking something more than just a man.”

Dahlia scoffed. “Ma’am, with all the due respect that you don’t deserve right now, I don’t need anything more of which I assume you’re referring to money, from him. I graduated from college with honors, I’ve been working since I was about sixteen to reach the place that I’m at right now. Maybe I’ve never had the amount of money or titles your husband or your son have, but I have never been a gold digger, which you so eloquently have told Jared countless of times that I am. I don’t need your son's money or his titles. I was doing well by myself before he came into my life, and to be honest, without knowing you existed. That car outside, is paid by me from the money I earn from the job I have. A job, which I got from the licenses, experiences, and back breaking sleepless nights I spent in school. I may not be fancy like you, but right now it seems that I might be the only one with class.” Dahlia was close to tears. She wanted to scream horrible things to Camille but held her tongue. She knew she wouldn’t listen or care about what she had to say and she refused to lower herself to her level. With a shaky breath, she turned to Jared who was looking as red as his mother. “Jared, I am so sorry you have to deal with her. I’m also sorry to say she's making me think twice about remaining in this house…I'd rather not be here if I have to deal with her.” Dahlia glared at Camille once more before turning and walking towards the doorway.

“Dahlia… wait!” Jared exclaimed as he tried to catch her arm, but she shook him off. Angry, confused, and proud (of Dahlia) he turned to face his mother who was still muttering to herself. “Do you realize what you have done, mother?”

“What? Suffer because of that… woman!?”

“You're putting my marriage at risk. Didn’t you hear what she just said?”

“She's being dramatic. She just wants to make sure you take her side,” Camille said with an indifferent wave of her hand.

Jared dragged both hands over his eyes.

“If she leaves, I will never forgive you.”

“Yeah…Wait what!”

“If she leaves me, it'll be all your fault. I have never seen her so upset before. You were extremely rude. She’s right about you coming here and disrespecting me, disrespecting her like you did just now. She is my wife and even if you don't like her, I like her. I chose her, I married her. Not you. “

“Are you seriously choosing her over your own damn mother?”

“Yes, mother. I am choosing my happiness. Now if you'll excuse me, I am going to bed. My head is killing me. Good night mother.” Jared gave her one last look before leaving her alone in the room.