Madeline took the woman's hand automatically, although it took her half a beat to realize who she was, who John was. That John, the juvenile delinquent her son had stupidly fallen in love with, only to have it all fall apart around him a few months ago, along with so many other aspects of his life.

"I see. It's nice to meet you, Ellen," she said, her expression stiffly forced to remain in a smile. "I'm sorry, but...why are you here?" She wasn't going to let this woman upset Bobby, not when he was finally starting to act a little more like himself these days, after months of moping and mourning for John.