It took a fair amount of effort to not react to the words Ellen was speaking. Was she here to get them back together? The very idea seemed ridiculous to Madeline. Bobby had said their relationship was over, had been a mere shell of the sweet, friendly boy she knew her son to be because of it, and now that he finally seemed to be doing better, this woman wanted to come in here, into her home, and start tearing off the scabs? For what?

"Well, that's a very...romantic attitude, but love isn't always enough to build a life around," she pointed out, smile thinning a bit. "Their relationship is over, and I don't think it's for either of us to meddle in the middle of it, particularly not now."