Mary Elizabeth stared down into the depths of her wine, lips pursed as she pondered Tessa's words.
"Can we meet him soon? Your Kirk? You can come for dinner."
"Oh, MeMe, I'm not sure I'm ready for that just yet."
"Just us. Please, Tessa? I want to meet him. To know you'll be safe."
"I could just find someone who'd vouch for him. That might be easier than sitting through a dinner with you interrogating him."
Mary Elizabeth stretched out her free hand and patted Tessa’s arm.
"I support you, Tessa. You know that. I just want you to be careful."
"I am. I will be. We're just getting to know one another for now."
"And when he presses for more? Men that age seem to think they have something to prove. They don’t call it midlife crisis for nothing."
"I know. And I don't know yet." There would be plenty of time for more later if Kirk stuck around. But for now, his attention and company went a long way in comforting her, distracting her from the emptiness she'd felt since her husband’s passing.
A low sound left Mary Elizabeth, and Tessa lifted an eyebrow in question. "What?"
"Oh, nothing. I just wondered if this qualifies you as a cougar?"
"Ha ha."
"No, really! With that kind of age difference, there has to be a name for it," Mary Elizabeth teased. "Tell me more about Kirk Delucca. His name sounds Italian? Is he handsome?"