Chapter 4

"Jean Luc, would you make sure my luggage is packed," Elizabeth began, "I have some friends in the Hamptons that I must see." The Englishwoman was estranged from all of her children but she still had many friends and acquaintances who would welcome her. The nerve of that woman! Claiming that she knows my own son better than I do! Sylvia is wrong...Maxwell is wrong. I was a good mother to him. What nerve! I don't need someone else to tell me about my own son. Fran and her mother seemed to love each other...even if they don't have the precious breeding that I thought was so important. Elizabeth's cold upbringing did not allow her to be comfortable around her own children. My son seems happy and so do my grandchildren. Could that Fine woman be right? I have been at odds with my son for the majority of his life. Maybe we can start to be a family. It's not too late to change..."Jean Luc, there is one stop we need to make," Elizabeth pressed the button to the intercom.

"Very good, madam," the chauffer responded as he picked up her luggage.

Minutes later, Elizabeth's limousine came to a stop in front of the Sheffield mansion. Jean Luc opened the door ushering Elizabeth out. "Shall I wait for you madam?"

"I will call you when I am ready, Jean Luc," the woman said as she knocked on the door.

ZZZ

Niles went to the door surprised to see his husband's mother standing on the other side, "Please come in madam. I will let Mr. Sheffield know that you are here," the butler stated as he regained his composure.

"Niles, I would like to surprise my son. Is he in his office," she asked graciously.

"Yes, he is madam. Right this way," he said as he ushered her to the doorway.

"Very good, Niles. That will be all."

The butler shook his head in amazement. Will wonders never cease?

ZZZ

Elizabeth Sheffield opened the door to her son's office. Knowing Maxwell he was on the phone with an investor or doing business of some sort. He will be surprised to see me...

At the sound of the door opening, Maxwell turned around and came face to face with his mother. "Mother, what are you doing here?"

"I want to talk to you son. This isn't easy because I know how much you detest me."

"I don't detest you Mother. I don't know you well enough."

"We have never been close. We don't talk. Perhaps we can work on it. I don't want to lose you, Maxwell. To be cut off from my grandchildren is unthinkable and unacceptable! I want to know you...I want to know my grandchildren."

"What brought about this change of heart, mother," Maxwell wondered.

"Your mother in law, Mrs. Fine!"

"Sylvia?"

"Son, underneath that brassy exterior is a very wise woman. She made me realize that I don't even know my own son. We have lost so much time together..."

"Sylvia has been like a mother to me," Max hesitated, "Well, I've certainly seen her a lot more than…"

"More than you've seen me. I want to change that son if you and Fran will let me. Your wife has done a good job raising my grandchildren and from what I've seen, you and the children and seem happy."

"Fran has made us all very happy, Mother. She brought me back to life and made us all feel alive again...I will always love her for that."

"I am happy for you, Maxwell," Elizabeth smiled.

"Thank you, Mother. I would like to get to know you, Mother. I have always wanted you to be a part of my life. I would like to welcome to the family."

"Thank you, Son. I need to contact some of my friends in the Hamptons. If it's alright, I would like to postpone my visit and spend some time with my son. It will only take a moment."

"That would be quite alright, Mother. We will see you in a few minutes," Maxwell smiled. His mother giving up a weekend with friends…in the Hamptons no less…he could hardly take it all in. We're off to a good start. I must remember to thank Sylvia. Who would have thought this would be possible without her? Life was good.