Leslie and her mother slowly made their way into the house, leaving Derek waiting in the car, just as he had requested.
"I'll wait in the car," Derek had said, and Leslie had simply nodded in response, her focus on helping her mother.
Once inside, Leslie gently guided her mother to the couch, taking care to ensure she was comfortable. "Come here, Mom. Let's sit. How are you feeling?" Leslie asked, concern evident in her voice. As they settled down, her mother looked at Leslie, her eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Is he your boyfriend?" she asked in a low tone.
Leslie hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to answer. She finally replied, "Um... let's not talk about that, Mom. Anyway, are you doing fine here? Who's living with you?" To her surprise, her mother replied,
