“Wow!” Joyce exclaims as Molly lets go.

“We’re both so happy for you,” Molly says as Shane shakes hands with both Phyllis and Joyce.

“Yeah, congrats, guys,” Shane says.

“Thanks, Shane,” Phyllis replies.

“When did this happen?” Molly asks Joyce.

“A few weeks ago,” Joyce answers. “Your mother and I were…”

As Joyce begins to tell Molly the story of how she proposed to her mother, Phyllis pulls Shane aside and asks if she can have a word with her. A little leery of the conversation given what transpired the last time that Phyllis wanted a word with Shane, Shane hesitates, but agrees anyway.

Once inside the house, Shane turns to Phyllis and asks, “What’s up?”

“Shane, you know I was not too keen on you seeing my daughter…”

Interrupting Phyllis, Shane avows, “I love her Phyllis. Let’s not go down this fucking road again. I thought you were finally okay with us being together.”

“Let me finish, Shane. I was about to say that even though I was not too happy about you and Molly in the beginning, I’ve realized just how good you are together. When Molly is with you, I see my daughter the happiest I have ever seen her. And although I don’t know you as well, I swear, it’s the happiest I have seen you, too.”

Somewhat embarrassed that she had just jumped on Phyllis before, Shane just says, “Yeah…”

            “I just want to know that you are serious about Molly. I know that when Molly thinks about her future, you’re a big part of that. Is she a part of yours?”

            As she talks, Shane walks around the family room, picking up pictures of Molly, looking at them. “You know, I never used to think about my future all that much before I met Molly. I lived for the present and never thought about what was to come. When I was younger, it was the only way I could deal with all the shit in my life. But being with Molly has changed all that. I have goals and I have ambition for the first time in my life. I see a future now and Molly is the most important part of it.” Shane lovingly strokes her thumb across Molly’s face in the picture that she is holding before she sets it down and turns to face Phyllis.