I stood there still as a mouse as the door opened and my mother appeared at it. Neither of us said a word as we both eyed each other up. She then reached down and opened the screen door as I took a short step.

“Come inside and let me take a look at you Beth,” she said.

I gingerly stepped inside the house I had been in many times before yet this time I felt like a total stranger entering a totally unknown environment. I saw the hall table right there and as always Mom’s purse was on it so I set mine on it next to hers and stepped into the living room. Mom closed the door and followed me, stopping a couple of steps short as I turned around.

“My, my.” she said as she looked me up and down. She was silent for a few seconds before she looked me in the eyes. “I was a bit apprehensive about all of this but I have to say I am pleasantly surprised.”

“What did you expect, a hairy drag queen?” I asked in my softest yet raspy feminine voice.

“I have to be honest with you Beth, I wasn’t sure what to expect, I hope you understand.”

Yes I do Mom, I hope I meet with your expectations of a daughter.”

Oh my God yes,” she smiled. “Now get over here and give your mother a hug.”

We hugged and she gave me a kiss on the cheek. It was not one of those faked hugs but one of genuine affection, one a grown daughter would expect from her mother. We finally broke our embrace and she took a step back. It was now I finally saw how she looked, as good as she had in a long time, and how she was dressed, in a skirt and blouse with hose and heels. As I always expected from her Mom was impeccably dressed, classy yet conservative.

“I was just about to pour myself a drink, would you like one,” she asked.

“Yes please, scotch on the rocks with a twist,” I replied.

“I thought you preferred Whiskey,” she said motioning for me to sit down..

“Well Beth prefers scotch,” I said as I sat down on the sofa smoothing my skirt under me.

“What ever Beth prefers is what she gets,” she smiled obviously pleasantly surprised as I crossed my legs just a lady should.

Mom poured both of us a drink, handed me mine and sat down in the chair. Over the next hour we talked, mostly small talk as we downed that drink and the next one. Finally she must have worked up her courage.

“Do you still like Italian food Beth?

“Of course, I smiled. Why do you think I need the waist cincher?”

“Well there is an excellent Italian place not far from here, shall we? My treat.”

“I’d love to Mom,” I said as I stood up and started towards the foyer and my purse. “Just let me freshen up my make-up and we can head out.”

“That sounds like a good idea for both of us, give me a minute and I’ll give you one too,” she smiled as she got up and headed toward her bedroom.

We freshened up and headed out the door. Mom insisted on driving as she knew where she was going so I pulled my car into the garage and climbed into her Lincoln after she backed out.