Only feeling a little guilty about eavesdropping because 'she was worried, Liz moved to the door of the small kitchen the Parker family maintained above the cafe. She hadn't heard anyone enter the family dwelling area, and despite the muffled noise from the business below, she usually could.

"I know something is going on," Nancy Parker was insisting. "Liz hasn't been herself for weeks."

Liz's heart leaped into her throat. She'd known her parents were aware that she was having a difficult time, but if they were going to talk about it that meant they weren't far from trying to do something about the situation.

What could they do about her problems?

My boyfriend is an alien. Not exactly typical Oprah stuff, Liz thought. Things are complicated enough. The last thing I need is for my parents to get involved.

"Of course I know I have to do something," Nancy Parker said.

Liz listened to the hard edge in her mother's voice. The tone was one she'd seldom heard over the years, and generally only when talking about her mother, Liz's grandmother. The relationship between the two women had been strained, and Liz had only learned a little of the history during brief conversations between her mom and dad.

"I will do something," Nancy replied in a strained voice. "You've always accused me of putting things off, and you've been wrong. Mother, I don't want to talk about that anymore."

A cold chill filled Liz. Her maternal grandmother had passed away years ago.

"No, Mother," Nancy said, "I'm not avoiding the issue."

Liz drew back from the door. How could her mother possibly be talking to her grandmother?

"Of course I love Liz, Mother," Nancy Parker responded angrily.

The fear inside Liz intensified. Chill out, she told herself. There has to be a reasonable explanation.

"I'll tell you what I'm doing for her," Nancy Parker snapped. "I'm giving her the space she needs to sort things out, Mother. That's something you never quite understood about me when I was growing up. I respect the space Liz needs."