He turned the key in the lock and opened the door. To his horror, he saw ...

(A Writing Forward prompt)

He turned the key in the lock and opened the door. To his horror, he saw ... 

... his mother in law. 
She was faffing with flowers on the end table. Massive blooms of pink and yellow. He didnt feel as happy as they looked.
'What are you doing here?' He demanded as he tossed his car keys onto the sideboard.
'I came to check on you.' She asserted. Her eyes were full of pity, not sadness. Her sturdy WASPy façade masked everything else. Emotion was de rigeur.
'I dont need a babysitter! Go away!' He exclaimed, plodding into the kitchen with his clinking carrier bag. She followed him and watched as he filled a hi-ball with bourbon. No ice, no water. Straight up, and quickly straight down his gullet. He wiped his chin and poured another. Lorraine didnt say a word, she just watched him down the second. She reached into her handbag and pulled out a square of white card. She placed it on the kitchen counter and slid it a little towards Jack. 
'There are other ways to go through this', she said simply but sternly before turning and heading for the front door. 
The card whizzed past her ear before she had even left the kitchen but she didnt rise to it. He needed to feel his pain. To process what happened. To figure out his next step forward but only when he was ready. And She would keep trying until that day came. 
She had lost her daughter, and no matter how different their backgrounds were, she didnt want to lose her son-in-law too. And she was certain that Millie and Freddie didnt need to become orphans.
She would keep trying. That was all she could do.

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