He could hear her molars grinding together in her mouth and started to wonder if they'd crack under the strain before she was safely back in the States and Debi again had a few thousand miles cushion between them.
When Mum's attention was diverted, he slipped his hand down to pat her lightly on the bum and leer at her, complete with waggling eyebrows.
"Dinner sounds wonderful, and I'm completely famished after today's shift."
Trying for the gentleman award, Zach moved over to his mother in law and offered his arm. "May I?"