Oh, and three new standing lamps and coasters for the living room as well as placemats and an unusual but appealing wrought-iron fat candleholder (with candles scented in “ocean”) to sit on his dining room table.

Unfortunately, they were not finished illicitly rearranging Brock’s new décor and even more unfortunately I was with him when he walked into his new space.

He took one look at it and the air in the room went abrasive as he lost his ever-lovin’ mind.

Also unfortunately, all members of the Lucas family shared the trait of their mood invading the room. These three women had attitude, knew Brock since his life began (except Laura, who was five years younger than him), were not afraid of him, and gave back as good as they got.

Thus began a shouting match that was loud, long, surprising, intriguing, but also a little scary.

I could see that Brock was a man, all man, and his space was his space, his shit was his shit, and he did not appreciate the intrusion and that intrusion signifying a trio of women taking care of a forty-five-year-old man.

And that was all I could see because even though I kept my mouth shut and hung in the kitchen while they shouted it out (though his new furniture was awesome), I agreed with Brock that they were out of line.

This went on for a while and when I say that I mean a long while.

I had the sense they did this not because of new furniture and unwelcome intrusions but more deep-seated issues all of them were dancing around.

It got to the point where I feared things that could not be unsaid would be said. Therefore, I was going to have to step outside my status of new girlfriend, and thus person who really shouldn’t get involved, and wade in when Fern pulled out the big (and arguably emotionally manipulative) guns, as it was my experience that mothers on the whole were wont to do.

“If we all haven’t learned something with what’s happening with Cob, Slim, then we’re in trouble!” she shouted.

I watched with some despair as Brock’s torso jerked like he’d been struck and the stony look he had frozen on his face as Fern went on.