Mommy and Mai

Since high school, Fran and Val have had a foster daughter from Cambodia named Mai Ling. Mai Ling is coming to New York for a visit. Upon arrival, Mai Ling is no longer a small child as Fran and Val expect, but a young nineteen year old woman. Mai Ling initially portrays herself as coming from a simple background, but she soon gets accustomed to life in the Sheffield house. Mai Ling borrows Fran's clothes - making her seem much more mature - without asking. And then her actions cause a rift between "her mothers", Fran and Val which requires a therapy session with Dr. Miller to resolve their issues. Because of these situations and more, Sylvia is suspicious of Mai Ling's motives. Sylvia convinces Fran that Mai Ling really wants to move in on Fran's role in Maxwell's life. In reality, Mai Ling aims her sights on another in the Sheffield household if only to be able to remain in the United States. Fran, Val and Mai Ling finally come to an understanding, especially when Fran and Val discover who one of Mai Ling's new American friends is. Meanwhile, Yetta is certain she's going to win the Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes. —Huggo