Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

My friend and I had a high old time catching up and discussing our family relationships this morning.  Her mother, who lives with her now, is visiting her sister across the country and asked my friend if she missed her.  Of course my friend said she did, and her mother, in her nineties, said when and how.  Now her mother has only been gone a week, but my friend said seeing her face, having dinner with her, talking with her.  But really, my friend is appreciating the break and enjoying it.  Right speech was answering the way her mother wished, rather than strictly honestly.  Her mother knows she must return and live again with her older daughter.  The younger daughter is not willing or able to have her.  But she wants her daughter to WANT her, instead of appreciating that she has a kind, safe home here and is so well looked after.  What's the harm?  Her mother doesn't need honesty.  Her mother wants a story.  Her mother wants her two daughters vying for her attention.  Her mother is wrenched about which coast to live on, and really has no choice, since she does not want to go into assisted living either place.  My friend understands all this and freely attempts to ease her mind.  But she's loving the break, naturally.  We're all funny in these ways.  We want you to tell the lie, knowing it is so, but adhering to the form of family relations.  Let's have the fairy tale, even if reality is not so bad.