”That must be Fleur”

 Angelica felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise when Bette noted the arrival of her daughter. Her daughter. There was not a day that went by that Angie did not think of Fleur, her little baby girl. Angie could feel no sympathy coming from Bette…she didn’t blame her, Angie wouldn’t feel sorry for herself either. It was strange tot alk t o her mother after so long. Angie could feel the awkwardness…and when they came to the brink of another fight. Angelica hated how easy it was to argue with mommy…pathetic really. But it was something that had to either be tolerated or worked out. Angie would much rather work it out but had no idea how to…she suspected that Bette felt the same way too. But it was relatively fine, this reunion…normal, a little awkward, happy…a bunch of stuff. When Bette started sobbing on her shoulder Angelica felt herself harden, not in an angry way…but in a way that made her eyes dry and her heart stiff..she felt so much she had to shut down just a littlel bit. Angie wondered if Bette was taken aback with Angelica’s lack of expression…she hoped her mom didn’t think it was a lack of feeling. Feelings were too much for Angie, she could barely take it. And hearing Bette calmly say that Fleur was back was…..too much. Angelica excused herself to the bathroom..she didn’t look at Bette, she couldn’t take that accusatory stare.

 Once in the bathroom, with its pristine whitness, Angelica put down the toilet seat and sat on it. The familiarity of the house was now no longer shocking, Angie was getting to used to being in it. But once in the bathroom sitting on the seat Angleica felt her heart beat a little faster. She was sitting here when she found out about her pregnancy….it was here when Bette carried her kicking and screaming. Angie didn’t like this bathroom at all. But she hated what was going on in her stomach even more. Butterflies. Horrible butterflies flying around in there making her so sick. what was she going to do? Ok….Angelica mentally slapped herself…quit being stupid…think. First thing she had to do was get a a job, contribute financially….take more of a role in fleur’s life, get to know her….it sounded in order, sounded good. Then why was there such a sinking feeling in Angie’s stomach?