Fan Fiction
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Back Home Again 19
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Angelica cuddled in Tina’s lap and let out another big yawn.
“Nap time, sweetie?”
With an exaggerated headshake came the only expected response. “No.”
“I think the big people win on this one, sweetie.”
Tina’s words were causing the girl to start sobbing.
Seeking an ally, the girl reached her arms out for Bette. Bette took hold, swaying gently with the child. “Why don’t I take her out to the car?” Bette kept her voice soft, continuing to move slightly which was helping to keep Angelica quiet.
“Good idea.”
At the door, Tina could see Marian approaching Bette. She wondered if it was good or not that she couldn’t hear what the women were saying. Most surprising, her mother leaned forward to give the girl a kiss on the forehead before Bette and their daughter headed out the door.
Taking in a deep breath, Tina walked to her mother who still standing near the door after Bette’s departure. “Goodbye, mother.”
“I think she should stay here tonight.”
“Excuse me?”
“Angelica. To get to know her better. She should stay here.”
“I appreciate that, I do, but I think it’s not a good time.”
“So that’s the plan, is it?”
“Plan?” Her mother could be confusing enough in general. Now she just sounded angry. “What do you mean ‘plan’?”
“You’d get me attached to the child, and then use her as leverage.”
“Mother. There is no leverage. Angelica is in the midst of potty training. We’ve already had a few accidents on that front this trip. I am trying to keep her routine as close to normal as possible.”
“I can do laundry.”
“I’m also enjoying spending some time with her, when I don’t have to work. And some time with Bette.”
“I have room for you, also, you know.”
“And for Bette?”
“There’s plenty of spare rooms. She can sleep in one if those are the terms.”
“But not share a room with me, right?”
Marian gave a sniff, but didn’t answer.
“I’m sorry, Mother. I appreciate today’s invitation. The wedding. It’s all been wonderful. Please, understand that this is not to punish you.”
Silence.
“You’re welcome to come visit us, you know. In California. Anytime.”
“That’s what she said.”
“She?”
“Bette. She said the same thing.”
“And we both mean it.” Tina reached out for her mother’s hand, finding her mother willing to surrender it, even though her arms had seemed tightly crossed. She grasped her mother’s hand within both of hers, and leaned in giving the woman a kiss on the cheek. “We do mean it,” she said, pulling away, her voice wavering with emotion.
Upon dropping her mother’s hand, Marian turned away. Tina took that as the moment to leave. When she got into the car, the tears were falling freely on her cheeks.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine,” she replied to Bette, giving a confirming nod.
Even so, Bette dug around in her bag and handed over a tissue for Tina to wipe her eyes with.
The quiet was interrupted by the command of “go, go, go!” coming from the car seat.
The tone made both women laugh, even though Tina’s eyes were still shining with tears.
“I told her she could visit.” Bette said, her voice quiet, as they started driving towards the hotel.
“So did I.”
“Do you think she will?”
Tina glanced in the mirror, and saw her daughter busily talking to herself, trying to keep herself from falling asleep.
“I hope so.”
(end part 19)
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thank you…it was too short but packed with emotion…you rock!
‘”go, go, go!” coming from the car seat.’ Well, maybe not the car seat. But you still should go, go, go.
Just as good as ever pseud! You know how to get the most out of a little. I hope you update again soon!
More, more, more!!!!
I have so enjoyed this story from the first chapter. You always set the scene and write the dialog with such simplicity and elegance that I can picture all of the characters perfectly. Thanks. Lin
Wonderful post, enjoyed it very much. I will take short over nothing anyday. Thanks for posting. Post when you can.
Go Go Go and find some time to write more! I can just picture Mama Kennard hanging with Kit and Phyllis at The Planet!
Great as always. Look forward to the continuation when you can…pretty much the only story I’m reading right now, so i was pretty pleased it was there when I checked today!
Thank you for the update. Bette and Tina are trying to keep the lines of communication open to Tina’s mother. The effort has been made, now it is up to mom to make her own effort.
Thanks for the great chapter…looking forward to the next installment!!!
oh, marian…love is unconditional or should be…can’t wait for more
great to see you post on this one. I like the team work between B&T it so realistic and subtle. I do admit however that they will get a chance to be less subtle hehe I know I am a pig but you write naughty very well:-) as long as you keep writing I am happy :-)
Thank you for continuing the story. Brief is definitely better than nothing. Thanks again.
Been a while with this one but full of good material and a little too short!. LOL PPS
angie is so cute! :)PPS
Hey Pseud, Thank you from this heartfelt chapter. There was such a sense of foreboding between Tina and her mother. Both these women tried to overcome their differences from the past and just failed. Neither was prepared to fully accept that the other had changed sufficiently. A little doubt niggled in the back of their heads; enough to leave so much unsaid. How honest and true to life. It more likely the things that we never say that we regret than the foot-in-mouth statements we do. Wonderful to have being the bigger person and inviting Marian to L.A. Perhaps growing up without a mother has made her more able to overcome the divide and offer friendship to Marian for Angelica’s benefit. Or it could be Angelica’s arrival that prompted the opening of Bette’s hearts to others. Amazing how you can change when your decisions are reflected in your child’s face and eyes. Just so precious and emotive. Loved the sweet way Bette supported Tina without being overly demonstrative by the simple gesture of a tissue to dry her eyes. Having a little moment myself. Hopw to read more of this awesome adventure and Marian’s visit to L.A. Please… Many thanks from Your Loyal Fan.
Your writing is sublime, and I continue to love the family dynamics, on all levels, playing out in this story. Please post when you can, I’ll be here reading.
excellent as always. its a treat to find this to read today. cut off your nose in spite of your face. thx
great chapter even if it was too short. Thanks for the post. pps
Even when your updates are short, there too the point. Angie too funny,”go,go,go”.
Storywise, I’m glad that Tina stood up to her mother and did not allow Marian to put the family in separate rooms. Thanks!
I love this story, you know, and I had to think why. Besides being well-written, it’s because it’s pure invention. None of this ever happened in the series, and it’s so FREEING. It’s a relief to have other concerns besides the tedium that took up too much of Bette and Tina’s lives on the series. Thank you for the new situations. Thank you for freshness!
That was great, Angie are so cute, “go go go” lol!