“Come on, I’ll hold your hand” Jordi silently says, laying her head down on Angie’s shoulder.

“Okay… Here it goes.” Angie says and press call, she takes a deep breath.

It rings a few times and then Shane answers the phone.

“Angie, hi, what’s up?” Shane answers

“Uncle Shane, hi. I’m…. uh…” Angie starts but stumble over her words

“Ang, is something wrong?” Shane worriedly asks.

“No, nothing is wrong, but… I… I was wondering if you could help me with something.” Angie starts

“Off course, what do you need?” Shane asks

“Well… It’s something serious… It’s about mamma B… I…” Angie replies, but stops midsentence.

“Angie, what’s going on? Where are you?” Shane asks, getting nervous

“I am at Jordi’s.” Angie replies.

“Okay, I am 2 minutes from her house, can you come out? Better to talk face to face huh?” Shane suggests.

“Yeah, okay, I’ll come out, thanks.” Angie says and they hang up.

“What did she say?” Jordi curiously asks.

“She’ll be outside in 2 minutes. She was close by. Will you come out with me?” Angie asks and looks at Jordi pleadingly.

“Off course, I told you would hold your hand.” Jordi says and smiles, while leaning in to kiss her softly on the lips.

“Thanks, let’s go, she’s probably here already.” Angie says and stands up and pulls Jordi with her.

They walk outside and sure enough, there is Shane leaning up against her jeep.

“Hey kiddo” Shane says and gives Angie a big hug. “So, what’s going on, please tell me.” She continues.

“Well, it’s mom, and mama T suggested that I ask you for help.” Angie starts.

“Okay?” Shane replies.

“Yeah, mama T knows that she’s caused enough pain to mama B by leaving her, so she don’t want to step into mama B’s private space. So she told me to ask you or Alice. And I am more comfortable talking to you than Alice.” Angie rants on without catching her breath.

“Okay, so what do you need my help with?” Shane asks, placing her hand on Angie’s shoulder.

Jordi looking on, still holding Angie’s hand.

“Well, she’s been out of it for so long. She is distant and doesn’t seem like herself. I think she’s hiding something from me, but I don’t know what. I tried to ask her a month ago, but the only thing she revealed is that she’s heartbroken because Mama T is going to marry Carrie. So she told me that that was why she was acting so different.” Angie says as she looks down on her hand in Jordi’s. Feeling the supporting squeeze occasionally.

“Okay? So, what can I do to help Ang?” Shane carefully asks.

“I don’t know, but maybe you could try and talk to her? Maybe she will open up to you? Maybe she feels that because I’m her kid, I shouldn’t be bothered with her problems… I don’t know.” Angie says as she looks up at Shane with a scared look.

“Okay, sure, I can try talking to her. You know, me and Alice have been trying to get her with us out to dinner or drinks now for several months, but she never joins. So I can pay her a visit without revealing that I’m there for you. I’ll be subtle.” Shane says and rubs Angie’s shoulder softly.

“Thank you. I’m just so worried.” Angie says as a single tear slips down her cheek.

“Hey, we’ll figure this out, okay. Don’t worry yet. Do you know if she’s home now?” Shane asks.

“Yeah, she’s home. I wrote her a note that said I would be home around 9. So until then she’s home alone as usual.” Angie says and dry the tears.

“Okay, I’ll head over really quick just to say hi. Maybe open her up a little bit.” Shane says with a smile.

“Thank you.” Angie replies and gives her uncle Shane a big hug.

“Sure kiddo, anything for my favorite niece.” Shane says.

“Hey, I am your only niece you know…” Angie dryly says.

“Well, you’re still my favorite.” Shane says and ruffles Angie’s hair.

“Yeah, yeah.” Angie says and laughs.

“Okay, will you be okay?” Shane asks in a comforting voice.

“Yeah, I have Jordi, so I’ll be good.” Angie says with a smile.

“Okay, good. I’ll go and check in with mama B. I’ll talk to you later. Stay safe kiddo.” Shane says an jump back into her jeep and drive off.

Angie and Jordi watches until they don’t see the car anymore, then they walk back inside the house.

“See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Jordi asks.

“No, I guess it wasn’t. Thank you for pushing me and supporting me.” Angie says with a smile.