“I’m sorry I really had no idea you would be here.”

“That went better than I thought it would.” Shane cuts in. 

“Listen Tina, I really had no idea you would be here with Carrie.”

“It’s ok. Shane was the only way I could find Carrie.” 

“Are you ok?” Bette steps closer to me.

“Yeah. I just wanted her to find some closure.” 

“Look Carrie had an episode like that a while back. I helped her through it but she was having cold feet about getting married.” Shane looks at me. 

I look at Shane in disbelief but then my thoughts trace back to how many fights we had over Bette. No wonder she had cold feet after telling me innumerable times about Bette still being in love with me. I tried to convince her it wasn’t true but deep down I knew the truth behind that white lie I was telling her. 

I make my way to the back of the bar and take a seat with Bette at one of the empty tables. 

“I’m not trying to overstep here but did you want to talk about it?” Bette asks me while taking my hand in hers.

“I told her I still love her.”

I see Bette swallow the air and look down at her feet before looking back up and giving me a gentle smile. “That’s ok.”

“But I told her I’m not in love with her.”

“I’m sorry you didn’t get any closure.”

“You know Bette, she’s so broken I think it’s our wrong doing in not allowing her and Angie to communicate.”

“I still can’t get past the fact that she made our own daughter lie to us. But I understand your perspective.”

“Maybe her and Angie talking gives her closure.” 

——

“We made a mistake. We shouldn’t have overreacted to something that was probably a coping mechanism between Carrie and you.” I watch and listen as Bette places her hand on Angie’s shoulder and they sit down at the kitchen table. “We want you to know we are sorry.” 

“But we draw the line when it comes to lying and slandering. Especially Carrie calling your Mama B controlling, it should have never been a topic of discussion.” 

“So I can talk with Carrie again?”

“Yes, if that’s what you want.” I look over at Bette.

“We just want to be told if Carrie starts talking negatively about us. Can you do that?” Bette asks.

“Yeah, ok. I can do that.” 

I put my hand in my pocket and pulled out a piece of paper with Carrie’s number on it so she could put it back into her contacts. 

“Thanks moms.” She says before standing and walking away.

___

Angie

I carry myself up over the stairs and make my way to my bedroom. 

I toss myself on to the bed and begin to re-enter Carrie’s number back into my phone.

I understand my moms are worried about me but I’m no longer a kid. My talks with Carrie have helped me get some things off my chest. Things I just don’t want to go to them about. I believe there comes a time when you just can’t share certain things with your parents. Carrie and I have a different relationship. I know how much hatred comes from my Mama B when it comes to Carrie. I think we all feel it when we are in the same room. It took me some time to accept and adjust to a comfort level with Carrie but it happened.

– “Hey, I’m allowed to talk again.”

Seconds later I get a response.

– “That’s great Angie, I’ve missed our talks but it’s just in time because I have someone I would like you to meet.”