ginaraf:- i was waiting for you to come on

angelrose:- hey, how are you? how was the exam?

ginaraf:- oh horrible. i couldn’t think straight. i was too distracted

angelrose:- why? was something bothering you?

ginaraf:- well its not a bad distraction unless you consider thinking about you bad J

angelrose:- J as nice as it is to hear that you were thinking about me, i wouldn’t want me to be the cause of you failing

ginaraf:- don’t worry about it how was your day? i want to know everything you did

angelrose:- well nothing much really. i took aiden to the pool and the park and we just got back so i wanted to see if you wrote me back

ginaraf:- this is better though, its almost like talking

angelrose:- yeah it is

ginaraf:- i would prefer hearing your voice though

ginaraf:- brb

angelrose:- ok..

The phone rang but I left it for Renee or Aiden to get it. “Hey, its for you.” Renee handed me the phone. “It’s Gina.”

I couldn’t control the smile that came across my face. “Thanks.”

We talked for hours about anything and everything. Tina was home before Bette and she didn’t waste any time getting down to why she was home earlier than usual. She came to my room. I could tell she figured out whom I was talking to just by the smile on my face as she entered my room. “Annie can we talk when you’re done?”

I acknowledged and she left. I begrudgingly ended my conversation with Gina and went to my mom’s room. She was in the bathroom so I laid on her bed and watched television till she came out. “You still mad?” I asked.

“I’m not mad Annie.”

“Well you sure sounded like it last night.”

“Ok, I was, but I’m more afraid that this girl would hurt you.”

“Mom.”

“I mean we don’t know anything about this girl. Where’s she’s from, her background nothing. How old is this girl anyway.”

“Gina.”

“What?”

“Her name’s Gina, Gina Raffe. So you can stop referring to her as this girl. And She’s eighteen. She’s from Senegal. She came here with her family four years ago to live. Her dad died last summer and it was his wish for her to get a degree in engineering, but her passion is business management so to make him happy she’s doing a double major at school, computer engineering and management. What else would you like to know about her?”

***Tina***

There was something different about my little girl. She’s not little anymore. I hate that she’s grown and I hate it more that she has found something or someone else to focus her attention on. In all honesty, I am more afraid that she would find other things more interesting than spending time with me. The only thing I can be happy about is that Gina is miles away. Angelica has never been wrong about anyone so far and I know it’s no different with Gina. She likes her and should count for something.

“You really like her don’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Well I guess there isn’t anything else to say huh?”

“I guess not.”

“Just be careful ok. I know how it is when you focus all your energy on one person and I also know what it is to get burned by it too.”

“I know.” She looked at me as though she were searching my eyes for an explanation to my last statement. I never really talked to Angelica about Bette’s affair and our separation for almost a year. She asked once but we avoided the subject. “Mom?”

“Yeah?” I knew what was coming. And I had my answer.

“What happened between you and mom before I was born?”

“I think when your mom comes home we can tell you together ok?”

“Ok.” She was leaving the room, then turned back, “Now don’t do like the last time.”

“No no promise. When Bette comes home.”

“Cool.”

“So what’s for dinner?”