“Oh alright. Come here.” Gina ceded. Gabrielle snuggled on her mother’s lap eager to hear the rest of their story.

“Well thanksgiving was perhaps the best” Gina continued.

***Gina***

Angelica and I stayed the rest of the evening making up for time lost that evening. “I can’t believe how easy that was. I thought for a second there that mama was going to disapprove of us.”

“But would it have made a difference? If she did?” I knew when she asked that question she had two minds about it. I guess if read her thoughts correctly, one was that she was scared about my answer to that question, or that she thought I would be offended by it.

I took her hand. “I guess it would.” Her face fell. I quickly put her mind at ease. “I guess I would be without a mother as of a few minutes ago.

“G, I don’t wan”

“No no don’t go there. My life is with you. No one, well except you, can change that.”

“But she’s your mom.”

“Yeah, and I love her, and I will always be grateful for everything she has done for me, and I am the way I am because of her and my dad, but I’m an adult now and I have my life to live and she has to accept that or there is no discussion there.”

“I admire you strength in your convictions.”

I held her hand tighter. I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. I say the words with such conviction, but I am somewhat hypocritical because in my heart I am glad and relieved that my mother approves.

“Think our parents will miss us?”

I could tell that she was up to no good. More like good for me, but bad if we get caught. “Maybe if we ask them nicely you can take me anywhere you want to go.”

***Angelica***

I asked my moms and Gina hers to leave for a while. I felt like ocean air so I wanted to go to Santa Monica beach. I hate driving so there was no question as to whom would be in the driver’s seat. We took Bette’s car down to the beach. When we got there we spread the blanket and lay there mostly in silence enjoying each others’ company. We must have fallen asleep because the rays of the early morning sun woke me up. “Mmmmorning.”