“Touché.”

“Are you ok with it?”

“It doesn’t matter. And besides I don’t believe in labels.” I didn’t expect that response but I was relieved and grateful. We sat in silence for a few moments. I didn’t want to push her about what was bothering her so I left her to choose what we talked about of what we did that evening. “I have a daughter you know.”

“A daughter?”

“Yes, but everyone thinks she is my niece.”

“Your niece.”

“But you knew that already.”

“How come you gave her up?”

“It wasn’t easy for me to do.” She defended her actions.

“Hey, it’s not my place to judge you.”

“I got pregnant my last year of college. I had options of course but I wanted to keep her. I thought her father understood. He left me when I was four months pregnant. I had her after graduation. I was living in a one-room apartment. I struggled with two jobs and I didn’t make enough for a nanny. My neighbour called social services on me. Luckily the social worker knew what it was like to be a single parent and went easy on me. She said I could put her in a foster home or a group home. I chose the group home. It was easier for me to visit.”

“So why did you pass her off as your niece?”

“Shame, I guess, being called a failure. I didn’t want anyone to call me a bad mother for giving up my own child. I guess it was easier thinking it was my niece than my daughter.”

“How old was she?”

“A year.”

“Does she know that you’re her mother?”

“It’s our little secret.”

“And Jeff?”

“He doesn’t know about her.”

“Oh.”

“I want you to meet her.”

“Me?”

“Yes you.” She laughed. “Who else would I be talking to.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’ll meet me at the gallery tomorrow, say ten thirty and I can take you to meet her.”

“I’m flattered, honoured actually, that you would share this with me.”

“Well you’re my best friend, I trust you and I want to share this part of my life with you.”

We spent the greater part of the night talking and sharing stories of childhood and college life, we shared past loves stories and first kisses. She reluctantly left about two the following morning. I met her at the gallery like planned. When I went to hug her like we did each time we greeted each other she flinched. “Aww, not so hard.” She said as I wrapped my arms around her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just a hard work out this morning.”

I wasn’t convinced, “You’re lying to me.”

“I,” She hesitated at first to tell me what had happened. 

“Talk to me.”

“He was so mad that I got home so late. And he wouldn’t believe me when I told him that I was out with a girl friend.” Her tears flowed freely as she told me. “He pushed me to the floor and he kicked me.” It took everything in me not to go over to his office and kill him myself. “He’s smart though, he never touches my face.”

“Why are you with him? You don’t need him.”

“Don’t you think I want to stay in a relationship like this? If I leave I could loose everything. You don’t him Tina.” She cried. “He has low friends in high places. He could get everything I have everything I’ve worked hard for all these years.”

“I can help you. Let me help you.”

“You can’t do anything.”

“I can get proof.” I lowered my voice to a whisper, “That he’s having an affair with Wendy.”

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You won’t have to. I’ll do it whether you want me to or not.”

“Wouldn’t it be a conflict of interest of something?”

“Let me worry about that.” I reassured her that she could trust me. “I have a few favours I can call in.” She took me into her office to wait while she got herself together. We left in her vehicle for the children’s home. “You know I never did ask her name?”

“Whose name?”

“Your daughter’s.”

“Oh it’s Naomi.”

“That’s different.”

“What do you mean?”

“Usually it’s Cassidy or Abigail or something like that.”

“Naomi was my grand mother’s name.”

“That explains it.”

“You ok?” She asked. I guess the nervousness I felt in my stomach was evident.

“I’m just a little nervous, about meeting her.”

“Don’t worry, she’ll love you, I do.”