“How do you take your coffee ?”

“Just a hint of milk – no sugar “

Tina thought that it was another way that they didn’t know one another. She could name the coffee preferences of all her friends in LA – but she didn’t know about her parents – her father took too much sugar than was good for him – that was one thing that she had noticed when they had been drinking coffee and talking when they had been in New York.

Her mother disappeared again and Tina stroked the dog who seemed very friendly as Bette had told her. When she came back Mary put the tray on the coffee table and sat facing Tina

“How’s Bette ?”

“She is fine “

“And Angie ?”

“Her usual self – talks too much and is utterly untidy but she’s adorable “

“Its strange that you have a child “

“Why ?”

“Because you are still my little girl”

“it’s a long time since I was that mom but I do know what you mean. Angie is getting bigger every day and I cannot believe that one day she is going to an adult herself and have her own life and family “

“I hope you get to see that happen “

“So do we – she’s a great kid “

“It must have been hard to bring her up for so long on your own “

“It was hard and maybe I am a typical single mom in how protective I am about her.  Its odd that Bette is the easy going mom and I am over the top sometimes “

“You always do what you think is right “

“Bette is right – Angie is nearly 6 and she is smart. She sometimes has sleepovers at her friend Bella’s house and that was odd for me not to know that she was in the house. Its just funny because Bette was always over protective of me and now she is the one telling me to relax about Angie”

“How has Angie adapted to having Bette in her life ?”

“She’s been amazing. The first time we all met up was at the beach – I had told her that Bette used to be my girlfriend and she was curious. Bette was nervous but they just clicked. It was a one time meeting before Bette went back to New York – Bette and I kept talking and talking and I knew that I wanted to see her and see if we could make it work. So we flew over here and Angie just took everything in her stride – she loves the city and she and Bette have a bond that just cannot be explained in any other way than they are mother and daughter. I know what you can say – that I am Angie’s birth mom and there is no genetic connection between the two of them but if you see them together and they are laughing and hugging and ganging up on me – its spooky how alike they are and how much Angie just worships Bette. Bette is a runner  – well we both are but Bette is serious and I am only just getting into it again. But Bette did the New York marathon and this really impresses Angie – she is begging Bette to take her running “