“You know, you could try telling her that”

“I doubt that’s gonna make up for what I’ve done”

“Right now nothing is, but you’ve got to start somewhere”

With a resigned sigh Shane leant back in her chair and started to write. Bette watched her for a minute before picking up her own pen.

Half an hour later they walked across town to put the two completed letters through their respective letter boxes.

“What now?” Shane asked.

“We wait” Bette said simply.

“And where do we go?”

“Guess a motel will have to do”

The piece of paper barely had time to hit the floor before Carmen picked it up. Ever since she’d shut the door on Shane she hadn’t moved any further away than the sofa. With shaking hands she slowly read the letter, not wanting to miss a single word.

Carmen,

Not for one moment do I expect this letter to even start making up for what I’ve put you through. Tonight when I came to your door, I didn’t even really know what I was going to say. I just know that when I look at you, words seem to form and things seem to start making sense. Trying to explain to you why I did what I did, well that could take a while. But I owe you a million explanations. It all started when I met my father. Seeing him, well everyone could see it, I’m the image of him. We have so many similarities, there could never be any doubt that I’m his daughter. And the night before that day, he cheated on Carla again. He left her. Even after having a son, and seeming so happy, And he said to me he couldn’t help it, it was just the way he was. And that made me think. Until you came along, that had been me too. And I couldn’t bare the thought of ending up like that, like him. Of not being able to control myself and hurting you that far down the line. You know me, you know my stupid logic and the way I think. By running away that day I was trying to save you from pain. And instead all I did was cause you even more.

If you want me out of your life completely I’d understand. But I have to tell you one thing. I love you baby, that hasn’t changed.

You know how to contact me if you want to at any point

Shane xxx

Carmen slid down the wall as tears started to fall down her cheeks.

At Tina’s house it wasn’t until morning that Bette’s letter even got looked at, as all attention had been lavished on Angelica. Making sure Henry was away with the kids, Tina sat down to read.

Tina,

I know right now you hate me more than you ever have. And I know asking you to have any kind of patience with me is out of order. But I will ask you to let me try and explain my actions. I hope that you above all people know I’m not a bad person. Whatever might have passed between us, I still care about you and about Angelica more than anything. When she came into this world she came as our daughter. And it’s killed me to see how she’s suddenly become part of another family and taken away from me. No matter what has or will happen, I love her unconditionally. And all I want is to be a part of her life. And the thought of her growing up without knowing who I am, well maybe you were right when you said I was crazy, because I panicked so much that I acted irrationally. I’m not asking forgiveness for what I put you through, I’m just trying to start apologising.

I hope we can resolve this one day

Bette x

With tears forming in her eyes, Tina screwed up the piece of paper and threw it in the bin, before wiping her eyes and putting on a smile to return to her new “family”.