Bette was crushed. Was this all true? If it was, why had her parents had kept this from her ? Tina noticed how pale she was and stroked her back very tenderly. «You OK, baby?», she asked in a soft spoken tone.

«Please tell me this a fucking dream and that’ll wake up soon…», she replied, sounding hurt and angry.

«Bette, I know this is hard for you and it’s hard for me too… I know Melvin and Angela never spoke a word of this to you because that’s what we had all decided back then…», Mrs Stone explained, her hands shaking as she took a sip of her coffee. She looked liked she had aged ten years in the last few minutes.

«When I found out I was pregnant, I was happy of course. I’d always wanted children. I told your father we needed to talk and that day, I put on my prettiest dress and I had bought a new perfume. I wanted it to be special…». A look of sadness washed over her face as she remembered that day so many years ago. «Before I could tell him about you, he said that Angela had finally admitted she was in love with him and that she wanted to marry him. I was crushed… I told Melvin that I was happy for him and I didn’t say a word about expecting his child»

Tears were now coming down Bette’s cheeks and Tina didn’t know what to say or do to make her feel better. This conversation was tearing Bette apart and it was really upsetting to Tina to see her like this.

«Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea…», she told Bette.

«It’s too late to think about it now…», she replied with a shaky voice, her eyes riveted on Mrs Stone.

«I had to quit my job at the grocery store because I was so sick in the morning and my savings were disappearing very quickly. My parents helped me out a little, but they were ashamed of me so I knew I couldn’t really count on them for anything. A week before I was about to give birth to you, Melvin showed up at my door. We hadn’t seen each other in months and to this day, I still don’t know who told him about my pregnancy. By then, he had married Angela and they were very happy, except for one thing… Angela couldn’t have any children. Melvin offered to help me with child support, but it wouldn’t have been enough… That’s… that’s when I offered him to raise you with his new wife… I wanted the best for you and I couldn’t give it to you… I was a single mother, with no job and no future…», Mrs Stone said, crying along with Bette.