Tommorrow the anger and frustration was long gone. Bette really didn’t care for arguing anymore and angelica felt the same way. If only everyday was like this on. Today
mother and daughter decided to go out for ice cream. Something they didn’t do in a long time. Bette sat in the car seat, feeling the coolness on her *****, she noticed that she had lost
a lot of weight. Her waist was much leaner and she was looking good, not feeling good, but looking good. Bette adjusted the car mirror and glanced at Angie, jesus she was growing
up so fast…too fast. Bette felt a pang of sadness for her, she shouldn’t have gone through all that she had gone through at such a young age. But Bette decided that at least she knew
that the real world wasn’t a big fluffly puff of pink, at least Angie was tough. Bette really loved her, just look at her daughter…those bronze shoulders developing young muscles neck
elegant and slender. She really was a beauty. Too bad she was like her, like Bette. Bette knew that Angelica looked up to her and adopted so many mannerisms Bette often felt
like she was arguing with herself. Problem was, Bette was herslf too…and tha equaled a problem. Both of them  would rather get squished than lose a fight. Fortunetly today neither
wanted anything strenuous, some ice cream…and Bette valued the time they had together too…in two days Angelica was going back to school.

 Bette pulled in the parking lot of a ice cream parlor frequented by fairies and queens. Bette went to support it, it was the only ice cream parlor she’d seen that had a
rainbow flag sticker stuck on the window. They got in line and waited. Neither had talked much, it was a little hot, and both were enjoying the other’s company. Words were not needed to
articulate this. Bette was debating whether she should get an oreo or a smarties cone. Oreo was great, you could chew on the chocolate chunks but smarties had different flavors..and
both were better than what Angie was choosing. Mocha, christ what fourteen year old chose that? By the time the line dwindled to them Bette chose the oreo, she always chose it and she
was conversative enough to stick with her usual choices. Sitting at one of the plastic table Bette an dAngelica spent the next few minutes trying each other’s ice cream, the napkins
sticking to their elbows and the sun steaming down on them. For the first time Bette did not feel the usual anxiety, and for the first time did not think about Tina every second. It was
strange and a little sad, but Bette knew it was a healthy sign. It just sucked that’s all. Bette thought about this, licking her ice cream spoon, when it occured to her that this exact moment
would be perfect to talk to Angie, not just small talk but make some headway. She didn’t want Angelica to keep thinking that she was a deadwood, their last therapy conversation
on that hurt Bette deeply.    “So Angelica, have you tlaked to Lee yet?”    Angie looked up, a little barely-there smile on her lips, she took another bite then leaned back…thinking.
“a little, just a little though….i dont even know if it’s just a crush or i don’t know”  Bette nodded, stabbing her cone…”would you ever date her if the oppurtunity presented itself?”    “yeah
i probably would but i don’t think it will ever come to that”  “no?”   “she has a boyfriend”   “ah….that sucks sorry angie”   “well you know…..im really bummed out about tha, i still really like
her…you know i never felt this way before, i want to kill her BF”     “do you think you’ll have feelings for other girl?”    “no……no i don’t think so, i mean i dont even look at other girls unless
to admire their faces or sompare my body to theirs”    “everybody does that”   “haha yeah i know, just that i thought she was the one right, i thought that if only i could have her then it’ll
be alright…but…it really sucks”   “it must”   “yeah, and a little confusing cuz i like this guy now but i still adore Lee”    “what!? a guy, aren’t you moving along a little too fast?”
“i said i liked him, we only talk like two words, and i still…..still adore Lee, just…..i adore her”   Bette nodded, thinking about her own first crush…how doomed first crushes were. she
thinking that when a woman about an inch shorter than Bette, obviously younger, maybe in her late thirties, wearing capri’s and a tank top, dark brown hair up in a ponytail, green eyes,
tanned arms, in short….absolutely stunning, sat down at their table. For a minute Angelica and Bette just looked at her, then Angie went back to eating her ice cream and the woman spoke….”hi…i’m Kirsten..
you must be Bette Porter” Bette swallowed her mouthful and put a smile on her face, both extended their arms and shook hands. Bette was struck how strong and firm her grip was.
“nice to meet you”   “no no it’s my pleasure to meet you…i’ve always loved your taste in shows”  Bette nodded…”that’s very nice of you, thanks”  “can we be less formal now?”  Bette just
looked at her….then nodded laughing. Kirsten grinned and put down the cone she herself was enjoying…”now we got that out of the way….this must be your daughter”  Bette nodded
and motioned at Angie..”This is Angelica” Angie smiled and shook hands, she then went back to her ice cream leaving Bette and Kirsten privacy, a little smile on her face. For
the next ten minutes Bette learned that Kirsten was a police officer, was half-dutch half-native american, was born in venezuela but was raised in the dirt poor hellhole of a tiny
forgotten reservation somewhere West…she was Ogala Sioux. Bette was fascinated. she had never quite met a woman like Kirsten, who was so forward but shy at the same time, a little
modest but bold enough to hold Bette’s eyes. After finishing Kirsten walked with them to the garbage to throw out their trash. Angelica walked quickly back to the vehicle. Bette stalled
a little, then Kirsten dug in her pocket and brought out a little card with her number on it…”call me sometime Bette, maybe we’ll have coffee next week” All Bette could do was nod, then
kirsten left…back to a little group who were obviously her friends. Bette looked at the card, then put it in her pocket. For a minute she felt her heart speed up a little, it had been so
long since a woman flirted with her like that. But then she stopped short, cruelly reminded, guilty feelings, she was not healed yet…………..Tina.
Bette felt a pain in her stomach.