“Your daughter”

 That was the last time Angelica would see Shad ever again. For years afterwards she would debate whether she did the right thing. Should she have made a place for him
in Fleur’s life? Should she have told Fleur. Who the ***** knows. This type of ***** happened everyday.

 Still fuming from the encounter with her former lover Angelica came into the house in a foul mood. Even Fleur was beginning to annoy her. Kids could be so….don’t know….
it was hard to place feelings other than utter love. Angie’s mind wasn’t exactly a file cabinet. Bette was on the phone talking to someone and Fleur quickly went to her for a hug. And at
that moment Angie knew Fleur would never be fully hers. she was Bette’s mostly. Bette had Fleur’s heart. angie was fun but Bette was…….mom. That realization made her brow
sweat and her eyes tear-up. Angelica quickly left the kitchen to the bathroom. There she poured cold water on her face and hands…trying to unumb herself with liquid.

 When Angie came out Bette was still on the phone. She could hear Fleur running around outside. Angie came into the kitchen and poured herself coffee. Bette hung up and
walked into the kitchen with the intent of coffee too. She asked Angie about the ice cream trip.

“fine…it went fine” Angie said this quietly….sullenly..it wasn’t lost on Bette.

“what’s wrong?”

“***** you care”

“pardon?”

“sorry…..just had a crappy day”

“i’ll ignore that Angie…just dont bite my head alright”

“i saw Shad, i was with Fleur and i told him quietly..Fleur wasn’t even aware of anything and he fled”  Angelica said this in a big rush….she had to get it off her chest.

“….jesus…”

“jesus is right….”

“you should have avoided him altogether what the ***** were you thinking Angelica?”

“what do you mean?”

“this could have major repercussions you know…i mean what if he came back later and wanted some aprt in Fleur’s life..you know how confused she would be, i mean she is probably
already gonna be confused in her teen years”

“yeah and of course it’s all my fault all of it”

“well it is your the maker of your own desicions”

“don’t give me the guru ***** ok”

“don’t raise your voice”

“im just……angry that Fleur will never consider me her mother in the truest sense…im too fucked up and she love you too much”

“how do you know that?”

“i watch ok…i watch and see how…how she just melts in your arms”

“Angie….Angie please let me in”‘

“what?”

“let me in your life truly…your my daughter..you know now how it feels like to have a child…you know now how i feel about you how much i love you let me in”

“……………….i can’t”

“why?”

“i dont know”

“what’s wrong with us Angie?”

“why don’t you let me in more then?”

“what? i do”

“no you DONT you never have and now you expect me to let you in, let you have some kind of VIP??!”

“jesus don’t start”

“quit sounding so patronizing”

“your so ***** difficult”

At that Angelica punches the fridge and at that sudden movement Bette almost drops her cup.

“WHY CAN’T WE GET ALONG WHY CAN’T WE ***** GET ALONG AND BE NORMAL…..why?…why for crissakes?…for just on ***** SECOND JUST GET THE *****
ALONG!”  Angie is crying…she pushes Bette’s hand away and leaves the kitchen…saying that she just needs a breath of fresh air. Angelica sees Fleur looking
at her in the yard. She had heard Angie yelling…..she had that look. In her eyes. Angie knew Fleur no longer trusted her now.

 Angelica decided to sit on a bench and cool off. The sky was a deep peach and Angie thought about mom. Thought about Tina. God she wished mom was here. Angie
fiddled with her jacket zipper when a man sat down beside her. Angie saw his profile. wow…very cute. The man turned sideways and caught Angie looking at him….she
blushed darkly and looked down. There was a moment of excruciating silence. Then in an amused and deep voice the man said hi.