Meanwhile

——–Rachel——

God this child was great I could feel myself lighten as we walked down the beach eating the food we had bought for lunch. Or as Angie had pointed out guiltily I had bought. She found it embarrassing that she was meant to be paying me back and I was the one paying, so I told her if after lunch each day she took me somewhere new so I could get to know the city then we would be even, this seemed to be a good agreement for her so today we were at the beach, which I was informed was one of her favourite spots.

She had that great mix of adult and child where she felt responsible for who she was but still looked at how to be that person and deal with the world in a childlike manner.

She had a confidence reminiscent of Bette’s and spoke in a similar way using all of her face and boy to express herself.

We had a great time and she even phoned to tell her mum’s that she would like to stay longer, to my surprise they agreed and I spoke to them and told them it was fine and I would drop Angie off at seven.

We sat and she told me about her friends and her family including all of her Aunts and Cousins and how school was going. She made me laugh till it hurt with stories of her past misdemeanours. Then, just as if to show she was as bad as she said as we walked back towards where we started she gave me an almighty shove which threw me arse over ***** into the surf.

I stood and looked at her dry a few yards away and conceded that we were even. She grinned a huge smile that lit up the day and we continued walking and talking to the car.

The hard Rock Caf.

———Andy——–

I had asked Katie where she wanted to go and this is where she picked. She was amazing and so like Tina. She was only eleven but she spoke like she was bordering on becoming an adult she made me laugh by telling me about her family, especially her sister and her aunts. She told me all about Bette’s sister who I had not met and who Katie seemed to worship. Then we ate as much ice cream as we could. She seemed to notice everything and had even remembered to ask if my pretty clothes had been ruined when I fell in the water last night. Then we left and she and I walked and talked as she held onto my hand. Then out of nowhere as if she had looked right into my soul she just stopped and matter of factly asked me

“You were meant to be a mum just like my Mommies, weren’t you?”

I answered as honestly as I could and she seemed to be content then it was time to go home and as we drove she told me more stories of her past and I became more amazed by her the longer I spent with her.

——–Tina——–

Katie and Andy arrive first but only by a few minutes and the four of them ended up crowded in the hallway at the same time.

The girls seemed to have great fun and everyone laughed when Rachel explained why she had wet hair. The two women left in separate cars but at least they seemed more relaxed than they had.

We made our way to the dining room and sat down to dinner with the girls. They told us about their days and both seemed to have had a great time and made a new friend each. It was then that Katie asked us about what Andy had told her about not being a mom and I realised that Angie had asked a similar question of Rachel only she had more idea of what the answer meant. The realisation that came with Katie’s innocent Proclamation made my heart ache for the two women who had just left the house.

“Mom, Think Andy would have been a really good mum, just like you two. But when I asked her she said that they were going to be once and then a bad man hurt Rachel so they lost the baby and then the had not been able to try and have another one. But I don’t think they meant to lose the baby I think the bad man took it and they should be given another chance. But Andy says that they have both done some bad things since them a so they can’t have a baby. But I think it would make Andy happy so I told her so Andy has very sad eyes a baby might make that better.”

We all sat stunned at the simplicity a child could give to an awful revelation as she looked at us awaiting and answer.