”Mom! Are you listening to me?” Angie threw a sock at Bette, who snapped her focus back into the present and caught the white sock before it landed in the sink. Bette blinked and shook her head.

”Sorry sweetie – what?” Bette responded, raising a dark eyebrow as if to say I hope this sock you just threw at me is clean.

”I said, maybe next time Mom and Carrie are in town we can all go out together. Like to that Japanese place you like, and maybe see a show or something?” Angie said this a little slowly, as if testing the water.

Bette sighed. ”Are they planning a trip soon? I’m not sure Carrie would volunteer to spend any more time with me than strictly necessary, sweetie.” The thought of spending an evening with Tina and Carrie made Bette’s jaw clench, and sent a shot of guilty panic to course through her chest.

Angie shifted her weight from one foot to the other, smiling slyly.

”Well, no plans that I know of. But they might. I think Carrie and you could be friends,” Angie suggested. Not in this lifetime, Bette thought.

”That’s really very sweet of you, but I don’t think I’m her cup of tea,” Bette replied diplomatically, beginning to fold Angie’s clean clothes up ready for the wardrobe.

Angie smiled. ”But she sent you a present! She must like you,” as she fished out a small velvet jewellery box from her backpack. Bette was flabbergasted.

”What?” she asked, frozen in time. How excruciating, Bette thought. Now I’m going to have to open whatever this is, pretend to like it and send a fucking thank you note. Keeping a straight face for Angie was the only task she could manage. Jesus fucking Christ.

”Wow… but, why? That’s so kind of her,” Bette said slowly, her facial expressions trying to keep up with her words.

Angie handed the gift over to Bette like it was fragile. The little black box was soft and light in her outstretched hand. Bette felt frozen and didn’t know what to do, whether or not to open it in front of Angie. Oh god.

Her daughter looked up at her expectantly, brown eyes reflected back into her own. Bette ran her finger along the top of the box, then placed her thumbs at the opening and pushed the lid up.