Fleur was more like a little sister than a daughter. Sometimes when watching Bette and Fleur interact…Angie had a hard time believing her daughter came from her own womb. But then memories of pain..utter, excruciating, horrible pain would come back to her and she would realize yes,..this ‘angel’ came from her. However it felt all very technical, it wasn’t like angelica felt like she could…love her daughter in a way that would defy everything else. Mostly defy Angie herself, she was her own enemy…probably even Fleur’s. That’s why she was more of an observer..watching to see if she could really take care of fleur eventually. Angie got a job, a ***** one at a convenience store, night shift since Angie was a night owl. The regularity was comforting she supposed…the only drawbacks being many though. Standing around serving person after person eating candy reading magazines..fighting off her sleepy eyelids fighting off the urge to run away again was all very tiresome. She came home, looked in Fleur’s room…always she wasn’t there but sleeping with Bette…then going in her own room and passing out. Dozing till the afternoon light made her wake. Most of the time Fleur would come in and bring her breakfast, made with the help of Bette…usually cereal, juice..and a cookie. That moment was Angie and Fleur’s ‘alone’ time together. Angie would wait in bed till fleur came in carrying a tray….she would climb on the bed and present it while Angie tried hard not to grin too much. A couple of years ago angie got into a fight and some ***** nailed her in the kisser…Angie decided to leave it and so now was cursed with a pirate grin. Fleur didn’t like it. But Fleur did like talking to Angie…they would discuss the mundane things in life, finding beauty in it…beauty only four-year olds could think up. Eventually…very slowly…angie found herself falling in love…deeply with her daughter. A profound love only parents know.

 Bette didn’t want to give up Fleur. She had custody of her and didn’t trust Angie…frankly she didn’t trust Angie at all. So when Angie one day after getting up from her nap delicately inquired about what the situation was concerning custody…Bette’s bristles immediantly went up. Bette gently asked Angelica what her plans would be if she did have custody of Fleur. Angie was a realist…she said quietly that it would take a few years for her to get back on the right track…until then she would like to take a larger part in her daughter’s life…like take her to kindergarten…take her out…maybe…maybe Bette could wean fleur back to Angelica. “back to you?…sweetie….you-you never really had her in the first place”…Bette said this very slowly, quite gently…and Angie gently answered back. “i know i screwed up…i realize that, i want to do it right this time” Bette nodded quietly and the conversation was ended by Fleur running into the kitchen yelling to the world that worms were gross….her hands dirty with garden soil. Bette told her to wash up…fleur did using a little stool at the kitchen counter. Angelica and Bette both watched her.

 When Fleur left to go find more worms…despite her exclaiming they were  disgusting and should all disappear…Bette and Angelica went  back to drinking their tea at the table. Angie put her mug down..looking in at the swirls.  ”so….are you seeing anyone?” Angelica asked this quietly again, making sure not to sound snarky.

Bette half-snorted half-smiled…”no..i don’t know..maybe…been kinda…nothing since me and Kirsten broke up” 

 ”i thought that was solid”

 ”nothing turns out what you except” 

 ”true that…ha”  

 ”there IS this womanin the neighbourhood, i think she’s interested..but i don’t know if seeing asomeone in the neighbourhood is a good idea”  ”can you say ‘soap opera”   ”no kidding…what aboutyou are you seeing anyone”

 ”not really……i dont get out much, my life revloves around here and the ‘Quick-Pick Mini-Mart’..open 24 hours” 

 ”how’s that going?”  

“fine…prettyshitty but i get to see some interesting characters….” 

“i bet”

  “yea”

 It was weird how Bette and Angelica were so careful around each other since Angelica came back. All their conversation were very delicate as to not disrupt a tentative peace in the house..the dynamic between them was on a thin line, steady but still like a powder keg. things were sketchy between them but the most stand-out among their issues was Fleur…Bette was not going to let go of her…and Angelica found herself increasingly thinking she could make it. she lied about a few years. Angie wanted her daughter in a few months. In her heart she knew it was unrealistic…it WOULD take a few years. But maybe it was the idea of doing everything Bette’s way or letting Bette  take the lead and take care of things that made Angie feel that nasty itch of rebellion again. Or maybe it was that space…that delicate potentially explosive, quietly loving…complicated space that existed between mothers and their daughters.