Chapter 19 Previously…
“I’m not sure, I didn’t ask Bette. I wasn’t about to question her. I just told her it wouldn’t be a problem for Sara to come here. When she came over, Sara told me her parents had been arguing and her father had hit her mother” Tina sat down on the chair by the desk.
“You have got to be kidding me? That son of a bitch hit his wife….and in front of his kid no less?” Bette’s anger peaked immediately at the thought of any type of violence in the home, not to mention the fact that Sara had been present.
“I feel so bad for that little girl” Tina said, her voice filled with empathy. “I’m going to go talk with Angelica and briefly explain why she is here, because you know our daughter will be filled with questions. One will sure to be why is Sara here on Christmas day and not with her family, and number two, why is she allowed to have company when she is punished. I don’t want her thinking we caved in on her punishment”
“I understand” Bette said, her face twisted with the painful thought of what Sara had to face.
Tina rubbed Bette’s arm. “Just try to cheer her up while I do talk to Ange, okay Babe?”
“I will” Bette replied as Tina rose from the chair to go upstairs to speak with Angelica. Bette returned to the living room where Sara was still sitting quietly.
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“Would you like to watch a little television Sara?”
“Okay” Sara said more bashfully than she had ever been when playing over their house.
“Let’s see…..they may have some parade’s on television today”
Bette started to click through some of the channels hoping to find something that might interest Sara. Sara occasionally glanced towards her house, which was not clearly visible from Bette and Tina’s, but she tried anyway.
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UPSTAIRS
Angelica had just started to come out of her room to go downstairs to apologize to Tina when she gasped at the unexpected arrival of her mom in the doorway.
“Oh!”
“I’m sorry Ange, I didn’t mean to scare you” Tina said as she gently placed her hand on Angie’s shoulder. “How about we go back in your room a moment, I want to talk to you”
“I was just going to go downstairs to see you” Angie admitted as Tina guided her back into the room.
“You were?”
Angelica sat down on the bed, and Tina sat aside of her. As Tina took a moment to formulate just what she was going to say to Angelica, her daughter spoke first.
“Mom………I’m sorry for being upset over the phone. I was just….well I was so excited to have it, and I just wanted to use it mom”
Tina smiled at her daughter for not just apologizing, but appearing to be rather sincere in what she was saying. It wasn’t just her words but her body language which was speaking to her.
“Apology accepted. I know you were disappointed Angie, and if you think this was any easier on me or Momma B you are very wrong. It is very important that parents follow through on discipline that they decide upon, and as much as it bothers me to have to enforce what we had agreed on for your punishment, I know it is something that as a parent I must do. Perhaps one day you will be able to understand this”
Angelica remained quiet as Tina had explained her feelings on the punishment.
“Now, I want to explain something to you. Sara is downstairs”
Before Tina could finish, Angie’s eyes lit up.
“She IS!? Awesome!”
“Honey wait. We are making a VERY big exception to your punishment. By no means does this mean Momma B and I changed our minds, not in the least. Sara came over today because her mom asked if she could come over. Their family was having some problems, and she preferred Sara to be here with us while she figured some things out”
Angelica’s expression turned somber. She realized that Sara’s visit wasn’t surrounding a more pleasant circumstance, but she just wasn’t sure why exactly.
“What does that mean mom?”
Tina looked at Angelica and wanted to be honest, but she really wasn’t fully informed herself. To discuss things in detail would require speculation on her part. She felt that there was a better chance of Angie learning more through Sara once the girls were together..
“Well, I’m not exactly sure Angie. I didn’t have a lengthy conversation with her mom, but according to Sara there was an argument, and from what Sara mentioned to me a few minutes ago downstairs, I believe her father may have hit her mom”
Angelica’s eyes widened. She could not believe what her mom had just relayed to her.
“What?! No way! Oh my god that’s terrible. Is Sara okay?”
Tina immediately felt the upset in Angie’s voice and demeanor.
“Yes honey, she is. I think the best thing you can do is just be her friend and maybe take her mind off of things. Let her tell you for herself okay?”
Angelica nodded while her expression remained one of disbelief. She sat a moment and just started to reflect on how terribly sad Sara must be feeling on what should be a holiday that is spent making happy memories. She also started to feel a bit ashamed at how upset she had allowed herself to get over the inability to use her phone. In comparison to Sara’s situation, the little she knew about so far, it seemed like her family life was perfect.
“Poor Sara. On Christmas Day too”
Tina rubbed Angie’s back. She hated to have to expose her daughter to some of the more harsher parts of life, but this was a part of growing up and there wasn’t anything she could do to shield her from something which was hitting so close to home now.
“Mom, what did he do? Why would he do that?” Angie asked, as questions began to overwhelm her thoughts.
“I’m not sure honey. I don’t understand how anyone can ever physically harm another person let alone his wife and mother of his child. He very likely needs some help I am sure”
A short moment of silence came over the room before Tina suggested they return downstairs.
“What do you say we go downstairs huh?”
“Mom what do I say?”
“You just be yourself, that’s all. If she wants to talk to you about things I am sure she will honey. I will begin making dinner and I am sure Sara will very likely be here with us when it is time to eat”
The thought of Sara sharing in Christmas dinner with her family made Angelica feel good.
“Oh goody! She will like that. Thanks mom” Angelica said as she hugged Tina.
Angelica was happy that her family would be helping her friend. She was concerned about her, and thoughts of what could have possibly happened was flooding her mind, but it was balanced for the time being, with the comfort in knowing that Sara would feel safe with her family on this day.
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DOWNSTAIRS
Bette had gotten Sara settled with a TV program when Tina and Angelica came downstairs.
“Hi Sara” Angelica said as she entered the living room, hoping to appear as normal as possible.
“Hi Ange” Sara said, noticeably more quiet than she was usually.
“Um….you want to go up to my room and hang out?”
“Okay”
Sara slid off the couch and followed Angie through the kitchen and upstairs to her room, leaving Bette and Tina alone downstairs. Once their footsteps were heard ascending the stairs, Bette looked over at Tina who had remained in the kitchen getting things together for their dinner. She got up from her recliner and went into the kitchen.
“Did you talk to her?” Bette asked.
“Yes. I couldn’t say too much because I’m not quite sure about it all myself”
“Did Angie have any questions?”
Tina opened the fridge and took the large package of ribs out. “A few, and I did what I could to answer them. I just don’t have enough details to really explain too much.
