"You know that you have to have 'the birds and the bees' conversation now, right?" Neal teased as he held his arms around her to prevent her from getting up. "I am not having that talk! I don't even know why it is called the 'the birds and the bees'. I never had that conversation."
"Well you are a natural talent." Neal said as he kissed her hand and pulled her closer to him.
"I need to get dressed. The social worker will be here soon!" Neal didn't let go but just kissed her neck as his hands moved to her chest. She pushed him back as she rushed toward the bathroom with the blanket. Neal dressed too and luckily they both just got ready when the door bell rang. Angie rushed to the door as if it was evaluation of how quickly she responded to the bell, and if it was so, she would definitely have passed. Neal followed her. He winked to Daisy as he walked in. The social worker walked in but her visit was very brief. Angie asked if she would have some breakfast but she was in rush. However, she was very polite and warm so Angie did not feel insecure. Daisy hugged Angie for a long time before she let go, and when the door was closed, Angie put a hand on her heart as if she was trying to keep in her chest. "I miss her already." She whispered with a sad face.
"Well then let's cheer you up with breakfast." Neal said and walked behind the kitchen desk to get the pans and bread."
Angie did feel a little better as Neal constantly charmed and amused her with his jokes. For anyone it would have been impossible to think that a seed of doubt had been planted in Angie head at this point. She was not aware of it herself and if anyone had asked, she would sincerely deny it. The seed remained in the depths of the mind for months without being watered or cared for. Their life continued as it always had. Neal met her almost every morning at the coffee shop, and whenever it was possible, Angie went to the park to meet Neal. Their relationship became deeper and bolder. They argued rarely as Angie did rarely complain about anything. Even when Daisy was a permanent part of their lives, nothing seemed to change.
"Don't these sorts of things usually take much more time?" Neal asked Angie as they sat on a bench the day before Daisy was officially adopted.
"Yeah, but Daisy connected with me quickly, and apparently, that is quite a wonder. Besides I had everything for her so they made it go a little quicker."
"So you are now officially a mother?" Neal smiled.
"I am but I think that Daisy looks at me as a friend or an older sister. I don't think she is ready to see someone else in the role of a mother."
"Are you ready to have a daughter?"
"I think so. I have been alone for so long now."
"You have me."
"Yeah. Don't you think it is a bit funny that I meet you after I meet Daisy?"
"Are you accusing me of something?" Neal says with an exaggerated facial expression.
"No. Of course not, I just think it is a bit unusual and funny." Angie replies as she plays along.
Neal pulls her into his embrace and holds as she gently says, "I wish I had met you sooner."
At that point no one had thought that anything bad could happen. Even Daisy was bounding with Neal as he came by more and more often. In Daisy's head she had a big family. June was like a grandmother, Mozzie and Peter were like uncles while Elizabeth was the sweet aunt. After some time, Daisy and Angie had sleepovers at Neal's apartment. However, as their life became more intimate, a shadowy spot seemed to become bigger and bigger.
Neal and Mozzie were always standing in their own corner and talking. Clearly, there was some sort of problem but Neal never told anything and when Angie dared to ask, he often said that it was nothing. Thus, the seed was slowly watered. Angie knew everything there was to know about his past but when it came to his present she was shut out. She did not know much about his work and almost nothing about what he was doing when he wasn't with here.
"Do you ever tell her?" Mozzie asked after an evening with Angie and Daisy.
"All the things that you still do."
"I don't do anything. I am a legal person."
"Well, you do sometimes."
"There is nothing to tell, Moz. I don't steal or do anything."
"Have you told her about Ellen or your Dad?"
"Moz, why are you suddenly so concerned?"
"I am just wondering how she is dealing with everything. Some time ago you talked about wanting to know more about your father, and you even talked to Ellen about it. Does she know?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"You told me once that Angie is not so forgiving. Maybe you shouldn't challenge that."
"Are you actually giving me advice about relationship, Moz?"
"Just think about what you are doing."
Neal did not bother because the sun was shining and he was not bothered by the small shadows around him. The same, however, could not be said about Angie. The shadows were mostly around her and it became worse as she began to notice Neal's behaviour. At times he seemed worried and at times he was unusually happy but he would never tell why. Silently, the glass was filling itself until the very last drop. At normal evening, an aggressive knock sounded on the door. Three agents stood outside and with a search warrant. When they walked in she was unable to say anything but when she saw Daisy's frightened face, she spoke loudly. "what are you even looking for?" No one responded.