Wow guys, still can't believe the response I have gotten on this piece. Thank you so much for your support!
^.^ Miskumi
"Look at these clothes, Gina. These are designer labels." Angelo stood with one hand on his hip, the other on his temple. Regina looked over his shoulder.
"My god, Angelo. Who are these people?" She asked. "First they send a lawyer to contact us and tell us that they had our daughter, and then this? They couldn't go to shop at like Wal-Mart, or-"
"Gina, stop. At least they contacted us. They could have kept her." He turned, placing his hands on her arms, rubbing up and down. "Just look at it that way." Angelo smiled at her, that smile that made her heart melt.
The ride home had been rough. Bay had thrown her shoes at the back of Angelo's head, almost causing an accident, and screamed the whole time. When they arrived at the house, she had tried to run down the street, trying to do anything to get away from Regina and Angelo. Once inside, she hid behind the couch, staying there until she fell asleep. The pair decided to simply leave her there.
"I need to go wash Daphne's sheets." Regina looked away, not wanting to talk about it anymore. She didn't want to remember that the child hiding behind the couch had been denied knowledge of them for the last three years, and that she had a better life without them, not right now. She needed to enjoy the time she had with Bay while she had it.
Angelo nodded, stepping back. "I will keep an eye on her." Regina smiled weakly, heading for the bedroom.
Looking around, everything reminded her of Daphne. The pink ruffled dresses, the pale pink walls. Regina pulled the sheets and blanket from the bed, the soft purple polka dots draped over her arm, and looked around the room again. She saw the music box setting on the dresser. Daphne would never hear that music again. Dropping the bedclothes on the floor, Regina wound the key, opening the lid and letting the dancer spin.
"Gina," Angelo stood in the doorway watching her. She looked up, tears in her brown eyes. "Gina what is it?"
"Daphne will never hear this music again, or your voice, or mine, or my mothers." She sucked in a trembling breath. "How are we supposed to deal with that?" Angelo smiled, sitting down beside her, closing the lid on the music box.
"We learn. She is young still. We can take classes and learn sign language. This changes nothing, Regina." He placed a hand on her cheek.
"But that doesn't change the fact that she isn't ours, that she can't hear." Regina sobbed.
"Why don't we worry about this later, see where things go from there." Angelo leaned in and kissed her, silencing any protests that tried to flow from her lips. She fluttered her lashes as he pulled away, looking at him. "There now, lets get some laundry going, get Bay settled in before she wakes up. We will try again." He stood, offering her a hand to stand, then bending and picking up the purple sheets. "Daphne loves these sheets." Angelo spoke with a crooked smile, looking up at Regina. She took his hand, walking to the mudroom.
Bay hid behind the couch after she woke up, not making a noise. Angelo pulled out his guitar, strumming a few chords idly. Regina put a casserole in the oven, then moved to the easel she had sitting up in the corner, tying a smock around her waist. Bay crawled to the other end of the couch, peeking out to watch what the woman was doing as she picked up her brush and tray.
A voice joined into the strumming, soft, melodic, and almost hypnotic. The brush strokes seemed to join into the melody, her hips swaying as she danced while Angelo played. Bay took a couple steps out from behind the couch, looking over at Angelo. The French Italian's eyes were closed as he sang softly and sweetly. She glanced at Regina, watching her apply the paint to the canvas. She took another step out. Angelo parted one eye slightly, watching the toddler's progress.
Eventually he stopped singing, but Regina continued to paint. Suddenly she felt a small hand on the leg of her pants. She turned and looked down, smiling at Bay.
"Up." The toddler spoke, reaching out for Regina. Happily she was lifted up, looking more evenly at the canvas.
"Do you want to try?" Regina asked Bay softly. The toddler turned to look at her. Angelo was already prepared, throwing an old work shirt over Bay's head, and switching out the canvas Regina had been working on for a fresh one. Regina handed a brush to the toddler and lifted the palate.
"Like this," Angelo spoke, taking Bay's arm, dipping the brush into the paint, and guiding her in a stroke. Bay looked almost surprised at the red mark on the white canvas, tipping her head to the side. Taking the brush again, she made another stroke, then another, giggling. Regina looked up at Angelo, shock and awe washing over her face.
"Angelo, are you seeing this?" He nodded.
"Yes Gina, I do." Bay let out a giggle, dipping the brush into a different color and making more marks. "I'll be right back." He whispered into her ear, stepping away. He returned, bringing with him a stool with a back. "Sit her here, Gina. Let her have at it." Regina nodded, placing the toddler on the stool, pulling the art table closer so that she could reach the paints.
Angelo wrapped his arm around Regina's waist as they stepped back, watching Bay paint on the canvas. "You should probably go and see to dinner." He whispered, kissing her cheek. "I will watch her." She nodded, stepping to the kitchen to finish the meal and set the table.
By the time the meal was ready, Bay's shirt was covered in paint. Easing the brush out of her hand, Angelo pulled the shirt off her, wiping her hands with a warm rag. "It looks beautiful, Bay." He kissed her cheek. "Now it's time for some dinner." She looked from the canvas to him, and didn't seem to want to move. Regina smiled as Angelo lifted Bay up, taking her and setting her into Daphne's booster.
Regina served the trio, sitting with Bay between them. The toddler simply looked at the plate, not sure of what to think about what was before her. Angelo grinned and picked up his fork, digging in. "Here, Bay, you will like it." He stabbed up a bite on his fork, offering it to her. Looking over it for a moment, she took a small taste, pulling back as if surprised. "Good, no?" Angelo asked sweetly. Bay picked up her fork and happily ate.
