"Why did I expect anything less?"

The kids were at a welcome orientation at the Recreation Center and Willow had challenged the chaperones to put up their tents while they were gone. There were thirty tents in all and the mosquitoes gave no care that they were in our zone. I swear one almost flew up my nose. I don't know how I'm going to make it or even how I got myself into this. The perils of being a mother. At least I could start with Rocco and my tents first and help the other parents with everyone else's. That was what I thought anyway. . .three hours ago.

The kids were back and safely playing hide and seek in the forest with there teacher joining in on the fun. Meanwhile, many of us parents were firmly stuck. Unsuccessfully contemplating boxes and instruction manuals. I couldn't get my stake into the ground. Short of throwing myself on the ground and having a Rocco sized tantrum, I was at a loss.

"What are you talking about?" Valentine said, sitting in a lawn chair in front of his fully automated tent. In fact, he had his and Charlottes up within 5 minutes.

Dammit, I should have thought of that. "How about a little help?"

"Oh, I'm sure when the little mouse indicated that the parents should help. She wasn't thinking of me. Besides I have our tents up," he said, his hands like Vanna white as he showed off two tents large enough for Queen sized beds.

"Don't you think it's in poor taste to show off such wealth in front of all these kids. It singles Charlotte out. Perhaps for the worse. I thought we agreed to raise her as normal as possible."

He scoffed and pulled out a book as thick as the Encyclopedia. "Normalcy is overrated and she is not like the other students. The sooner she realizes that the better. A life worth living is best served enjoying the finer things."

"A life is best served enjoying the finer things," I mimicked, sounding as stuck up and nasally as he did.

"That's not how I sound," he said, cracking the book open.

I scrunched my nose up in disgust. "You're not really reading that."

He didn't bother to respond. I kicked my tent and sauntered off. "I'm going to the Recreation Center. There are vending machines there. Sustenance!"

"Good luck with that."

"F*** off," I mumbled. Some salty chips and a sugary drink later. I found myself roaming through the forest, lost. The only reason I found the kid's campsite was for one pink tent courtesy of Maxie Jones, and it was up. The kids were also sitting around a makeshift table, eating the lunches the school provided. I walked up to Valentine, who was standing away from the other parents.

"So who do I get to thank for this."

He shrugged. "They're all up. Thank the hairband over there."

My eyes narrowed as I turned to look at them. "Okay, but can you tell the guy who put my tent up. I said thank you."

"Do I look like the guy who uses words like thank you, and you're welcome?"

I bit my bottom lip. "Definitely not, but you do use your tongue for other things."

He lowered his voice, so that only I could hear. "You aren't half the woman, Nina is and I mean that literally and figuratively. Don't think because we're having a tiff that you can just throw yourself at me."

I raised my eyebrow at him. "Are you that hard up? Because I'm not."

"I don't have a heart. Everything that was in here belonged to Nina. I can't love her the way she wants. But with my last breath, I'm going to try."

I sighed and crossed my arms over my chest. "Valentine, you have a heart. I see it every day with Charlotte. Your problem is that it's always beating for the wrong one, Anna and now Nina. You think you know who these women are and you don't. Your just bad at relationships."

"Oh and whose the right one, you?"

"God know!" I scoffed. "But you'd probably find the right one if you stopped plugging women into your life like paper dolls." I marched around him like a soldier. "Car, check. Millions, check. Mansion, that rivals any other, check. Badass woman that fights crime on the weekend, check. Nope, that didn't work out. How about or a woman that works for a beauty magazine because she's the most beautiful woman in the world." I flipped my hair in the same way that I sometimes saw Nina do. "Check."

"I shouldn't be listening to such childishness."

"Love is the only thing in the world that does not work from a checklist."

"You can't control, who you give your heart too," he said stubbornly.

"Mom, come on. All the hot dogs are going to be gone," Rocco called from the table.

"Okay, baby, just a sec." I turned back to Valentine and looked at him with some concern. "I'm not doubting that you love her. I'm doubting why. I think it was very controlled. But unless you still want to be a lab rat. Its time to stop the surgical procedures on your heart and live a little."