Jake suddenly started awake. Did I hear something? she asked herself, I don't normally just wake up for no reason. She held her breath as she looked down at Cameron, who was also asleep and lying in Jake's' arms, a feeding bottle lying, forgotten, next to her. A knock sounded on the door. Cameron shifted a little, then settled back to sleep. Jake breathed a (quiet) sigh of relief, and was about to call "It's open!" to whoever was at the door when it opened. In swept Monica, looking as perfect as ever.
"Hello Jacqueline! And how's my little Cameron? I… Jacqueline, why are you not wearing a dress? And what have I told you about not wearing make-up when there's a boys school right next door? Those clothes you're wearing, darling, they're hideous! They're so boy-like. And you could have styled your hair!!! Darling, I'm shocked you could let your appearance go to waste like this, you can look so beautiful!"
Monica bustled round the room, looking everything over and inspecting, almost judging everything. As she had said this, Cameron had woken at the loud voice and presence that now filled the room, and had began to scream.
"Here darling, I'll take her. I really cannot believe I let the Dean talk me into letting you look after my baby – you're obviously not coping." Jake sullenly handed Cameron over to her mother, wishing she could get a word in edgeways. "Why, whatever's the matter with her? Doesn't she even recognise her own mother?" Monica looked bewildered as the child in her arms – her child – continued to scream.
Jake smiled. "Here, let me take her." She took Cameron and gently rocked her, singing "American Pie" very softly under her breath. As Camerons' screams softened to coos, and she smiled up at Jake, Monica began to look angry.
"Give her here!" she shouted, grabbing Cameron, "She's my child, why doesn't she know me? And WHY ARE YOU DRESSED LIKE A BOY?!?!" Monica was really angry now, and was yelling at her eldest daughter as the baby in her arms began to scream again.
Jake was shocked. I've never seen here like this, she thought, I hope she doesn't hurt Cameron. "Mom, I…I've gotta talk to you. But first, give Cameron to me. I won't have you hurting her!" she was close to tears, and could see her Mom was too.
Reluctantly Monica handed Cameron over, and watched silently as Jake crept over to the sofa, singing again, and gingerly sat down.
"Cameron knows I'm not her mother. And she probably knows who you are, too. She's just not used to having someone she hasn't seen for a while grabbing her and shouting. I'm pretty sure she knows I'm not her Mom, but at five months old, you can't really expect her to instantly know you, can you? And I'm looking after Cameron because you need to concentrate on your career, and I'm only at school, so I have enough time to look after her." As Jake was speaking, her mother had walked overand sat next to her on the sofa.
"I'm sorry the kid doesn't know you, but there's not much I can really do about that right now!!!"
Monica grimaced. "I know honey, I'm sorry. It's just I'm not used to not seeing my babies for so long and then not having one of them recognise me. It's just…disappointing, I suppose. And I little depressing. But now, tell me dear, why are you dressed so scruffily, like a boy?"
Jake cleared her throat – it was now or never. "Mom, listen, I've gotta talk to you, and you're REALLY not gong to like it…"