- Chapter One -

"Mummy, mummy"

The little dark girl ran into the house. Her hands were clasped tightly together as she skidded into the livening room. Bette looked up from her books, her glasses falling slightly down her nose as she sat up in the chair.

"Darling there is no need to shout, I'm only a few feet away." She said

Angelica looked up at her mother a grin fixed across her tiny face. She held up her hands and opened them a crack.

"Look what I found mummy," she said again, as she did so a small green frog dropped neatly into Bette's lap. Bette grimaced for a second but then scooped up the awol amphibian and placed back into Angelica's outstretched hands.

"Baby, why don't you put…what are calling him?"

Angelica pouted, "It's not a boy mummy it's a girl I'm going to call her Tina,"

Bette went white. She stared hard at her daughter for a moment, her hands clenched hard against the arms of the chair. However she regained her composure.

"Baby, I think its best you put her outside, frogs don't like the heat of houses." She glanced up at the clock on the mantle piece, its hands showed it was 6.30. "Hurry up, it will be bed time for you soon young lady."

She watched Angelica trot off back into the garden and busy herself near the pond. That was three times this week that Angelica had mentioned Tina. She had tried hard not to think about her but in recent weeks. Bette had found her mind wandering lately. Last week when she had been cleaning Angelica's bedroom she had stumbled upon the photograph. It had been under Angelica's pillow and there grinning back at her had been a nightmare. She remembered it as clearly as if it was yesterday. It had been after Dana's funeral and she had come back to the house to find Tina there with Angelica ready to go out. Henry had been there to, she was sure just to taunt her and the little boy Mikey? They had been going to the aquarium hadn't they? And that's when Mikey had asked to take the photo a "family photo". After that she had felt so cold, but just replaced the photo and gone to make some coffee. But what was it she really wanted, to remove her child's other mother from her life completely? To instil in Angelica the same hatred and fear that she herself was feeling and send Tina into the nexus. Just a hazy memory of a forgotten past. Bette shook her head. She was so confused and full of regrets. It was bad enough that Joyce Wishner had nearly ruined her life once, now she had managed to do it again. She wanted to scream, but instead stood up from her chair and walked over to the window. Outside Angelica was playing happily in the mud and making patterns with the rocks. A wave of anger suddenly swept over her. No one was going to take her baby away, no matter how many times they tried or had to move she would do whatever was necessary, they would be together forever. She flopped back into the chair and closed her eyes.

"Mummy!"

Bette awoke with a start, she glanced at the clock and saw she had slept for about a hour. Angelica grabbed Bette and clung tightly to her leg. Bette bent down and kissed Angelica's head.

"What is it sweetheart? You haven't hurt yourself have you?"

"that man is back, he saw me. I don't like him he's scary," Bette looked concerned

"What man dear, I didn't see anyone in the garden."

"He's gone now but I don't like him he watched me but he never wants to play."

Bette stood up and walked over to the window. Outside she could see the trees moving softly in breeze. The garden was enclosed on either side by a high hedge and the back fence was bordered by a series of trees. She peered intently but could not see anyone one. Walking back to Angelica she clasped her tight to her. She sat down and placed Angelica on her knee.

"Baby, its ok. I would never let anyone hurt you. You know I love you so much and I will always make sure you are safe."

Angelica looked back at her, chewing slowly on her thumb.

"But," Bette added "I need you to promise me something, I want you to promise you will never talk to strangers and if you see this man again you tell me ok?"

"Ok," Angelica said softly lying her head against Bette's chest and closing her eyes.

"Come on lets get you to bed," Bette whispered, carrying Angelica she made her way to the bedroom and tucked her into the warm bed. She moved towards the door but then something struck her and she turned.

"Angelica sweetheart, have you seen this man before?"

"Yes, he sometimes watches us in the park when I'm on the swings." Angelica breathed dopily. Bette frowned but bent forwards and kissed Angelica's head. She walked into the other room where her book still lay across the arm of the chair. She went to sit down but then rose and locked the front door and pulled down the blind. A strange feeling of unease passed over her. She looked up at the mantelpiece but her photo of Angelica no longer smiled at her but stared down with a terrifying grin.