"Roger, can I talk to you for a minute?" Maureen asked when he got to the school.
Roger nodded. "Mar, get your stuff together while I talk to Mrs. Cohen."
"Okay, Daddy."
"Everything okay?"
Maureen frowned. "I'm not sure…look, this is none of my business, I know, but I think you should know so you can have an answer."
"Know what?"
"Maria asked me about Joanne."
Roger tried to read her expression. "What about Joanne?"
Maureen looked at the ground and then up at Roger. "She asked me if Joanne's going to be her new mommy."
--LINE BREAK--LINE BREAK--
Angel waited for Collins to leave for work before picking up the phone and calling Mimi.
"Hello?"
"Hola, chica!"
"Hey, Ang. What's up?"
"Um…not much. Listen, um, do you think you could come over for a little bit?"
"Sure. Something wrong?"
"No, no, not exactly…"
"Okay. Well yeah, I'll leave in a few."
"Thanks, chica."
"Love."
"Kisses."
She hung up, smiling to herself. Mimi always made her feel better. So did Collins, but Collins would only worry and insist that she see a doctor. Angel hated doctors. She knew she was probably fine. She just wanted Mimi to reassure her.
Angel's gaze fell to the bruise on her leg. She'd noticed it this morning. The pajama pants had hidden it from Collins. Angel hadn't even noticed it until the shower. She couldn't remember getting that bruise either.
--LINE BREAK--LINE BREAK--
"Joanne, it's Roger. Call me back when you get a minute. I need to talk to you."
Joanne replayed the message, trying to guess the tone. He didn't sound angry or upset. They weren't moving too fast, that was for damn sure…Joanne sighed and picked up the phone as she kicked off her shoes. She dialed his number and waited for him to pick up.
"Hello?"
"Roger, it's me. I just got in. Everything okay?"
"I sort of need to talk to you."
"Yeah, you mentioned that on the machine."
"Think you could meet me somewhere?"
"Sure. Where?" she asked, reaching for her recently discarded shoes.
"Um…Life Café. Does that work for you?"
"Sure. Say, ten minutes?"
"Great. Thanks."
--LINE BREAK--LINE BREAK--
Roger was there before Joanne. He waited for her before being seated. Always the gentleman. Joanne smiled and kissed his cheek, glad that they'd at least progressed to that. He smiled back at her and held her hand as the waiter led them back to a table.
"Everything okay?" she asked.
"It's about Maria."
"Is she okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, she just…she's young, you know?"
Joanne nodded.
"She…she asked Maureen if you're going to be her new mommy."
Joanne's eyes widened.
Roger gave a half-smile. "Don't worry, I'm not going to propose."
Joanne sighed in relief and Roger had to laugh. "Sorry," she said. "I mean, no offense, just…"
"I know, I know. That's why I'm telling you though. I mean…look, you're the first woman I've dated since she was born. I just…I don't think it's fair to bring someone into her life and not be certain that she'll stay around. I mean, I hate saying 'now or never' but there's…it's just…"
"You don't want her to get confused."
Roger nodded.
"Maybe we should cool it for a while," she said.
Roger looked up, eyes sad. "I didn't mean…look, I do like you, Joanne. I really do. I just…she's my daughter. And this…I just don't know that this…"
"Rog, it's okay. You're right to put your daughter first. Maybe we could try just being friends."
"Really? I mean, you'd, um, you'd be okay with that?"
"Sure. You're a good guy, Roger. And we weren't serious or long-term. Hell, we never even kissed. Shouldn't be too hard to move this to platonic. If that's what we both want."
Roger nodded.
--LINE BREAK--LINE BREAK--
Mark stood in the grocery store trying to remember everything Maureen had said. He had all the actual groceries. Now he just had to get a pregnancy test.
"Why the hell are there so many kinds?" he mumbled to himself.
His eyes flicked over the different labels. He could feel himself blushing more with each passing minute. He was tempted to just grab one and go, but knew Maureen would just send him back if he grabbed the wrong one. Mark bit his lower lip, frowning in concentration. After another few minutes, he grabbed a box and went to the register. If it was the wrong one, Maureen could just come back and get the right one herself.