Note: Okay so the last chapter and this one are admittedly not the most exciting. It's just a build-up though to the next chapter. It's all hitting the fan, so to speak. Hold onto your seats, kids!
Mimi went to the door, smiling to see Angel. She was finally feeling up to going out and visiting people, and Mimi definitely needed a visit.
"Hola, chica," Angel said.
"Hey. How you feeling?"
"Better than I have in a long time. And how about you?"
Mimi sighed and led the way to the kitchen. Angel shut the front door and followed.
"What is it? What happened?"
"Okay, so, um…you know how I said I wasn't seeing Roger?"
"Yeah?"
"I kind of lied."
Angel frowned. "But then who's Ben?"
"Oh Ben's real too."
"Okay, how about we start over?" Angel said, sitting at the kitchen table.
Mimi took a deep breath. "Okay, so I started seeing Ben. And things were okay, I mean just casual—"
"When was this?"
"Um, four months ago?"
"Okay."
"And so, um, then Roger called. And since Ben and I hadn't made it exclusive or anything, I figured I'd date them both for a while."
"And do they know this?"
"Yeah…well, sort of. I mean, Roger does. Ben knows we're not exclusive but he doesn't know that I'm only seeing one other guy."
"So now how long have you been seeing Roger?"
"Three months."
"Mmhmm…"
"But Roger wants a decision."
"Understandable."
"And Roger has a kid."
"Oh," Angel said, eyes widening.
"Yeah. And he doesn't want to let me meet her until I break things off with Ben."
"And do you want to meet her?"
"Yes. No…I don't know. I mean, I like Roger. I really like Roger. But I like Ben too."
"And Ben doesn't have a kid."
"Exactly. Unfortunately, Ben doesn't know that he wants any sort of commitment."
"But that's all that Roger wants."
Mimi nodded. "This is why you're my best friend."
Angel smiled. "Well, chica, which do you like more?"
"I don't know. But Roger and I got into this huge fight and I walked off. And then Ben and I were at dinner and I asked him where this is going and he didn't have an answer and I walked out."
"Chica, you got to stop walking out."
"I know, I just…What am I going to do?"
Angel patted her hand. "It's okay, chica. This isn't the end of the world. What does your heart tell you?"
"What?"
"Okay, when I was in chemo, I met this other patient. Gordon. He's not there for chemo, he's actually got AIDS. But he and I started talking and he told me about this motto he got from his support group. No day but today."
"Angel, no offense, but how is that supposed to help me?"
"No day but today. Without thinking about the past, without thinking about where it's going, right here and now, who do you want to be with?"
"Roger."
"Then that's your answer."
--line break--line break--
The doorbell rang and Maria ran in from her room. "Uncle Benny! Uncle Benny!"
"Maria!"
"Oops! Sorry, Daddy," she said, slowing down.
Roger opened the door. "Hey, Benny."
"Hey, Rog. Hey, Maria! How's my girl?"
"Good. I gotted a new doll from Grandma."
"Oh really?"
"Yep. Wanna see?"
"Sure. How about you just say goodbye to Dad and let me talk to him a minute before he has to go?"
"Okay. Bye Daddy! Love you," she said, squeezing Roger's legs.
He leaned down and patted her head. "Bye, honey. I love you too."
She walked off towards her room.
"So I'll see you in a few hours?"
"Yeah, I just gotta run a few errands. And you know how she gets in a store."
Benny chuckled. "Yeah, I know. Typical kid."
Roger laughed. "I've got to stop at the store, then just grab some papers I forgot at school, and I'll be home."
"Sounds good, man."
"All right. Thanks again."
"No problem."
Roger grabbed his keys off the coffee table and headed for the door. "Bye Mar!"
"Bye Daddy!"
--line break--line break--
Mark looked up when the door to his office opened. Joanne walked in.
"Joanne, nice to see you again," he said, rising to shake her hand.
"Nice to see you too, Mark."
She talked with him for an hour about their usual cases, each updating the other on client statuses. Mark closed the last file and she produced a new file.
"Mark, there's one more."
"Wha—I don't have any more."
"It's a new case."
"New case? The courts haven't—"
"It's a special case."
Mark frowned. "Joanne, I'm not sure—"
"I just want a professional opinion, okay?"
"Okay…"
"It's my friend's kid."
"What about this kid?"
"Here. It's in the file."
She handed a thin file across the desk. Mark frowned and flipped it open. A sheet of paper caught his eye. Pregnancy test results. His eyes flicked over them. Positive.
"Father disputing the paternity?"
"He better not be."
"Then why's the pregnancy test in here?"
Joanne smiled at him. "Read it again, Mark."
He read it slowly, more carefully. "Office of Dr. Stein. Pregnancy results for…" Mark's head jerked up. "Oh my God!"
The door opened and Maureen ran in.
"Oh my God!"
She smiled, giggling as he picked her up and spun her around.
"Is this for real?" he asked, still holding the test.
"Yes, it's for real!" she laughed.
"Congratulations, guys," Joanne said.
The two thanked her and she slipped from the office, leaving them alone to celebrate their news.