After Evan Tells Ange to Stay Away
Ange watched Evan head down the stairs after Chloe. Maybe he was right, she had caused this and she couldn't fix it. She desperately wanted to be there for Chloe, she'd pushed Dom away so that Chloe could have her full attention.
She was terrified that Chloe had hurt herself again and was so glad that Evan had been there for her but it wasn't the same. She needed Chloe to see that she was loved, that Dom being here didn't mean she was being replaced. She needed Chloe to realise that she'd always loved both of her children the same, despite their different beginnings.
She'd had so much hope when Chloe had agreed to come to lunch. That maybe it was going to be ok, but Dom was obviously pushing for acceptance and it was too soon for Chloe. And she didn't even know what to think about the email and arranging for Chloe to be in theatre.
She knew she'd been harsh with him in her office, but she needed to focus on Chloe and she felt so bad that Carole was being left out in the cold by Dom and she thought this might push him back to her. She worried she'd lost him too now.
She always imagined her children together and happy probably not too dissimilar to Dom's hopes actually, but she didn't know how to get them all there.
Chloe had struggled for years before but she'd been in such a good place lately and Ange hated that's she'd ruined that for her. She'd worked hard with Chloe to help her see that her conception didn't make her who she was and it looked like she was sliding backwards.
This was all her fault. She should've told Chloe about Dom when she was small they could have both loved him from a distance. Then this would have been a happy reunion.
It hurt so much to push Dom back again but she needed him to understand, he had Carole and Lofty to support him. She thought back to the night she'd taken his photo out of the box and put it in its rightful place. He'd been so upset, she'd relished holding him just as she had after he'd read her letter.
God what had she done, he was clearly struggling as well and she'd pushed him back even though she knew he likely wouldn't go back to Carole and his Dad didn't want him around. She didn't know how to do this, how to parent two children and consider both their needs and Dom clearly needed her too.
She stood staring out the window watching Chloe approach the horse outside. She smiled sadly, Chloe had loved riding when she was younger she wondered if Dom did too. God what a mess, she needed to find a way through this, for all of them.