Erica and Jackson were sat at the breakfast table; things were a little tense between them after last night.
"So what are your plans for today?" Jackson asked taking a sip of his coffee.
"Oh, just running a few errands."
Jackson put down his cup.
"I hope one of those is apologising to Bianca and Marissa."
Erica sighed.
"I will try and speak to Bianca today, I promise." she said, giving him an open smile.
"And Marissa?"
Erica looked a lot less receptive to that suggestion.
"You know, if you really got to know her before judging her, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised." said Jackson. "She is a hard working, loyal, dedicated young woman, and I personally think she is perfect for Bianca."
"Except she was straight!" said Erica.
"And now she isn't. She has done nothing, as far as I'm aware, to cause any doubt about her commitment to Bianca. I know why you are doing this, Erica. You were proved right when you went all out in helping Kendall save her business but at the exact same time you were neglecting your other daughter. It's not surprising she and Marissa have come to rely on each other so much. Only now everything has calmed down at Fusion you are beginning to realise what you missed. You are feeling left out. Well you're charging in too late and for all the wrong reasons. I'm sure all Bianca really wants from you is to give your blessing."
Erica looked across the table at Jackson. He really didn't understand.
"I'll think about what you said." said Erica meekly, but she didn't say she'd do anything about it!
…
Erica arrived at the Miranda centre after a little shopping expedition to MODEs, Bianca's favourite boutique, in order to buy an apology present.
She met the ever efficient Muriel hurrying down the corridor with an arm full of box files.
"Miss Kane, are you here to see Bianca…" she asked, "She's actually got an important phone conference on at the moment."
"It's all right, I can wait." said Erica.
"You can use my office if you'd like?" suggested Muriel, using her head to point because her arms were full.
"Thank you." said Erica, but instead of stepping into the office she continued along the corridor. If she had a while to wait she could pop down to the crèche and visit Gabby.
Before she turned the corner she could hear the shrill sound of children singing. One very loud, off-key voice made her smile. It looked like she could say hello to her former housemate, little Ayesha, in the same visit.
Erica stood in the doorway watching as the child-minders had the kids all singing along and doing the actions for 'The wheels on the bus…'
One of the minders, Sally Purnell, who Erica had met a few times through her charity work with the centre, gave her a nod and when the song was over let Gabby know she had a visitor.
Gabby and Ayesha ran up together with a little boy Erica didn't recognise. The two girls were so excited at the sight of Erica they were giving each other hugs.
"E-wica!" cried Gabby. "You'll never guess what happened!"
Erica crouched down to their level.
"What happened?"
"We had a party at bw-eakfast!"
"You did?"
"M'anda stayed in her bed all night!" Gabby exclaimed with delight.
"I stay in my bed every night and I don't get a party." said the boy.
"Timmy, do you have bad dw-eams every night?" Gabby asked with her hands on her hips, annoyed at his interruption.
"No."
"Then be quiet!" she said crossly.
"Gabby!" exclaimed Erica surprised at her grand-daughter's outburst.
"M'anda is really scared all the time now but then she was really brave, and that is why we had a party!" said Gabby, partly to Timmy and partly to explain it to Erica.
"Are you worried about your sister?" Erica said, thinking once again that she should have known about the nightmares from the start; if only Marissa hadn't been there to block her maybe everything would have been fixed already!
Gabby nodded and then grinned at Ayesha.
"We are going to make her an extra special pizza tonight to make her happy. Mamma is coming to pick us both up."
"I thought your mommy was taking Miranda to the doctor's tonight?"
"Not mommy… mamma!"
"Marissa." said Erica, suddenly understanding.
Gabby nodded.
"She's letting us cook. We are going to give the pizza a smiley face so M'anda will smile too!"
Ayesha grinned enthusiastically in agreement.
"I'm having sausages tonight." said Timmy, not wanting to be left out.
Gabby, however was too distracted by something over Erica's left shoulder to comment. Bianca was stood in the doorway watching the scene.
"Mommy!" she exclaimed, running forward for a hug. "I was telling E-wica about our b-weakfast party!"
"That's nice." said Bianca, but the look she was giving her mother clearly showed she wasn't happy to see her.
…
They said their goodbyes to the kids and then Bianca and Erica set off back along the corridor. Erica couldn't help but notice her daughter's stiff stride on her crutches.
"How is your leg after last night?" Erica asked, remembering her fall.
"My leg is fine!" said Bianca coolly, "Muriel said you were here. I'm not sure why. I thought everything was said last night!"
"I came to say I'm sorry if I upset you." said Erica, holding out the little shopping bag that held her gift.
Bianca didn't take it.
"If you upset me?" she gasped incredulously. "You couldn't be civil to Krystal for one night… one night. And then you turned on my girlfriend! Why!"
"I'm trying to keep you safe, that's all! I want to look out for my girls. And I want to help with Miranda. Whatever you need!"
"What I need is for you to leave."
"Bianca. I'm here because I want to make you understand why I said what I said…" she pleaded proffering her gift bag again.
"No, I don't want to see you. And a… what is it, another silk scarf?"
Erica pulled back the bag, how did Bianca guess?
"…A silk scarf isn't going to fix this, mom. And I will never ever understand how you could say those things! Do you have any idea how hurtful your behaviour was last night! I don't want to see you and I don't want you around my girls either. I have a partner and a family that means everything to me and if you can't accept that, then you can't be a part of it!"
"You don't mean that!" said Erica with a disbelieving laugh.
Bianca glared right back at her mother.
"Oh I do! Now are you going to leave or do I have to call security?"
"Bianca!" Erica cried out in shock, but her daughter just turned and walked away.
…