"Good morning!" Reese said, sitting back on the bed with her phone to her ear.
"Good night…" said the sleepy voice at the other end of the line. "You are not very good with this time difference."
"Sorry Maggie. I just really need to talk to someone. I can call back."
"No… I'm awake now. So how are things? Are you still the bad guy?"
"It's tense. I mean the girls are bearing up well… We had movie night last night. The kids were laughing… I didn't think that would happen so fast…"
"That's a good thing isn't it?"
Reese pulled an unhappy face.
"It's just I'm not really sure why I'm here."
"You wanted to be there for your girls. If Bianca is gone they are your responsibility, especially if their only other family isn't there."
"But this was only supposed to be a quick visit. Kendall and Jackson are still out looking for clues about Bianca and Erica's disappearance. I can't wait for ever for them to come home."
"Hey you'll do the right thing."
"Yeah, but the girls don't need me. They already have a mama, and she takes care of them better than I ever could."
"Marissa…" said Maggie, with a sigh at the other end of the phone. "You weren't sure she would want to take care of two girls she wasn't related to, especially if she was grieving."
"I was wrong."
"…Told you so."
"I know. She's just such a natural with them. And the weird thing is that I'm not jealous. Marissa has been more than hospitable to me. She has included me in everything and I must be an unwelcome addition to an already traumatised household… I think she is trying to make thing easier for the girls." Reese sighed. "But it isn't any easier for me. I haven't told them I got to fly back to Paris in four weeks. What am I going to do? Miranda was very quiet when I first arrived but she's beginning to open up to me. I got to collect her from her visit with Dr Stanhope… her shrink on Saturday. We talked, it was nice. She's more relaxed now. But Gabby yesterday… I was taking the kids to the park…"
"What about Gabby..?"
"She had a huge tantrum."
"Oh dear."
"She didn't want to put her hat on." explained Reese. "She just screamed. I thought she was going to be sick. I swear she almost turned purple. I didn't have a clue what to do. Marissa just walked in and picked her up and sat her on the naughty step until she calmed down. Turns out I was trying to put the wrong hat on. She wanted the panda one not the pink one."
"So you are a little out of practice with the kids. It's understandable."
"Marissa did banana and choc chip pancakes for breakfast this morning and she makes them to whatever animal the kid's requested. Gabby likes Bunny pancakes and Miranda likes ponies. I just don't think I can do what Marissa can do."
"You are going to have to when you bring them home." said Maggie. There was a tense silent from Reese's end. "Are you bringing them home?"
"I can't break up this family. Miranda and Gabby are settled here; they have a brother they adore; a mother who knows just how to take care of them. Even with Bianca gone they are still happy."
"So what are you planning?"
"I think I have to do what I came here to do." said Reese. "I have to do the right thing for my girls…"
…
Reese found Marissa in the den tidying up after last night's movie marathon. Ryan had come by to pick up Miranda and AJ for school as he was already dropping off Emma and Spike. Camilla had then come and collected Gabby so she could drop her off at the Miranda centre on her way to work.
Reese wanted to feel useful.
"Can I help?" she asked.
Marissa looked up and pointed to a bowl of half eaten popcorn secreted by the arm chair.
"Could you take that through to the kitchen?"
"Sure." said Reese.
Marissa followed with a hand full of glasses.
Reese emptied the stale popcorn into the trash and handed the bowl to Marissa as she loaded the dishwasher.
"You're a natural." she said.
Marissa gave her a bit of a double take between Reese and the dirty dishes.
"With the kids I mean." said Reese to clarify.
"They make it easy." insisted Marissa.
Reese knew that wasn't right. With everything the kids had been through Marissa seemed to always know what do or say.
"We need to talk." Reese said, taking a perch on the counter stool. "Have you heard anything more from the coroner?"
"I know what you know." said Marissa. "Kendall says to just ignore it all. She and Jackson aren't giving up until they find Erica and Bianca alive and well! She still thinks this is a fake."
"And have you worked out what you are going to do if it isn't?"
Marissa sighed and stared at Reese.
"I guess that all depends on you."
"Did you and Bianca ever talk about adoption?" said Reese in all seriousness. "I had hoped to talk to Kendall or Jackson about custody but now I see the perfect solution. The girls need you. I would be happy to support your application."
Marissa sat down in shock.
"I thought you were going to take them away!"
"And I thought you would be struggling with losing Bianca and having to cope with three kids, I was wrong." said Reese with an ironic smile. "I'm their legal guardian sure, but really, if I'm honest, I'm not their mama now. That job is already yours."
Marissa started to cry.
"Oh god!" exclaimed Reese and put a comforting hand on Marissa's shoulder. "What did I say?" I thought you'd be pleased."
"Can I do that? Adopt the girls?" Marissa asked. "Wouldn't that just be accepting that Bianca is dead? But I don't feel it… it doesn't feel like she's gone."
"This won't be giving up." said Reese trying to be comforting. "This will be you keeping her family safe. We both know that is what Bianca would want."
…