Bette:

As I sit here with Tina on the sofa watching Angie open all zillion of her presents under the tree, I can’t help but wonder how in the hell someone got in here and how come we didn’t hear anything. Surely they would have stepped on the tacks on the floor and depending on the thickness of the bottom of their shoes they would have had a little flesh penetrated. But I’m done wondering about that because just to see the happiness on Angie’s face is worth enduring all the shit that Secret Santa loon had me doing.

”Bette? Did you do this?” Tina asked me in such a loving tone it almost made me cry.

”No Tee. I didn’t. I was thinking maybe you did. But it really doesn’t matter because seeing Angie so happy right now and watching her face light up when she’s opening up her gifts is priceless”

Tina grabs my hand and pulls me into her. I sigh as I rest my head into her chest. It feels so good to be in her arms.

”Bette? I want to talk to you about something.” Tina says and I grimace at what she is about to say.

”Yeah” I reluctantly spit out.

”I am ready to go home” Tina says and I sigh. I guess being here with me is too much for her as she is not ready to commit to me and she is ready to go back to Vancouver. I remain calm as I begin to speak.

”Ok Tee. I understand. I’m not sure what your flight info is like but I’m sure you and Angie can get a flight out tomorrow or the next day to Vancouver. That moron Santa gave me a one way ticket so I’ll just have to get my flight booked back to L.A.” I say and sigh as Tina pushes me away from her for me to look her in the eyes.

”No Bette. You don’t understand. I want to go home to L.A…I want to be with you and the family for New Years Eve.” Tina says and of course I’m a blubbering idiot as I let the tears fall.

She smiles and reaches over steadily wiping my tears away with her thumbs. I know we have alot to work on but just to hear her call L.A. home just melted my Scrooge heart and Bettenezer is now gone. Well until the next person pisses me off of course.

Angelica:

Ohhhh wow! You can see everything from up here. I lean forward which rocks the seat thingy we are in and I hear Mama let out a scream. I look over and see that her eyes are closed and she is holding on to the rail tightly.

”Sorry Mama” I say and she opens one eye.

”It’s ok baby. Mama is just a little afraid of heights” Mama answers and I’m like duh no kidding.

”Look Mama. You can see everything from up here.” I say and look over at her and she closes her eyes again.

”Uh huh. I’ll take your word for it Angie” Mama says and I giggle.

”I wish Mama B was here. I could have gone with her on this Ferris wheel thing and you could have stayed on the ground. But why are we just sitting here at the top?” I ask

”I would like to know the same thing but I too wish your Mama B was here. She will come with us next time ok? ” Mama says and finally we started moving.

”Ok..Oh we are moving Mama! Yay!” I clap and look over at Mama who still has her eyes closed.

I shake my head and lean back in the seat looking out at the mountains as we move back up to the top. I know Mama is scared so I grab her hand and squeeze it. She squeezes back but doesn’t say anything. I try not to move the seat so Mama won’t be more scared than she is now.

Then I feel Mama release my hand and put her arm around me pulling me close to her. That feels nice. Ever since I can remember it’s always been Mama and me. I always knew I looked different than Mama but she was my Mama and it didn’t matter until some kids were picking on me at pre-school saying I must be adopted because Mama was white and I was black.

It made me sad so when Mama picked me up that day she saw I had been crying and asked me what was wrong. I told her what the kids had said and she hugged me and promised she would tell me when we got home. She kept her promise. Mama always keeps her promises.

Angelica:

I finish my last carrot and I’m ready to go build a snowman now. It’s boring sitting here with Mama and Mama B. They don’t talk. They just look at each other. I roll my eyes as Mama B plays with her green beans. I will never get to build a snowman now that Mama B won’t hurry up and finish eating. I look across at Mama who is looking at Mama B and because she is looking at Mama B she hasn’t eaten her green beans either. Great! The snow will melt before I will ever get to build a snowman.

I don’t understand adults but I’m a kid so I’m not supposed to. I sigh and rest my head in my hand with my elbow on the table waiting for them to hurry up. I guess it’s up to me to get them talking because they sure can’t do it themselves.

”Can we go build the snowman now?” I ask as Mama and Mama B turn to look at me.

”We aren’t finished eating yet but since you are go put your plate in the sink and go get your warm coat out of the closet. I’ll be there to help you put it on in a few minutes” Mama said and I look at Mama B

”Mama B? Will you come build a snowman with me and Mama. Please?” I say giving my puppy dog face again.

She smiles and pinches my cheek. Geez. I thought maybe Mama B would be different but she is just like all the rest—A cheek pincher.

”Of course I will sweetie. I have built a few snowmen in my day when I lived in Philadelphia” She answers and Mama starts laughing.

”Bette? You did not just say you used to build snowmen. I’m sorry but I can’t picture Bette Porter out in the snow building a snowman. That would be too much fun. You wouldn’t even build a sand castle with me when I asked you to on our second date at the beach” Mama said laughing at Mama B. I start laughing at Mama B giving Mama a look like the Wicked Witch in the Wizard Of Oz.

Now that they are going to talk, I smile and get up putting my dish in the sink and run through the door leading into the bedroom to get my coat out of the bedroom closet.

Tina:

Oh God. I’m not prepared for this. I can’t think. I can’t breathe. I can’t speak. I’m staring at the love of my life and she wants me to answer her. Her face is begging me to explain Angie’s calling her Mama B. God I can’t help but stare at her. She is still so beautiful but she also looks disconnected from herself. Not the look of someone who has been happy all of these years. My mouth is still open and I can’t even close it. Angie is now squeezing Bette’s hand and I’m scared if I don’t say something fast Angie will.

And then it happened.

Angie crawled into Bette’s lap and wrapped her little arms around Bette’s neck. My heart melted but then I see Bette looking at me still wanting an explanation as this has just hit her out of left field and it’s all my fault. I try to speak, move, anything but my body won’t let me. Angie takes over where I should step in and I can only watch.

Angelica:

I can’t believe I’m seeing my Mama B. Mama told me about her and that I would see her one day and showed me a picture but I didn’t recognize her when I got in the car. I am so happy right now. If Santa didn’t get me any other presents this is the best one he could give me. I love hugging her. She feels so nice and she smells like flowers. I pull back to look at her face.

”You are my Mama B. And I’m Angelica” I say and she turns away from looking at Mama and looks at me.

”Hi Angelica. You are a pretty girl. You have your Mama’s nose and her lips” Mama B says to me and I giggle as I rub my nose against hers.

She laughs and turns to look at Mama again who is still sitting there with her mouth open. I roll my eyes. She really needs to close it because I heard flies can get in there and if she swallows one then she will turn into a fly. I don’t want my Mama to be a fly. I may swat her accidentally not meaning to.

Bette:

After taking my mugshot for my driver’s license and waiting on them to finally spit the damn thing out, I head back out to the limo and it’s off to the airport . I call Kit and tell her I was headed to the eternal flames of hell for my sins and her only response was and I quote ”Go and burn thyself Baby Sis”. I hang up shaking my head. ”Glad she cares” I mumble as I fidget and look to see a mini bar and my eyes light up.”Ooohhhh” I happily cheer as I eagerly jump off the seat onto my knees and open up the bar to find nothing but water and diet drinks. ”Fuck” I mumble and I see a note with my name on it. I roll my eyes and grab it off the top shelf to read it.

Expecting booze were you? Not for you missy! —Your Secret Santa

In response to my Secret Santa, I gave a nonverbal good ole fashioned middle finger salute for my thoughts on the matter and crumbled up the note tossing it in the trash receptacle in the limo. I close the door back to the bar and take my seat again frustrated as hell and needing just a little bit of spirits to wet my whistle.

The limo finally pulls up to the terminal and the driver opens my door assisting me out. I look around and sigh. I hate flying. Dealing with the crowds and the snot infested children wiping their grubby hands all over everything so when you go behind them you can pick up whatever germ they left. I’m glad I remembered my sanitary wipes as I am an absolute germ freak. I can’t see them but they aren’t safe around me.

As I watch the limo drive away, I turn and head to the ticket counter and hand them my new drivers license. I wait while the ticket agent furiously types on her keyboard. I mean how in the hell can they type so damn fast. It’s like she dipped her fingers into some turbo booster or something. She finally stops and looks at me.

”So? Ms. Porter we have a one way flight to Colorado Springs, Colorado departing at 1pm. How many bags will you be checking in?” She says and I gasp.