Chapter one…

“What the fuck am I doing?”

Bette asked herself on the way down the dark highway. She didn’t know where she was going but she knew she had made a big mistake.

 Ring! Ring! Ring!

Bette’s phone rings repeated. She knew it was Tina calling and ignored the call putting the phone on vibrate once the ringing ended.

“This is fucking insane.”

About two miles down, Bette spots a state trooper vehicle. She wondered had Tina called and reported their daughter missing. Thoughts of explaining herself in court made her worry. So, she decides to ignore the truth and proceed past the vehicle at a reasonable speed with making sure she appeared to have done nothing wrong.

Woop! Woop!

The state trooper sounds his air horn.

“Fuck!”

Bette screams at the top of her lungs scaring the shit out of Angie.

“Don’t cry. Please don’t cry.”

Bette begs her daughter. The brunette pulls over to the side and takes out her license and registration. The cop gets out his vehicle and approaches the driver side window…with a flashlight.

Bette covers her eyes, keeping the protected from the light and rolls her window down. And, Angelica continues top cry.

Bette couldn’t help but sooth her with a gentle rub to her stomach.

“Turn around and place your hands on the steering wheel please?”

The trooper asked Bette. Bette turns and faces him with a puzzled look on her face. She was confused as to why he stopped her in the first place.

“I was just—“

“I saw what you were doing, but all I know is you could have been stashing something.”

Bette was shocked. Was he accusing her of stashing drugs in her daughter’s car seat? This was absurd.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Don’t get smart with me lady, ok. I’m not the one who was pulled over.”

Bette sighs and looks away. While the officer viewed her license and registration she thought of Tina and Henry. The sight of them two made her sick to her stomach. The actual sight of them doing it made her gag. And this caught the officer’s attention.

“Is there a problem ma’am?”

“No. I just…I just want to get home. It’s late and it freaks me out to drive home at night.”

The tension in Bette’s neck and back bothered her. She couldn’t wait to be released with a warning or a ticket. She just wanted to get the fuck out of Vancouver and away from Tina.

“I hear you. My wife complains about the same matter all the time.”

“You’re married?”

Bette couldn’t believe this. He was such an asshole.

“I am. I’ve been married for fifteen years.”

“Great. Do you mind telling me why I’ve been stopped?”

“Certainly. I received a call from dispatching stating that a woman driving a car like this took a baby away from a hotel in the middle of the night.”

Bette inhales deep and starts to sweat.

“You can’t be serious. Why would I do such a thing?”

She chuckles and brushes it off her shoulder.

“I didn’t say you did. Are you guilty of something?”

“No. I’m not guilty of a thing.”

The officer breaks contact from the brunette and points the flashlight toward Angie. She smiles at the officer and this makes him smile.

“She’s adorable. She looks like you.”

Bette smiles. He was the first person that had said that. She felt good about that instant and could feel better once she was released.

“Thanks. I’m blessed to have her.”

Angie coos and claps her hands together.

“Alright. Look, your tail lights out. Get that fixed.”

“I will. Thanks, a lot. I appreciate this.”

“You’re welcome. Have a nice night ma’am. And, be safe, ok.”

“Thanks.”

The officer gives Bette her things and she drives off.

“That was close Angie.”

The brunette continues down the road.