“I feel like its to late to change.” Bette said.

“No it’s not” Jess said standing in the doorway.

“Oh baby I am so sorry.” Bette said hugging Jess tightly.

“Please mom I can’t breathe.” Jess said.

“Sorry.” She said.

“Come sit with us please.” Bette said.

“Why?” Jess asked.

“So we can talk.” Tina said.

“No what you mean is so you can talk and I can listen. No thanks I have enough of that for awhile.” Jess said

“We didn’t mean to do that.” Bette said.

“That’s just it you never mean to, but you always do. You say you want to talk and know what is going on in my life, but when there is something I want to talk to you guys about you never listen. Do you guys actually remember the last time we had a real conversation?” Jess asked.

Silence filled the room.

“We haven’t had a real conversation in years.” Jess said.

“No we had one when we talked about Laurie.” Bette said.

“No that was a lecture you and Mama did all the talking and I did all the listening. What I meant when I said it not to late for you both to change I didn’t mean with me. I meant with them.” Jess said she handed a picture that was taken at the ranch the previous weekend.

“Why can’t we change with you?” Tina asked.

“Because you can’t. I think you should take that job Mama. I really do. It is everything you have worked for. And Mom the dean position you love it. I have seen the way you look when enlighten some students life by teaching them. Just don’t let them fall into the background. You think you know them but you don’t” Jess said she started to leave.

“What do you mean?” Tina asked.

“I meant exactly what I said. Did you know that Ian wants to learn equestrian that’s all he talks about? How about that teddy loves to read but he pretends that he doesn’t because he does not like to stand out. Do you know why Angelica cries when you try to put her down on the floor to play? Its because she is afraid you are going to leave and not come back. You guys have always said I have some kind of special bond with them that you don’t. That’s not entirely true I just listen. You both love to talk have you ever just sat and listened to Ian and Teddy talk. Let them talk to you and you listen for a change.” Jess said. She bent down and picked up her duffel bag.

“Where are you going?” Bette asked.

“I am going to stay with Al and Lilly for awhile. They already said I could.” Jess said.

“I don’t think so.” Bette said.

“Let me go. I need to get out for awhile. I need to think I can’t do that here.” She started towards the front door.

“Jess I said NO!” Bette said.

“No Bette let her go. She is right.” Tina said stopping Bette from chasing after Jess. Only after Jess pulled off did Tina let go of Bette.

“How could you do that just let her go?” Bette said loudly.

“Because Bette. She stood her and told us what was going on not only with her but with all of our kids. She is right we all need to change. Don’t you see Jess has been raising Ian and Teddy since they were born. We just kind of went with the flow. And then Angelica just fell in with the groove. When we asked her to stop she tried but they wouldn’t let her. When they had nightmares they went upstairs first and she would bring them to our door and make them come in here to us.” Tina said.

“I can’t let her go.” Bette said.

“You have to Bette. I don’t want to let her go either, but you know she is right.” Tina said.

“I know It’s just….” Bette sat back down on the bed.

“I can’t believe we screwed everything up so bad.” Tina said.

“T we have to fix it.” Bette said still holding the picture.

“We will. We have to.” Tina said.