One week later…

“As we’ve discussed before,” AJ said, tapping his fingers on the table, “it’s a rather expensive procedure. Additionally, there’s no guarantee that it will be successful. Many people have needed multiple--”

“--Cut the professional talk,” Ophelia interrupted. “We’re friends, AJ. Talk to me in nice, simple English. Is it possible?”

“You know as well as anyone else that it’s medically possible,” AJ responded. “That’s not the point. It’s costly and time-consuming. Just finding someone willing to--”

“--Yeah, you’ve told me that plenty of times. Money isn’t an issue for us,” Ophelia said. Cy nodded, agreeing with Ophelia.

“And there’s a lot of possible complications to worry about. It’s not as simple as just popping into the doctor’s office and handing him some money.”

“Look, AJ, I know that much. I’m just asking about whether or not it’s feasible. Cy and I have discussed this for quite a while, and we think it’s a good option for us. Unless, of course, you don’t think it’s feasible or possible.”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just--”

Just then, Ophelia’s cell phone rang. She smiled apologetically and answered it. “Yeah, hello?” She frowned. “Tacita, what do you want from me now?… Mmm… yeah… well, you said you wanted to be responsible and-- …Yeah, well, that’s what being an adult--” Ophelia sighed loudly. “Fine, fine,” she snapped. “Yeah, I’ll meet you there. Yeah. Same to you.” She hung up and shoved her phone back into her pocket.

“What was that about?” Cy asked.

“Tacita’s been having a lot of problems with Lisa, and she wants to have a talk with me.”

“Seriously?” AJ responded.

“Yeah. I’ll be back in about an hour or so. Cy, you discuss everything with AJ and figure out what we’re going to do. I trust your decision in this.”


Ophelia eased herself out of her car and began making her way across the street to the park. In the process, she was nearly hit by a speeding car.

“Hey,” she yelled out at the driver. “Watch where you’re going, you jerk! You almost hit me!”

“Should have watched where you were going!” the driver yelled back in response.

Scowling, Ophelia hurried over to where Tacita was waiting. Lisa played nearby.

“Well, I’m here,” Ophelia announced, frowning. “What do you want?”

Hearing her voice, Lisa raced over. “Ms. Lia!” she squealed gleefully, hugging Ophelia tightly. “I missed you so much!”

“I bet you did, sweetheart. I missed you, too,” Ophelia responded, smiling. “Have you been giving your mom trouble?”

“Yes, she has,” Tacita snapped, pulling out a small stack of papers out of her purse. “Ophelia, we have a lot to discuss.”

Ophelia sighed, then to Lisa, she said softly, “Go play over there, sweetie. We can talk later.”

“Okay,” Lisa responded reluctantly.

Ophelia watched Lisa walk despondently over to the nearby swing set. Then, to Tacita, she said, “So, what did you want to discuss?”

“Lisa’s grades have been going down the drain since she’s moved in with me. Look!” Tacita replied, shoving the papers into Ophelia’s hands. “She’s gone from A’s and B’s to getting C’s and D’s. And her teacher has called me in multiple times for conferences, and--”

“--You said you wanted to do the adult thing and take care of Lisa,” Ophelia interrupted. “Well, guess what, kids aren’t perfect. They don’t act exactly the way you want them to.”

“Why is she suddenly becoming such a problem now?”

“Maybe because you’re too lenient?” Ophelia asked, scanning the teacher reports. “Falling asleep in class, disruptive behaviors, forgetting various supplies…” Ophelia looked up at Tacita. “I bet you’ve been letting her stay up late, eat all sorts of junk food…”

“That’s… I just want her to like me. And--”


Tacita, hearing an all too familiar voice, looked over to where Lisa was playing. She saw Lisa conversing with the last person she wanted her interacting with. Tacita stormed over.

“…a looker like your mom,” she heard Mark saying to Lisa.

“Thanks!” Lisa giggled.

Glaring, Tacita yelled, “You get away from her!”

Mark looked over at her, surprised by her outburst. “Hi, Tacita,” he greeted her. “Long time no see.”

“Not long enough in my book, Mark,” Tacita snapped, scowling. “Lisa, you come here immediately. We’re going home.” She grabbed Lisa’s arm and tugged her closer. “And as for you,” she added, giving Mark the look of death, “are there no depths you won’t sink to?”

“My God,” Mark grumbled, “we were just talking. Can’t a guy talk to his, y’know, his old friend’s daughter? I mean, what do you think I am?”

“I know what you are, Mark. I’ve know what you were for years, and don’t you ever forget that.” She turned to Lisa and directed, “Get in the car, Lisa!”

“Tacita,” Mark pleaded, “listen, I thought we’d settled all that a long time ago.”

“No, things like that don’t ever get settled. Not completely.”

Ophelia rushed over. “Look, this is getting ridiculous. Tacita, you need to go home and chill out. There’s no reason for you to get so upset with him…” A strange thought manifested in her head. “Unless…” Her eyes widened.

“Ophelia, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you need to stop,” Tacita snapped. She tugged at Lisa’s arm again. “Come on, Lisa. We’re going home.”

“No!” Lisa screamed. “I’m not! I’m not getting in that car! I want to live with Ms. Lia and Ms. C again!”

“Damn it, Lisa, I am your mother, and--”

“You’re not my mom!” Lisa screamed. She yanked her arm free and bolted for the street.

Tacita stared in shock and horror. A car was speeding toward the upset child. She could not move. Ophelia, however, was not frozen with shock. She raced after Lisa and yanked her back from the street at the last second.


“You idiot! Watch your damn speed!” Ophelia screamed at the driver. “You almost hit a kid!”

“Well, she shouldn’t have run out into the road!” came the angry response.

“There’s a reason there’s a speed limit posted,” Ophelia snapped, but she was no longer focused on the driver. She felt Lisa for any injuries. “Are you okay?” she whispered to the frightened child.

Tacita and Mark hurried over. Lisa clung to Ophelia tightly and sobbed, “Mommy… Mommy…”

Ophelia stroked Lisa’s hair and back, trying to comfort the girl. Tacita stared at them for a long time, then looked over at Mark. With a sigh, she said, “Lisa, you should probably go home with Ms. Lia. I have something really important to take care of.”


Tacita shakily sat down, her head spinning. The past few weeks had been hectic, but now… now, she knew what she had to do. She uncapped the bottle of whiskey and took a deep gulp of it. Ignoring the burning sensation in her throat, she rummaged through the desk, seeking out the paperwork that she had been given so many years ago.

“Where?” she muttered to herself, chewing on her lower lip. “Where did I put that stupid thing?”

Finally, at the very back of the very last drawer, she found the small stack of paperwork. With a sigh, she looked it over, nodding to herself. “It has to be done,” she muttered to herself. “There’s no way I can handle this.”

She dropped the papers onto the desk, then picked up her phone. She rapidly dialed a phone number and waited for a response. One finally came.

“Hey, this is Tacita. Yeah… yeah, it’s been a while, I know. Look, I have some paperwork I want you to look over. It’s really important, so… maybe today? Yeah? That’s just fine, then. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

She shut the phone and pocketed it, sighing. If I had only known… she thought to herself. But that thing… that’s the straw that broke the camel’s back. This is the only solution I can think of…

Tacita’s phone rang, and she answered it. “Yeah?”

“Tacita, this is Ellie from Gaines and Family Law,” came the response. “We’ve arranged a meeting with George. What is it that you wanted us to look over?”

Tacita took a deep breath, then replied slowly, “Adoption papers.”