She walks past me and I know she is angry. I look over at Alice who rocks on her heels and makes a whistling sound.

Carmen: I didn’t mean it like that.

Alice: I know but it sound like you’re not happy that Shane and Shane Jr. have a bound that is bigger than the one you have.

Carmen: It’s not that it’s just I am her mother, I’m the one that carried her for nine months; I should be the one she feels closest to. It’s like I look at my daughter and I don’t see anything in her that links her to me and it’s hard.

Shane: Would you rather me be the one without a link to our child?

I didn’t realize that Shane was listening in and I feel embarrassed.

Alice: Well I am going to go before things get ugly later Shane Jr.

Shane: It’s Shanna Alice you’re going to make her confused on what her name is.

Alice: You mom dykes take parenting to a new level. Live and let live ok. You never know she may grow up to like Shane Jr. Jeez give the kid some choices.

Shanna makes gurgling sounds in Shane’s arms as if she agrees.

Alice: You tell them lil Yoda. I am going to pick up Shay for you guys so yall can talk, bye.

Shane sits down at the kitchen table and rest Shanna on her lap. They look so perfect together.

Shane: We need to talk about this ok.

Carmen: There is nothing to talk about Shane I was just being silly of course I am happy that you have a bond with your daughter.

Shane: She’s your daughter to Carmen. We promised that after Shanna was born that we would always be honest to each other so tell me how you feel.

I take a deep breath. I don’t want her to hate me but I need to explain.

Carmen: I love our family, I really do very much and I am so happy but it’s like when I am out with our children nobody see them as mine. Nobody can see the link and either assume that I am their stepmother which I am in Shay’s case or that they are adopted or even worse that I am a baby sitter. I didn’t expect it to affect me that much but sometimes it does.