He lifted Tina into the car seat, besides a smiling Bette and strapped in her.

James: And how are you Bette?

Bette: I’m great James. Mommy, can Tina come over after school? We’re going to paint!

Ann smiled.

Ann: If James is fine with it then yes.

The two girls smiled, giving their puppy eyes to James.

Tina: Daddy, Daddy, please? Please!

James: Okay that’s fine with me. I’ll pick them both up from school since you’ve got them in the morning. Thanks again Ann.

He leant over to kiss Tina on her cheek.

They two girls sat in their car seats and held hands smiling at each other.

James: You wanted to see me?

Anne was sitting at her desk. It’s been over month that James was working for her. Bette and Tina have been inseparable, Tina came over to the gallery after school with Bette everyday and they’d do homework and paint all day till closing.

Ann: Yes, James please take a seat.

James was nervous. He tried to think of what might’ve put him in this stop. Did he forget to do something? He chewed the sides of his cheeks, nervously.

Ann: (chuckles) relax James. You didn’t do anything wrong. Wait, have you done something wrong? She teased.

James: Nooo!  I mean no I haven’t. I can’t think of anything. Haha oh you were just messing.. heh.. he rubbed the back of his neck.

Ann: Actually I wanted to speak to you about something. If it’s okay, I’d like to know more about Tina. I can’t seem to understand… Where is her mother?

Bette had told Ann the other day that Tina had said she doesn’t know who her mother is and that she doesn’t know if she even has one. Bette was confused and asked her mother ‘don’t all children have mothers?’ Ann at first didn’t know what to say but said that James was like the mother and father to Tina, like she was to Bette.  Bette had never met her father, she knew he existed though, because her mother would tell her that he loved her very much, but had gotten sick and went to heaven.

James: Oh. Tina.

James wasn’t comfortable talking about Tina.  He hadn’t like to be questioned about her but something about Ann’s demeanor was comforting.