“Ma, what are you doing here?” Carmen finally found the courage to ask her after minutes of remaining silent.

“I went by that coffee place you always go to. I thought I would find
you there. But I met a woman named Kit, she was a very nice lady, she
told me that you would be here.”

“How long were you waiting for?”

“That doesn’t matter Carmen.” A few moments had passed again and when Carmen was about to speak her mom had cut her off.
“I came here because I’m going to visit your step father.”
Carmen’s heart remained beating steady until the few words that left
her mother’s lips after.
“..And I want you to come.” Carmen brought her hands to her face
and her mom got the idea but this wouldn’t stop her. Mercedes reached
over to hold her daughters hands and remove them from her face. She was
disappointed to find her daughters eyes welling with tears.
“Carmen, honey, it’ll be ok I promise.”

“No ma, I cant go. You know me and him don’t get along.” Carmen was
trying her best not to her hurt her mothers feelings but she knew her
mom wasn’t trying to say sorry.

“And plus Shane doesn’t mind me here.”
“Shane, the same Shane?” Carmen simply continued looking at her shoes.

“Carmen” No answer but every time her mother said her name something
in her gut twitched. Her mom got up to leave and this hurt more than
Carmen expected.

“ma” Mercedes continued walking.

“I’ll go, I’ll go.” Mercedes turned and smiled, then continued walking to her car.

After her mom left she sat on the steps
thinking of the days ahead that would be faced with what ever strength
she had left. She heard footsteps by her side and knew right away it
was Shane. She sat beside her, with an arm extending around for
comfort, rocking slowly side to side.
“Hey.”

“Hey Shane.” Carmen still looked at her shoes, wiping away the tears that her mother had caused.

“I have to go away for a little bit.” Shane stopped rocking and looked at Carmen. She turned to face her girlfriend.
“I have to go see my step dad.”

“Oh that isn’t so bad, I thought it woulda’ been a long time. How long are you thinking?”
“Maybe two-three days at the most. He lives out of town and mom says we’re leaving tomorrow.”