Like Slow Sweet Molasses by Unknown

answered with an inquisitive lift to her brow. “Why?”
    Her
mother hesitated. “Just curious how congenial you were towards him.”
    “Yes,
Mama. I’ve already flogged him with my forked tongue.”
    “You’ve
got to get over that, Cookie.”
    “Maybe,
I don’t want to. It reminds me to be on my guard. If I’m on guard there’s less
chance of that ever happening to me again.”
    She
was angry, now.
    Connie
perceiving the shift in topics simply by the rise and fall of Angela’s chest,
courageously jumped in, feet first. “Don’t continue to punish your father for
my mistake.”
    “You
both were in cahoots…co-conspirators…perpetrators of this great hoax.” Facing
the window once more, she unknowingly took stock of every move made by Chance.
    “He’s
the best daddy you could ever have.”
    “I’m
a bastard child,” she practically shouted, turning in time to witness her
mother recoil like she’d slapped her straight across the mouth.
    Outside,
Chance’s head cocked.
    Connie
fought to maintain her composure. “Your father’s downstairs probably listening
to you whine right now.”
    “Whine?”
Angela asked, beleaguered.
    “Whine.
Lee may not be your biological father, Angela. Nevertheless, he loves you like
he is. Do you doubt that?” Connie’s temper manifested in the twisting of the
wedding band on her left hand. “Well?” she pushed, her voice louder than she
realized.
    “I
had to find out, not from you as I should have, but from someone representing
the man from whose loins I sprang. And not because of any interest in me or how
I’ve faired over the years in his absence, but, in a solicitation for medical
help.”
    “Answer
the question, Angela. Is there any doubt in your mind that Lee Munso cares for
you as if you were his biological offspring?”
    “That’s
beside the point, Mama,” she cried.
    “No,
darling girl. That’s exactly the point.” Connie reached to take Angela’s hands,
fearful of rejection. Angela let her lead her to the bed where they sat side by
side. “You and I were a family all to ourselves until I met and fell in love
with Lee. He was a little older and lots wiser than I committing to have the
patience of Job as I learned how serious he was about loving me. I’d trusted
before and received burns for my trouble, promising never to let anyone have
free access to my heart ever again. No one but you, that is.”
    Their
surroundings were quiet enough for them to hear the chimes jingling and Angela
to recognize the different musical notes as they rang.
    “You
were almost two when we got married. I had my reservations when Lee started
talking about adopting you. I couldn’t believe this man, whom I sincerely
loved, but reserved a portion of myself just in case things didn’t work out,
wanted to take on another responsibility of being your legal father.”
    Angela
sat in silence, her heart getting full on the details.
    “He
was serious.” She stroked the hand that grew from a child to the beautiful,
intelligent, hardworking woman Angela became. “You deserved a mother and father
similar to other children in two-parent households. I loved you. Lee loved you.
I did what was best for you.”
    “I
love both of you, too,” Angela admitted. “Only…why not tell me I was adopted?
Why let me get blindsided by a stranger, Mama?”
    Both
women held their tears in check. Connie went on with her story.
    “That
should never have happened. I do apologize, Angela. Never in a million years
did I expect that to happen. Your biological father and I were students at the
university on the verge of graduation when I realized I was pregnant.” Her eyes
sought forgiveness for what she was about to reveal. “I never told him about
you although I believe he suspected. Our careers sent us on separate paths and
the journeys of life kept us from reconnecting. Until we ran upon each other a
few years ago where we had a cordial exchange and parted like the strangers