AN Sometimes you don't get to see a side of someone until you see them around someone else. Sorry for the wait.

Motherhood

Carol's nervousness was incredible for Therese to witness. It pulled at her heart, but she didn't dare go near her. Carol couldn't seem to sit still, and yet she was completely silent. She would pop in and out of rooms unannounced, and then float back out like a ghost.

The night before, she had talked to Therese with an honesty that was refreshing. She expressed her fears, her concerns, and even her excitement. When the sun rose, though, Carol was quiet and steered clear of Therese. She had cleaned obsessively all morning and spent a long time getting ready. There was no music, no television, and no conversation. When the doorbell finally rang, Therese crept down the hall into their bedroom and waited.

"Mommy!" She heard Rindy yell the moment their front door opened. Then Carol's voice rang out and Therese knew she was lifting up Rindy and holding her close. Then there was Harge. His footsteps seemed to thump slowly into the apartment. The heavy footfalls sounded so unusual against their wood floor. There was only ever the tapping of women's heels or the padding of bare feet.

"It's nice, Carol." Therese could hear the insincerity in Harge's voice. She could picture his furrowed eyebrows and skeptical gaze.

"Thank you," Carol said.

Carol continued to chat with Rindy and Therese listened closely for Harge's parting words. When the door shut, she let go of her shoulders and breathed. She left the bedroom.

Carol was standing at their kitchen counter, leaning between Rindy's short legs that just barely hung off the edge. She looked up at Therese.

Rindy's little head whipped around and locked eyes with Therese. She started, but leaned into Carol and rested her forehead on her mother's chin.

"Rindy, you remember Therese, don't you angel?" Rindy nodded against Carol and she kissed her forehead.

Therese walked forward and extended her hand to the child. "It's nice to see you again, Rindy."

Rindy slid under Carol's chin, getting closer to her chest, but extended her little hand to meet Therese and gave it a squeeze.

"It's nice to see you too," Rindy said.

Therese could feel Carol looking at her and she interacted with Rindy.

"Mommy?" Rindy looked up at her her with a sudden smile and all at once the quiet meeting was over.

"What are we going to do today?"

Carol smiled wide. "Well sweet pea, whatever you want to do. You've still got all your christmas presents here, there's television, and your coloring book."

Rindy thought about it for a minute. She looked up at Carol, and then pulled down her head, bringing her little lips to her mother's ear. She whispered.

Therese watched as Carol closed her eyes, seeming to be lost in the feeling of being so close to her daughter for the first time in months. As Rindy whispered, Carol smiled and Therese was sure that that was a smile she wanted to stay forever.

Letting out a laugh, Carol pulled away and kissed Rindy's cheek. "Oh I have no doubt that Therese likes to, shall we ask her?" Rindy nodded.

"Therese, are you by any chance in to coloring?"

Therese smiled. "I am, actually."

The trio found themselves on the floor, shoeless and on their bellies, with crayons in their hands. Therese learned that as quiet as Rindy was, she had an easy sense of humor that no doubt had been influenced by Carol, but the way she delivered her lines was very much Abby. All of those afternoons together, Therese thought, had no doubt formed this little girl's existence. This didn't upset Therese, either. It was the most endearing part about Rindy; she was so much the women around her. Maybe one day Rindy would reflect a little bit of Therese as well.

"Mommy, you've stopped coloring. Are you bored or something?" There was the Abby snark that Therese was thinking about.

"No no, snowflake, I am just enjoying watching you."

"You're silly," Rindy said, very seriously.

Carol, on her hands and knees crawled towards Rindy. "Is that right?" Carol's eyes narrowed. Rindy was starting to giggle, preparing herself to back away from her mother. Carol crawled slowly, her eyes shining. "Is that what you think, little one? That I'm...silly?"

Therese had never seen Carol so playful before. It was always hard to imagine adults baby talking or playing until someone was to actually witness it first hand. It wasn't out of place, but it was something Therese had never been able to see before.

"Yes, I think you're silly," Rindy teased.

Carol launched forward, tickling Rindy as she squealed and begged her to stop. Little arms and legs moved in every direction but the little peanut was no match for her mother. Carol buried her face in Rindy's neck, laughing herself until she finally let up to let Rindy breathe. Propping herself on one elbow, she snuggled Rindy.

"You know who's the silliest, Rindy?"

"Who, Mommy?"

"Therese."

Rindy looked at Therese again and leaned into her mother with a smile.

"Why?" She whispered.

Therese waited for it. Carol's eyes glimmered.

"She watched me tickle you and she didn't even try to save you."

Rindy's eyes moved towards Therese, meeting her head on.

"But the truth, Rindy, is that Therese is the most ticklish." Carol leaned in to whisper something to Rindy and then the two of them, nose to nose, nodded at each other.

Two Aird women, up to no good. It was two against one and whatever was going to happen, Therese was sure she was going to lose.

Winking at Rindy, Carol moved to sit next to Therese. She tensed up instinctively and gave Carol a sideways glance.

"Hi, Carol."

"Oh, don't mind me. I'm just going to watch you color now."

Rindy was trying hard not to giggle but Therese acted like she knew nothing. It was then, caught in her head between how sweet Rindy's round cheeks were and how close Carol was that she found herself with her hands behind her back and Carol saying, "Now!"

Tiny little hands found her tummy and tickled her senseless while both Carol and Rindy laughed and teased until Therese surrendered her body and they let go.

She could feel the static in her hair causing it to stick up and tears streamed down her face. The last time she had laughed so hard she was sure was in the car with Carol over their Christmas journey. She and Carol could share a look about something they noticed and bring themselves to tears simply for being on the same train of ridiculous thought. This was even more refreshing, more innocent, and more therapeutic than Therese could have ever known.

It was also significant in that Rindy seemed to trust Therese after that moment. The little girl would flow down next to Therese or on her lap and liked to ask questions about her and what she does. Therese finally felt like a part of Carol's life that she had been secluded from was now accessible. She wanted Rindy, no matter what their relationship, to always feel safe in her presence and to talk to her and share with her.

She was standing now with her camera, sneaking around the corner of the hallway to find Carol and Rindy looking out the window at the birds. The warm weather had brought them all back and Rindy was teaching her mom all about the finches that liked to sit on the windowsill. Therese snapped a picture.

Carol and Rindy whipped their heads around at the sound of the camera.

"What are you doing?" Rindy asked.

Therese walked forward into the kitchen. "Well, you and Mommy look so pretty together so I took a picture, is that alright?"

Rindy nodded. "Can we take another one?"

Therese put her camera into position and watched as Carol bent her head down next to Rindy's.

Then Rindy wanted one of herself and Therese. Carol had smiled at Therese when Rindy asked and she jumped for the camera. She took three pictures before she let them stop posing.

"Well," Carol started, "I think I'll make lunch."

Rindy and Therese sat at the bar and watched Carol prepare grilled sandwiches and soup. They both asked to help but as usual, Carol was determined to do it all herself and moved about the kitchen effortlessly to do so.

Therese snapped a picture.

"Mommy is really pretty," said Rindy.

"She is, isn't she?" Therese smiled.

"You know, I can hear both of you." Carol never looked up from her pot, but Therese could see her lip pulling up at the corner.

"You're pretty, Mommy!" Rindy laughed.

"You're prettiest, snowflake."

Therese snapped another picture, capturing Carol as she turned to wink at Rindy. Rindy looked at Therese, eyeing the camera curiously as Carol set down their food.

As they ate, Therese noticed Rindy, still staring at the camera, kicking her foot against the bar as she munched on her sandwich. When they finished, Therese cleaned both of their hands while Carol filled the sink. The three of them then flopped onto sofas in the living room.

The hazy afternoon sun combined with full bellies made them slightly drowsy and they all remained quiet. Carol sat with Rindy in her lap for a while, playing with her hair until Therese called her over.

Rindy sat right next to her and slid her back down the sofa, just like Therese had done. She leaned her head on Therese's.

"Hi," she said.

"Hi," Therese replied. She was fiddling with her camera on her lap. Rindy looked at it again.

Across from them, Carol was twirling her own hair, staring out the window. She was lost in thought somewhere. She looked beautiful.

"Rindy, would you like to take a picture?" Therese whispered.

Rindy sat up slowly and looked at Therese. "Mommy told me not to touch your camera because," she put on her grown up voice to imitate Carol, " I'm not old enough and if I break it Therese will be sad."

"Well," Therese began, "so long as you're careful I think you can do it."

Rindy smiled and whispered. "I will be, I promise."

Therese patted her lap and Rindy hopped on. Therese showed her the button to take the picture and how to focus, holding it up to her eyes to show her how what a blurry lens or clear lens looked like. She passed off the camera to Rindy, telling her to aim it at her mother.

"Is it clear?"

"Mmhmm."

"Good, now press the button."

The shutter snapped and Therese could feel Rindy wiggle with excitement. Carol turned around.

"Again?" Her eyes caught Rindy. "Now, Rindy I told you not to do that."

Therese gave her a look and she stopped. "It's okay, Carol. She's being careful. I don't mind really."

Carol nodded. "Alright, well take a picture of something else then or that whole roll will be of me."

Through coaxing, Carol couldn't resist Rindy who begged her to pose like a movie star until she did. Rindy had turned their living room into a photo shoot, looking at Therese with serious eyes, asking which angle she thought was best. Therese, on her knees behind Rindy, guided her as they looked through the lens cheek to cheek. For a young girl, she had talent and it surprised both Carol and Therese that she was so comfortable with the camera, and a bit more outspoken. Therese finally found a way to connect with Rindy, and it was in front of her the whole time.

The two of them had Carol laughing and posing. Therese couldn't wait to develop the film.

#

When all was said and done, and Rindy went home, Carol was calmer than ever before. She didn't cry when Rindy left, though Therese could see how glassy her eyes were when Harge and his car pulled away. But Rindy had raved about her afternoon to Harge and he said she could come back in a week. Carol was relieved.

They sat in bed now, their feet touching beneath the covers as they laid side by side. They were exhausted. Therese turned to look at Carol whose face was content. She had seen Carol with Rindy before and had always thought her an amazing mother, but she was still amazed with how well she handled her daughter and how well they got on. She envied Rindy for a moment, wishing that she had a mother so devoted.

"What?" Carol was looking at her now, an eyebrow arched.

"Nothing. You're just amazing. And so is Rindy."

"She really is." Carol thought for a moment. "She's got such a personality and I swear I hear Abby in there somewhere."

"I do too," Therese said. "She has Harge's angry face, though."

They both shared a chuckle.

Therese sighed. "She's got the best parts of her parents."

"Yes," said Carol. "All three of them."

Carol's lips were on hers for the first time that day and Therese pulled her closer.