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Post by redtopaz on Aug 29, 2008 17:32:03 GMT -5
Annie ignored the 'scarred for life' comment. She had no doubt Bela would insist on having the room farthest from theirs. Annie folded her arms, a favorite gesture of hers.
"Here's what, Bela. You live a month with Papa and I without getting in trouble and we'll let you live wherever you want to." If Bela could just go a month, Annie'd be willing to trust her again. "Deal?" Annie flicked her eyes to her husband to make sure this was okay with him. She had no idea how he did it, but he always seemed to be able to tell where she was looking.
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Post by Maestro on Aug 29, 2008 19:55:41 GMT -5
Bela opened her mouth to protest, then sighed. When she and her mother got into an argument like this, Annie usually won. Besides, Miguel would side with his wife, not his daughter. From years of losing arguments in this fashion, Bela knew that it was a lost cause. And for once, she didn't try to argue anyway.
Miguel nodded, agreeing with Annie's plan. It sounded like a good idea; they could keep an eye on Bela and maybe get her to start behaving more often. He smiled at his wife again, pleased that Bela was going to be living with them for a while, even though the circumstances were not the best. But she didn't come over to visit nearly as much as Mercedes and he knew that they had both missed the girl.
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Post by redtopaz on Aug 29, 2008 20:08:45 GMT -5
"Alright, then," Annie said, linking arms with her husband and daughter. "Let's get out of this musty old place." She grinned, leading her family out of the prison by the crooks of their arms. Once outside, she turned to Bela.
"We'll drop you at your sister's and then head up to this mystery house your father's gotten. Okay?" she asked, looking around for approval. Annie was used to making decisions and then asking if everyone agreed. A bad habit from her Opera days...
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Post by Maestro on Aug 29, 2008 20:52:28 GMT -5
"All right," Bela said, following along with her mother's plan. It was something she had been used to for a long time. And she was going to have to get used to it again, for at least the month that she was going to be staying with her parents. She sighed; this was going to be a loooong month.
Miguel smiled, nodding his pleasure. "That sounds good to me, mi amor," he murmured, trying not to show his excitement. This fit in with his plans perfectly; as much as he loved their girls, he didn't want either of them there as he showed Annie her present.
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Post by redtopaz on Aug 29, 2008 21:02:30 GMT -5
Annie marched her family into the car, thanked her husband as he held her door for her -he was such a dear!-, and instantly started in with a recital of how wonderful Germany had been the instant her husband put the luxury sports car in gear. She continued on in this manner until they arrived at Mercedes apartment. Boxed were already accumulating on the front step. Annie got out of the car just as Mercedes came down with another box.
The off-duty officer was wearing a LOS 30th Anniversary commemorative tee-shirt, skinny jeans, and had her shower-wet hair pulled into a bun. Annie gasped, but pulled her daughter into a hug all the same.
"Darling, what are you wearing?" were the first words out of the loving mother's mouth. Mercedes blushed.
"I'm working, mom. I can't always look nice."
"Bela looks better than you and she'd been in jail the past day, dear," Annie scolded, releasing her daughter. Mercedes did not favor her with a reply. "Darling," meaning her husband, "would you mind helping me with Bela's things?" she asked, grabbing a relatively light box.
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