Richard insisted on driving us back to Barb's house. I plopped down in the back seat while Barb cosied up to Rich. Most of the drive home had been a blur for me. I'd been in my own trance. 

Richie waved a hand in front of me. " Yoo Hoo, Angel. Time to go inside."

"Oh sorry. Daydreaming here." I said sheepishly.

Richie just smiled.

_____

Inside I collected a sleeping Faith and drove home to my apartment. While Faith slept peacefully, I couldn't sleep one bit. Tossing and turning. Tossing and turning. My encounter with Paul etched upon my mind. I glanced at the alarm clock : 4 a.m. I'd have to get Faith up and ready for school in 3 hours and work myself! Ugh.

_______

"Have a great day at school my princess!" I kissed my daughter on the cheek, as she ran for the bus.

"Bye mommy! Love you!" She waved back.

"Love you too!"

________________

"Good morning Angel." The cheery secretary at the recording studio I worked for smiled.

I sipped my morning cup of coffee. " Morning, Sheila. Is the 9:30 appointment here yet?"

Sheila pointed towards the studio door. " Right in there, waiting for you."

I winked, turning the knob to studio B and strolled in. "Ah, Mister Taylor good to see you again! What will we be recording toda-?" My coffee spilled all over my purple pant suit. I almost fell backwards into the piano set up. "You're not James Taylor?!"

"Can't fool ye, love." A chuckle escaped his lips. 

"Why are you here, Paul?" I demanded, anger boiling inside my veins.

Paul stepped closer to me. " I wanted to see you. Talk to you."

"There's nothing to talk about! You wanted nothing to do with me or my daughter. What makes you think I'll give you the time of day now?!"I spat.

Paul rubbed the back of his neck, " Look, all I want is to apologize- give us both some sort of closure to this whole matter."

I crossed my arms in front of my chest. " What makes you think I want to talk to you now? The fact of the matter is I DON'T! Get out and stay out of my life and my daughter's life! I'm perfectly capable of handling things on my own--with no help from anyone, mind you! Go tend to your precious wife and children! There's nothing more to talk about! Fuck you and good day!"

Paul hung his head in shame. "If that's how ye feel about it. I'm sorry, Angel. I never meant to hurt you or our child. Perhaps one day you'll find it in your heart to forgive me and we can start anew?"