Chapter 12: Fond Hearts

Angel spent the weekend alone with Jordan and it seemed to her that for a short time at least, the outside world didn't exist and she and Jordan were the only two people on earth. It was a stark contrast compared to Monday morning when she accompanied Jordan to his office to resume her new job as his receptionist. Even though Angel had only known Jordan a matter of days, to her it seemed a lot longer. She was surprised he was able to accept her, despite her filthy past.

Connie and Meredith were more annoyed than ever with Angel as she attempted to remember everything she had learned about her job from last Friday. The two of them were less helpful because they felt Angel should already know certain things she didn't know. Jordan was so busy he didn't seem to notice her struggles in the office so she kept them to herself. She was frazzled by mid-afternoon and decided that no matter what, she needed a break. She left to go across the street to the small convenience store and buy some cigarettes.

"Don't be gone long," Connie warned. Angel wanted to tell her to "fuck off" but instead she chose not to respond; she was unaccustomed to the women in an office environment. She was more accustomed to expensive motel suites and entertaining millionaires who only wanted sex in various forms. The women in Jordan's office were a different sort and it seemed to Angel they were uptight about everything.

Angel was in her own little world as she browsed through the convenience store before purchasing her cigarettes. She tried to ignore the stares, which always seemed to accompany her wherever she went. She ducked her head down a little, wishing she could disappear. She couldn't wait until she could go home and be with Jordan again. They could make love and she could forget all about the stares and leers that constantly plagued her wherever she went.

Angel was so preoccupied and out of sorts that she didn't notice the young teenage girl dressed in a Catholic school uniform staring wide eyed at her from outside the window. As she exited the store, Angel practically ran over the girl, "excuse me," Angel said softly darting around her, barely looking at her.

"It's OK," the girl said in awe.

Angel kept moving towards the street, but there was something about the girl that gave her pause and she whirled around and looked back. For one brief moment in time the two of them locked eyes. Mia with her red rimmed light blue eyes and Angel with her dark blue eyes, staring at one another after fourteen long years.

There must have been some maternal instincts left in Angel because as she looked at Mia, she somehow knew she was looking at her daughter. Her heart was about to burst through her chest, "Mia?" she asked weakly.

Mia couldn't speak; she could only nod her head.

"Oh my God," Angel clamped her hand over her mouth.

Mia had disobeyed her grandfather. She had heard her Uncle Frank say that her mother was working as a receptionist in Dr. Parker's office and after debating all day long she ditched her best friend Carly after school and ran away for the second time in her life. She had stood across the street staring at the doctor's office and debating about going inside for well over an hour. When Mia saw Angel emerge from the office and walk across the street she could hardly believe her eyes, she knew it was her mother.

As Mia gazed at her mother, she realized that what everyone else said about her mother was true, she was stunning. In Mia's mind she didn't look like a prostitute at all, more like a high class model, someone you would see on the cover of a magazine.

Angel thought she was going to faint. The tears gushed out of her eyes and she rushed toward Mia and grabbed her, stifling her sobs as she held her daughter after fourteen years of painful separation.

Mia knew she had made the right decision by running away and she couldn't hold back the tears as she embraced her mother.

There were no words to describe the way the two of them felt at that moment. Mia gripped her mother with all her might and Angel clung to her daughter. It was if the rest of the world didn't exist. "Oh Mia," Angel said wiping away her tears, "Let me look at you," and she pulled away from her daughter so she could get a better look.

Mia gazed into her mother's face, "How did you know it was me?"

"I don't know," Angel laughed amid her tears, "I just did."

"I'm so glad you recognized me," Mia smiled.

"Me too," Angel couldn't help but note how much Mia resembled her grandfather in so many ways and she had to admit she was somewhat relieved that Mia didn't resemble Coach Bills very much. Angel couldn't see many of her own features in her daughter, but when she compared the images of Mia as a baby in her mind to the girl who stood before her, she knew it was the same person. There was no doubt in her mind.

"I wanted to see you so much," Mia said and she threw her arms around her mother's neck once more.

"Me too," Angel sniffed.

Jordan stood across the street for a short time watching. He wasn't sure whether or not to disturb their reunion, but he finally reasoned after five minutes it might be OK, and he made his way across the street.

Angel whirled around as he approached, "Look," she smiled with enthusiasm, "Its Mia."

Jordan grinned, "I can see that."

"Hi Dr. Parker," Mia managed.

"Hello Mia," Jordan smiled warmly, slightly relieved he would not have to figure out how to arrange a meeting between Angel and Mia.

Then reality sunk in for Angel, "Oh God Mia, does Martin know you're here?" Panic buttons were going off in her head right and left.

Mia frowned and looked down, "No."

Angel got butterflies in her stomach, "Oh sweetie, what were you thinking?" Angel winced, thinking about what Martin would do when he found out.

Mia shook her head, "I just wanted to see you."

Angel pulled her close, "I know. I wanted to see you too."

People were stopping to stare at them and reality began to set in for Mia as well, "I don't ever want to go home," she said in anguish.

Angel looked at her curiously, "Don't they treat you well?"

"Yes they treat me well," Mia said.

"Oh Mia," Angel was sympathetic. This was a terrible situation. She closed her eyes, "My Pop can be the most stubborn man on the face of the planet sometimes, I know."

"Yes he can," Mia wholeheartedly agreed.

Just then a car pulled up and Mia instantly recognized her grandma's old Buick Regal and she watched as her grandma drove into the parking lot and parked the car and got out. When Claudia saw Angel once more, her eyes welled up with tears, "Mia, thank God," she said with disapproval as she turned to her granddaughter, "I've been worried sick."

"Sorry Gram," Mia said, feeling ashamed.

"Hi Ma," Angel smiled nervously at her mother.

"Angelica," Claudia didn't hesitate, she reached over and hugged her daughter tightly, "I'm so happy to see you again."

"Me too," Angel said tearfully.

"Mia," Claudia said, "If your grandfather finds out you ran off again..."

Mia was beginning to realize the gravity of the situation, "Do we have to tell him?"

Claudia knew word of this reunion would reach Martin's ears one way or another, just like everything else did, it was just a matter of time. She suspected half the town had observed Angel and Mia on the corner during afternoon traffic, but her inclination was not to tell Martin.

"Listen Mia," Angel said and she put her arm around Mia's shoulder, "I'm so very happy I finally got to see you again after all these years, but Grandpa doesn't want us to see each other right now, and I know it hurts you because it's killing me, but you have to honor his wishes."

Mia was stunned by her mother's words, "What?"

"It will be OK," Angel said softly, "He'll change his mind eventually," though she doubted it.

"No, he won't," Mia said in anguish.

"Yes, he will," Angel said softly, "He will eventually come around you just need to give him a chance, but I don't want you ever risking yourself again to come see me. It will only bring down his wrath. You should go home with grandma now and we'll try to see each other again soon, I promise, I just don't know when."

Jordan could see this was breaking Angel's heart.

"No!" Mia cried in anguish.

"He loves you with all his heart Mia," Angel said in a sad voice, "And you don't want to lose that love, trust me, now go home, it will be OK."

Claudia could see how much her daughter had grown up over the last fourteen years by how she was handling this situation, "Your mother is right Mia. You need to come home with me."

"Hurry," Angel said in desperation, "Before he finds out you broke his rules."

Mia knew her mother was right, she needed to leave. She was reluctant, but she bid her mother goodbye and got in the car with her grandma. As Jordan and Angel watched the old Buick drive away, Jordan put his arm around Angel and pulled her close, kissing her, "You did the right thing."

"Oh Jordan," Angel sobbed, "I can't stand to think of him getting angry with her," Angel nervously paused and took out a cigarette, "God, she's so beautiful."

Jordan got a twinkle in his eyes, "Yes, just like her mother, you should be proud."

"All I did was give birth to her," Angel said and her voice tapered off. She had not raised Mia, her parents had and she realized it. "Wow! Did you see how amazing she was? My parents took good care of her," Angel said with satisfaction.