Ashley & Danni 'Sweet Secrets #2'

by Pulsar

This story continues from Sweet Secrets #1. Please read that one first. For those who enjoy, thanks for your support. If I missed any typos, sorry, but I had to work fast.

Ms. Horton sat shaking her head at Bianca Sander's outbursts. She shuttered under the tense air of hostilities in her own living room. "Well..." she huffed. "So that's what this is all about. I see!" With that, she swallowed hard. "Yes, I'm aware of all of this. Danni told me, or shall I say... 'confided' in me!"

"And... you just... just sit there? Just like that?" said Mrs. Sanders with disbelief. "I mean... how can you just blow it off?"

"Oh, well... I didn't 'just blow it off.' I listened to my daughter," assured Ms. Horton. "I take it that... well... you have certain moral objections to all this."

"You damned right I do!" snapped Mrs. Sanders. "This just isn't right! It isn't natural!"

"Well, no, it isn't natural... to people such as you or me. But for Danni and Ashley, it may be the natural way."

"I WILL NOT RAISE MY DAUGHTER TO BE A LESBIAN!" roared Mrs. Sanders. "Don't you get it?!"

"Yes, I got it," replied Ms. Horton. "And so did half the town! I'm right here; I can hear you just fine, Bianca." With that, she sat down. "And I didn't 'raise' Danni to be that either. That's just how she turned out."

"How... how can you tolerate such... such filth and evil?! Oh, I know. Anyone who has a child at 17 when they're still in school would know all about it!"

With that, Ms. Horton sighed. She was growing all the more tense being unable to diffuse the situation. Although her direst impulse dictated that she slap the living daylights out of Bianca, she was a woman of restraint. "Uh, Bianca, why don't we go into the kitchen for a cup of coffee," she said as she rose.

"Sure!" Yet she looked at Danni. "And you... don't you even get..." Suddenly, Ms. Horton cleared her throat. And remembering the admonition, she looked at Ms. Horton. "Would you please instruct your daughter to not get too close to Ashley!"

"Uh Danni, why don't you sit over there while Mrs. Sanders and I have our coffee."

And a few moments later, the two mothers sat down at the table with steaming cups in hand. "First of all... allow me to clear things up about Danni's birth," continued Ms. Horton. "And for the record, I'm still a virgin!"

"WHAT?!!! A virgin? And next I suppose you'll tell me that Danni is Jesus?"

"Uh... no! I didn't give birth to her. But I sure gave her life!" And thus Ms. Horton slowly told the story again, this time to Ashley's mother. She spoke slowly and softly as she narrated the turn of events. And naturally, she cried when she came to the part about the trash bin in the girls' room at school. The story took a while to tell, giving Mrs. Sanders some time to cool off. And by the end, she too was choking back tears. "So as you can see, Danni is MY precious little baby, and always will be. Her being gay will not change that. I love her! And I will always be there for her. And I must fight for what is best for her!"

By this time, Mrs. Sanders had gone speechless. She slowly sipped her coffee as she digested the whole situation. "Well... you uh... you're really devoted, I see," she finally muttered. "And I have nothing but admiration for that. But... but what about her soul. I consider it a sinful life!"

"So I've been told," replied Ms. Horton. "I mean, putting a helpless newborn in a trashcan because raising it would cramp your style... now that's sinful! Cheating on a spouse and violating the trust of your children... that's sinful! Financial exploitation, hatred, violence... those things I'd call evil. But... loving someone? Making sacrifices for them? Hard work, honesty and diligence... that's hardly what I'd call 'sinful' or 'evil.' Now... I have three Bibles in this house and by now I've read them cover-to-cover. I've heard the spiel of the religious nuts ... but I find no justification for it!"

Mrs. Sanders took a deep breath for taking another sip of her coffee. "I... I just don't know how to handle this," she said forlorn.

"Well... I've got plenty of spaghetti in the stove. You and Ashley are welcome to join us if you haven't eaten yet," replied Ms. Horton. "That is, if your religion allows you to break bread with us miserable sinners!"

"I hardly have an appetite," said Mrs. Sanders. "And I never called you 'miserable sinners,' so I don't see what the fuss is about."

"Well, neither do I," said Ms. Horton with a hint of crass. "But the invitation is open for you nevertheless."

"Well... it's against my beliefs to... well, turn away an invitation. Y'know, something about 'Angels testing you...' I can't remember the wording."

"'For you may have entertained angels,'" replied Ms. Horton.

"Yeah, that," mumbled Mrs. Sanders.

And so the four of them sat at the table eating with few words spoken among them. For the tension remained high. Ashley paused a few times to wipe the tears from her eyes, yet said nothing. Finally, Mrs. Sanders dared to speak. "Well, Tammy, this is good pasta! I'm impressed! I'm afraid my cooking isn't this good. Must be a family secret."

"Thank you, Bianca," replied Ms. Horton. "But it's no secret. I share any and all recipes I have to anyone who asks."

"That would be nice," replied Mrs. Sanders, now more humbly.

"So, Danni, do you know how to cook like your mom?" asked Ashley.

"Ash!" scolded Mrs. Sanders. "Just eat!"

"That reminds me, Danni. You could use a little more time in the kitchen," added Ms. Horton.

"I fixed the leaky faucet last week," Danni asserted.

"Yes you did, dear, and it works fine! But that's not what I meant."

"So... you fix things too," said Mrs. Sanders. "That figures. You're the 'man' of the house!"

"Mommy! Please!" begged Ashley.

"Are there any more issues you'd like to discuss with me, Bianca?!" interjected Ms. Horton.

Mrs. Sanders only sighed. "Look, I'm sorry! I just... I just don't know how to deal with all of this! It's, it's not what I expected! Now maybe if Ashley too had gone around in boy's clothes and rode a skateboard and worked with tools, I'd be ready for it! But... but Ashley's such a 'girly-girl' that I just never thought... oh, geeze!"

Ms. Horton now sighed. "Well, I think you can expect a lot," she said. "I mean, look at her. She's smart, pretty, sweet, and well-mannered!"

"Most of the time," giggled Danni.

"Danielle Grace!" scolded Ms. Horton. "That was hardly called for!"

"Sorry Mom."

"Well, she's been all those things every time she's in my house," continued Ms. Horton. "And she's very respectful. I think you've done a good job raising her. I mean... most pretty blonde girls let it get to their heads and they turn into... well, you know. But Ashley's not like that. I mean, I have faith in her. I mean, what more could you want in your own child?"

"Look, I believe everything you've said," replied Mrs. Sanders. "But somehow, I... I just can't be relaxed about it. Not right now. I mean... I never intended her to be... uh... uh..."

"Gay?" interjected Ashley.

"Must you keep saying that?!"

"I understand, Bianca, I really do," said Ms. Horton. "And I don't want to be your enemy. I mean, Ashley's been over here so much it feels like I have two kids, sometimes." With that, she rose from her chair with her empty plate in one hand. "In fact, I guess she's grown on me. She's so sweet. You might say I love her. And she's welcome in my home anytime. Of course... if she acts up, I'd swat her bottom in a heartbeat, but I'd still love her!" With that, she bent down and kissed her on her golden hair. "You got that, sweety?" Then, she looked to the mother. "Now, if Danni has given you any reasons for you to feel otherwise, then you surely may discuss that with me."

Mrs. Sanders fell silent for a few moments before answering. "Well, I..." yet she ran out of words. All she could do is stare into nothingness for a few moments. "Well, there was that time I took them roller skating. I got a flat tire on the way home and uh... Danni got out and changed it because I had no idea how to work all that stuff in the trunk. Besides, it would seem that... well... Danni has stronger arms and legs than me anyway. She slapped that spare on with no effort!"

"Well, I'm glad to hear that," replied Ms. Horton. "Danni? Will you clear the table please and rinse the dishes for the dishwasher?"

"Yes, Mom," she sighed.

"Ashley, why don't you help," added Mrs. Sanders. "You know how to work a kitchen sink by now."

"Okay, Mommy."

"Ahhhh, such wonderful beautiful children. Hard to find these days, wouldn't you say, Bianca?" gleamed Ms. Horton.

"Well, you've done it now, Tammy," sighed Mrs. Sanders. "When I came over here, I hated you and Danni. Now I hate myself too!"

"Well, I don't hate you," assured Ms. Horton. "I enjoyed this meal."

"Yes, it was a great meal. But somehow I don't think you enjoyed me one bit."

"Well, it was chance to know the mother of my daughter's friend a little better."

"Look... Tammy I... I'm soooo sorry!" said Mrs. Sanders as she rose from the table. "I... well, I've got to think this all over! I mean... just because you feel okay with it doesn't mean I have to right now! I've got so sort everything out. Just grant me that, okay?!"

"Look, Bianca. Why don't you go home and get Ashley to bed and then, take a relaxing warm bath, y'know, the kind with the fancy bath beads with a few candles around. And get a good night's sleep. And in the morning, just send Ashley off to school like you always do. I think in the end, you'll realize that nothing has really changed."

"Well, I just might do that," said Mrs. Sanders.

"Sure," replied Ms. Horton. "And anytime you need to talk... or just sit on the couch and cry well... I'm here in the evenings."

That night, Bianca Sanders followed Tammy's advice. Once Ashley was tucked in for the night, she drew her bath and soaked in a warm tub filled with a sudsy sweet fragrance. The only light in the bathroom was the night light as well as a few candles on the countertop. She reclined and attempted to fathom everything from her strict conservative upbringing to Tammy Horton's rebuttals. Then, her thoughts drifted to her daughter, and perhaps her future life-long partner. She thought off all the times she looked into Danni's pretty twinkling eyes. In spite of her shorter hair and sporty look, she was not a convincing boy. She was just too pretty. She had the face of a cherub with her slight overbite covered with shiny metal braces. Not even her aviator eyeglasses made her look too masculine. And her legs that were always displayed by her sporty shorts or brief denim cut-offs were far too pretty to be boyish in spite of the muscle tone. And her affinity to sports, mechanics and sci-fi only seemed to add to her 'cuteness factor.' And then there was Ashley, her own giggly pig-tailed daughter. She tried to imagine them together. Inevitable, her thoughts drifted to their hypothetical sex life. She imagined what they both might look like after adolescence. Two young adult women living in the same home; sharing the same bed! She dared to imagine what it would be like during their passionate lovemaking, all culminating in explosive orgasms.

When she opened her eyes, she realized her hand was down on her crotch. She could feel her tingling lips were swollen and her own clitoris now stood high at attention. And thus being alone in the tub, she rubbed herself harder and harder, imaging those two girls together, and how each one would experience the other. Before she knew it, she had passed the point of no return. She brought herself to a throbbing supernova of an orgasm right there in her bathtub. She shrieked once uncontrollable as the spastic orgasm traveled up through her entire body. Had she been on her bed, she would have soaked her bedding with an enormous squirt. Yet being in the bath, all evidence would be hidden.

At first, her legs were too weak to move. After relaxing for five more minutes, she was finally able to force herself out of the tub. Yet even as she drained the water, her abdomen still ached from the intense orgasmic contractions. Nevertheless, she dried herself off with her favorite towel before donning her robe.

Once she quit the bathroom, she made way for Ashley's room to make sure she was fast asleep in the darkness. She quietly approached the bed and stroked her sleeping daughter's golden hair. Then, she bent down to give her one kiss on the cheek. "Mommy loves you," she whispered, before returning to her own bed.

When Bianca Sanders awoke, she found herself immersed in a cloud of confusion and despair. Her life had not turned out like she had hoped, and neither had her daughter. And one of the truths upon which she was taught all her life had been challenged. And then there was fear. Fear! A powerful force that drives all mortals to do great things, or to sink in the deepest throes of villainy. "Oh God spare me," she muttered as she staggered out of bed toward the master bath. "Spare me and my daughter! I... I don't know anything, alright! I don't know anything." When she entered the bathroom, the aroma from her bath from last night still lingered, along with her memories of her self-induced climax that nearly knocked her unconscious. Therefore, all she could do was dress for work and get Ashley ready for school. "Now come straight home after school and stay here! Got it?"

Ashley sighed. "Yeah, Mommy," she mumbled forlorn. "I can't go to Danni's."

"I don't want you going anywhere!" she ordered. "Just... just come straight home, lock yourself in until further notice."

That day at school, Ashley felt paranoid as she stood in Danni's presence although her mother was far away. "What are we gonna do?" she asked when they found themselves together in the girl's restroom during lunch period.. "I mean... I feel so bad for you and your mom, the way my mom acted."

"Don't worry about it," assured Danni. "We won't be kids forever."

"But... but... how will we... y'know...?"

"You mean get together for some fun?" interjected Danni.

"Yeah, that!" sighed Ashley as she wiped away a tear.

"We'll think of something," said Danni. "Eventually."

"But... but... don't you love me? Don't you want me?"

"Of course!" assured Danni.

"Do you want me bad?"

"Ooooohhhh yeah!"

"And if we were someplace else, would you feel me up?"

"I'd dyke-rape you!"

"Oh yesssss!" said Ashley. "I want you to rape me really, really, really bad!" She threw her arms around her Amazonian lover.

"If you want it, then it's not really rape."

"Well, whatever it is, I want it!"

"Yeah, me too!"

Suddenly, their lips met. They gently nibbled each other's lips until they began to explore each others mouths. And as nature dictated, soon Ashley leapt up and threw her legs around Danni's torso. And Danni in turn reached down so support her weight by squeezing her pantied bottom beneath her little short skirt which had now slid up in a pile about her waist. "Mmmph! MMMMmm!" moaned Ashley as they continued to kiss.

"Oooommmphhh! Ooooooh!" moaned Danni as the finished their kiss.

"Oh Danni! Oh Danni! Do me! Do me now!"

"Not here!" protested Danni. "If someone walked in... well, it'd be worse than death!"

"Oh Danni, I'm soooooo wet and tingly down there!"

"Me too! But we don't have time... or privacy!"

"Come to my house after school. My mom won't be there. And if she does come home early, the garage door squeaks really loud so you'll know to hurry and climb out my window. She'll never know."

"I'll see you then. But I'll have to go home quickly."

"Oooooh yessssss! Oooooh yeeessss! Ooooh-gaawwd! Oh-gawd, that feels soooooo goooood!" moaned Ashley as she lay naked on her bed as Danni gently caressed her with her lips. She lie on her back, yet her feet lay near her head in somewhat of a modified fetal position, thus rendering her swollen little cunny very vulnerable. She held the back of her knees with her hands with her wet tingling crotch completely exposed. Yet Danni took her time, teasing and caressing that bare flesh in order to leave her little bare muff yearning for her touch. Yet finally she satisfied her, gently rolling her tongue all around that little hard clit. "OOOOH! Oooohhh-Yeeesssss!" cried Ashley as she squirmed about in her awkward position. "Ooooh Danni, I'm gonna cum soon! I can't hold it!"

"Yes! Yes! Gi'me a big cum!" whispered Danni as she massaged that crotch with her tongue.

"Oooooh-gaaawwwd! OOOOH-GAAAWWWD!" cried Ashley as she felt it all build up in her pelvis and stomach. The tingling butterflies soon spread out. She remained on the brink for a few moments until that ultimate pleasure wave filled her whole body. "AAAAAAH!" she shrieked in a squeaky falsetto. She squirmed all about but soon burst into the inevitable. A brief painful shock ran down her stomach and spine with the initial blast of her incredible orgasm. She screamed as the contractions rocked her body like an earthquake. It was more powerful that she had expected and it lasted longer than the others she had known. Yet all through the lengthy orgasm, Danni caressed all over her body, concentrating on her buttocks and the backs of her legs.

After the pulsation had finally died down, Ashley rolled over on her side in a fetal position, boisterously gasping for air. "That was a big one," mumbled Danni into her ear.

"Oh! Oooooh!" cooed Ashley as she slowly recovered from her sonic blast of a climax. "Oh Danni! You can't leave me! I've got to have you! Oh God, I love you so much!"

"Awww, you little brat! You know I love you, and you know you're mine," assured Danni as she lay beside her. Then, she let out a sigh. "But we can't let your mom know I've been here. I mean, we've got to wait until she says it's okay."

"But Dan-Dan, that could take forever," protested Ashley.

"I don't think so. I think my mom wants to help us."

"Well, I hope so."

A week passed by. The mornings grew colder with a only a hint of warmth in the afternoons. Yet the weather so far had yet to send Danni racing for her jeans when dressing for school. Nor did Ashley dress in anything that would cover her cute little long legs. She still pedaled to school on her pink bike in a short skirt, although she would sport a sweater. Danni would don a jacket and pull her thick tube socks up to her knees, yet she still bared her beefy thighs with her sport shorts as she skateboarded to school.

When they met at the bike rack, they looked at each other's choice of wardrobe. "Are your legs cold?" asked Danni.

"Not really," replied Ashley. "Are yours?"

"Hmmm, naw," replied Danni.

"Good! Let's go."

And thus they walked toward the entrance, holding hands part of the way, until they reached a thicker crowd that forced them to hide their intimacy. And although only a minority of students wore any leg-baring clothing at this point in the season, the two secret lovers cared not.

After the school day, they met again at the bike racks as they prepared to go their separate ways. Danni's left knee didn't survive the day, for she now bore a large plaster across her kneecap from a recess mishap. "Your knee!" noted Ashley. "How'd you do it this time?"

"Playing soccer on the concrete sidewalk," replied Danni.

"Oh. Well, did you cry?"

"NO! Of course not!" snapped Danni. "I mean... I didn't... until the nurse put alcohol on it."

"You are such a DYKE!" giggled Ashley.

"You are sooooo in trouble!" retorted Danni. "However, I've got soccer practice today. I'll try to meet you tomorrow."

"Awww, I've got gymnastics tomorrow," mourned Ashley. "Cheryl's mom will be taking me there after school."

"Well, then we'll just have to figure something out." And so, they looked both ways before exchanging a brief kiss. And soon Danni flew down the street on her skateboard.

Later that afternoon, shortly before her mother had arrived home from work, Danni skated up to her house and let herself in, now clad in a sweaty grass-stained soccer uniform. "Mom, I'm home!" she cried out, yet found the house still empty. And thus she tossed her skateboard in her room and collapsed on the couch to kick off her cleats. She turned on the TV and began to lazily study, paying more attention to 'The Wild Wild West' than her course work.

Yet when she heard the garage opening, she quickly turned off the TV and began to write that her mother might find her well-behaved. "Hi dear! Sorry I'm a little late. How was soccer?"

"Fine, Mom," replied Danni.

"You have a good day at school, honey?"

"Yeah... except I skinned my knee." Danni kicked her leg out to show her mother the blood-stained bandage.

"Again?" whined Ms. Horton as she seized upon her daughter's leg to inspect. "Dannielle Grace! When are you going to be more careful!"

"I try, Mom!"

"Of course you do, dear," she said before kissing the wound.

"Mom!" protested Danni with chagrin. "I'm not a little kid."

"I know, honey! But you'll always be my precious little girl."

"Mmmph!" groaned Danni as she blushed. "So what's for dinner?"

"Ah-ha! From the knee to the stomach! You still need your mommy!" gleamed Ms. Horton.

Yet suddenly, the doorbell rang. Danni leapt up, yet Ms. Horton was enroute. "YOU wash up, young lady! I'll get the door." Ms. Horton was taken aback when she flung open the front door, only to find Ashley standing outside. "Ashley!"

"Ms. Horton!" she whined, somewhat distressed. "My... my mom! She's not home! You know where she is?"

"Uh...no! But come in," coaxed Ms. Horton. "Did she tell you she'd be working late?"

"I don't remember."

"Well honey, I'll call her office." And thus she raced into the kitchen to call from the wall phone. "Just the voice mail," she said. "Maybe she's on her way home. I don't want to worry or anger her, but you did the right thing by going to someone you know rather than to stay alone."

And so, the minutes passed by. Eventually, Ms. Horton fed Ashley supper as well. Yet when the sun sank and thunder began to echo in the distance, and Bianca Sanders did not answer any phone or return any calls, Ms. Horton grew worried. "Okay girls! We're going out! Get in the car! We'll to the office to see if she's still there!"

And thus it was a long quiet drive through the town. Finally, they reached the business park where resided the law firm that employed Bianca Sanders as a paralegal. "Look! There's Mom's car!" cried Ashley as they arrived.

"Good! At least we know she's here," noted Ms. Horton.

Soon, the party of three stood in the elevator as it rose to the forth floor. Once they exited, they raced to suite 405 where the sign on the window read 'Simon & Murphy, Law Office.' But even before they reached the door, they heard a faint scream.

"Mommy?!" cried Ashley rather panicked. Danni banged on the door. Yet by now, they could hear a woman's voice in distress as well as an angry male voice. "MOMMY!" cried Ashley. Yet only her mother's scream replied.

In an instant, Danni raced to seize upon a fire extinguisher mounted on the nearby wall. "Danni! Don't!" protested Ms. Horton. But in desperation, Danni threw it into the glass on the window of the door. It shattered boisterously, setting off a security alarm.

"Get outta here!" cried a man's voice in rage. Suddenly, the door was flung open by a man clad in only boxer shorts and a wife-beater! "Get out! I'll have you arrested for trespassing!"

Poor Ms. Horton was terrified for all involved. "No!" she roared. "It sounds like you're the one whose been trespassing! I'm calling the police to see who gets arrested!"

"Why you bitch!" roared the man. Yet as he charged toward Ms. Horton, Danni came up from behind him and swung the fire extinguisher as hard as her 11 year-old body would allow. It made a loud 'CRACK!' against his side, sending him to the floor. "You fuking little whore!" he roared as he rolled over to face his assailant! "Why I'll..." Yet before he could finish, Danni began to spray him down from the extinguisher's contents, painting him a powdery white.

"Danni! Gi'me that!" demanded a terrified Ms. Horton as she took it from her. Then, to ensure he could do no harm, she gave him a warning 'konk!' on the head.

"Mommy!" cried Ashley again as she raced into the office, only to find her mother in Mr. Murphy's office half naked and bruised.

An hour later, Ms. Horton, Danni, and Ashley sat nervously in the chairs by the nurse's station in the emergency room. Two police officers armed with clipboards stood filling out reports. The female office then squatted down to be eye-level with Ashley. "Look honey, I know you've been through something very scary," she said, "but you're mommy is going to be okay."

"Can I see her?" asked Ashley through her tears.

"Oh yes! They'll bring her out here soon and you can all go home." With that, she stood up to face her male counterpart. "Please tell me I didn't lie," she muttered.

"Well, the Sexual Assault Test Kit came back negative," replied the male cop. "Apparently, the suspect didn't get the chance to finish the deed."

And so a few minutes later, a nurse wheeled Mrs. Sanders into the corridor in preparation to release her. Ashley wept once more as she raced up to her. "Mommy!"

"Oh Baby!" cried Mrs. Sanders as she took her into her arms.

"Oh Mommy, what happened? Are you okay?"

"Are YOU okay, honey?" replied Mrs. Sanders. "That's all that matters to me right now."

"I'm fine," assured Ashley. "Why did Mr. Murphy beat you and take your clothes off? I thought he was a good boss."

"I... I don't know. I guess I was wrong about Mr. Murphy."

"They took him to jail!" assured Ashley. "He won't be your boss anymore."

"Thank God!" replied Mrs. Sanders. Yet she looked up to see Ms. Horton and Danni waiting for them. Yet one sight of them both sent her into tears again. She hid her face from them in shame for a few moments.

But Ms. Horton slowly approached. "Bianca, let me drive you home," she said softly.

"Oh Tammy I... Oh God, forgive me!"

"It's okay, Bianca. It's all over!" assured Ms. Horton with a soft voice. "He's locked up... well, he WILL be once they finish patching up the damage we did with the fire extinguisher!"

Mrs. Sanders wiped her eyes and then focused on the nervous Danni who stood trembling nearby. "Danni! Come here!" she said. "Oh God, Danni! I'm... I'm sorry, I..."

"I'm sorry too, Mrs. Sanders. I didn't mean to break your boss's bone with the extinguisher. I hope you don't get fired!"

"Oh Danni... you're so... cute!" With that, she pulled her toward her. "And thank you for breaking that bastard's bones! Ooops!" Suddenly, she covered her mouth shamefully as the two girls giggled, along with Ms. Horton. Mrs. Sanders blushed and then snickered in spite of herself. "Now you kids did NOT hear that!" She sighed and wiped away her tears before facing Danni once again. "Danni, I... I just want to say... please... just..." Suddenly, she began to cry again. "Oh please don't hate me."

The wipers squeaked as the hard rain nosily pelted the windshield as they drove home. The thunder roared overhead in the dark night sky. Yet the party of four rode quietly in Ms. Horton's car down the street. "Y'know, Tammy, I'm not the only victim," said Bianca, interrupting the silence. "He hurt Ashley too, just by doing what he did."

"Just relax, dear," coaxed Tammy as she drove.

"He's got a wife and two children. They too will suffer over this."

"I know," mumbled Tammy.

"I keep thinking of my ex-husband," continued Bianca in a shaky voice. "He was so much like Mr. Murphy. Good job in a nice office, wife and baby at home. But... he couldn't keep his pants on! He left us when Ashley was only two and has paid less than half his child support!"

"Just try to put this all behind you," said Tammy. "You and Ashley will both overcome all of this. I know you will."

That evening, Tammy set some blankets down on the small guest bed in her humble home as Bianca fluffed up a pillow. "Now really, this isn't necessary. I've imposed enough already. Ashley made my problem yours."

"I was already OUR problem," asserted Tammy. "This is EVERYBODY'S problem. I just wanted to do what I had the power to do."

"Oh Tammy I... (-sigh-) Y'know, the lady cop told me that children tend to go to places they feel safe when they get frightened," said Bianca. "And Ashley came here when I didn't come home on time. And... I trusted Mr. Murphy when he asked me to work just a few minutes late. I had no idea that he planned to..."

"Shhhh!" coaxed Tammy. "It could have been anyone of us. Now just try to get some sleep. There will be four of us in this house tonight so you won't be alone. Now I'll get Danni's sleeping bag and put in on the floor here next to you for Ashley."

"Oh Tammy, I really don't deserve this," lamented Bianca.

"Well no one deserved to get... well... assaulted like that," assured Tammy. "Now just get some rest. You're in a safe place tonight." With that she pulled back the bedding. By now, both Bianca and her daughter were down to spaghetti-tees and panties for the night. Yet Bianca refused to lay down. "Come on, you need to rest. Now I've got to go put Danni to bed, but if you need me, you can always wake me up."

"No," insisted Bianca. "This time, let ME put Danni to bed!" And thus she stood up and left the small guest room.

Moments later, she entered Danni's room, not surprised in the least to find it less 'girly' than Ashley's room. Danni was just pulling her covers back to climb in, dressed in a tee and split-side running shorts. "Danni?" she said softly as she approached. She seized upon the bedding to allow Danni to get under them. "Listen I... you probably been thinking that I'm uh... uh... well... a bitch," she said above a whisper.

"Oh no, Mrs. Sanders I..."

"Sure you have," continued Bianca. "And if so, well, you're probably right. But... It's not that I hated you it's just that... well... I'm sorry it's just weird for me. I'm not sure I'll ever understand why you and Ashley feel the way you do but... I... I'll do my best."

"It's okay, Mrs. Sanders," said Danni as she rested her head on her Chewbacca pillow.

"Well, I...all I can say is..." she trembled as she choked back the tears. "Just please take good care of my Ashley." She couldn't say anymore as she covered her face again. "She's all I have left in this world. Just like you are all your mother has. So please... take good care of her."

"I will," promised Danni with a soft voice. "And if you give me the chance, I'd do for you the same I do for Mom."

Bianca smiled and wiped her eyes. "Now get some sleep, my brave little tomboy." With that, she patted her hand and then turned out her light. She returned to her own room to find Tammi putting another blanket over Ashley as she snuggled down into the sleeping bag. And thus Bianca climbed into bed, still attempting to resolve the conflicts in her life.

"Well, I guess today you're the Samaritan," said Bianca to Tammy. "It was me who was beaten on the roadside."

"And the religious folk just walked on by," concluded Tammy. "Now, just get some rest and try to put this all behind you. Life will go on." And with that, the two mothers hugged briefly, now putting the differences aside.