From: bellydancergirl7@aol.com   
      
   All notes disclosed in chapter one.   
      
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   Maggie definitely felt out of place. She'd never been to downtown New    
   York before. She wouldn't admit to her daughter that she didn't like    
   all the hustle and bustle of it or that she didn't feel right being    
   there. Which was why she now found herself exiting her car to enter    
   an impressive looking building.   
      
   After thanking the doorman, she quickly located the elevators. She    
   could admire everything on her brisk walk.   
      
   The ride up in the elevator was smooth. Normally she felt disoriented    
   on elevator rides. She'd take the stairs any day. Not all the way to    
   the thirty-seventh floor, though.   
      
   There was a short walk to the front door. Dana must have been waiting    
   for her; she flung the door open as soon as she stepped off the    
   elevator.   
      
   Dana pulled her mother into a hug. "There wasn't too much traffic,    
   was there?"   
      
   "No, dear. Everything on the way was fine," she assured. "And this is    
   a lovely building."   
      
   "Wait till you see our place." Dana took her mother's hand and led    
   her inside.   
      
   Maggie's jaw would have dropped had she not have been preparing    
   herself.   
      
   "Fox certainly can provide for the two of you, can't he?" she asked    
   rhetorically. "Dana, this is beautiful."   
      
   "Tell him that. I've only added a  few touches here or there."   
      
   "Where is Fox today?"   
      
   "He and Cassie are at the park with Snickers," she provided. At her    
   mother's pointed look, she added, "the puppy. They'll be back later.    
   I asked if they could leave for a few hours."   
      
   "What did you want to tell me?"   
      
   "How `bout I give you the tour first?"   
      
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   "I wish my bedroom was this big," Maggie said, looking at the    
   fireplace. "I think I'm jealous. Especially of that kitchen."   
      
   "Why don't you just knock out one of your bedroom walls? We kids    
   don't live there anymore," Dana suggested. But Maggie waved it off.   
      
   "how long has Fox lived here?"   
      
   "Um… about three years now," she recalled.   
      
   "Are you planning on staying here or moving to a house anywhere in    
   the future?" Maggie prodded.   
      
   "I don't know, mom. We only got engaged a week ago. All we've done so    
   far is set a date."   
      
   Maggie gasped and spun around. "When is it?"   
      
   Dana sat down on the bed with a loud sigh. "Well, originally we    
   thought about April, but then realized we wanted more time to plan.    
   We were thinking about June, but then that seemed extremely    
   stereotypical. We didn't want to plan and wait for an entire year so    
   we settled on May 16th."   
      
   "But that's only five months. That's no better than April," Maggie    
   complained.   
      
   "We're getting a planner, mom," Dana assured. "Besides, that day and    
   month are significant to us."   
      
   "A planner?"   
      
   "Mom."   
      
   "I'll stop, I'll stop." Maggie stepped over to her daughter. "What's    
   the matter, dear?"   
      
   Dana exhaled sharply, her discomfort she'd been trying to hide now    
   obvious. "nothing, mom. I just haven't been feelings well for a few    
   days."   
      
   "Are you sick?" Maggie felt her daughter's forehead.   
      
   "I don't know, mom. I've been too busy to see the doctor. Between    
   Cassie and work, I've had no time to spare. I've been working    
   overtime at the hospital."   
      
   "Why?"   
      
   "We're understaffed. One of the doctor's left for a better job. We    
   all have to work extra hours."   
      
   "Dana, you know what that does to you," Maggie reminded.   
      
   "I know, but I have to," she defended. "I go back to my regular    
   schedule tomorrow."   
      
   "Well, that's good." She sat next to her on the bed. "How have things    
   been around here besides that?"   
      
   "Very good. We've been getting together a guest list."   
      
   "Forget the wedding for a moment, Dana," Maggie insisted. "How's your    
   home life?"   
      
   Dana looked over at her mother like she'd grown a second head. "Why    
   are you asking me this?"   
      
   "You seem tense, Dana."   
      
   "The only reason I'm tense is because of what I have to tell you."   
      
   "What could possibly be making you this tense?" Maggie wondered,    
   rubbing her daughter's back.   
      
   "Let's go downstairs."   
      
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   Maggie watched Dana as she moved around the living room. She seemed    
   jittery. She had some papers in her hand but Maggie couldn't make out    
   what they were.   
      
   "I just wanted you to see this. I want your opinion of it. I'm kind    
   of nervous about it, that's why I wanted you to see it first," she    
   explained, walking slowly back to the couch.   
      
   Maggie said nothing, sensing that was what Dana wanted. Dana handed    
   the papers over to her mother, noticeably shaky. Maggie brought her    
   attention slowly over to the papers. She glanced over the first few    
   pages before she realized what she was reading.   
      
   "You want Fox to legally adopt Cassie?" she finally spoke, a hint of    
   shock in her voice.   
      
   Dana joined her mother on the couch, her eyes focused anywhere but on    
   her. "yes, I do. I've been thinking about it for a while now. I think    
   now is the right time."   
      
   Maggie was speechless for a moment. She glanced back over the pages,    
   suddenly wanting to read every detail. "You've signed you name    
   already," she noticed.   
      
   Dana nodded. "All I'm waiting for is his signature."   
      
   "What did you need me for?"   
      
   "To approve, I guess. To let you know it's happening. To see what you    
   think," she listed.   
      
   Maggie set the papers to the side and placed her hands in her    
   lap. "Well, I approve. Fox is a wonderful man. He can certainly take    
   care of the two of you."   
      
   "Yes, he can but there's still something on you mind, isn't there?"   
      
   Maggie grimaced. "Well, it just worries me that he provides too much."   
      
   "Too much?" Dana repeated, not understanding.   
      
   Maggie searched for words. "That Cassie might become too privileged.    
   I don't want her to lose sight of reality as she grows up."   
      
   "Mom, I know you think he spoils Cassie a lot but he doesn't. Cassie    
   is still a normal little girl. She's still the same as before. She    
   just has some perks when it comes to simple things. You have to    
   remember, mom, she's only five. She doesn't always get her way. She    
   does get disciplined and not always by me."   
      
   Maggie averted her gaze. She knew Dana had her priorities straight.    
   She also knew she wouldn't let Cassie become too spoiled. It was    
   still nice to hear it out loud.   
      
   "I know that. I just don't want either of you to lose sight of that.    
   I don't want you to lose sight of your values. I think Fox is the    
   perfect man for you, and the perfect father for Cassie. He's made you    
   a new person, in a good way. I like this new Dana. She smiles more."   
      
   "I like the new me, too," Dana agreed. She moved closer to her    
   mom. "We won't lose sight of reality. I promise. We'll let her know    
   you can only rely on money."   
      
   "Thank you, that's all I ask."   
      
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   Continued in next chapter……..   
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
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