Cape Cod, 5 Years Ago II
Beyoncé collapsed on Ronda's couch from exhaustion. Ronda got a blanket from the guest bedroom and covered her. The next thing she did once she checked to make sure that Beyoncé was alright was to call up her brother.
"Hey big bro." She said. "Beyoncé's here. What? No, I just found her outside, she didn't call me or anything. I don't know. Oh my god her parents must be worried to death. She must've driven all night." She cast a glance over at the sleeping girl. "She's fine. She's sleeping on the couch, poor thing. She probably drove all night, I mean, we're at least ten hours away. I just have a small favor to ask. Could you keep this a secret between us? Yeah, I know her parents are worried sick but... just for now at least until Beyoncé calms down a little. I know, I'll take full responsibility if this goes to shit. Yes, I'll take care of her, big bro, don't worry." When she hung up and walked back into the living room, Carmen was there watching Beyoncé with concern.
"How is she?" Ronda asked.
"Tired, mostly." Carmen replied. "God, I can't imagine what she must be going through." Ronda nodded. She sat down next to Carmen and stroked Beyoncé's hair.
"How are you?" Carmen asked.
"Healing. I'm doing much better than this one at any rate."
"She was your favorite neice." Carmen whispered.
"Yes, she was." Ronda replied, looking at the picture on the mantle. Carmen took her hand.
"What do we do about her?" Carmen asked.
"She can stay here as long as she needs." Ronda replied.
"You know we can't do that. She needs to be with her parents right now."
"I told my bro not to mention it to them." Carmen stood up and stared at her wife in shock. She pulled her hand away violently.
"You did what?" Carmen demanded. Ronda looked at her seriously, putting a finger to her lips to silence her. She walked upstairs into the master bedroom with Carmen in tow.
"Look, this poor girl shows up out of nowhere and cried in my arms for an hour. She just lost her bestfriend, possibly more than that from what Kels told me. She didn't tell her parents where she was going so that must mean that she needs time away from all of that."
"They are her parents, Ronda. This isn't a game." Carmen shouted. "She ran away from home and I am not letting her parents go without knowing where she is." She grabbed the phone next to the bed stand and hit redial.
"Carmen!" Ronda yelled, grabbing at the phone.
"You need to grow up." Carmen hissed. "Yes, Beyoncé lost her but I am not going to stand by and watch like this." The voice on the other end of the line answered. "Hey, dear brother-in-law, I know your sister just called you but could you make sure that Beyoncé's parents know where she is? Ok, yeah, I know what she said but hell if you don't tell her parents. Yeah, ok, bye." She hung up. Ronda stood with her hands clenched and her jaw slack in disbelief. The two of them stared at each other, neither of them backing down. Ronda closed her eyes.
"I need you to go to work right now." She said slowly
"Are you kicking me out?" Carmen demanded.
"No. I just need you to go to work right now so that I don't say those words." Ronda replied, keeping her eyes closed. She felt that if she looked at her wife, that she would tell her that she needed to pack up and leave for a few days. Carmen looked away, hurt.
