A week later, Candi was still feeling sick, and she was starting to feel tired and weak. She got out of bed, and slowly got ready for another meeting with her group.

While she was brushing her teeth, Máiréad knocked on the bathroom door.

"Come in." Candi said.

She did so. "Candi, Darling, I know you haven't been feeling well for a while. Do you think you should stay home today?"

"No. My friends need my help. I don't mind going."

"Well, should I call the doctor to schedule an appointment?"

"Sure." Candi chuckled. "I'd like to know how to get rid of whatever I have."

"Alright. I'll call now."

Máiréad ran to the phone as Candi finished getting ready.

At the group meeting, Candi had brought a CD of all the songs she had chosen for her group to sing, as well as a list. Today was the day that everyone would vote for about fourteen to fifteen songs to sing.

"Alright, everyone. I have the list of songs to choose from. You can all pass it around. Then, I'll play samples from my CD. Afterwards, we'll all vote for the songs we want. Each song has at least one solo in it. I want everyone to have a chance to sing a solo. While I pass the list around, I want to know how things are going for each of you." Candi handed the list to Teresa, who was sitting at the very end of the front row.

Chloe raised her hand.

"Yes, Chloe?"

"I actually wanted to talk to you... in private."

"Are you sure you can't say it here?"

"No. It's a bit embarrassing." Chloe laughed nervously.

"Alright."

Mae raised her hand.

"Mae, how are things with you and your mum?"

Mae sighed. "Last night, I tried to talk to her, but she wouldn't listen to me. Like, I was trying to tell her that I wish she would support me, and actually be there for me. She said she didn't have time to listen to my sob stories."

"What?!" Natasha shrieked.

"Then, I overheard her on the phone. She was gossiping with one of her girlfriends. She said some really mean stuff about me. She said she couldn't wait to get rid of me. She hates me."

"Did she actually say that?!" Natasha asked in shock.

"Yes. Her exact words were, 'I can't wait to get rid of my bratty daughter. Mae is so annoying. I'm sick of her pathetic stories about how I don't care. Well, duh! Of course, I don't care. I hate her. I can't even remember why I bothered giving birth to her.'"

"What kinda mama hates her own kid?"

"Mine."

"I know. What kinda mama is she? Oh, you don't gotta answer that."

Mae laughed a little.

"I can't believe there's actually people out there that hate they own kids."

"I know," Melanie said sympathetically. "I'm really sorry, Mae."

Tears fell from Mae's eyes. "I don't get it. She never used to be like that. We used to be so close. Then, my dad gets arrested, and she suddenly hates me. I can't wait to get away from her. When I turn eighteen, I'm moving away from her, and she'll never have to see me again!" she sobbed.

Candi gave Mae a big hug as she cried. "Oh, Sweetie."

"I feel like an orphan."

"I know. Your father's in jail, and your mother's treating you horribly. I know you feel like an orphan, because neither of your parents are really there for you. But, let me tell you something that may make you feel better. I mean this from the bottom of my heart."

"What?"

"I love you as if you were my own daughter."

"Really?"

"Of course. I always have, and the same applies to everyone here. I view all of you as my own children, my brothers, and my sisters. You're all a part of my family, and that makes me feel so blessed." Candi held Mae tighter. "Mae, if you'll let me, I will come with you, to your house, and I'll try talking to your mother. If she won't listen, I'll adopt you myself."

Mae smiled through her tears. "Are you really serious about that?"

"I would never lie to you."

"When will you be able to come over?"

"How about right after today's meeting?"

"Thanks, Candi."

"You're more than welcome."

Just then, Mae received the song list. She read through it. "I wanna do You Raise Me Up for you, Candi."

"Awww."

"Thanks for everything."

"Anytime."

Then, Méav raised her hand.

"Méav, how's everything going for you and the baby? I remember you saying he's been sick."

"He's okay. I took him to the doctor."

"Oh, I'm glad."

"Yeah. I was really scared."

"I can imagine."

"Thanks for praying for him. I think that may have helped him a lot."

"You're welcome." Candi sighed. "I may need prayers as well. Lately, I've been feeling sick, and I'm not exactly sure what I have. I thought it was the flu, but flu medicine hasn't had any effect on me. I'm seeing a doctor on Monday. I'm quite nervous to know what it is. I hope I'll be alright, because I want to be here for each of you for a long time. Will you please pray for me?"

"Of course, we will, Candi," Charity said sweetly.

"Thank you all."

"I hope you'll be okay," said Brad.

Candi nodded. "I hope so, too."

After the meeting, Candi kept her promise to Mae. She drove Mae home, so she could have a talk with her mother.

They were parked outside of Mae's house.

"Candi, I'm scared," Mae worried.

"You don't have to be afraid. I will be right beside you, holding your hand, and I'll do all the talking, if you feel you can't say anything. I won't abandon you."

"It's not you. I'm scared of how my mom's gonna treat you. I'm gonna be so mad if she says something mean to you."

"It's okay, Honey." Candi hugged Mae. "Let's go."

Candi and Mae walked right up to the front door, and rang the doorbell.

Mae's mother opens the door. "Yeah?" she says in a snotty tone.

"Mrs. Malone?"

"Excuse me! It's Esmeralda."

"I'm sorry, Esmeralda. I'm Candelaria Solas, Mae's choral director and friend. We need to talk."

"Fine," Esmeralda snapped. "Come in."

Candi and Mae follow Esmeralda into the kitchen.

"I suppose you're here to tell me that Mae came to you, whining about what a horrible mother I am," Esmeralda snarled. "Well, let me save you the trouble. Mae is my daughter, and I will treat her the way I want to treat her. She is a spoiled, selfish brat, and all she does is whine, whine, whine! She probably has you wrapped around her wittle finger. She's got you thinking she's so innocent and sweet. Well, I got news for you, Honey. She's a bleep, and I could care less about her pathetic life!"

"Mom, will you stop it?!" Mae shouted. "I'm right here, and I can hear everything you're say about me! I'm not deaf! I have a lot I wanna say to you, and I don't care whether you wanna hear it or not!" She took a deep breath. "How could you treat me like this? I'm your daughter! Ever since dad got arrested, you've been taking out all your anger on me! What did I ever do to deserve this?! We used to be so close! You came to my school plays. You supported me, and you were there for me. Now, you won't even come to my choir concerts, and you never talk to me! All you do is treat me like I'm your punching bag! You think you can say whatever you want about me, and it won't hurt anything. Well, it does! I'm a human being with feelings!"

"Who cares?!" Esmeralda shouted.

"Obviously, not you."

"Esmeralda, Mae is a beautiful and wonderful girl," Candi added. "Don't you see what you're missing out on? I know you're upset about your husband's arrest, but that's no reason to take your feelings out on your daughter. Don't you see? You've hurt her so much that it'll take a lifetime for her to heal."

"How do you know?"

"She came to me today, and she was in tears. During our meeting, she told me everything. She even said that, when she turns eighteen, she's moving out, so you'll never have to deal with her again. Why can't you give her the love and attention she deserves? Why can't you let go of the anger, and stop taking it out on her? Please think about it."