Let the battle begin, Maria thought. "Mom, I can explain. I gave Michael a ride home last night from Isabel's. We watched a movie at his apartment and then I fell asleep. I woke up there this morning. I'm sorry mom. It was very late and I didn't want to wake you."

"That's unacceptable! You knew I would wait up on you!" she screamed. "And spending the night with Michael???? Nutuh! Not going to happen anymore! You are not to see that boy anymore. What were you thinking? You're 16 years old!"

Tears welled up in Maria's eyes. "Mom, you don't understand! I just slept there. Not with him. Well, technically not with him, but that's beside the point. Wouldn't you rather me spend the night there then drive home tired and die in an accident?" Maria knew she was being cold.

"Maria!" her mother cried. "How could you say such a thing?"

"It's the truth mom!" she cried.

"God, you are so much like your father." Mrs. DeLuca blurted out.

"What are you talking about?" Maria asked. "I am nothing like my father. And if I remember right, you don't know who my father is. So what right do you have telling me that I am just like my father."'

"Maria." Mrs. DeLuca looked distraught. "You want to know who your father is? FINE! I was just protecting you from harm. You were born Nicole Ann Murphy. Jack assumed you were his. I knew better though. I didn't ever know your father's name. He was in town one weekend and I never saw him after that. When Jack left I was scared for you. I thought he'd come and try to take you away from me. I changed your name to Maria.and gave you my maiden name, DeLuca for a last name." She looked exhausted. "Here," she said moving to the desk. She opened a drawer and pulled out a picture. "This is your father. I don't know his name and this is all I have left of him. Now it's yours."

Maria looked at her mom. She hadn't meant to hurt her, but she obviously had. "Mom, I'm so sorry. I won't ever let it happen again." She reached over and hugged her mom.

"Is this really my father?" Maria said, looking down at the picture her mom had just given her.

"Yes, sweetie." Her mom said. "Keep that photo always."

"I will mom, I will." She said. She kissed her mom's cheek.

"Can I go over to Isabel's for a while?" she asked.

Mrs. DeLuca looked at her daughter. "After what you pulled last night? I think that is the last place you should be asking to go."

"Mom, this is really important to me." She whined.

"You should have thought about that last night when you were with Michael." She said.