Bette caught a glimpse of her dejected reflection in the bathroom mirror before drying Angie’s hands and her own and went back out front to the dining area. She scrounged for a bit of the confidence she’d felt earlier after Alice’s pep talk and found none.

Tina had placed the food on the table and Bette situated Angie into her high chair and then sat down herself, remaining quiet as Angie peppered Tina with questions.

Tina sat down and asked Bette to pass the bread bowl. Bette did so without looking up.

Their meal passed in silence only broken by Angelica’s commentary, singing, and both of her mothers answering the toddler’s frequent questions and urging the little girl to just eat her dinner.

Bette felt the misery enclosing in on her. This dinner couldn’t have gone worse. Everything she’d talked about with Alice this afternoon had been hurled out of the window, those warm feelings evaporating in the wake of bitter accusations and the brittle chill of silence that engulfed them. It was an all too familiar feeling, Bette thought, stabbing at her food with her fork. Maybe it would always be this way. Maybe she’d been a fool to think about moving forward and to think about having a chance at a fresh start with Tina. There was no such thing as a clean slate, or starting over. Too much had happened, too much hurt and negativity in their past for it to ever work out…

Bette drew in a sudden breath and set her fork down firmly. “Tina.”

Tina looked up with a raised eyebrow, her expression one that Bette had seen before: ready to do battle, but a little sad, too. Bette had an odd fascination for that look. She loved it, even though she knew what it meant. Just like she loved everything else about Tina. She smiled in spite of herself.

“What?” Tina said defensively.

“Nothing,” Bette replied, feeling a flash of renewed confidence. “I was just thinking how much I love the wrinkle between your eyebrows when you’re angry.”

Tina’s face relaxed for an instant and then turned serious again. “I’m not angry, Bette. I’m just a little hurt…”

“I know, I’m so–” Bette quieted when Tina held up a hand.