“I’m a little hurt,” Tina repeated, “And… a little jealous.”

“Jealous?” This took Bette aback. “Jealous of what, exactly?”

“Do I have to spell it out? You and Jodi.”

“Tina that is over, so over. You know that.”

“Yes, yes, I do know that. Still doesn’t help with the jealousy, though.”

“Tina. I’ve asked you and Angie to move in with me because I love you. I want to be with you guys. That’s it. You two are all that I care about…” Bette took a breath and steeled herself for what she knew had to be said, “And if you want me to move out of that house, I will. As long as we’re all together, I don’t care where we are.”

Tina looked down and picked at her food.

Bette probed a little further, because she had to know. “T… Do you want to live with me?”

Tina nodded without looking up.

“But you’re really against living in our old house?”

Tina shook her head no.

“Well, that’s good news,” Bette joked.

Tina looked up and their eyes met. Tina gave Bette a little smile.

“Angie,” Tina began, turning toward their daughter. “How would you like it if me and your Mama B lived together in the same place?”

“Okay,” Angie said non-committally, sloppily spooning noodles toward her mouth.

Bette gave a muted giggle. “Not hard to see whom she takes after, is it?” she asked, glancing innocently at Tina.

“Don’t start,” Tina warned.

Bette recognized the familiar sparkle in Tina’s eyes, and was happy that she had been able to tease it back there. “I won’t,” Bette said. She was relived to feel the ice between them starting to melt.

“Bette?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry.”

“I know. I’m sorry, too.”

***

After dinner and putting Angie to bed, they retired to the small living room and sat on the love seat, close together but still with a bit of the same post-argument awkwardness hanging between them. Somehow, though, Bette knew that things would be all right.

Tina leaned over and placed her head on Bette’s shoulder, and Bette responded by lazily stroking a hand through Tina’s hair. The moment was interrupted by Bette’s phone ringing from within her purse on the coffee table in front of them. She intended to just let it ring, but Tina moved away, so Bette, resigned, picked up the phone.