Two weeks later…

Tina set Angelica’s Dora the Explorer backpack on the kitchen table and put three of the little girl’s box juices in a baggie and on top of her sweater. There was a knock at the door. Tina glanced up at the wall clock noting that Jodi was prompt.

Opening the door, Tina was greeted by Tom first.

“Hi Tina.”
“Hi Tom,” Tina replied looking behind him.
“She remember that she had some things in the back seat that shouldn’t be. She’ll be right in.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Um, the car seat?”
“Yeah, yeah.,” Tina said grabbing her car keys off the end table. “So how have you been?”
“Good. Finally finishing some pieces,” Tom answered following Tina down the driveway.
“Will you be having a show?”
“Don’t know about that yet.”

Tina reached in the back and unlocked the car seat

“I’ll get that,” Tom offered.

Stepping back,Tina smiled. She saw Jodi walking up to them.

“Hi Jodi.”
“Hi Tina. So is Angie ready?”
“Yeah. I’m sure Bette is down dressing her and giving her the ‘how to behavior for others’ lecture,” Tina laughed.
“How many times does Bette think she needs to hear that? Angie is a smart kid. I’m sure she remembers it.”
“You’re right. At this point its probably Angelica who is reciting the speech to Bette.”

Jodi laughed.

“Lets go inside. There are a few tings I want to give you,” Tina said turning around walking back inside.

*****

“So here is my number and I’m sure you still have Bette’s so…”
“All I need is the little girl,” Tom translated.
“That would help. Let me see what’s taking them so long,” Tina walked to the back.

****

Tina stopped just inside Angelica’s room. She found Bette sitting on the child’s bed cuddling with her.

“Babe?”
“Shhh. She’s asleep.”
“Jodi is here.”
“Hmm.”
“She’s here to pick up Angie,” Tina stressed.
“Can we just tell her that Angie changed her mind?” Bette asked stroking the little girl’s hair.

She hadn’t taken her eyes off the sleeping child.

“That would be lying and unfair to Angelica.”
“I don’t want her to go. I don’t want Jodi to take her,” Bette finally said making eye contact with Tina.

Tina stood there taking in the scene before her; Bette holding their daughter tightly against her chest. She wanted desperately to climb on the bed and hold the both of them. But Tina kept her distance.

“Babe, you told Jodi that she could spend time with Angie. She made plans. You should see Jodi. She has the big smile on her face, a sparkle in her eye. She’s excited.”
“Fuck her excitement. Angelica is my child. And I don’t want Jodi anywhere near her,” Bette replied with a cold as steel tone.

Tina stared at her partner and saw the other woman’s fear.

“Okay. I’ll tell Jodi that she can’t see Angie today.”
“Ever,” Bette muttered under her breath.

Tina didn’t respond to that remark. She turned on her heel and took the few steps down the hall.

*****


“She gone?” Bette asked sensing Tina standing again in the doorway.
“Hmm. Yeah.”

Tina stayed still once again watching Bette holding their daughter.

“Please say what ever it is you’re gonna say,” Bette begged not feeling comfortable with her wife staring.
“I know you’re still hurting over the end of your relationship with her. And you are terrified of her motives of wanting to see Angie, but I trust Jodi would never hurt our daughter.”
“You don’t know that,” Bette snapped.


Tina just squinted her eyes at Bette in disbelief. She took a deep breathe.

“If you want to argue, I suggest you do it with yourself.”

Tina walked away.