“And I should’ve been there to listen,” Bette added, quickly shaking away the melancholy. “In any case, it’s the past.”

Tentatively, Tina reached for Bette’s hand. She let the words sink in, the gesture dissolving past guilt within them. They watched Angelica play, basking in the rare family time.

“I don’t want anyone else but you, Bette.” She held Bette’s hand tighter. “Despite all we’ve been through, I only wanted you.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” Bette couldn’t keep the bitterness out of her voice.

Her body froze. Tina was careful not to withdraw from their precious proximity. She took deep, calming breaths. “Yet, here we are.”

“Again,” Bette quipped.

“Again.”

The young child chose that moment to turn around, and graced her mothers with a gummy grin. The presence of the women was tonic to her fever.

“Na!” she held her hand high.

“Do you want banana, Boo?” Bette smiled at her daughter.

Angelica nodded eagerly, climbing onto her Mama B’s lap. “Baby na!”

“Demanding lil angel, isn’t she?” Tina brought their joined hands and kissed them lightly, then reaching over to kiss Angelica on her head. “I’ll get it. Be right back.”

Both mother and daughter watched the blonde make her way to the kitchen. Both let out a sigh of relief when she was out of sight. The little girl rested her head on Bette’s shoulder, staking a claim her birth mother so painstakingly working to get back. She fiddled with the T-shirt Bette wore, its pattern holding her attention.

When Tina returned to the living room, a subdued Angelica was in quiet conference with her other mother. “Hey, who wants banana?”

The prolonged squeal was enough to jolt both women awake. She squirmed in Bette’s arms, only settling down when Tina sat next to them. Angelica consumed the fruit with gusto, the remnants of fever long forgotten.

Bette and Tina took turns feeding their daughter. Their synchronicity was a new experience for the child, who delighted in spending more time with both her mothers. By mid-morning, though, her body began to demand downtime.

“I’ll take her to the room,” Bette tried to keep her yawn at bay.

“Why don’t you take my bed? With Angelica, I mean,” Tina hastily added, mentally slapping herself at the slip. “You both should take a nap.”

“What about you? You look like you could use a nap, too,” Bette said softly.

“Why don’t we both lie down with her?” Tina smoothed errand strands of Angelica’s curly hair. “The bed’s big enough for star fish and the two of us.”

She stifled her chuckle. “I am kind of tired.”

“Good, let’s go then,” Tina tried not to let her joy overtake her senses. At least Bette is within grasp, she consoled herself.

Tina stood, accepting the slumbering child from Bette before leading her toward the bedroom. Bette entered the room after them, and pulled back the sheets so that they could get in.

It was surreal, Tina thought as she watched Bette navigated around her bedroom so easily. The woman was so comfortable in her space, even though she had not been there before. It gave her hope.

After she had placed Angelica in the middle of the bed, the two women slowly climbed in. They rested on their sides, and faced each other. This was something they had both yearned for, and now it became reality.

“Sweet dreams,” Tina whispered to Bette.

Bette reached over her daughter, her fingers caressing Tina’s face. Tina captured the hand, bringing it to her lips and softly kissed the palm. She remembered doing this, the gentle touches they shared. “Sweet dreams.”