“We’re spending so much time together we really should think about moving in together again.  I mean, I’d like to live with you and Angie full-time, if you want to.”  Bette looked at Tina hopefully.  Tina stopped and faced Bette, taking both of her hands.

       “Bette,” she began slowly, pursing her lips.  “I am so afraid we’re going to fuck this up.  I don’t think we should rush into anything.”  Tina could see Bette’s face fall and it broke her heart.

        “I don’t want us to fuck this up either, Tina.  It just seems the logical thing to do.  We spend every night together and we’re moving Angelica around from your place to mine and back.  It has to be unsettling for her.  We need to think about Angelica’s best interests.  And Tina, I want us to be a family again.”

       “That didn’t turn out so well last time we rushed into things, did it?”  Tina said it as more a statement than a question.  She thought of Josh and Henry and how confused she’d felt and how hurt Bette had been.  “Bette, I’m not saying that I want to be with anyone else, man or woman.  I want us to figure out how to not end up in the same places we were in last time.  We have to do that first.”

       “I don’t see what that has to do with us living together in a home with our daughter.”

“I can’t,” Tina pleaded, “please don’t ask me that.”  Bette looked down and nodded with resignation.  Tina looked at Bette and then looked away.  She saw Angelica running towards them and touched Bette’s cheek.  Tina didn’t want Angelica to see how serious they were being.  She smiled and Bette and said “I love you.”  Bette smiled and said, “I love you too” just as Angelica arrived.

“Mamas, you have to come and see!”  Angelica grabbed Tina and Bette’s hands and began tugging them down the path.  Bette laughed and swooped Angelica into her arms.

“What is so exciting, pumpkin?”  Bette kissed Angie on the forehead.

“It’s a surprise, by Grandma and Grandpa.  Please put me down Mama B.  We have to hurry.”

Once on the ground, Angelica took off down the path again, pausing periodically to look back at her mothers and gesture for them to hurry.  Every bend produced another sea creature or bird and Angelica squealed with delight at every encounter.  Each time Angelica waved her arm grandly for them to hurry to next surprise, Tina chuckled.  Bette loved her smile.