RING RING RING

Hello?

Hey babewhat time are you coming home?

Umaround three or so. Why whats wrong? Are you feeling okay?

Tina smiled at the sincere concern in her wifes voice as she sat down and flipped through a catalog.

No nothings wrong babeI was just wondering because I wanted to get started on the nursery today

Oh okaywell yeahI should be home in a few hoursdo you need me to pick up anything?

NoI have some paint that Alice and I got when we went shopping yesterdayand we have Lizs old cribbut I just wanted to get the room cleaned out and painted.

Okaywell Dana and Shane said they would be over soon to help youdid they call?

Yeahtheyre on their way

Okayjust dont work too hard okay?

Okay babysee you soon

Tina hung up and looked around at what else she could get ready before her friends got here. She was in that nesting phase and she really wanted to clean the babys room out and get it painted and everything today. She went into the garage and found a few boxes and some trash bags and shortly after she heard Shanes truck pull up front. Dana and Shane hopped out arguing about something and they greeted Tina with disgruntled faces.

Tina can you please explain to Shane that while some people find it funny to go on and on about how active and colorful their ***** lives are that some of us dont want to hear it

Yeah Tinaexplain to her what a prude is

Dana looked miffed as Shane just laughed. Tina laughed at both of them and she let them in the house with Dana still sulking and Shane still laughing.

AUNTY!!!!!!!!

Liz came tearing into the living room at top speed and she knocked Dana over onto the couch as she greeted her with a big smile. Dana couldnt help but laugh at the little munchkin and Shane picked her up and held her upside down as she threatened to tickle her.

Hahahaha aunty aunty put me down

Shane gently lowered Liz to the ground and Liz took a careful look at Shane before jumping up and scampering away. Everyone laughed at Lizs antics as the two ladies followed Tina back to the guest room they were converting into a nursery for baby Sky. They got right to work and after a few hours they had all the main stuff out of the way, the boxes of books and clothes were in the garage along with a desk that wasnt necessary. They had pulled the bed and the dresser into the middle of the room and had covered it with a tarp and Dana was just finishing taping another tarp to the floor when Liz came wandering in.

Hi mommywhat are you doing?

Tina pulled Liz over to her. She picked her up and let her see the paint that was on the table.

Were going to paint your brothers room

Can I help?

Tina looked a little skeptical at first but both Dana and Shane thought it would be cute to let Liz help so Tina agreed against her better judgment. Dana and Shane tackled one wall each while Tina sat down and pulled a tray of paint and two sponges over to her and Liz. Tina had the idea to sponge the room a baby blue since the wall was already a bright white color. She showed Liz how to carefully place the sponge in the paint and get just the edge wet and dab it on the wall to make a sponge pattern. Liz found this very fascinating and she watched Tina do it a couple of times before she decided she wanted to try. Tina took one look at Liz and decided to change her first so she left Dana and Shane to paint while she took Liz to get changed. The guest room had a sliding glass door which was open to allow ventilation and while Tina was getting Liz changed into some old clothes, somehow both Shane and Dana had accidentally gotten paint on it and they started freaking out that Tina would be pissed.

It was your fault

My fault? How is it my fault? Youre the one who got paint on it first

They stood there squabbling for a few minutes until they heard a voice behind them.

Actually I think shes just gonna be mad at both of you

They turned around to see Bette standing there smiling at them. Danas head wrinkled in worry while Shane just had her trademark Shane smile. Bette walked over and put an arm around Dana.

Dont worry Danepaint remover will take it right off. Speaking of Tinawhere is she? And where is Liz?

MOMMY!

Liz practically jumped into Bettes arms as she came back into the room followed by a happily surprised Tina who kissed her wife on the cheek.

Hi babewhat are you doing home?

Franklin said he had things under control so he sent me homeyou guys need any help?

Sure

Bette got changed into some old clothes and soon the four ladies plus one were working diligently on the walls. With four of them working they got three of the walls done very quickly and Tina and Liz were coming along fine on their wall. Bette watched proudly as Liz picked up the sponge and dipped it into the paint being careful not to get it too wet. A couple of times she had dunked the whole sponge and Tina had to wring it out as best she could so that the sponge effect would turn out how she wanted. Liz tapped the sponge on the wall and she smiled proudly at Bette who just laughed.

Very good sweetheart. Well Im starvinganyone want lunch?

Me

Me.

Me

Okay thenIll go pick up some sandwiches for us

Bette went to change her shirt before going to get lunch and Dana and Shane wandered out to the living room to take a break. They had been working for about three hours straight so it was a well-deserved break they were having. Alone in the room Tina laughed at Liz who looked so determined to get things right. Tina really had to pee so she waited for Liz to finish her last imprint then she smiled at her.

Honey mommy needs to go pottywait for me to come back before doing any more okay?

Okay mommy

Tina jumped up and ran to the bathroom leaving Liz alone to study her artwork. She stood and studied the wall like she had seen Bette do whenever she was looking at a piece of art and she shook her head. No no this just wont do, she thought as she looked at the delicate sponge imprints they had been making all morning. She took two sponges and looked at them before smiling to herself as she full on dipped them into the paint leaving them soaked. She then ran up to the wall and smeared the paint all over the walls as she made huge blob imprints over the work that Dana and Shane had been doing all morning.

LIZ!!!

Liz heard her mothers extremely furious voice and when she turned around she looked like a deer caught in the headlights as she stood there as inconspicuous as possible while holding her two pieces of dripping evidence. Tina walked over to her and glared down at her with her arms crossed.

LIZ WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Helping mommy

Tina shook her head at Liz who looked like she might cry and even Dana and Shane had run back into room upon hearing Tinas voice. They saw the walls that Liz had painted over and both of them just looked at Liz with a little anger but mostly sympathy in their eyes. They wouldnt want to be in her shoes for anything.

ELIZABETH KENTORI TOLD YOU TO WAIT UNTIL I GOT BACK

Mommy I was

I know Liz you were just trying to help. Well no more helping today. Come on youre taking a bath and staying in your room for the rest of the afternoon

Tina took Lizs arm and led her to the bathroom where she got her daughter cleaned up. Bette came home to find both Dana and Shane exchanging worried looks and she greeted them with a hesitant smile.

Hey guys whats wrong?

Liz decided to paint the nursery by herself

Huh?

She went into the nursery and saw Lizs paint job on the walls. She shook her head and she could just imagine how upset Tina must be. She turned to Dana and Shane and motioned for them.

Come on guys help me

They quickly took the paint and painted the walls blue as a base and she told them they could just sponge white over it another day. They were just finishing up as Tina came back and Bette looked at her with sad eyes.

Im sorry baby

Its okayLiz feels bad tooI just shouldnt have let her help thats all

Bette went over and put an arm around her as Dana and Shane put the finishing touches on the wall. Tina thanked them for their help and the four ladies shared a quick lunch before Dana and Shane had to leave. Tina just went to bed, still obviously upset about the nursery thing, and she didnt even want to redo the walls now that she had to start all over. The next few days went by with little interaction between Liz and Tina who was still very upset at her daughter and it wasnt until Wednesday night when Liz came into the living room to find Tina. She walked over to her and crawled on her lap.

Im sorry mommy

I know babyits okaywe can fix it another day

Come on

Liz jumped up holding onto Tinas hand who let her daughter drag her towards the nursery.

No Liz another dayits too late now

Liz pushed open the door and Tinas breath caught in her throat. Inside the room the walls had been painted with clouds against the blue background from the other day and Bette was just finishing pushing the crib into place. Tinas eyes watered as she looked down at Liz.

Did you do this honey?

Mommy didI helped

Liz beamed with pride and Tina felt her heart fill with love. She couldnt believe that Bette and Liz finished this in just a few days and more importantly she couldnt believe how forgiving Liz had been about Tina being so grumpy about something that was so easily fixed. She picked Liz up and walked over to Bette who smiled at her with love in her eyes.

You like it baby?

Yeah I love it

The three of them shared a laugh and a hug as Tina admired Bettes work and Lizs help. She could see where Liz did help as there were slight imperfections in some of the clouds and she knew it was Lizs attempt to make things right, but just like life Tina didnt need that. She didnt need the perfect clouds or the perfect family because if she had that then life would be boring. She loved just everything the way it waseven with its little imperfections.