Bette smiled at the way Tina had stroked Angie’s hair until she’d fallen asleep with her head tucked onto her mother’s breast. “Well this is a first.”

“You’ve slept in here before.”

“I know that but I’ve never slept in a bed with a woman and her child. It feels kind of… I don’t want to say weird but… different maybe the word I want to use.”

“You’re kidding?” Bette shook her head as she watched Angie peacefully start to stick her thumb into her mouth and Tina gently bring it back out. “You’ve never been “Auntie” Bette to someone’s child?”

“No I never really thought about women with children.”

“Oh really?” Tina asked raising a brow making Bette’s smile even broader. “I find it hard to believe that with all of the women you encounter on a daily basis none have appealed to you sexually?”

“They’re not women Tina.” That comment made Tina scoff. “Let me explain that…”

“Please do.”

“What I mean is that, they are; at least in my mind; more like science projects.” Tina covered her mouth in order not to laugh out loud and possibly wake Angie.

“Ok.” Tina answered back.

“But they never really seem to translate into anything else other than bodies in flux. They’re not women I could see in other parts of my life.”

“I get it.” Tina said now dropping her eyes back to the hand that was motionless on the back of Angie’s head. Angie had climbed into bed with Tina when she’d woken up earlier that night. Tina was still asleep she’d fallen asleep trying to wait for Bette to get in from the hospital. It was now close to four in the morning and Tina was wide awake watching Angie sleep and talking to Bette in hushed voices above her.

“May I ask you something?” Bette politely asked breaking the near silence that had fallen over them.

“You know you can ask me anything?” Tina looked up to her and saw Bette nervously bite the side of her mouth.

She slightly nodded her head, “I’ve noticed that you are always happy; almost eager to hear stories about my childhood.”

“Is that the question?” Tina retorted back with a soft smile.