Tina: Ladies, let’s not fight; yet.

Bette: I’ll grab those cards and peek in on the girls.

Angelica: Have fun Momma? Play?

Bette: Not this time Boo, you play with Zoey. I’m going to play with Mommy.

Angelica: K.

Bette: They are fine. I found the cards too.

Tina: Julie, deal first.

Bette: Drinks for everyone?

Tina: I’d like to nurse my cake and some milk while we play.

Julie: That sounds good, but I’ll join you and Meredith with coffee.

Tina slices up the cake while Bette serves the coffee. There is lots of taunting, trash talking and laughs during the games. Meredith is clearly the most competitive of the group. Julie knows exactly what buttons to push to get her excited and Bette and Tina enjoy the spectacle. Meredith takes two games, while Bette and Tina each take one. Julie is shut out, but Meredith tries to soften the blow.

Meredith: Aw baby, I won that last one for you.

Julie: Oh no, don’t try to butter me up now. You are so cut off when we get home.

She can’t even keep a straight face as she says that and the four ladies all break out in laughter.

Tina: I’m going to go check on the girls. Angelica probably needs to be changed.

Julie: Same is probably true for Zoey. I’ll come with you.

Meredith: Bette, let me help you with clean up.

Bette: Thanks, there isn’t much to do.

Meredith: Hey I understand you’re adoption hearing is Tuesday. Boy do I remember going through that with Zoey.

Bette: How did you cope?

Meredith: Well Julie was my rock. I practically drove our attorney crazy.

Bette: Well Tina has been awesome for me. In California we weren’t nearly as well connected going through the adoption.

Meredith: That had to be hard on you.

Bette: That process nearly ate me alive. This time things are really gone smoothly and it is so great having Tina really by my side.

Meredith: She’s definitely with you Bette. Her love for you is obvious and you two share a powerful connection. Angelica is reflection of that. The judge will see that.

Bette: What was it like in the court room that day?

Meredith: Honestly, it’s kind of sterile. Just a big chamber, hard benches and high ceiling. However, the process with the judge is very personal. Our judge commented on our case. Looked me in the eye and seriously counseled me on the seriousness of the step I was about to take. Once I heard the word “granted”, nothing else she said mattered. Julie heard the rest. I just ran to Zoey and hugged her tight.