“Yes, sweetie?”

“Harley probably won’t have any toys for Christmas, will she?”

“No, I suppose not.”

“Well… you know what I’m getting. Sneak some of my toys into the bag you’re packing for them okay? But take the name tag off first. So at least she has something to open tomorrow.”

Tina looked at Angelica in surprise. “You really are growing up, aren’t you?”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,” Angelica said with a grin.

Tina opened up her arms and gave Angie a huge hug. “I’m so proud of you, Ang.”

“Thanks, Mom. I’m going to go talk to Harley now,” she said, scampering out of the room. Tina couldn’t help smiling to herself as she quickly folded up some sweaters. It was funny how unexpected situations helped you see truths that had become obscured by stress, routine, and day-to-day problems. Her financial worries aside, she had to admit, she really did have it all.

***

Later on that night, Bette was sitting on the couch in the living room, waiting for Tina to join her. She had opened up a bottle of good wine, and two glasses stood on the coffee table waiting to be filled. She had also retrieved Tina’s present, which was now hidden behind a pillow on Bette’s other side.

Finally Tina appeared, and she was holding a box behind her back. Bette turned halfway to see her and smiled. “What have you got there?”

Tina leaned over the back of the couch and kissed Bette. “A little something.”

She walked around and sat next to Bette with a weary sigh. “What a day. I’m beat.”

“Not too tired I hope.”

“Don’t bring that up again,” Tina warned.

“What, you mean that one Christmas where you ran around doing so many errands and visiting pretty much everyone in town we knew, that you were so exhausted you came home Christmas Eve and crashed until late Christmas afternoon?”

“I can’t believe you let me sleep that long.”