”Angelica’s sleeping in here?” Tina stood a few feet into her bedroom and stared at the little girl’s mattress that was set on the floor along one wall.

“Mama T, we’re camping!”

“T, Angie and I thought it would be fun.”

Tina had not moved.  “Why would tonight, of all of the other nights of her life, why would tonight be the one where you first think of camping in our bedroom?”

Bette quickly looked away and focused on Angelica, “We were inspired, weren’t we, Boo?”

Angelica nodded, and made her move, “Mamas, may I sleep in the big bed?”

“No. sweetie.”

“Yes.”

The two mothers spoke simultaneously and contradicted one another.

Angelica was so surprised at the public disagreement that she was unable to take advantage of the dissension.

The mothers contradicted each other.  Tina’s refusal had been consistent with their agreement that Angelica return to sleeping on her own. Since her mothers had reunited, the little girl had often climbed into her mothers’ bed and had curled between them to sleep.  Bette’s agreement to her daughter’s entreaty, however, surprised both mothers.  Tina glared at Bette, who glared back, convinced that her instinctive response was correct.  Angelica looked back and forth at each one, wondering who would prevail.

"Boo, did you brush her teeth?"

"Yes, Mama T."

"Brush them again."

"But they’re clean."

"So then they’ll be even cleaner."

Angelica pushed herself from her mattress and stomped to the ensuite bathroom.

"Close the door!"  Tina instructed.

When the bathroom door was closed, Bette slipped off the bed to the bedroom door and locked it.

Tina watched Bette’s actions, her frown deepening.  "Our daughter is already in here with us, something you haven’t yet explained."

"I don’t think an explanation is needed."  She walked back to her side of their bed, refusing to face Tina as they spoke.

"What does that mean?"  Tina moved closer to the headboard on her side of the bed, trying to get Bette to look at her.

Bette, however, was adjusting the placement of her glasses on the nightstand, checking her alarm clock, fluffing her pillow, and folding the sheet on her side of the bed over the top of the duvet.  She glanced quickly at the small puncture mark in her throbbing hand, but she sensed that this was not the time to ask Tina about the possibility that her nephew might have rabies.