When the phone rang, Tina ran to grab the extension in her room. “Hello?” she asked, trying to not sound anxious.

“T?”

“Bette? Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, it’s just. Oh shit, it’s early. I’m sorry.”

“No, no, it’s fine.”

Tina headed back into Angelica’s bedroom. She tucked the phone under her chin and held out her arms. Angelica readily climbed up from the crib. “We were awake, although one of us is a bit more awake than the other.”

Angelica snuggled closer to her mother.

“Can I talk to her?”

Tina held the phone up to Angelica’s ear. “Angie, it’s Momma B.”

Angelica turned her head, laying it back on Tina’s shoulder and closing her eyes.

As she put the phone back to her own ear she heard Bette’s cooing, “I love you, Boo.” The words, and how they were spoken, warmed Tina’s heart.

“Sorry, it’s me again.”

“Oh.”

Tina frowned at Bette’s disappointed tone, but tried to keep her voice neutral. “She’s just a bit cranky this morning.” Tina seated herself in a rocker, making it easier to hold on to both Angelica and the phone.

She gave Bette a moment to say more, curious about how things were going on Bette’s end but, alternatively, not wanting to hear if that meant listening to success. Bette, however, was not forthcoming with anything.

“I need to get ready, and get her dressed and fed.”

“Tina?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m coming in Sunday night. Do you think I can stop by?”

This weekend would have been Bette’s time with Angelica. Their time together was something that Tina didn’t want to withhold, but that was different from the practicality of making sure the child stayed on her schedule. “I can’t promise she’d be awake.”

“Maybe I’d better not, then.”

“What if you pick her up on Monday?”

“I suppose.”

There was a hint of sadness in Bette’s voice that made Tina want to both comfort her ex-lover and also reach through the phone and throttle the woman. “Bette, she’s been more difficult to both get to sleep and to wake up. I think it’s for the…”

“No, you’re right.”

The ‘giving in’ maneuver. Tina again had to check her thoughts, and not let her past relationship, her prior ways of dealing with Bette, influence what she knew to be a very good decision for her daughter.

“If you want to stop by tomorrow night, you can.” There, the offer was made. “But she will probably be asleep.” Meaning it’s just me, Porter. Decide if that’s what you want.

“I’ll call if I’m coming.”

That’s fair, Tina thought. You did make the invitation. “Okay.”

Again, silence between them.

“Take care,” Tina offered. “I’ve got to go.”

“Yeah.” Again, the dejected tone.

“T?” She heard her name just as she was ready to click off the call.

“Yes, Bette?”

“Thanks.”

In spite of herself, Tina smiled. Something about Bette’s sweet side could always make her smile. “Bye.” She cut off the connection, not wanting the call to linger.

“We’ve got to get you ready to go, my Angel,” Tina said, coxing the sleepy toddler to stand on her thighs as she rocked gently in the chair.

Angelica gave a yawn and shook her head no.

“Yes you do,” Tina repeated, her tone playful.

A little more awake, Angelica was on to the game, and shook her head no again.

Tina wrapped her daughter in a hug before standing. “Yup. We’ve got to get ready, and then we’ve got a big weekend before your Momma B comes home. And then, sweetie, I guess we see where I stand.”

To this, Tina got another ‘no’ headshake from her daughter.

Although the child was still playing her game, the gesture made Tina sad. Bette was coming back, but she had spent the week with Jodi. Did that mean any opportunity between the two of them was truly in the past?

(the end)