“Mummy!”

“I simply didn’t want to disturb their weekend,” he murmured.

“You didn’t follow orders. You fucked up, Franklin,” Peggy corrected. “I remember giving you strict instructions to act post haste! Did I not?”

“Yes, I fucked up.”

“You let Bette go months ago for no reason.”

“Yes, I fucked up.”

“You tried to make it seem Helena’s fault.”

“Yes, I fucked up.”

“Indeed. Not only that. You left Bette feeling undeserving of Helena. Which is simply not true. You were too busy celebrating your own new position, you contemptible heel,” Peggy accused. “That was not part of the plan.”

Bette took a gulp of Absolut, trying desperately to comprehend this entire encounter and Peggy’s explanation.

“However!” Peggy continued. “However, I confess that I underestimated the fervor the meeting between you and Helena would facilitate, Bette. So, in that respect, I am no better than Franklin. I should have known that neither you, nor my lovely Helena, lack in passion and would move forward quickly and with intensity. So Bette…and Helena…”

Suddenly, Bette’s ears pricked up, hearing the door leading from the patio to the kitchen fly open.

“Momma, I hungwy! Want bugga.”

“I’ve got it, Bette,” Alice yelled. “Don’t worry!”

“Get da sauz, monkey!” Angelica said to Harry.

Harry grabbed the bowl off the counter and followed Angelica into the living room. Angie was carrying Fluffy, and Peggy’s pups yapped at her heels.

“Angie, wait! I’ll get your burger,” Alice yelled. “Don’t bother your mom!”

Angelica continued her stroll to the living room, seeking out her mother.

“Momma!”

“Right here, Angie,” Bette called out, leaning forward.

“Momma!” she cried, before halting quickly.

Angelica stared around the room before fixing her eyes on Peggy.

The pups jumped on Peggy’s lap.

Alice peeked around the corner. And carrying the special sauce, Harry stopped abruptly behind Angelica.

“Who dis woman, Momma? Why she still here?” Angelica said, looking intently at Peggy, who was now petting her pups.

“Angelica, this is Helena’s mother, Mrs. Peabody,” Bette introduced Angie.

Angelica’s lips shaped into an ‘O’ as her eyes grew large.

“Oh! Dis da Wion Qween’s mama!” Angelica screamed excitedly.

She let go of Fluffy, who landed quickly, taking refuge at Bette’s feet and staring across at Franklin.

“Me wub you!” Angelica exclaimed, grabbing Peggy’s leg and hugging it.

Fluffy began to hiss and growl at Franklin.

“Who dat ugwy man?” Angelica asked, looking up at Franklin, taking her cue from the kitten. “Dat Scar? Him scare Fluffy. Make him go way!”

Feeling Fluffy’s and Angelica’s agitation, Harry flung the bowl of Helena’s special yellow ‘bugga sauz’ on Franklin, hitting him square in the face.

Harry jumped and chittered and chattered. Fluffy pounced on Franklin’s pantleg and bit and gnawed.

Peggy broke out in rapturous laughter. And she couldn’t stop. She laughed and laughed rubbing the back of Angelica’s head lovingly as the pups jumped down and began to bark at Franklin.

Helena and Bette looked at each other, and then at Franklin, who plied his fingers across his eyes to remove the yellow concoction.

“You not our fwend!” Angelica complained loudly to Franklin above the din. “You go home!”