"Sit." Tina commanded her eldest, as she and Bette made their way towards Kit’s office.

Angelica obediently sat down beside her sister, at the same table as three of her parents’ closest friends.

"In trouble again?" Katie, 8 years old — turning nine — and ten times more sensible than her older sister, asked.

Angelica sulked.

"Cheer up, kid, we’re sure the parentals are more concerned than be out to punish you," Alice advised. Beside her, Shane nodded her agreement.

"Face time with The Kitchen Nazi," Angelica told her aunts.

Shane and Alice both winced. "Ouch."

Dana frowned at them. "That’s my fiancée you’re talking about."

"Hey, you break up and wait more than a few years to come back and realize you want to try long-term with her." Alice argued. "We’re entitled to have our opinion."

Dana shook her head.

"Dane, your girlfriend’s scary in the kitchen." Alice said matter-of-factly.

Shane turned to Angelica. "My sincerest sympathies."

Angelica nodded. "Thanks."

"You still shouldn’t have crashed your car." Shane reminded.

Katie was still studying her sister.

Angelica frowned at her. "What?"

The two, with seven years’ age difference, were products of two totally contrasting stages of their mothers’ lives. Angelica, born in the middle of a tumultuous period for Bette and Tina, and the following months not as perfect as anyone would have expected from the übercouple.

Katie, in the meantime, had been born when the Kennard-Porter family had settled in, both in jobs they enjoyed, paid well, and gave them enough time to take care of their family. Named after Bette’s older sister, Katie was less tempestuous, less headstrong, and more insightful than her own older sister.

But she still grew up in the capable hands of her mothers’ friends, which meant she could still be tempestuous and headstrong if she wanted.

Katie reached over, and gripped Angelica’s bandaged shoulder. "Does this hurt?"

"Fucking —!" Angelica wailed, stopping herself before she finished the sentiment.

It was still too late.

"Watch the language," Bette warned, returning to the table.