Too much had happened all at once.

Melvin’s sudden illness and death – Tina’s realization that her life and her future was with Bette, Bette’s firing and Angies unexpectedly difficult birth had left Bette reeling.
Even one of those things would be enough to push a person over the edge.

The last year had been an unrelenting nightmare.
In their quiet dark living room one night, before her father died, Tina promised Melvin that she would take care of his girl – and for the first time, in a long time, a little part of Bette was momentarily soothed – but the starkness of his death and her loneliness because of it, grabbed her peace and threw her back into the maelstrom.

After finally having Tina back in her life and then almost losing her to childbirth Bette let her self be carried along with their mutual joy in the new baby – but she was drained and exhausted. She had never had the time to process how her life had changed and felt unsteady and confused.
Hardly the tools you need to begin again with a lover and new family.

When they left the hospital and the three of them went home together
It was a whirlwind of visits from friends, sleepless nights, and learning a new pattern of life together – there wasn’t much connecting needed, just the ability to get through the days.

At night when they were finally able to lie down, they were too tired to sleep and would often just lie on their backs and stare into space holding hands.

Bette often thought of her father – her daddy – she had no daddy now.
Looking at Angie, all wriggly and new in her crib she would think of how she was in a blessed state of their protection. She and Tina stood between her and the world, and would always be there to make sure she was safe
Melvin was that safety for Bette. She was his little girl, glowing in his eyes, always loved and adored – and now he was gone. There had been no time really, to take in his loss as the baby flew into their lives almost as soon as he had gone.