“Agreed.” Bette stretched out her hand from the other side of the bed and Tina leaned over to shake on it, their hands joined together right above where the notebook lay on the bedspread.

Chapter 10

Angie’s eyes snapped open and she flung the covers off and jumped out of bed. It was Christmas!

She ran down the stairs and skidded in her socked feet into the living room. A heap of presents was sitting under the tree.

“Awesome!” She ran towards it and picked up a large box in silver wrapping and a huge purple bow that had her name on it, and was poised to rip it open when a voice behind her stopped her.

“Just a minute, miss.”

Angie turned around and grinned at her mother Bette. “Merry Christmas, mom!”

“Merry Christmas. Now put that down and come into the kitchen. Your aunt Kit, your mom and I have been waiting for you to get up. Kit made those sticky cinnamon buns you like. Go get one and say good morning. I’ll join you guys once I go get the camera.”

“Then can I open my presents?”

“Then we all will.”

“Okay.” Angie scrambled up from the floor and practically skipped into the kitchen. “Hi!” She went over to aunt Kit and gave her a huge hug.

“Hey, Ladybug. Merry Christmas.”

Angie untangled herself from aunt Kit and hugged both of her moms in turn before sitting down on a stool and accepting the cinnamon bun and a glass of milk. She would have preferred to open her gifts first but this was pretty cool. She never got anything this sweet to eat, even on her birthday. She listened to the adults talk about David coming by later that day and tried not to eat too fast in her impatience.

She noticed her moms were all smiles this morning like they had been for the past few days. Angie recalled how they had sat her down and told her all about how they had talked and that things were going to be different from now on.

Her mom Bette cleared her throat and said, “If I may have everyone’s attention please, I have an announcement I’d like to make.”

“Don’t make it too long, now,” Kit interjected. “Some of us want to get to the presents already. Am I right?” She nudged Angie with her elbow and Angie giggled.

“It won’t take long. I just wanted all of you to know – I’ve found a new job!”

“Really? That’s great!” Kit said.

Angie slid down off her stool and hugged Bette. “I’m happy for you, Mom.”

“Thank you. It’s just a part time thing at a gallery downtown. It will give me something to do while you’re at school. And, you know, I’ve missed working.”

Angie released Bette from the hug and saw her mom looking from Tina down at Angie. “It’s okay with you guys, isn’t it?”

“Of course!” Tina said.

“Yep!” Angie added she took a step back as her mothers embraced and shared a kiss. She looked over at Aunt Kit, who winked and gave her a thumbs up.

Her parents were happy again, and as Angie watched them chatting with Aunt Kit she realized the presents under the tree could wait. The best gift ever was standing right there in front of her.

The End