The combination of the half hour of playing and the shower exhausted the toddler and soon dozed off in her mothers arms.  Tina heard the even breathing and placed her daughter back in the cocoon of pillows.  She watched as the baby slept and felt her love grow with every rise and fall of infant’s tiny chest.  It wasn’t long before mother joined daughter in slumber oblivious to the sound of the front door opening. 

Bette walked into their bedroom and felt her chest muscles tighten at the sight before her.  She left the items she was carrying forgotten on the floor and made her way to her side of the bed, now occupied by their daughter.  She took the place of one of the pillows facing mother and daughter reached over and gently placed her hand over Tina’s.  Tina opened her eyes and smiled; Bette smiled back and whispered to her.

“I’m sorry”

“It’s okay” Tina whispered back

“No it’s not okay.  I don’t want you to feel like I’m putting you and Angie second to anything.” Tina lifted a finger to her lips temporarily silencing her as they both got up from the bed quietly.  Making sure that she did not wake the sleeping beauty Tina carried her from their bed to her crib then turned to go into the kitchen.  She lit the stove to get the kettle going for tea then turned to Bette who joined her after changing into her sleep ware.

“It’s okay.  I know how you get when you feel passionate about something and as long as one of us is here with her I can deal with it” Bette looked flame under the kettle and nervously said

“I’m a little jealous of you” Bette nervously admitted

“Why?” Tina looked incredulously at her

“You’re so busy now, running around chasing meetings dealing with clients and your cell phone rings off the hook. I’m starting to feel less important”

“It’s not like I want to do it, we need the money babe and with you not working it just means that I have to step it up more.  It’s different when you were supporting the two of us” the kettle went whistled and she turned it off to prepared two cups tea “I told you before we got back together that she is the center of my world.  Well now there are two in that center, and I promised when there was only the baby in that center to be the best mother that I can be” she handed Bette one of the mugs “and now that there are two I have added another vow; to be the best mother and partner that I can be.”