When Bette returned to the room, she saw that Kit had placed nice paper plates and bowls on the guest table.  Her sandwich was laid out next to the small salad.  The fruit was in a small bowl and the bottled lemonade had already been opened, but not poured.  Kit was talking to Tina, sounding like she was having a regular conversation with someone who might respond.  Bette looked over, but turned away.  Kit picked up Tina’s hand and kissed her knuckles lightly.  “You get as much rest as you need, Mama Tee cause I know your little girl is going to have you racing all over the house the next few years.”

“Thanks for lunch,” Bette said as she sat down.

Kit stood and walked over to her sister.  She put her hand on her shoulder.  “I saw Alice and Dana.  They’re desperate to see you and Tina and the baby again.  Shane wants to come, too.  Helena…”

Bette glared at Kit.

“Helena, asked how Tina was doing, but she didn’t ask to come see her.”

“I should think not.”

“So, can I tell ‘em to come on by?  They really want to see Tina, Bette.”

Bette picked at the bagel, pulling off a tiny bit of the bread and chewing slowly.  “They can come, I guess.” 

“Eat it, don’t pick at it.”  Kit watched her sister eating the meal she had brought.

Bette nodded and noticed her iPod and the iPod HomeDock on the table next to Tina’s bed.  “Why’d you bring that?”

“You could use some cheering up.  I brought you some books and magazines, too.”

“I’m too busy with Angelica and Tina.”

“Well,” Kit took a seat across from Bette.  “If you need a break, they’re here.”

Kit stayed for two hours talking to Bette, holding and kissing Angelica, and wishing all her best to Tina.  If Bette really needed her, Bette would reach out.  She didn’t reach out often, but when she did, Kit knew it was for real and that whatever was troubling her felt insurmountable.  She would be there when the time came.

Now, Bette sat alone and dusk was drawing near.  She had watched the nurses express Tina’s milk two more times and she fed the bottles to Angelica who was then put down for a nap in the communal nursery.  She stared at Tina, saying nothing, thinking nothing.  It was almost time for the nurse to return with Angelica and she had prepared the bottle for her.  Bette glanced at the magazines and books on the table, then walked over to the iPod and began shuffling through it.  She found a song, stuck her ear buds in and listened to the first few notes.  She stopped it, pulled the headphones plug out of the player, and placed it in the docking station before bending to Tina.  “Tee?  Tina?  Baby, I miss you a lot.  Everyone keeps telling me that Angelica looks like me, but she has your eyes.  I see you so clearly when I look at her.”  Bette’s eyes drifted across the room, seemingly searching for something—the words, an answer, a reason--before returning to rest on Tina’s face.  “She needs her other Mama, too.  Please come back soon.”