Previously....

"I think you should get that, Bette."

"You’re kidding, right?", she asked. She pressed her lips to Tina’s and tried to block out the second ring of the doorbell. And then very quickly afterward, the third.

"Jesus", Bette said reluctantly rising from the sofa. She was now irritated and straightening her clothes as she walked to the door. "The Girl Scouts are serious about making their quotas this year", she muttered. She turned the knob and opened the door and quickly lost her breath. Her eyes widened and found her sister standing on the stoop with a finger to her lips. "Shh", Kit smiled. Next to her was Angus, holding a sleeping Angelica in his arms.

Chapter 37.

Bette stood dumbfounded, not believing her eyes. Believing instead that the emotional and physical exhaustion had finally caught up to her and she was now hallucinating. Tina came quickly from behind. "It’s about time. I didn’t think I could keep it a secret any longer", she beamed.

"Please girl. We got here as fast as we could", Kit said.

Still in her daze, Bette instinctively held out her arms for her baby girl. Angus gently assisted in the transfer as they entered the house. "She was great on the plane. Slept most of the way", he whispered.

Bette rested Angie’s small warm head on her shoulder and took in her scent. It was only at this moment that she allowed herself the realization that she was not dreaming. She was not hallucinating. She was, in fact, holding her daughter. She closed her eyes tightly, permitting one lone tear to slip down her cheek. Months later, when she would recall this moment, she would shed tears freely. Not making the least attempt at containment. Months later she would recognize the magnitude of the cruelty of it all. How Faye had gone to her death yearning for that one last hug from her daughter. But at this precise moment, she was not thinking of Faye at all. She was thinking of Angelica. And Tina. "You did this?", she asked incredulously through the lump in her throat.

"Guilty", Tina whispered, leaning in to kiss Angie’s head.

Angus put his arm around Kit and whispered into her ear. Kit blushed and nodded. "I think we’re gonna leave you kids alone", Kit smiled. "Wait", Bette cried. "We didn’t even get to talk."