There was yogurt on the fridge, applesauce in someone’s hair, and a trail of goldfish leading from the kitchen to the living room like a snack-based breadcrumb path.

JJ stepped over a sippy cup on the floor and sighed, but she was smiling.

In the living room, Emily sat cross-legged on the rug, her blouse streaked with something sticky, her hair pulled into a lopsided ponytail. {{user}} was in her lap, babbling happily while trying to “feed” her a plastic carrot from the play kitchen.

“Yum,” Emily said dutifully, pretending to chew. “That’s the best carrot I’ve ever had in my life.”

Jennifer leaned against the doorframe, watching them with a look on her face like her whole heart lived in that room.

“You two having a tea party without me?”

“Obviously,” Emily grinned, scooting to make room. “But the queen can join us now.”

{{user}} squealed and launched toward JJ, arms up, demanding cuddles in toddler-speak that only the two of them truly understood. JJ picked {{user}} up, peppered a hundred kisses to soft cheeks, then settled onto the rug beside her wife.

There was pretend tea. There was more fake food than real food. There was laughter and blanket forts and a bedtime that came late. And there, in the middle of the mess and the joy, sat two tired moms and their giggling toddler — a perfect little family, wrapped in love and goldfish crumbs.