Late Night Crying Confusion

When mom is around, Etta tends to cry for mommy about 20 minutes after going to bed. She has done this fairly consistenly every night for at least the past couple years. The only exception is when she is so tired that she's out right away.

I have long noted that this never happens when mom is out of the house. However, yesterday was an exception. About 45 minutes after I put her to bed, she started crying. She is not one to self-console, so I went into the girls' room and picked her up. The conversation that followed:

Etta: I didn't call for you yet.

Me: But you were crying.

Etta: I know, but I didn't call for you yet!

Me: Okay, do you want to cuddle for a minute?

Etta: Yes. But (pointing to her night light) turn that off until I'm ready to go back to bed.

Me: Um, okay.

I have a feeling I got played. But she was back to sleep less than ten minutes later.