Bette wiped her face of any stray tears she thought might fall. She fanned the cool oceanic air towards her face to calm down her emotions that threatened her cool state. She opened the back door to find Tina standing on the back porch watching her with questioning eyes. She slowly approached Bette and lovingly asked,

“Sweetie what’s wrong?”

“Nothing I just needed some air you know it’s kinda stuffy in the kitchen with all the food Toni’s been cooking.”

Tina made a face of disbelief knowing fully well that Bette was lying to her hopefully she was doing it for a good reason. But this was definitely something that was going to be discussed later.

“Alright Baby, let’s go in and eat Carmen’s starting to get impatient.”

“Knowing Carmen she probably ate twice before we got here.” Bette said laughing all the while praising whatever god was blessing her to have dodged a bullet from Tina’s brain. Bette laughingly walked past Tina but not before taking her hand and leading out into the dining room. Tina on the other hand was wondering what caught Bette’s attention for so long outside.

They walked in to find Toni slap a piece of chicken away from Carmen.

“Not yet, I said!”

“But I’m hungry.” Carmen whined as she caught Bette and Tina laughing at her child like behavior. “ I guess that’s funny? What the he– heck took you so long to get in the house?” Carmen stumbled under the watchful eye of Toni.

“It’s like a thousand degrees in that kitchen. I had to get some air.” Bette said pulling Tina in front of her to allow her to take her seat first.

“Yeah whatever, can we say grace now?”

“Alright everybody bow your heads.” they did so and as always Carmen kicked Bette and Bette kicked her back. Just like they were kids again they began a kicking war under the table, Tina noticed it when Bette kept jiggling her hand until midway Toni said “Stop it.” and continued on with the prayer.

Every so often during the dinner Tina would notice Bette or Carmen would wince in pain from the ongoing match going on beneath the table.