"So… how are you? I just flew in last night. I drove all night… I hope you don’t mind. I kind of thought we should talk."

"Talk. Right. Okay. So. How am I? I’m fine. Really, most of the time, fine."

"Most of the time?"

"Oh, you know." Bette waved a hand in front of her face, trying for nonchalance. Kind of late, isn’t it? You just unleashed a sonic wave even dolphins in the Pacific probably heard. "Erm, so how are you? What brings you back, I mean, back here in LA?"

Candace sat back down on the couch, exhaling a large breath. She silently studied Bette for a minute, but spoke quickly when she saw how her stare was making her erstwhile lover fidget. "I’m actually doing well." She fell silent again and lowered her eyes. She still watched Bette out of the corner of her eye. She looks good. She gained some weight, which looks very healthy and nice on her. Her hair is longer. Damn she’s still so beautiful.

Bette kept her mouth shut to keep a tide of words from escaping. Words that she had no more license to speak. Words she shouldn’t even be thinking, much less speaking. How could you? What happened? Where is she? Are you still together? How could you? Who are you now? A tiny word managed to sneak past her lips. "Good." Bette paused and tried to analyze that small simple word. Did she mean it? Can it be misconstrued in any way other than a sincere empathy for someone else’s good fortune? Like maybe the short single-syllable word could act as a bridge to connect the past and the present? Bette snorted. Of course not. Dr. Morga did say she had the tendency to project her thoughts to others.

Bridge? Bette noticed for the first time Candace’s tightly crossed legs and arms held around herself like an embrace. She also noticed her own clenched fists hidden in her lap, behind the wide expansive table. A bridge between what we used to have and the answers to my questions. Ouch.

Bette stood abruptly. "Well, it’s been really nice to see you again, Candace. How long will you be in town for? Maybe we can get a cup of coffee or something soon. Right now I really need to finish this program I’m putting together. New exhibit. Maybe you can come. Well, I’m sure you can see yourself out." Bette turned quickly and pulled open a file cabinet. She rummaged through the organized folders, pretending to look for something.