‘Great! She’s great. She started CalTech about, uh, three weeks ago?’

‘She was in Germany all summer,’ said Bette, now with the programme, ‘which was a perfect placement for her. But we saw her for graduation, obviously, and then a couple of times recently when Tina was in LA for work.’

‘What does she think about what you’re doing?’

‘Oh . . . um . . .’ Tina ran her gaze over the ceiling.

‘She understands,’ said Bette. Tina nodded. ‘Angie knows what it takes to do something important.’

‘We’ve always modelled goal-setting for her,’ said Tina.

‘Does she like it?’ Wendy asked.

Bette narrowed her eyes.

‘Oh, she knows it’s gonna be really huge,’ said Tina. ‘For her, and for her kids, and her kids’ kids . . . All the way down the line!’

She laughed the ditzy laugh of someone who’s spoken a fragile, dearly held wish out loud and doesn’t want to be challenged on any of it. 

‘Legacy drives everything at Amistad,’ said Bette. ‘It’s hard work, but we believe in it. Belief is energy. And you need that more than anything sometimes, more than food, more than sleep, more than . . .’ 

Bette came to a halt. Tina’s face reddened. Bette found some lint to pick off her jeans. Wendy wrote Sex? Disparity? in her notes. Presently, Tina asked how much time was left.

‘A few minutes, but take as long as you like.’ 

Bette closed her eyes. She was sitting forward of Tina, but Wendy saw the look on her face. Sheer forbearance.

‘Bette?’

‘What?’

‘Anything you’d like to say before we wrap up?’

She shook her head. Wendy looked at Tina, but she had nothing either.

‘Would you like to meet again?’ Wendy asked, reaching for her iPad where she kept her calendar.

‘Uh, yeah,’ said Tina.

‘I think we’re good?’ said Bette.

They glanced at each other and laughed.

‘Anything you want, Tee,’ said Bette, taking her hand.

‘Um . . . Okay, yes. Thank you,’ Tina said to Wendy. ‘We can come again when you’re back.’

They arranged the day and time, and got to their feet. ‘Tell me, do you ever do date nights?’ Wendy asked.

‘Ooh, not for a long time,’ said Tina.