She tucked her new purchase into her purse and planned to thoroughly read the inside packet at home later, when she was alone.  Would it say anything about Bette?  She would at least thank her sister, wouldn’t she?

            Tina and Dana stopped to get a frozen yogurt, and then took a seat on an empty bench to rest and enjoy it.  They talked much less now that they were eating, and instead were content to people-watch.  From down the sidewalk came the sound of heels clacking against the ground.  The heels gave way to skinny jeans, which gave way to a short halter top, which gave way to long, wavy red hair.  A beautiful stranger.

            Both Tina and Dana put their spoons down to stare.

            “Shit.  She is a ten,” Dana said.  Instinctively and without missing a beat, Tina responded.

            “I’d let her walk all over me with those heels in a second.”

            A beat passed where neither considered the other’s comment out of the ordinary.  Eventually, their heads snapped toward the other simultaneously.

            “Wait…”

            “Are you…?”

            “Are you?”

            “But you’re married!”  Dana hissed.  Then she smiled, and that smile transformed into a full-blown laugh.  Pure relief.

            “This is too good,” Dana said.  “Too, too good.”

            And they would be friends for life.

15 Years ago

            “John?  Wow, it’s been so long.  How are you?” Tina asked.

            “I’m good.  I just graduated from Stanford last spring and now I’m working my way into my father’s company.  Do you remember my parents?”

            “Yeah… Judy and Tim, right?”

            “That’s them.  We haven’t seen your dad in a while, is he okay?”

            “I’m sure he’s fine,” Tina said, not actually knowing if that was true.

            “Well you must be done with high school now, right?” John asked.

            “Yeah, I graduated last year.”

            Bette, in the meantime, was forcing herself to look preoccupied behind the counter.  She was unaware of how well this was working.

            “I’m only here for a few days,” she could hear John saying, who was clearly enamored by Tina.  “My dad’s meeting some clients at the country club, which is where I’m headed.  By the looks of this area, though, I think I’m lost,” John said, trying to make a joke.