“I think we’re out of coffee.”

“It’s alright,” Bette said. Tina got her own pancakes and the three of them had a nice family breakfast together. Then Tina cleaned up the kitchen while Bette and Angie went up to get dressed. Tina was just drying off her hands when Bette reappeared in the kitchen.

“I’ve got to go and get some coffee or I’ll be a zombie all day. I’m going to the café. I’ll bring some back.”

“Alright. Thanks for eating carbs for me and Angie.”

Bette laughed. “Anytime. I’ll be back soon,” Bette said with a little wave over her shoulder.

After she left, Tina went upstairs, checked on Angie, who was engrossed in a book, and took a hot shower. She took her time with her hair, and decided to put on something a little nicer than sweats. She neatened up the living room and finally sat down to relax. She checked her phone for messages. She had missed a call from Alice and was about to ring her back when she heard the front door.

“There you are,” Tina called. “I’m in here. You’ve been gone awhile. Is everything al–”

Her words died in the air when Bette came into the room with a rather fierce-looking young woman who had a child clinging to her hand in tow.

“Who is this?” Tina asked with a twinge of alarm. She mentally calculated the distance to Angie’s room, gripping the phone tighter in her hand.

“T, this is Danielle, and her daughter Harley.” Tina must have looked concerned because Bette’s eyes telegraphed that it was okay as she gave Tina a small nod.

Tina smiled as best she could at Danielle and her daughter. “Hello.”

“It’s pretty cold out there. Still snowing. Daneille and Harley didn’t have anywhere else to go, so… I asked them to come back here and warm up.”

“I see. Well, you two make yourselves at home. I’ll get you something warm to drink,” Tina said, standing up and gesturing to the couches. She tried not to wince when she thought of the lovely upholstery getting dirtied, then inwardly chastised herself for being so materialistic.