“At this point their love story hits a big bump, though,” Angie said.

Their friends shifted in their seats while the two siblings looked at each other, silently debating how to continue with the story.  Angie and TJ knew that, at some point, Bette and Tina had broken up and had stayed apart for almost a year.

Jason spoke up on behalf of all of them, “Look, you guys don’t need to get into it if…”

TJ pursed his lips and exchanged a long look with his sister, and then responded,  “Right. Ok, we won’t.  This was a complicated chapter in their lives.  Basically, at some point, they separated, and while they were apart, Bette was not aware that Tina had successfully gotten pregnant.  With Ange.”

He continued, “Rocked by the circumstances around their separation, Bette went on an unplanned almost year-long journey around the world, and during the first leg of her journey, she met Raoul, a newly-retired Frenchman who owned a lot of art and other interesting items.  They formed a close friendship, and Raoul became the sole person, apart from Kit, with whom Bette maintained constant contact throughout her round-the-world journey. He counseled her from afar; at the same time through their periodic conversation, she offered him a way to reflect and think back on his own choices with someone who he felt a kinship with. ”

Angie jumped in, “Raoul told Bette his own love story, which involved Nelle, who was an incredible woman who traveled parts of the world when air travel was barely available. Nelle had been one the few women who’d attained a professional degree in medicine at a time when very few women had even attained a secondary education.  Later on, when Raoul died, he passed the bulk of his art collection and valuable possessions to Bette, including those that had belonged to Nelle.”

“During her next leg of her journey, Bette met Jenna, her mom, and their circle of friends.  Although they became close, Bette moved on, and eventually made her way to Asia.”

TJ swallowed the mouthful of sparkling water he’d chugged down, and asked, “Should I catch them up on Tina’s story around this time?”

Angie nodded, as she picked up the cup of chamomile tea that she’d fixed for her and Bailey earlier.

TJ continued, “So, in the meantime, Tina became close to Logan, a step-brother she’d lost contact with, who was the son of a man her mom had been married to when Tina had been around four years old.  Logan had ended up in the same city where Bette and Tina were relocated to.  Bette’s friend George, with whom she’d had many business dealings, and their other friends, including Sarah, whom Bette met while on a business trip to Dubai, Melanie, Logan’s wife, and Claudia, George’s girlfriend, formed a supportive network for Tina, too, during her pregnancy.  Of course, Kit, and their LA-based friends rallied around Tina, also.”