Tina: We will respect your decision whatever it is. But I must warn you that I am sure they have talked between the two of them about the trip. And I am sure they are going to have a response no matter what your decision is. Just be prepared for that.

Joe: Oh, boy. I hadn’t thought about that. Give us some time to mull this over and get back to you. Do you have a deadline on when you need to know?

Bette: Not in this case. I am going to put him down as a possible as Dan’s roommate and if it doesn’t work out, well, it won’t make any difference in the travel arrangements.

Mary: You two go prepare the dinner. We will entertain Barbara and Joe.

Joe: I am in need of using the facilities. Where do I need to go?

Margaret: Why don’t you use the powder room off the study, here let me show you.

Barbara: I’ll go when you get back.

The boys had been swimming and actually throwing a football in the water. They were far enough away that they could not hear the adults’ conversation.

Barbara: So, Mary, tell me about yourself.

Mary began to tell the tale of her life in Arizona and her relationship with her daughters. Barbara was absolutely mesmerized by what she heard. When Joe came out and joined, they were both in a hypnotic trance. Margaret too had heard most of this, so she was watching Joe and Barbara. She saw Joe reach for Barbara’s hand and hold it. She wasn’t sure if he was needing her to reassure him or he was offering support to his wife. But Margaret found the gesture to be endearing.

Bette and Tina were busy cooking he vegetables, roasting the corn, making the corn bread. The pork chops were ready.  Bette walked out to the pool and told the boys that dinner would be served in about 30 minutes and they should be in dry clothes before coming to the table.

Bette then started to carry a couple of buckets of ice and then a couple of pitchers of tea and a couple of pitchers of water. She then asked Mary and Margaret to fill the glasses with ice in about ten minutes and to pour the tea in about 15 minutes. Bette removed the snack tray and the glasses from the afternoon session. Tina had Bette then chop up some tomatoes into small chunks and get out the chopped green onions. She was slicing the corn bread into wedges. She then had Bette put the hot sauce, the butter on the table and then put some bread-and-butter plates on the table. She asked Mary to place them at each place setting.  Barbara and Joe had gone to walk in the flower garden as the boys all headed to the cabana for their showers and to dress for the evening.