But Bette remained quiet. Her thoughts drifted to other topics, spurred for some reason, by her sharp exchange with Jodie earlier.

It’s so good to be with Tina now, after what had happened with Jodie. Just soothing to be relaxing around a fire, talking easily with close friends, enjoying the soft lapping sound of the waves.

“Baby?” she heard Tina’s warm voice cut through her thoughts.

“Yeah, T?”

“Lauren was just asking you what your fire story was.”

Bette smiled, and, with some effort, tore her glance away from the tongues of fire that had apparently hypnotized her, to look at the others, who were now smiling expectantly at her.

She kissed the top of Tina’s head, and started, “I was just thinking that this here, is a good fire story, actually. That in a soothing, deeply reassuring way, this bonfire with friends, with you, celebrates in a primal way, what makes this earth, our planet, so very special.”

Marissa shook her head.  Bette had such a way with words sometimes.

“You’re right, of course, Bette,” Logan answered. “But what are you referring to?”

She smiled at him, then resumed staring at the fire, and at the embers.

“Well … I had been trying to explain to Angelica and her older friends earlier this week about photosynthesis when they’d had a playdate in the duplex,” she paused as Sarah chuckled, who knew just how curious the toddler and her friends could be.

“Needless to say, I was unsuccessful,” Bette said ruefully, to gentle laughter around the group.

“But staring into the fire now, I just thought of a beautiful metaphor for photosynthesis.  And what we were talking about earlier.”

“What, baby?” Tina asked.  Bette was probably still disturbed about her encounter with Jodie, and which she’d heard about from Diane.

“Just this: photosynthesis is the most successful way life on this planet has found to stick hydrogen onto carbon atoms. And everything that helps us move, that we consume as food, and that helps make cars go, fuels planes and trains, and power stations, is due eventually to how well photosynthesis has made hydrogen stick to carbon atoms.”

“We live and move, essentially because hydrogen sticks to carbon atoms in that most unique of ways: photosynthesis.”

“Hmmm… clever,” Tom responded, tapping the end of the bottle he balanced between his fingers, to his forehead, now lost in thought himself.