Bette frowned a little, swallowing drily.  “How much do you know?”

Brooke continued to observe her over the rim of her champagne flute.  “I’m not sure that I understand what you’re asking.  But I read people. That’s what I do.  It’s a gift.  Phillip used to rely on me to advice him about potential associates, actually.  Something he reminded me about often enough after the divorce, when he kept trying to get back together.”

“So I hope that whatever it is you have to tell me assures me that I have not, somehow, misread you all this time.  That I haven’t misplaced my love and trust in you and Tina and your beautiful daughter, in my old age.”

Bette licked her lips.  “Brooke, there is a group of people that I am locked into a battle with over an extremely valuable asset.  They want something from me.  I want something from them.  All that I love and care about lives in that city, too, just like you.  And everything depends on me doing the right thing in all this….”

Her lunch companion heaved a deep sigh.  She leaned forward again to resume eating.  They both continued eating in silence, Bette thinking about how much more to share with Brooke, Brooke observing Bette, and noting with concern the signs of a massive internal struggle her young friend was waging.

After ten minutes, the waiter came over to clear their first course plates, and another brought the main course orders over.  He refilled their champagne flutes also, and then backed away after Brooke signaled to him that she and Bette were to be left alone.

Brooke began slicing through the tender duck-filled ravioli, and swiped some of the red wine-reduction-infused sauce, and swallowed a fork-full.  She kept silent as she continued to eat her ravioli dish. When only one square of ravioli was left on her plate, she finally set her fork down.

Bette had consumed her “branzino” dish, and was sitting back on her chair, washing down what she’d just eaten with sparkling water.

Good, she’s eating well.  Hasn’t lost her appetite. Means she’s somehow in control of what she’s doing.  Even if it sounds like she’s in the midst of an epic struggle, Brooke thought as she also sat back.