Bette had an excited glimmer in her eye, and was busy tacking on sticky notes to the top pages of various piles of paper.  She looked up at Brooke, and smiled at her then nodded her head.    “Actually, if you don’t mind, I’d like to go get my camera and scanner?  I’d like to digitize what I need, so that I can work with the information in combination with what I already have …”

Brooke nodded and smiled, “I think that’s alright.  Why don’t you take Casey with you, and bring whatever you need over, and set up here.  Work as long as you need to, for however many days you’ll need.”

She entered the room as she talked, and Bette stood up from behind the desk, and quick-walked around it.  Wordlessly, she hugged Brooke again.  “Thank you,” she whispered.  “You can’t imagine what a boost this will be.”

Brooke patted Bette’s shoulder, giving her a fond smile, when they released from the mutual embrace.  “Have I told you the story about one of the first conversations Tina and I had?  We were waiting for you to come home for dinner, on a Sunday, by the way, after you’d called from a late meeting with a bunch of people.  I must confess I was grumbling a bit, and while we waited, Tina and I talked… you know how warm and personable she is… so even if that had been only the second time that we’d spent any time together,  we were able to talk quite comfortably, about relationships, and what helps keep them going, etc.”

Bette smiled and shook her head.  “No, I haven’t heard about this.”

“Well, Tina told me something I’ll never forget.  She said, “There’s something you have to know about Bette, Brooke.   She’s herself.  And she’ll always be true to that.  I never knew how much I admired that quality in a person until I met her, someone who is always herself.  It’s a quality you don’t get to see a lot in people these days.  Working hard?  That’s part of who she is.  I know she does that, pushes herself hard, because of me and Angie, to a large extent – but she really doesn’t know any other speed.  And the best I can do is help her moderate that.”